about
Nice to meet you! Shoozhri' Marissa oozhii. Lower 48 gwihch'jj. Village of Nenana gwats'an ihljj. Shitsii Thomas Joseph Estabrook the 3rd oozhii.
My name is Marissa and I am a 28 year old full time Indigenous artist in the lower 48. My family is Athabascan, specifically Gwich'in. My grandfather, Joseph Thomas Estabrook the 3rd, was born in the Village of Nenana.
I have spent my whole entire life being a creator, and making jewelry is just another evolution of my love of art. From drawing, to fluid art, to resin... I have done and sold it all. I have had a shop for everything. That is why I am so excited about the birth of The Velvet Bone because it feels the most like me. Like I'm creating to create-- not just for content. Being able to do what I love is a blessing. And I wouldn't be able to do any of this without you guys! I am forever appreciative of the people who have grown with me, witnessed and supported me through all of my business ventures and various forms of art, no matter what direction I take. I feel like my work is very valued and that means everything to me as an artist. Everything I do, I do because of the support of you guys!
That being said, the next leg of my journey is the most special and important one. With the sales and the support on my metal jewelry collections, Ive been able to invest and have the time to learn beadwork. To reconnect through art. To make pieces that reflect my family story. To have my art be apart of something...bigger. It feels like one of the most important things I've ever done.
As a descendant of Nenana Native Village, where my late grandfather was born, I also feel in a way that its my duty to learn these things, to make sure traditions are passed to my family here in the lower 48. I'm one of the only descendants of my grandfather to have not visited Alaska. In a way, beadwork makes me feel closer to him, closer to the land I dream of, but have never been. It also has been a huge factor in me feeling closer to my family in Alaska. In a way, beading has become everything to me.
I know as a reconnecting Gwich'in woman that everything I create is Gwich'in art because its made with my hands. That being said, the jewelry in my shop is not meant to be representative of Gwich'in culture because it is not. My beadwork, which isn't for sale, is inspired by all the beautiful floral Gwich'in pieces I see in photo. I hope that one day my collections will be all beadwork. I'm still practicing, gaining confidence, and learning so I don't think I'm ready yet. But if you stay tuned, you'll get to see the final step in my artistic evolution as a disconnected Indigenous person finding thier way. I hope youre excited for the ride!
Again, I really appreciate the support, because without it I wouldn't have been able to start reconnecting through art in a way that is changing my life. I owe it all to you guys, truly. Heres to many years of learning and growth.
