Jamie Okuma began working with beads at a very early age, inspired by the pow wows she attended. In high school, Okuma made her first miniature jingle dress, which she subsequently mounted on a doll figure. Historical authenticity, exemplary workmanship, and attention to every detail are the hallmarks of her dolls or “soft sculptures”. Generally taking up to four months to complete a figure, Okuma’s focus tends to be on the most elaborate garments and accoutrements that were part of the late 19th and early 20th-century classic ceremonial attire of Plains and Plateau people. A work by Okuma is much more than a traditional craft, but a piece of fine art for discriminating collectors.
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