A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu presents a plaque to 2014 NEA National Heritage Fellow Henry Arquette at the NEA National Heritage Fellowships Awards Ceremony on September 17, 2014 at the Library of Congress. At the ceremony, Chairman Chu read the following citation about Henry Arquette: "From Hogansburg, New York: A master shaper and weaver of wood, steeped in the tradition of black ash basketry of the Mohawk tribe. A retired ironworker who traded the sound of pounding metal in the urban landscape for the rhythm of pounding logs in the Adirondack forest. A teacher who passes on to the youth of his community not only the skills of weaving baskets but also the value of conserving our natural resources for future generations. For his contributions to the artistic excellence of Mohawk basketmaking, the National Endowment for the Arts honors Henry Arquette." Photo by Tom Pich.
Back L-R: Denise Jackson, Vaughn Arquette, Francine Cook, Henry Arquette, Natasha Arquette, Stephanie Ransom, and Alan (Chico) Arquette. Front: Carter Jackson and Julia Jackson. Missing from photo is Steve and Kenny. Photo submitted by Ella Arquette.
L-R: Jackie Cree-Arquette, Alan (Chico) Arquette, Henry Arquette, and Natasha Arquette. Photo submitted by Natasha Arquette.
The plaque that Henry Arquette received. Photo submitted by Natasha Arquette.
The letter from President Obama that Henry Arquette received. Photo submitted by Jackie Cree-Arquette.
Ella Arquette, Henry Arquette and Vaughn Arquette. Photo by Ella Arquette.
All of the 2014 National Heritage Fellowship Award recipients. Photo submitted by Jackie Cree-Arquette.
Submitted by Jackie Cree-Arquette and Denise Jackson
On Wednesday September 17, 2014, henry Arquette was one of nine artists that were honored by the National Endowment for the Arts with a National Heritage Fellowship Award in Washington D.C. Artists are recognized for their artistic excellence and for their continuing contributions to our nation's traditional arts. They have dedicated their lives to perpetuating the artistic traditions that are meaningful to their cultures.
A reception was held after the award ceremony at the Library of Congress. Each recipient received a plaque, a NEA NHF pin and a letter from the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
On Friday September 19, 2014, a special concert was held at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium to showcase each artist's unique talent. Other Native American recipients included Rufus White, a traditional singer and drum leader from the Omaha Nation, Yvonne Walker Keshick, a quill worker who specializes in birch bark and quill masterpieces from the Odawa Nation.
Henry has mentored other basketmakers and taught at the Akwesasne Cultural Center for 25 years. His baskets are in collections around the world, including the National Museum of the American Indian. In 1994, he and other Mohawk basketmakers received the Traditional Arts of Upstate New York's North Country Heritage Award. In 2004, Henry was recognized individually with the same award.
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