Example of a completed application

Name: Kasmira Tucker
Contact Info: xxx@gmail.com, 204 xxx-xxxx  

Please provide a short introduction to yourself. Include your cultural/community/kinship ties. Priority for this event will be given to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists working with beads as their main material:

My name is Kasmira, and I live in Brandon MB, and am a citizen of the Manitoba Metis Federation, Westman Local, Southwest Region. I am the granddaughter of Catherine Boucher and Patrick Ward. My parent’s names are Mary and Thomas Tucker, and I have three children name Bradley, Ella and Niko. My granny was from Swan Lake and was a Red River Metis who spoke southern Michif, and my grandpa’s family is from Sandy Bay First Nation. When I am not beading, I am an arts educator, teaching adults of all ages, and love to pick medicines by my home or snowshoe in the winter, spend time with my family, and visit and attend cultural gatherings with my friends and families.

Please briefly provide information on your beading practice. This can include how long you have been beading, what sort of beadwork you do, how you learned, how much time you commit to beading, if you sell or exhibit your work, and why beading is important to you. Whatever you feel comfortable sharing about your beading practice, please do so below:

I learned to bead over 20 years ago when I was 19 from my aunty Doris, who learned to bead at a very young age. When she was a young adult she began making powwow regalia, making moccassins and mukluks to sell, and she taught women in the Fort Qu’Appelle region how to make jingle dresses for several years. She spent most of her adult life teaching people how to bead in community. After she passed, I had the opportunities to learn how to bead from elders from South Indian Lake, Waywayseecappo, Sioux Valley Dakota FN, and Métis artists from Winnipeg. I have never sold or exhibited my beadwork, but have taught many students how to bead earrings and make moccasins. I have spent years making beaded gifts for friends and family as well.

Is there anything in particular that you hope to get out of a one-on-one crit session? For example, advice on how to improve your tension, materials to use for an upcoming project, bead selection, a conceptual art piece you are wanting to make, pattern making, etc. Please provide any goals below:

I am looking for guidance on what materials to use for a large, beaded painting my Aunty Judy asked me to make her. I have the designs figured out but I’m not sure what sort of material and backing to use for that big of a beadwork. I plan to use smaller beads than size 10, and I’m not sure which beading stitch technique, thread, and needles I should use.

If you have any accommodation requirements you feel we should know about and feel comfortable sharing, please do so below:

I have some mobility challenges due to rheumatoid arthritis. If I am having a flare up, I will need assistance in getting from my car into the event. I am also a very nervous speaker when discussing my beading with strangers who aren’t my students or family. I would like to bring my son as a helper and support person. He would help me carry in my beadwork and supplies, and if I get too nervous to speak to the group or private crit if I am selected, he will help me get out what I want to say and share if I am too nervous in the moment.