Boundless K-12 Curriculum: KINSHIP

SIERRA HENRIES

A rectangular piece of birchbark with a circular piece of abalone shell in the center. From the shell are geometric pathways that are all interconnected by the same line.

Sierra Henries (Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuc, American, born 1987)

Pathways, 2023
Freehand pyrography on winter birchbark, scallop shell, braided sinew
Courtesy of the artist

ABOUT THE MAKER

Sierra Henries is a member of the Chaubunagungamaug Band of the Nipmuc Nation. She is the daughter of well-known flutist Hawk Henries, specializing in birch bark pyrography (using burn marks to decorate material). She creates designs on the birch bark by hand using a pyrography tool to burn the wood after first drawing it out with a pencil. Sierra is primarily self-taught and says, “the moments when my art and the people I love connect are my greatest accomplishments.”

Photo credit: Ta Moko Ormsby

Although all artwork can have its stressful points, I enjoy the process very much. From spending time with the trees and collecting the bark, to the finished piece, working with birch always puts a smile on my face.”

—Sierra Henries

Additional Resources

VISIT Sierra Henries’ WEBSITE
Featured article:
“Beauty Out of Bark”
WATCH AN INTERVIEW WITH Sierra Henries

Learn about other objects in KINSHIP:

A basket with a photograph at the bottom of the basket of a woman selling baskets.

In what ways do objects connect us to the past?

Two screen prints based on traditional Lakota dresses.

How does connecting with culture influence a person’s identity?

Freehand pyrography on winter birchbark

What are the ways that social or cultural identity link people over time and distance?

A woven drawstring bag.

Why is it important to acknowledge both shared aspects of culture and individual cultural ancestry?

overlapping concentric circles made by ripples in water.

Boundless K-12 Curriculum

* YouTube links to audiovisual materials shared by other creators are included in the curriculum. For more information, including for captioning and transcripts of the suggested audiovisual materials, please contact the audio/video content creators.