Allita Irby, Writer
Full Biography
Allita Irby grew up in Oklahoma where she appreciated the Native American art and dance of the Great Plains Indians. At an early age, she learned floral arranging at home. From her mother, Mary Price Irby, Allita found her Native American heritage through her relatives in Tennessee and Ohio. Allita studied Art History and Drawing at Cameron State University (OK). At Bowie State University (MD), Allita earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with heavy concentration in Anthropology. There she furthered her knowledge of indigenous folkways and arts. Allita went on to get a Masters of Administrative Science from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (MD). During her 20+ year career in telecommunications, Allita participated in the development of the Native American People of Verizon (NAPV) employee resource group. She served as National Secretary and Local Chapter Vice President. During her involvement with the NAPV association, Allita learned about ‘friendship bundles’. In 2003, with her creativity and love of nature, Allita designed dried botanical friendship bundles with dream catchers attached as “thank you gifts”. She has developed her unique style using natural materials, flowers and feathers in each bundle. Friendship bundles may be given at anytime as gifts or used in home decorating and office spaces. Since 2005, Allita’s 2D and 3D visual art work has been juried into multiple shows in the Washington Metropolitan Area. She has been a judge in the New Carrollton (MD) Day Art Exhibition. Allita has curated and coordinated exhibitions in collaboration with the Maryland National Capitol Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) and for Artomatic, Inc. in Washington, DC. Allita has also been invited to hold “friendship bundle making” workshops in Maryland and Virginia. In 2009, Allita was appointed to the Art in Public Places Panel in Prince George’s County MD.
Artist Statement
My love of organics and botanicals is expressed in the Shinocock (North American) Indian practice of making bundles of dried flowers and herbs wrapped in fabric and/or leather. Sage is included in the center of the bundle for good luck. The original concept of my “bundle” design was to honor the four directions: north, east, south and west and use the feather colors of white, yellow, black and red respectively (in the Native American way). The four colors also correspond to the four seasons: white for winter, yellow for spring, black for summer and red for fall. It is also believed the four colors represent the four colors of mankind. I do not limit myself to four colors but use many feathers of other colors taken from the rainbow which include blues, purples and greens.
For my love of landscapes, sand and sea, I use photography to capture nature. I am fascinated by the multitude of blues in the skies and in different bodies of water. My subjects include flora, landscapes, and beachscapes.
Today, I have come ‘full circle’ and combined the two loves and used photography and natural materials in one composition. In “Blue Sky/Red” my goal was to spotlight the rich blue of the sky. With autumn, come the reds and golds of the trees. The ‘bundle’ in the center of the piece is a ‘gift’, if you will, to Mother Earth.
Additionally, Allita is an avid reader belonging to two book clubs and a writing group which penned a novel. She has spent 2010 getting the manuscript edited and published.
The book was released in May of 2011 with Simon & Schuster under the pen name
B. W. Read, bwread.com.
Professional memberships and volunteer services include: Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance (HCAA),Prince George’s Artists’ Association (PGAA), Native American People of Verizon (Washington,DCMetropolitan AreaMattaponiChapter).
Recent exhibitions of photography in the Learning Center Gallery in Landover,MD (July/August 2011). Mixed media works were juried into a show for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, MD (Sept./Oct. 2011) and the Ratner Museum in Rockville, MD (March 2012).
Recent projects as an artist/meet-our-bloggers include participating in the Annual Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival (Sept. 2011); public speaking and book signings with co-authors of the book, Fourth Sunday by B. W. Read, for Howard County Library System (Sept. 2011) and the Prince George’s County Library System for Woman’s History Month (March 2012).
View Allita’s artwork at http://www.allitairby.webs.com.
