Born in 1944, artist Patricia James-Perry’s roots are in Wampanoag ancestral lands in Aquinnah, on Martha’s Vineyard. She was born into a creative family, and was most drawn to the tradition of scrimshanding – the once-common regional art of hand-crafting decorative and functional items from whale ivory, bone and antler. She also practices Gay Head pottery. Patricia studied Education and Fine Arts at Southeastern Massachusetts University, where she began producing illustrations, paintings, and sculpture. Early career was spent working in Head Start and she pioneered the Teachers Aid Program in New Bedford. In the 1970s, to help support her growing family, she carved scrimshaw for sale at LaFrance’s Jewelers. She painted murals, including at the New Bedford Art Museum, when employed there. Patricia apprenticed her son Jonathan James-Perry in scrimshaw (using fossil ivory and deer antler) with support from the Connecticut Historical Societies traditional arts grant, and they demonstrated at Lowell Folk Festival, as well as during Cape Cod Visitors Center’s annual Wampanoag Festival. She was honored to be recognized as a descendant of the Cuffees at the opening for the Captain Paul Cuffee Park, and resides in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.