Jan 25, 2011 | Latest Art Projects, To Market To Market |
Canvasses drying on my studio floor
In amongst the band practice area, the Chilkat weaving loom, the desk surrounded by 3 art printers, and the TV space, lay 9 canvasses spread about the studio floor in Colorado. They were just gesso-ed.
Gesso is a white primer - the brand I used is "Utrecht." Very thick as you can see, the brush is standing up in the bucket when there is only an inch of primer left!
I am on a two-year mission; I just started this past Sunday, the 22nd. Since 1983, I’ve designed and made 50 Tlingit ceremonial robes in the button blanket, Chilkat and Ravenstail styles. I am using all my paper patterns of these designs for my paintings. For each robe, I intend to paint a contemporary “mate.” When all 50 “mates” are completed, I’m including them in my book of my first 50 robes.
A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog displaying a few of my favorite button robes. Click this link to see those robes: “The Language of Robes: Clarissa Rizal’s First Fifty”
Jan 21, 2011 | Latest Art Projects, North Tide, Poetry Alaskan |
“Standing like a strong man on black waves
she claws brilliant bands of yellow, green and blue;
pulling down, she guides bands of light from a dark heaven
into a wide black hole at her feet
where the illumined ocean is filled by its shaft moving straight through to earth’s core
into shaped petals making full the heart, preparing to bloom with a form left to wonder
In time soon, real soon”
This dream I had during the last of two nights staying at a friend’s house boat in the cove a few minutes East of Hoonah. It was October 30, 2003.
I stood on the ocean waves between the cove and Hoonah. I could see Hoonah off in the distance with its city lights illuminated and reflecting off the dark ocean ripples…the dark sea rolled easy, glassy waves; it was night. The Northern Lights above rippled almost in unison with the gentle roll of dark waves. I reached up and clawed at the a band of northern lights which made its way in my direction, so I guided them into a black hole about 18 inches wide at the base of my feet. Imagine yourself in my shoes; it was quite an exhilarating experience. When I awoke, my eyes were wide open, staring into the early morning hours, my body vibrating.
Some day I will create a piece of art based on this dream; maybe a button robe or a painting, maybe do a print of the painting – or all of the above! The illumined heaven of light and creation are endless!
Jan 17, 2011 | Honoring Others |
Scraping down to the clean bone with no trace of hair or meat
I had no idea we’d have a head-hunter in our family. Just goes to show ya never know what kind of in-laws you’re gonna get. Heads come to him by way of ancient road kill, hiking trails, friends and family who drop them by the door or ship them to him, or he orders heads off the World Wide Web. When I first met him a few years ago, I thought he was just the lead singer in the band, Knucka and a house-painter on the sideline. Then last year when I visited my daughter and he, I saw sculptures on the walls I wasn’t sure about – I’d never seen anything like them; where were these from? who made them and how?
What's cooking out there in 20 degree weather?
It’s a New Year. Chris Haas was itching to get to work on another new sculpture, but there were no clean heads available. However, he had a few heads sitting out back that needed to be cleaned, so he fired up his black cauldron. So what if it’s 20 degrees out there? You gotta do what you gotta do!
Very, very old left overs
He boiled the heads for a few hours until the hardened skin became workable. Every piece of hair, skin and left over meat must be scraped clean. Using a sharp, strong knife, he wears thick leather gloves and stands up wind from the steaming cauldron. Kids, don’t do this without supervision.
Kind of smells like something's stewing but don't want any, thank you
Hold on now, just about done - just gotta clean behind the ears
Enlightened heads bask in setting sun
Want to see what these heads will look like once Chris is done with them? You must check out Christopher Haas’ new website at Haastyle Art. In fact, if you come across any heads you’d like to see put to creative use and supports a young family, Chris is a fair headhunter and accepts donations or will pay a fair price.
Jan 14, 2011 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Latest Art Projects |
Navajo artist and IAIA student, Shawn Nelson painting an "Uncle Sam"
Have you thought about going to an art school? Want to attend one that only has less than 300 students? Want to go to school with a variety of Native Americans from all over this continent? Want to learn about film-making? Painting? Traditional pottery? Print-making? Computer graphics? The Art of Business? During the 2009-2010 school year, I attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Although lots of hard work, it was a blast! I intend to return.
Melissa painting an entry from a B&W photograph
Even though I am presently living in Juneau, Alaska, I am still working towards obtaining my BFA at IAIA. How can I still be working towards my BFA even though I’m living in Juneau? I am taking online courses via the University of Alaska Southeast! My very first online class was last night in our “Art Appreciation.” Taking these online classes works for me because I am doing a lot of business travel this Winter into Spring. Have laptop, will travel. You may visit UAS’s website at: http://www.online.uas.alaska.edu
You may want to visit IAIA’s website at: http://www.iaia.edu/ after checking out some of these photos…
My "Marketing Plan" presentation during finals week - I had my classmates gather around my monitor to check out the Power Point Presentation that I learned in my "Intro to Digital Media" class taught by Carlos Peinado
Surprisingly, my most favorite classes at IAIA were not necessarily the art classes (although I thoroughly enjoyed my art classes), but my Marketing/Business Classes (that are a part of the Business Certificate Program), and to my utmost surprise, the Introduction to Digital Media class, where I learned how to do Power Point Presentations, create and print a brochure, lay out a book and get it printed, and podcasting. Professor Jennifer Coots brings the Art of Business to IAIA – and she is one heck of an excellent instructor. The enthusiasm in our classes is at the base of our beloved teacher. You would not necessarily think that doing business classes would be exciting; yet, Jenn addresses many issues that arise such as the conflict of the Native and Western values in regards to the marketing and sales of Native art – she made us think about these things that were not at the forefront of our minds yet were outward struggles that many of us had been dealing with.
Beadwork artist Tammy Rahr's Marketing Plan presentation was an actual art booth set up as if she were at an art market, selling her beadwork, packages of beads, display of products, her brochure and business cards, etc. We loved it!
Taos Pueblo artist, Sharon Vargas, painted on cardboard, brown paper bags and discarded computer boxes - I'm going to do that some day too!
Of course, one of the best things about attending art school is the inspiration from all the other artists doing their thing the way they do their thing; I’ve included a few of my favorite classmates in this blog entry, alongside a photo of my Intermediate Painting instructor, Jeff Kahm. I had other students and faculty who also inspired my work, but I didn’t get very good shots of them and their work so I didn’t include them on this blog entry. You see? I have to return to IAIA just for this reason!
Latifa and her mixed-media painting on canvas
World artist Vigalie paints a hand while Professor Jeff Kahm models his hand
Artist Shawn Nelson begins another monumental painting
Poets Al Pizzarelli and Donna Beaver Pizzarelli stand with Creative Writing Professor after giving a guest lecture to the Creative Writing class on Haiku poetry
Shawn is modestly flanked by two beautiful women artists Latifa and Sharon
Jan 6, 2011 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
"Northwest by Southwest" 6'w x 5'h - Private Collection, Portland, OR - 1999 Clarissa Rizal
Since 1983, I have designed and made 50 Tlingit ceremonial robes in the hand-appliqued button blanket, and hand-woven Ravenstail and Chilkat. The following are my favorite button robes. (Please contact me if you’d like to use these images for educational purposes only).
"Having To Look Closely" 58"w x 48"h - Private Collection, NYC - 1999 Clarissa Rizal
During 2011, I am working on the manuscript for a book of my “first fifty.” The book will also include images of my contemporary paintings that match the robes. I thought I would publish the book this year but I have to complete 50 paintings first – so the publication of the book is being put off for a little while!
"Thomas Schulz Bear" 6'w x 5'h - Private Collection, Seattle, WA - 2005 Clarissa Rizal
"Frog Storyteller 4 Directions" 58" w x 48"h - Private Collection, Burns Lake, B.C. - 2007 Clarissa Rizal
"Frog Speaks" 58"w x 52"h - Private Collection, Juneau, AK - 2002 Clarissa Rizal
"Frog Speaks" (all-button version) 58"w x 50"h - Private Collection, Vancouver - 2007 Clarissa Rizal
"Following Our Ancestors' Trail" 66"w x 58"h - Private Collection, Austin, TX - 1992 Clarissa Rizal
"Wrestling With Angels" 58"w x 50"h - Private Collection, Juneau, AK - 1992 Clarissa Rizal
"Emergence" 68"w x 58"h - SEARHC (Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium), Sitka, AK - 1992 Clarissa Rizal
Jan 5, 2011 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Elder Cyril George presents at the Native American Month "lunch-box" presentations on the Tlingit at the Sealaska Corporation's board room
Back in 1972, Gilbert Lucero began an Alaska Native teen center called the “Totem Center.” He coordinated various events pertaining to the arts and cultural life ways of the Tlingit, introducing many of us young ones to things we were not even aware of like: being Native – what does this mean? Back then, there was very little awareness of even having Native blood, let alone doing “Native” ways of living. Gilbert’s Totem Center instigated classes in Tlingit language and culture with elders such as A.P. Johnson (Sitka), Cy Peck, Sr (Angoon)., Ed Kunz, Sr. (Juneau) and Harry K. Bremner, Sr.(Yakutat). Gilbert also coordinated overnight field trips to the smaller communities like Sitka, Haines and Angoon. Gilbert knew many of us had never been exposed to any other towns much less other ways of living. Gilbert escorted a group of us teens on a flight to Angoon (“the last stronghold of Tlingit culture…”) It was during one of these cultural trips where I first met the graciousness of Cyril and Judy George.
Barbara Cadiente Nelson introduces Cyril with a long life-time list of his accomplishments
As I thought about writing this blog on Cyril, I calculated how old Cyril was back in 1972. If he is 88 years old in 2010, he was born in 1922. In 1972 he was only 50 years old (that’s younger than I). I remember the solid, graceful, unassuming disposition of the man with his equally-matched wife sitting together against the window that looked across the street towards another row of homes along the beachfront. Listening to Cyril speak during this presentation, I still experience the power of his soul and personality now as even then. Of course, there are a few more aging lines, some weight to his shoulders and his speaking abilities have slown down a bit, yet he continues to begin his presentation, as usual, with a “funny” – something to chuckle about as we settle in to what he is about to lead us into.
A "Wolf" Chilkat robe woven by the late Jennie Thlunaut, watches over audience members Irene Cadiente, Ronalda Cadiente, Ethel Lund, Selina Everson, Nora and Dick Dauenhauer
Cyril presented historical accounts and clan stories of the bombardment of Angoon over 150 years ago. He mentioned there was a documentary film created about this event. I looked about the room and wondered how many of us could understand and feel the grief carried through generations to the present day. I believe none of us in the room could truly relate to an entire village being destroyed because we haven’t experienced anything personally to that magnitude in our lifetime…(yet!)
Many scholars, students, artists and locals - just enough room for everyone to have a seat - except for Clay Good!
The Juneau Empire ran a story about Cyril’s presentation. Apparently, there were many responses to the article on line whereby a few readers were irritated at the “old history” that needed to be “gotten over.” This lead to folks becoming offended. You may read at: http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/121410/loc_756389469.shtml
SHI's Videographer Kathy Dye has been taping all the Native American Heritage Month's lectures sponsored by Sealaska Heritage Institute - you may visit SHI's website for more info.
Tlingit writer/performer Ishmael Hope wrote an excellent personal bio on Cyril George. Ishmael is always worth reading. Ishmael says things the way that I didn’t know I could say them but wanted to say it that way too. I encourage you to read his blog entry on Cyril at: http://alaskanativestoryteller.com/blog/
