Greybeard Metalsmithing

Alica has quickly ascended to the ranks of a world-class metalsmith. While dabbling in the arts her entire life, it was not until she raised her children that she fully pursued this passion, beginning with a jewelry-making class at Haywood Community College. Wildcatt kept taking classes with teacher/mentor Greta Lutman, and learned jewelry fabrication, metal enameling, and more. Eventually, she opened her home studio, Greybeard Metalsmithing — an homage to her great-grandmother Polly’s maiden name. Wildcatt’s designs include contemporary, organically inspired shapes such as paper clip chains and elegantly attenuated silver drop earrings. In particular, she honors Cherokee designs and syllabary in her pieces. She has already begun accruing multiple local and national awards and ribbons and her work is displayed in a number of museums and covered by national publications. Wildcatt uses her art as a platform to give voice to important issues such as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Movement (MMIW) by donating proceeds from limited edition works to these causes. She currently resides in the Birdtown Community of Cherokee, NC..