Nancy W. Wright

In the 1700’s the Conestoga tribe had a peaceful history of living near and working among the inhabitants of Lancaster, PA. That history ended when, in December 1763, the entire tribe of twenty Native American men, women, and children was hunted down and brutally murdered by a gang of 57 frontiersmen calling themselves the Paxton Boys.

I have worked elements of the case to reflect on this sad and obscure chapter of Pennsylvania history. The exterior is painted with actual tribal members’ names and tinted in dark tones of red and brown. Inside, the box holds a long lock of hair bound with slender rings of gold – 20 in all- representative of the precious lives lost. The hair lies as a horizontal element to a cross of reed with a woven “God’s eye” as the central element. (Conestoga tribe members were “Christianized Indians.”) The starburst design emanating from this central element is made of corn husks accented with pine needles. The words “The blood of the innocent will cry to heaven” as well as “The guilt will lie on the whole land” are from a text printed in early 1764 in reaction to this horrific event. The cross-stitched letters mimic embroidery of colonial America. Under these words lies Biblical text from Isaiah, Psalms and Micah –each detailing ways of destroying heathens. (The Paxton gang leader was a church elder and undoubtedly familiar with these words.)

Bio

I seek to bring an awareness of American history to those who view my work through expression of my experiences and interests in folk arts, crafts, history, archaeology, education and my own ancestry. I typically use

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significant text complemented by a range of materials that may include fiber, natural materials, found objects and ready-mades to provocatively engage the viewer to reflect on a particular public or private historical event. Over the years my work has been part of group shows at the Noyes Museum, Philadelphia City Hall, PennState University, Abington Art Center, Main Line Art Center plus other smaller public venues. My “Family Series” based on the 12 generations of American Women in my family, was featured in a 2004 solo exhibition at the Clay College Gallery of Cumberland County College. I embroidered laundry markings on linens for Independence Hall and the Deshler-Morris and Kosciuszko houses, but, most importantly, I keep my understanding of history alive through annual archaeology work at James Madison’s Montpelier, which is overseen by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.