The Tamesis
While the artist had a clear theme and direction for her new moccasins, Gentry explored a variety of different materials to help create them. Fittingly, many of the materials she uses relate to organic materials: she wants to highlight the beauty one can find in the natural world. “I use commercially tanned bison hides, home-tanned hides and furs—mostly fox and a couple beaver,” Gentry said. “I also incorporated fish skin, abalone, pearl cabochons, Swarovski crystals, 24-karat gold beads, studs, Vibram soles and a pair of hand-painted rainbow platforms.”
Beadwork is also the focus of many new pieces. Gentry uses a variety of colorful beads to create vibrant floral patterns. “I primarily use Charlotte cut beads because of the way they capture and reflect light,” Gentry says. “I love how they sparkle with movement.” One pair even comes with a pair of fully beaded butterfly wings—an edgier take on the traditional mox. “This is a new direction for me,” Gentry said. “It symbolizes change and freedom.”
Photo: Kimberly Koufas
While her handmade shoes certainly look beautiful, Gentry considers her moccasins to be more than just a fashion accessory. The artist sees these works as a powerful form of storytelling, not to mention a powerful continuation of tradition and a way to highlight how local innovation can move forward. “As members of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation, our relationship to kingship and ornamentation is deeply ceremonial, familial and ancestral,” she said. “My work can challenge narrow perceptions of Indigenous design – arguing that it can be luxurious, experimental, sophisticated and expansive while still being rooted in cultural integrity.”
Her new exhibition will undoubtedly introduce her work to a whole new audience, but for Gentry, she just wants viewers to leave the show with a feeling of uplift and joy. “I hope this collection plants seeds of beauty, tenderness and softness that inspire others,” she said. “It empowers and encourages others to live from the heart, exploring their unique gifts and the immense beauty they hold within themselves.”
