In the 1830’s, her father’s family came to Delaware District of the Indian Territory with the Removals, or what is commonly called “The Trail of Tears.” Some of that family sill live in the Cherokee Nation in what is now Delaware County.
“My family lived near Eucha, (pronounced OO-Chee), just a mile or so from where my Dad built the tar paper cabin that we lived in when I was small. It cost him $90 to build our little cabin in the woods. A love for my Cherokee heritage and our history is deeply ingrained in me through my raising.
Oklahoma is home to over 65 tribes that were forcibly moved to new homes here. The people of Oklahoma are largely the remnant of those that not only survived but also succeeded in the face of great adversity. I enjoy researching and studying the history and culture of each tribe as I work. And to me, there is not a more perfect symbol for the perpetuation of a tribe than a baby.”
Margaret has been drawing and creating art since the first grade, but it is her particular love of sculpting that is reflected so well in the life-like appearance of her dolls and in her sculpture. Recently, Margaret began sculpting in clay.
Margaret plans to offer it and other Limited Edition bronze sculptures reflecting Cherokee history and culture.
Margaret’s style and method is self-taught, and she learns something new each time she creates a sculpture. When you look at the exquisite detail of her work, you may find it amazing and inspiring to know that Margaret has been legally blind since she was a teenager. She has an approximate 10-degree filed of vision, like a small tunnel, due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a hereditary eye disease. She is able to achieve her amazing level of detail with the aid of a very bright light and magnification.