Jannette Vanderhoop

Jannette vanderhoop is from the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe on Martha’s Vineyard. She is a serious, accomplished and prolific artist who makes authentic Indigenous jewelry. Her modus operandi is to “educate people to respect nature through art” and so, she produces her work as a form of environmental expression. By utilizing random parts of the natural world, including found and reconstituted materials, there is no lack of inspiration or originality. She has mastered concepts of color shape and design over the course of 12 years to create a signature for her work. Each organic colorful piece she makes is a wearable art object that nods to her culture and the history of her tribe while also celebrating her connection to the land. 

Miss Vanderhoops work is recognizable and sought after by collectors. She has sold over 200 of her signature one-of-a-kind wampum necklaces to visitors and collectors from all over the world. With the desire to fight stereotypes as they relate to native people, and native american jewelry and indigenous fashion specifically, her work is decidedly contemporary. Made one-at-a-time, by hand, each piece is unique and cannot be duplicated. Through her life’s work, she hopes to put the Aquinnah Wampanoag people on the map as significant contributors to contemporary indigenous arts. 

Using locally sourced wampum shells from the rugged coastline of Martha’s Vineyard, Jannette’s organic, colorful jewelry is appreciated for both its eccentricity and it’s simplicity. Meant to inspire both the wearer and the viewer and connect them to the essence of the sea. Anything but basic, completely authentic, these conversation starters are sure to turn heads and leave a lasting impression. Are you a collector? Because You are sure to be left wanting more! 

www.islandnaturalsmv.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/IslandNaturals

https://www.instagram.com/island_naturalsmv/

https://www.facebook.com/jnettyv

artist Bio

I truly am an entrepreneur when it comes to my art and business! Mostly, I make and sell contemporary jewelry using wampum beads (traditional material) that I make by hand; each piece is unique and cannot be duplicated. I also make native themed crafts from natural found and reconstituted materials that I sell at an open air market. I have given numerous cultural presentations and have a large collection of original poetry that is just in the beginning process of being edited, realized, and slowly shared. I also have a very unique body of work — eleven treasure boxes that have been created over ten years that I have just begun to show this past year.  I have worked with numerous schools and museums as a native artist, naturalist and a stewardess for the environment. My passion is creating and teaching arts that specifically connect people to land and place.

I own and run 3 businesses! I am an artist, a yoga instructor and a master gardener. I was the first of my family to ever go to college as a Gates Millennium Scholar through AIGC (American Indian Graduate Center). I hold a bachelors degree from Pitzer College in Environmental Studies and Art. My modus operandi is to teach people to appreciate nature through art. I am a professional artist, a published author/illustrator and educator of Wampanoag history, culture and arts. I have dedicated my life to preserving my heritage. I have run children’s programs for my tribe, got our small museum (the Aquinnah Cultural Center ACC) up and going and currently teach yoga to my tribal people under a diabetes prevention program. I visit schools and museums as a presenter and work with children and adults of all ages teaching nature based themes.

I started my jewelry business, Island Naturals, in 2006 and am the sole proprietor. I sell my work at the Martha’s Vineyard Artisans Festival in the summers on the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard. I am honored as the first and only member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to be included in this juried show. I make everything one-at-a-time, by hand. I have mastered concepts of color, design and shape and have created a signature for my work over the course of 12 years. I have become an accomplished artist selling over 200 of my signature rustic wampum necklaces.