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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Brigette Whipple, an Oregon State University alumnus and renowned beading artist from Warm Springs, will demonstrate her beading craft on Monday, April 20, in the Valley Library on campus.

Her presentation will run from 4 to 6 p.m. in the library’s Willamette Industries seminar room and is free and open to the public.

Joining Whipple will be her apprentice, Sharlayne Garcia. The presentation is part of the “Oregon Is Indian Country” exhibit on display during April in the Valley Library. Other components of the exhibit are on display at the Corvallis Benton County Public Library and the Benton County Historical Society in Philomath.

Whipple began beading when she was eight years old, learning from her mother, aunts, grandmother and great-aunts, who taught her everything from making medallions and braid ties to the art of designing and creating a horse outfit. Every family in Whipple’s community had at least one horse outfit in their family – an expression of the ability to do quality work and a point of pride.

Whipple received her first horse outfit from her mother’s side. It was made for her grandmother as a child and passed on to her. When she wears it, Whipple says, “I feel the history of this outfit and its importance of what it represents, my identity as a beadworker and a traditional Indian woman.”

Support for “Oregon Is Indian Country” is provided by numerous organizations, including Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund and the Siletz Tribal Council, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Wildhorse Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, Administered by the Oregon State Library, National Endowment for the Arts, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage Commission, Collins Foundation, Jackson Foundation, PGE Foundation, Oregon Council for the Humanities.