Art Form: birch bark cut out work

Location(s): Sault Ste. Marie (Chippewa County)

Anny Hubbard

Portrait of Anny Hubbard

Birch bark out work by Anny Hubbard, depicting a person, rabbit, and bird

Symmetrical rabbit birch bark cut out work by Anny Hubbard

Anny Hubbard creating birch bark cut out work

Anna "Anny" Hubbard is a dedicated birch bark cut out artist. She learned this art form from her grandmother Ada Baughn Hubbard as a young child, and has continued to share it with others in order to revive what was once a rarely practiced tradition. Using a principle similar to cutting out folded paper snowflakes, birch bark cut out work uses psring-harvested birch bark to create repeated designs. If harvested properly, the soft and flexible bark splits easily into thin layers which are then folded to create the repeating patterns. Anny uses traditional cutting methods, such as flint or obsidian knives, as well as scissors. Celebrated for her revival and knowledge of birch bark cut out work, Anny was invited to the Royal Ontario Museum to help curators identify patterns found on objects in their collections and demonstrate the techniques. Her work has bee exhibited at the Lake Superior State University Library and LSSU Native American Center, the Great Lakes Folk Festival, and the Michigan State University Museum. As Anny puts it, her work has been featured in exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations "from the Ottawa National Forest to London Ontario."

An artist in many rights, Anny is also known for "expressing herself in water media, poetry, and traditional crafts." From her artist biography, "Anny continues the tradition of birch bark cut outs; patterns with which she and others can create applique and quill works of art. Anny enjoys writing poetry and was included in the Anthology 'O'gushnanan: Our Mother' and has published two books, Spirit Seeds and Strong Women of the North." She also work in leather, creating dolls she decorates with miniature beaded bags and jewelry.

In tandem with her work as an artist, Anny has dedicated much of her time to her community in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. She has created regalia for local children, served as a docent for the Sault Ste. Marie Historical Society, and worked as asubstance abuse counselor for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Lambert Center from 1976-1995. From 1996-2001 Anny worked at the Museum of Ojibwe Ojibwe Culture as a clerk and teacher for traditional art classes. Reviving the cut out work craft is a significant feat in its own right, but is only part of the larger picture of Anny's dedication to her community and cultural heritage.

- Micah Ling, 2021