Gemstone Jewelry-Making w/ Kathy Willcuts Garcia

Thank you for your interest in joining us! This workshop is currently full. Email yasmine@artreachsandiego.org to be added to the waitlist and get notified of any openings as we get closer to the event!

Ages 8+ // Families encouraged

About the workshop

Drop in on this intuitive jewelry-making basics workshop! Create a set of jewelry: a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace, using meaningful gemstones, glass beads, and rawhide! Learn the basics of creating and composing jewelry using beads, gemstones and findings. Experiment further with cutting, and painting rawhide for unique shapes and patterns!

¡Participa en este taller intuitivo de fundamentos de creación de joyas! Crea un conjunto de joyas: un par de aretes, un brazalete y un collar, utilizando gemas significativas, cuentas de vidrio y cuero crudo. Aprende los fundamentos de crear y componer joyas con cuentas, gemas y hallazgos. ¡Experimenta más con cortar y pintar cuero crudo para formas y patrones únicos!

About the artist

Kathy A. Willcuts Garcia is a Cultural Bearer/ Cultural Educator, Artist and Northern Traditional Dancer based in Lemon Grove, CA. She is Lakota and an enrolled member of Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, also of European descent- Scottish, Irish & French. She creates Jewelry with intention and works with natural gemstones for their healing qualities, inspired by Lakota tribal traditions. Kathy is also an herbalist and gardener and has worked with youth in community gardens, taught youth cultural art, spirituality, sacred tobacco teachings and meditation for over ten years.

Kathy A. Willcuts Garcia es Portadora Cultural/Educadora Cultural, Artista y Bailarina Tradicional del Norte con sede en Lemon Grove, CA. Es Lakota y miembro inscrito de la Tribu Sioux de Cheyenne River, también de ascendencia europea: escocesa, irlandesa y francesa. Ella crea joyería con intención y trabaja con gemas naturales por sus cualidades curativas, inspirada en las tradiciones tribales Lakota. Kathy también es herborista y jardinera, y ha trabajado con jóvenes en jardines comunitarios, enseñando arte cultural, espiritualidad, enseñanzas sagradas del tabaco y meditación durante más de diez años.

In preparation for her Jewelry-Making workshop, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Kathy to learn more about her art process and cultural background.

How long have you been creating art?
My Ina (Lakota language for mother) taught me how to bead at eight years old. So, I’ve been beading for 46 years now. I also am a cultural Educator for Indigenous families, students from pre-school to college level, and elders. I teach various multi-media arts and crafts cultural and non-cultural art.

What is your artistic background?
Family-taught, tribally-taught, and self-taught.

What started you on your artistic journey?
I was born into an artistic family. Art of all kinds was always around me. My mom taught me at a young age to be self-aware of my indigenous roots and tribal identity. She also taught me to be self-reliant and create art as a way of life and a possible career path for myself.

What made you interested in teaching workshops?
I enjoy teaching workshops because I love to see the cultural connection and cultural pride when someone creates art and the self-esteem and confidence it builds

How do you share your artistic process in your workshops?
I share my artistic process through storytelling, the history of the art, and hands-on directions.

What do you want participants to get out of their experience?
I want the participants to feel enjoyment, relaxation, and a sense of accomplishment from their creativity.

What are your favorite art supplies or mediums?
Crystal beads, precious stones, any type of natural materials used for beads, shells, I also love natural paints, anything handmade, homemade, nature made.

Who are some artists that inspire you?
As a youth, it was My mom, my grandmother, my uncle, and my cousins. Recently, it’s been my own family: Steven Garcia, Taté Garcia, and Cheyenne Garcia. Also, my brother, cousins, and uncle.

What are some things that get you in the creative mood? Music, snacks, rituals, etc.?
Music would be reggae or any type of relaxing music. Snacks… I love drinking herbal teas while creating, and I usually have a salad before creating art too – one of my favorite salads is avocado, tomato, and balsamic glaze. Rituals would be Saging/smudging before I begin, being in nature, going for a walk, gardening, and meditation before creating. Also, travel inspires me too. I also love to listen to audiobooks while I’m creating jewelry and art.

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*This workshop is made possible by the California Arts Council Impact Grant