Chilkat weaving retreat 2009
| I April 2009 |
 Wayne Price, co-director of Silver Cloud Art Center, hosts a welcoming drum circle with his dance group, the North Tide Dancers of Haines, Alaska |
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A 2-week Chilkat Weaving Retreat was held in Haines, Alaska hosted by Wayne and Cherri Price, co-sponsored by Artstream Cultural Resources, the Evergreen Longhouse, and the New England Foundation for the Arts Native Arts Program.
The goals and objectives of the Chilkat Weavers' Rereats are to provide weavers of all levels of experitse a venue to focus on their weaving techniques, learn tricks-0f-the-trade from one another, share comraderie, strengthen the community of weavers no matter from where they travel, and to hopefully begin or complete a project!
At the end of the 2-week retreat, all the weavers gave a public presentation hosted by the Bald Eagle Preserve, to provide a visual, hands-on appreciationof the various preparations before a weaver begins to weave! These preps include the harveting of cedar bark (clarissa had a photo display to demonstrate this aspect), splitting of the bark, preparation of the wool and spinning the warp. Several weavers demonstrated Chilkat weaving on their own projects; there were several robes, a pair of leggings, a headdress and a dance apron.
This retreat was an open invitation to all Native Chilkat and Ravenstail weavers. Accommodations at the Silver Cloud Art Center were limited to 10. Weavers came from as far North as Whitehorse and Teslin, Yukon Territory, throughout Southeast Alaska and as far South as the Seattle area. Most of the weavers were experienced Chilkat weavers; there were two beginners.
Cherri Price's home-cooked meals were absolutely wonderful with mostly subsistence foods that Wayne had hunted the Fall/Winter and Spring; what a treat! Of course, there were the desserts of baked cookies, cakes and struedels!
Wayne and Cherri Price felt honored to host this retreat at Silver Cloud - they felt a great sense of peace and power with the two rooms of 5 ceremonial robes in the making!
One of the things I enjoy most is when a fellow student in a class is called upon by another to show how to do a particular weaving technique. The student "teacher" must demonstrate what she just learned - this is good! As any instructor knows, this reinforces that which the student has learned and teaching reflects the areas she is weak or strong.
I enjoy watching and listening to weavers who are living out their dream of weaving Chilkat. I enjoy being an assistant to those who are reaching for their dreams. I also enjoy the receptive sharing that takes place during these retreats.
Could it be that Chilkat weavers' DNA carry the molecular memory of Chilkat weaving? When we learn from our teachers, are they just assisting us to remember that which we already know deep down inside?
Patrice DeAsis was first introduced to Chilkat weaving by way of Chloe French in 2007, who had been y apprentice the year before. Patrice is now 11 years old; I've never taught a person that young! - Wow,I forgot younger people catch on so quickly! - During this retreat, Patrice, in turn was teaching her fellow retreat members who were old enough to be her mother. Patrice is also a role model for her peer group to learn the disciplines and techniques of Chilkat.
Retreats are a good thing to do; every weaver who attends learns from and teaches one another.
Participants in this retreat were:
* Patrice DeAsis (Juneau, AK)
* Lily Hudson
(Juneau, AK)
* Bev Morris
(Teslin, Y.T.)
* Isabelle Clements
(Tslin, Y.T.)
* Darlene See
(Hoonah, AK)
*Alice
(Sitka, AK)
* Debra Michel
(Atlin, B.C.)
* Ann Smith
(Whitehorse, Y.T.)
*Clarissa Rizal
(Juneau, AK)
Again, many thanks to our supporters:
*Artstream Cultural Resources
* Silver Cloud Art Center
*Evergreen Longhouse
*New England Foundation for the Arts Native Program
Contact Clarissa if you are interested in sponsoring a Chilkat Weaving Class or Retreat for Northwest Coast Native women or you personally are interested in learning this fine art.
In December 2005, Clarissa self-published
"Jennie Weaves An Apprentice" - Chilkat Weavers' Handbook"
This practical guide provides Chilkat weavers of all experience levels pertinent information gained from Clarissa’s apprenticeship in 1986 with the last traditional Chilkat weaver, Jennie Thlunaut; combined with Clarissa’s experiences as a weaver and a teacher of this traditional art form, with additional information from Jennie’s daughter, Agnes Bellinger. Most of the information in this handbook can also be applied to Ravenstail weaving. With black & white, color photos and drawings, some of the information includes: Jennie’s astounding fingering technique (for speed, accuracy and tension), her philosophies, traditions, values and tricks-of-the-trade, Clarissa’s story of her apprenticeship with Jennie, preparation of materials and supplies, natural & commercial dyeing, weft color samples, list of suppliers, a traveler's weaving loom pattern; designs and descriptions; and, keeping with traditions, some of the information is shared with a touch of storytelling. This handbook is intended for use by either an experienced weaver who is seeking some additional information in Chilkat weaving, or utilized as a supplemental guide with a weaving instructor.
Purchase your copy now from Clarissa's store.
Do you need a Chilkat design pattern for your next Chilkat robe, apron, leggings, headdress or bag? Clarissa is both a Northwest Coast designer AND a weaver, which puts her in a unique category amongst Northwest Coast Native artists. As a weaver, she understands the intricate, Chilkat design elements that are workable and weavable in the unique Chilkat design style; as a Northwest Coast designer, she understands the formline elements - both are required to create a Chilkat design successfully. Contact Clarissa now!
Would you like to own a Chilkat robe or weaving? Clarissa accepts commissions and is creative with a payment plan suiting your pocketbook. Do you want the weaving by a certain deadline? Clarissa can work with you on a timeline Contact Clarissa now!
Contact Clarissa for permission to use text or images for educational purposes only.