Oct 9, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Book cover of Stanton Englehart’s “A Life on Canvas” published by the Spiralbound Studio Publishing in Durango, Colorado — Detail of Stanton’s painting entitled “Season on the Plateau”
Last week, when Dan, his parents and I were in the Toh-Atin Gallery of Native American Art in Durango, I came across this book and said to Dan that I totally admire this guy’s paintings; over the past few years every time I’ve seen this man’s work, just makes my heart pitter-patter…and I know that when I feel that feeling, it’s called love.
And then without even opening the book, I said to Dan “…can you show me what is your favorite piece of art in this gallery…?” (I asked him that because every time Dan and I go to an art show, an art fair, an art market, or to any gallery, anywhere, we always like the same exact piece(s) of art…!” So Dan led me directly to a large painting towards the back of the Toh-Atin gallery above a stairwell. Low and behold, it was a Stanton Englehart—! What did I tell ya!? After checking out the rest of the gallery art works in Navajo rugs, jewelry, pottery, sculpture and other paintings, again, Dan and I like the same exact piece of art picked out of thousands in a gallery! So of course, I had to buy the book because I will study every painting in this book and Stanton’s painting style will influence my next set of paintings!
Stanton’s paintings are not acrylics on canvas; they are oil on canvas. My daughter Ursala, who has been working in oil paintings for the past couple of years since her classes at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, has been encouraging me to drop acrylics and go into oils. I will do so after I use up my $500 worth of acrylic paints; I refuse to let them go to waste!
Who is Stanton Englehart? Stanton is a dedicated prolific artist for over 50 years. He is a celebrated painter of the landscapes of the Colorado Plateau. Englehart’s vision has been carried worldwide. His vividly hued paintings are held in collections in Germany, Canada and across the U.S.
He is known for his passion as an educator. Throughout his thirty-year teaching career at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, Engleheart inspired students and faculty alike. Upon his retirement, he was granted the title of Professor Emeritus of Art.
This book project was initiated by the Durango Arts Center and brought into print by Durango-based Spiralbound Studio Publishing in association with the Ft. Lewis College Foundation. Proceeds from book sales will benefit the Stanton Englehart Scholarship Fund for art students at Ft. Lewis College.
Oct 8, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Clarissa Rizal weaving the “Resilience” Chilkat robe she designed and wove, recently completed in June 2014
LET IT BE KNOWN WORLD-WIDE:
I am willing to do A TRADE for property with a cabin/home off of Mud Bay Road in Haines, Alaska for a Chilkat robe woven by me. Let’s get creative with terms, robe would be on commission basis designed by me OR a reproduction of an old robe. If your property is worth more than a standard-size Chilkat robe, maybe you would consider trading for an entire woven ensemble (robe, apron, leggings, headdress)…like I said, we can be creative with our negotiations.
I am serious about doing this trade; I ain’t getting any younger and it’s time for me to get my act together in our beloved Haines! If you are interested in this trade or you know of someone who may be interested, contact me on Facebook (under Clarissa Rizal), or email me here at: clarissa@www.clarissarizal.com or call my cell at: 970-903-8386 (and yes, 970 is indeed the correct area code).
Thank you very much for your keeping me and this trade in mind!
Oct 6, 2014 | Tools-of-the-Trade |
One of my weaving apprentices recently turned me on to the best lamp for weaving…the V-Light!
I appreciate the fact that the best light in the world for weaving Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving is this lamp: the V-Light ! I was turned on to this lamp via one of my students this past Summer; holy moly, this light makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!!! I purchased this lamp at Office Max. Every time I go into any store that sells lamps, I am always check to see if they carry this particular brand and model, nothing else comes close! If there were two or three of these lamps at Office Max, i would have bought all of them!
Oct 5, 2014 | Class Act, Latest Art Projects, Relationship Overdrive, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
4-year-old Amelie Soleil Haas spins Chilkat warp on her thigh for the first time
For the past two days, Amelie has come into Grandma Rissy’s studio and has seen me splitting cedar bark, getting it all ready to begin spinning yards of warp for my next projects. Amelie tried her hand at splitting bark last week, and to my surprise she was darn good adept at it. Today, she surprised me even more when she asked if she could spin the warp, to which of course I said “sure, why not?” and I only had to show her one time and gave her all the pointers like I do my weaving students, and voile’ she was a natural ! She spun like she had been doing it all her life (only 4 years!). I don’t know if I felt so much pride in my life…! Then again, she IS my grand-daughter and I suppose that’s what Grandmas are supposed to feel like!
Clarissa is touching the large coil of cedar bark BEFORE it is split into the thin strips as shown
After I cook all the sap out of the cedar bark, I split the coils of cedar into very fine strips. Each fine strip is then spun with the wool on our thighs to create the warp (the verticle-hanging yarns on the weaving loom). It took me 26 hours to split about a pound of cedar bark; I did it in 2.5 days…(while watching a Netflix television series, of course!). Watching a movie or television series, helps me to “getterdun!”
Oct 4, 2014 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Chilkat and Raventail weaver Lily Hope, and carver silversmith Wayne Price – Adaka Festival – Whitehorse, Yukon– June 2014
My daughter Lily Hope did a wonderful presentation on Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving at the Clan Conference in Juneau, Alaska in November 2013. Watch the 45-minute youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x-BcKuMwPI
Oct 2, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, To See or Not to See |
Our shadows inside the house walls at Mesa Verde, Colorado
Yesterday, Dan, his parents and I took a day trip to Mesa Verde National Park in the Four Corners area of Southwest Colorado. We had a pleasant afternoon drive with a picnic interrupted by a band of black clouds backed by cold winds at the highest point of the Mesa at about 8,700 feet. We resumed our picnic at lower elevation in amongst the pinon and juniper trees.
The village ruins are tucked under a massive cliff…!
I hadn’t been to Mesa Verda since the first time in Summer 1989 on my return move back to Alaska from spending a couple of years in New Mexico. About 10 years ago there were many major fires that swept through the Four Corners region; Mesa Verde was not immune. Though as we drove through the 20-mile drive up to the “Spruce Tree” ruins (which are pictured here), it was amazing how the landscape had been making a come-back; how forgiving is our Earth — the forest continued to grow regardless of the skeletal remains of the burnt trees. Because I am a natural-born harvester, I kept thinking about how much the dead trees were just going to rot; there was so much firewood to collect!
The switch-back path leading down to the “Spruce Tree” mesa is just as interesting and well-engineered as the ancient ruins…!
A park ranger’s shadow during sunset…
A restored kiva — place of ceremony…
