Author, Musician, and Artist Yvonne “Evie” DeBandi
DeBandi will be at Camden Art Shoppes at 1011 Galleria, Broad Street, Camden, on Friday, Nov. 25th from 5-7 pm to discuss her work in art and writing.
By Judy Watts
Descended from the Cherokee on her mother’s side of the family, DeBandi’s Native American heritage shines through her work. Evie, as she is known to family and friends, spreads her talents across multiple creative disciplines.
For 30 years following her time at Florida State University, she worked as a musician across the state of Florida. Seven years ago she moved to Camden to be close to family and expanded her work into writing and art, much of which has a foundation in Native American culture. Her creative work, landscape paintings and nine fictional novals are all displayed at Camden Art Shoppes on Broad Street.
Forrest Fortier, her sister who also displays art at Camden Art Shoppes, says Evie received all the Native American traits as well as a few from Italian ancestors. “She has the skin, hair, the cheekbones, all of it. I got none of that,” says Fortier who has researched the family lineage to the Cherokee Nation.
DeBandi says a fourth grade class field trip to a reservation first introduced her to the idea of the family heritage, transforming her in many ways.
“We walked into a hut where elderly Native American women were beading, making beautiful things. I remember the other kids were running wild and being disrespectful, but I stood just inside the door, watching what they were doing. When the class moved on, the eldest among them stopped the teacher and pointed at me saying ‘she stays.’ I was allowed to spend the entire day with them, learning their craft. They said very little, but taught me much.”
DeBandi believes they recognized her as one of their own.
In high school, another experience rejuvenated her interest in studying Native American culture and customs.
“Just after moving to Pennsylvania, a wonderful teacher recognized my heritage and discovered my resemblance to an old photograph. He called me to the front of class in an experiment, a side-by-side comparison. It was surprising to all of us and definitely increased my interest and desire to learn more.”
In addition to embracing her love of nature in landscapes, DeBandi’s novels often include references to native cultures and beliefs. Her book “Vortex Visions, Keepers of the Stones” explores Indian legends, including the petroglyph known as Hopi Prophecy Rock.
“The book itself is a journey of discovery with many riddles for the reader to decipher. Following the prophecy, it questions how materialism might ultimately lead to humanity’s demise with one path leading to selfishness and greed, the other to enlightnment and connection with the earth.”
DeBandi, who often writes in the first person, says her books are an inspirational escape from the world, yet still rooted in reality. Her characters discover the mysteries and secrets of the plot right along with the reader.
Watch the Book Trailer for Vortex Visions
DeBandi will be at Camden Art Shoppes at 1011 Galleria, Broad Street, Camden, on Friday, Nov. 25th from 5-7 pm to discuss her work in art and writing.
