Oct 26, 2010 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Honoring Others, North Tide |
Poster designed by Paul Gardenier and Jackie Manning
The Juneau names of streets are like any in other American towns. We’ve numbered streets, the Main street, and Front street. Then as the town expanded, the streets were named after prominent figures in the community like Egan Drive and Willoughby Avenue. As many of you know, Egan Drive was named after Governor Bill Egan who I believe served 2 terms from the late 60’s into the mid 70’s. I wondered about Willoughby; I thought he too was a political figurehead from the turn of the century: not!
Local librarian, independent historian and storyteller, Mark Whitman
Richard “Dick” Willoughby was a gold prospector originally from Missouri. Gold panning his way up the West Coast from California through Vancouver Island area, he arrived in Juneau in the late 1800s and made his fortunes. Who was this character? There is no one alive today who knew this character; he died in 1902. However, through the research of local historian, librarian and storyteller Mark Whitman, Juneauites were treated to Mark’s several years of researching factual accounts about Willoughby compiled into 2 hours of historical, fascinating and sometimes comical, storytelling.
A photo of Juneau' waterfront in the late 1800's shows where Willoughby's home was located
Mark’s presentation left the audience hanging at the end of each sentence – I literally experienced sitting at the edge of my seat. He accompanied his storytelling with a display of Willoughby’s banjo, a few invented percussion instruments, a compiled document listing all of Willoughby’s mining claims along the West Coast on up to Juneau, and a fascinating Power Point Presentation of archival images of Willoughby’s family images from Missouri, his West Coast mining claims and photos of his home in early Juneau (at the base of Telephone Hill in almost the exact spot of Dan DeRoux’s recent art installation at the new public transportation facility). We discovered this man was not just a miner, he was also a musician and storyteller who could bamboozle his audiences with first-hand experiences and tall tales.
Mark Whitman presents a document listing all of Willoughby's mining claims
Mark touched upon the subject of the social/political effects of the non-Native miners who “married” Tlingit women (until the non-Native women arrived, and then some of the miner’s “returned” to their “own kind” as Willoughby eventually had). This was a very interesting aspect to his presentation because my maternal grandmother’s older sister was married to Joe Juneau’s partner, Richard Harris. Did you know that Juneau was once named Harrisburg? I surmise because Harris was married to a Native woman, a T’akDeinTaan clan member from Hoonah, he lost his credentials to his own people. The locals could not support the town’s name being Harrisburg because this would acknowledge Harris’ “half breed” children who would have equal rights and privileges, and back then, this was unheard of, and definitely unacceptable. Of course, to appear as though there was ever any discrimination in the town’s image that it wants to portray, there is probably another explanation of why this town’s name was changed from Harrisburg to Juneau. The name change in itself probably has many a tall tale to tell; it’s part of Juneau’s “color.”
Understand I appreciate the “good works” of the bureaucratic approach to solve the “problems” of Juneau, yet Juneau has lost its public display of “colorful” characters. We have been “tempered” and seduced into a certain image. Have we have lost touch with a truth about our image as a whole.; or has it just shifted into something else?
In my lifetime, I remember certain characters who once graced our town with their interesting personalities (those of us who are at least 40+ years may also remember them.) We no longer have characters like town drunk, Henry, nor the legless, Tlingit Horace Marks, the brilliant, eccentric politician Belle Blue, the elderly walking couple of Mr. & Mrs. Cashen, the Alaska Home-Health Aide Service director, Dove Kull or the Admiralty Island bear man, Stan Price. (Even our Governor Bill Egan was a commoner with the locals at the Triangle Bar). I could say not one of these characters were harmful to the general public. As children, we weren’t afraid of these folks; their characters and the very fact that they were amongst us were accepted as the norm. Their obvious tragedies and/or accomplishments added to the human aspects of our society; they each contributed to the “Alaskan” experience in their own special way. Their multi-faceted characters were out in the open; this dynamic lent itself to the very human quality and character of Juneau.
For almost 40 years I lived in downtown Juneau. I no longer live downtown, but I still do business at the downtown stores, restaurants and banks. During my walks through town, I cannot say I am aware of any real “characters.” On occasion I’ll recognize someone. On occasion there will be someone getting thrown out of a bar. Yet, there are no longer “consistent” contributions to our unique, Alaskan society. All seems so bland. How come we have seemingly become sterile?
Recalling the early years following the oil money in the mid to late 70’s, local politicians wanted to create a certain “clean” image for the arrival of the thousands of tourists they were anticipating from the increasing number of enormous tour ships. Politicians proposed to “clean up the act” and erase the “unsightly” aspects of downtown; to name a few such as “Wino Alley”, moved the lower class from downtown and provided “low income housing” near the Juneau Garbage Dump/Land Fill and created the Glory Hole for the homeless. During the “tourist season” we now have a sterile downtown Juneau – flowery, painted and paved – alive and bustling for 5 months of the year with strangers from around the world, to dull and lifeless for 7 months (especially the South end of South Franklin Street!). Maybe I am the only one with this perspective; maybe I’m the only one wearing dull, lifeless glasses. Maybe all our characters are indoors watching other characters on YouTube.
Local musicians Bob Banghart on fiddle, and Jack Fontanella on banjo were the live “soundtrack” for Mark Whitman’s presentation. This production was held at and sponsored by, the Alaska State Museum in Juneau. This is the same location where the Alaska Folk Festival began its musical roots almost 37 years ago in 1974. There is no comparison between the number of musicians in this country to the number of performing storytellers, yet wouldn’t it be a fine thing to help promote the art of storytelling by the creation of an Alaskan storytelling festival? The stories could be told by a one-man show, or various theatrical styles (mime, speaking actors, etc.), with a live “sound track” by a musician or an entire orchestra. The evening of stories could be held in a variety of venues (starting at the Alaska State Museum?), indoors in a coffee shop, outdoors around a fire, hosted in someone’s large living room? (Can you tell Mark Whitman’s presentation on Willoughby was an inspiration?)
Alaska still has a unique character; could it be that we’ve been molded, shaped, and evolved into a more “controlled” society reflecting a change – a transition from individually-known characters to group-characters that reflect the diverse nature of each individual town? We have groups that never existed 40 or even 30 years ago such as the Montessori School, the Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau-Jazz and Classics, Arts & Humanities Councils, Juneau Dance Unlimited, Habitat for Humanities, Alaskans for Life, and the Raptor Center to name a few. Why we could add another group character called the Alaskan Storytelling Festival? Maybe Alaska’s colorful history is now defined in organized groups outnumbering the more colorful, outstanding, characters of today such as Sarah Palin?
Oct 25, 2010 | For Crying Out Loud, Health and Wellness, Honoring Others, North Tide |
the first cut into the shoulder of the caribou
Maintaining our subsistence rights in Alaska has always been a struggle since the conflict of interest and values between the Indigenous and Western peoples. The struggle to maintain our subsistence hunting/fishing right is always a big topic during the AFN (Alaska Federation of Natives) Convention, held annually the third weekend in October. Every year, somewhere in Alaska, we lose a right, or the rules have become tighter or a new rule has been created by the State of Alaska Fish and Game. Every year there is less and less of gathering and rights; more and more restrictions and laws. And there are always vague excuses as to why the indigenous peoples are the ones who must be controlled when we are the ones who take the least numbers of whatever the food is that the State of Alaska (or the Federal government) is trying to control. So we must work within the confinements of the laws, lest we be judged and thrown in jail with a big fine; yet somehow we continue to survive with the bare minimum of the foods we love, that we grew up with, and the various kinds of nourishment we receive.
"filleting" the shoulder blade of the caribou
I have been allergic to red meat all my life, however on occasion, when I have never tasted an indigenous meat, I will make an exception, foregoing the known repercussions that shall follow within a few hours later after consumption. I want to experience what I do not know. Today, I had the opportunity to have my first taste of caribou up here in Anchorage. Friend John went caribou hunting with his sister and husband; they brought home three. John proceeded with an all-day process of cutting up the parts of the big animals and hanging the various sections in the smokehouse and in his tool shed. In the process, he of course saved all of the organs, including the stomach and it’s protective layer.
The caribou heart valves (this does not show the heart)
I remember my grandmother and grandfather bringing home seal, skinning it, stretching the hide, and then cutting up the meat. When my father went deer hunting, he would have all of the skinning and cutting of the meat completed before he brought it home, so I never got to see the entire process of preparing the meat for storage and immediate consumption. This evening, I had an excellent educational experience regarding the caribou. One by one, Steven carefully cleaned each organ and asked me to guess each part. I guessed most of the parts except the stomach lining, and this other thing that I cannot remember the name of but it resembled a stomach full of what looked like mud with flexible strands stretched from one side of the organ to the other; each strand had rows of tiny “teeth” – Steven figured it was the organ that could grind up twigs and branches, digesting them to a fine mud.
Caribou stomach stretched out shows an intricate texture
Margaret fried the thinly-sliced cuts of caribou in olive oil. I agree with John and Margaret, caribou tastes better than chicken, although it contains no protein, which is why the indigenous people add another protein like bacon to the meal. After eating a part of this animal, I began to think about our indigenous lives being whittled down to almost nothing. Most of us have become quite American. It made me think about the various kinds of diseases that have come about us especially since the restrictions on our lifestyle and life ways, and with the introduction of another kind of lifestyle with once-foreign and now everyday “life-taking” foods, values and certain levels of greed, fear and jealousy.
Let’s talk about one of the big fearful words: Cancer. It had not become a household word until the past couple of decades; many relatives, friends and community members have been diagnosed with cancer and diabetes, leading us to what I call “pre-mature” deaths. Most of these folk were healthy and strong. What happened? Our exclusion of indigenoous foods in our diet and the lack of “natural” exercise?
Caribou stomach
I remember my grandparents talking about the “3 staples” to purchase at the general store: white flour, sugar and coffee. Research has shown these three things have contributed to many of our physical, mental and emotional diseases; Obesity, schizophrenia, high-blood pressure, heart disease are included. The prevalence of all these diseases in our Native communities has risen drastically in the past 40 years; were these disease terms even present in our Native vocabulary? Did we have a word for cancer? I know we did not have one for Diabetes because I know we did not have sugar in our traditional diet. What can we do to eliminate the diseases that have become prevalent in our society?
I suggest two approaches: !) “natural” exercise and 2) the elimination, or at least the minimal use of flour, sugar and coffee, would lessen the level of, or even be ridden of these diseases. What is my definition of “natural” exercise?
three caribou tongues
In our modern world, we define exercise to include running, power walking, yoga, aerobics, and weight-lifting to name a few. These are activities we do before or after our 9-to-5 jobs. However, in our Native way of life, there is no separation between our physical exercise, our psychological well-being, spirituality, livelihood, and how we gather our food sources, maintain shelter, fetch water and create clothing. We exercise while gathering and harvesting food and supplies from the land and sea. We naturally exercise while stepping through the thick underbrush and uneven terrain while berry-picking. We naturally lift weights while fishing and hunting. We naturally climb as we gather cedar bark for our weavings. We naturally do aerobics during any of our subsistence ways; all the while we are in touch with Nature, who is our best healer for heart, mind, body and spirit. And because we lack physical connection to our Mother and to our food sources and supplies, we have become naturally unhealthy; like what did we expect!? During our conversation about this topic, Steven reminds us: “Why are we crossing this street?”
Most of the washed inner organs of three caribou lay side-by-side
Why eliminate the coffee, sugar and white flour? Figure it out. Research the negative effects these foreign foods have had in our lives.
For most of us, our natural Native ways of being healthy have gone by the wayside. We have indulged in the seductive, tasty and comfortable ways of living in the Western methods of daily existence; we have chosen to live within the Western monetary system; we chose to buy things creating weights and clutter up our lives in many more ways than one. Over the years, these unnatural patterns have become engrained in us creating dis-ease. However, we know our soul yearns to be in touch with our innate, wild selves; that part of us who enjoys the beauty and bounty the wilderness provides, the part of us who becomes challenged to maintain a state of balance and wellness in all ways.
We can learn to balance and integrate the best of both the Western and Native ways of being and doing by returning to our food source and eliminating the three harmful foods of the Western mainstream; this is large part of our definition of being a “modern” Alaska Native while maintaining traditions. As individuals and members of clans, how do we learn to “accentuate” our traditions and customs while moving into this 21st Century? How do we continue our subsistence harvest living within a government who restricts and/or eliminates our rights to our indigenuity?
John, his sister and her husband went caribou hunting. They brought back three caribou. They cut it up, had a meal where we savored each bite, and the next couple of days, all the caribou were hand-delivered to friends and relatives from as far north as Talkeetna, Wasilla, Palmer and Anchorage, to the Kenai Penninsula’s Soldotna, Ninilchik and Homer. Sharing the catch and sharing the bountifulness of our great land is a value still continued amongst many families and relatives in Alaska; it’s a staple of our wellness of being; it’s how we survive. As in the words of my father, the late William Lampe: “…you share food, you share everything… – you don’t share you food, you share nothing!”
Oct 18, 2010 | Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
SueAnn Randall with Amelie, Ursala and Chris
Last week, Ursala was reminiscing about a childhood spent in the late 80’s and 90’s with the Lager family out at their home past 8-mile North Douglas road. Our families grew up together. Last Monday, as we were sightseeing near Outer Point, on our way back to town we invited ourselves to SueAnn and Gene Randall’s home. We were treated to a houseful of treasures. I had no intentions of taking photos for this blog until seeing all the pottery SueAnn had hand-built. I first met SueAnn in 1971; she had just moved up from Seattle. Over the years we not only shared motherhood, we also shared similar interests in art, music and performance; I always felt SueAnn was a natural-born artist. She’s talented in designing and sewing costumes, creating soft sculptures and puppets – in fact she used to perform puppet shows locally – she is also a calligraphy artist and an illustrator. Over the past 10 years or so, she has gotten into pottery which I had not seen until now. Below are a few photos of some of her pottery in her house and in her garden, her collection of miniature treasures, the discoveries of collections I had not ever seen, and a few natural amenities like fresh chicken eggs (that we got to bring home)!
An Alaskan Buddha
Windows lined with color
Ceramic Bird and Colored glass
Giving a hand
The miniature world of wooden Totem poles and Japanese Kokeshi dolls
SueAnn's home in miniature
Russian dolls
SueAnn's hand-pinched pottery
Ceramic eggs and then some!
Ceramic Happiness amidst his followers
La Marimba
The Memorial Piano
Ceramics in SueAnn's sculptural garden appear small in these photos, but they are actually size-able!
Womb-man bowl in SueAnn's garden
Womb-man ceramic bowl
Garden symbol
Alaskan chickens
Fresh eggs in the coup
Tree house
Sep 24, 2010 | For Crying Out Loud, Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
Penny Schrader and Agnes Bellinger at the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego in November 2005
This evening I discovered a dear friend, Penny Schrader passed away in August; she was 57. I thought I was going to continue weaving on this Chilkat robe this evening, but I cannot. I’m distracted; I’m distraught. I had to find anything and everything that I had on my laptop regarding Penny. I re-read every email between Penny and I over the past 5 years. The last time we saw one another was last year, just briefly at Rainbow Foods where she was working – we promised one another we would get together for tea before we each headed back to the Southwest. It never happened; we just continued to email one another. Last year she looked as she did in these old photos I am including in this blog entry. However, I discovered that her health failed drastically the past year. She is another person in my life who has been claimed by cancer in the colon. I am @#$%^&*! pissed off at this colon cancer crap. Can you tell I am angry? And I have been so caught up in my own dramatics, I didn’t even know there was a memorial service held for her here in Juneau on September 4th – like where the heck have I been? Obviously, with my head up my own ass!
Meredith, Penny and I in the garden at the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego, November 2005
Meredith, Penny and I - Optimum Health Institute, San Diego
I recall one day when a friend of Agnes’ and a Chilkat weaving student and fellow clan member, Elaine Etukeok came to visit Agnes while we were at OHI. I have not found the photograph of Agnes, Elaine and I, taken by Penny. But if I do, I’ll post it here. It is odd, now that I think of it. All three of these women, Penny, Agnes and Elaine have all passed away in the past 4 years. First Agnes in February 2006, then Elaine in August 2008, and now Penny in August 2010. It looks like I am next? Of course, I’m the last one left of these 4 women of that particular day; and like everybody else, we’re gonna die, get used to it. Life is short, folks. I have been stepping on the gas most of my entire life. I’ve got lots done with a few more things to do. However, if I go tomorrow, just know I’ve lived a very full life. And I am very sorry to hear a lovely love has passed away; she enjoyed life like a flower, soaking up all the rain and sun there ever was!
I’ve included the following obituary posted from the Juneau Empire:
Former Juneau resident Penny Lynn Schrader passed from this world surrounded by family on Aug. 16, 2010, after an extended illness.
Penny was born on Aug. 1, 1953 in Bakersfield, Calif. and blossomed into a gentle spirit in love with nature. She first came to Alaska to work in a cannery, then returned south. But the lure of the wild drew her back, and when she found the fjords and islands of Juneau in 1985, she put down roots and made it her home. There she birthed a lovely girl into the hands of a midwife. Two years later, a boy completed her family and she immersed herself in the ever-learning and growing experience of parenting.
She shared her connectedness with the natural world with her young ones through camping, gardening, berry picking, mountain climbs and endless beach walks. She always prioritized making herself available to them in their formative years, working selected hours at the Silverbow and Fiddlehead Restaurants, where she made many close friends who widened her web of caring. Later, she shared her love of children by working in the schools, then joined Catholic Community Services, helping young families with their many challenges.
As her own family matured and her daughter moved into the wider world to explore and get her education, Penny began to look for how to take care of herself and her changing health needs. She received extensive training about raw foods, and returned to the land of sunshine, settling into the cozy community of Patagonia, Ariz. This was an excellent move for both her health and her son’s education. They thrived there for many peaceful years until her illness’ discomfort became more than all of everyone’s efforts could relieve.
Penny was a creative spirit. She performed in the Perseverance Theatre production of “The Birds,” sang in the folk festival and made paper from natural materials. She sewed for the theater and had a small seamstress business.
One of her most exquisite pieces she displayed herself in the 2005 Wearable Arts Show, entitled “Turning 50, Shedding the ‘if onlys’ and Heading Towards the Light.” She was carried on stage attached to a sculpture of driftwood, wrapped in a cocoon made from grandad’s drapes, and emerged dramatically, spreading wide wings of recycled wedding dress lace, embellished with giant fall ferns and delicate seaweed and swept toward a firechild friend, in love with life and full of hope.
Her quote, read as she danced down the runway was, “If only there weren’t any ‘if onlys.’ You are invited to participate in the shedding of your ‘if onlys.’ If only I could get out of this tight spot, and spread my wings and fly.” Penny has finally flown free. Those who loved her will miss her dearly.
Penny is preceded in death by her parents and sister and is survived by her beloved children, Shalom Schrader of Juneau and Philip Cahill of Tuscon, her husband Brian Cahill of Juneau, and numerous friends and relations who will long remember her loving soul and sweet spirit. A gathering of Juneau friends will be held from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the home of Frances Still (364-3406) with a beach fire, weather permitting.
Sep 15, 2010 | Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
Four Generations: Irene Lampe, Clarissa Rizal, Elizabeth Hope, Lily Hudson
Our mother calls the shots on Sunday. We know not to make big plans for Sunday mornings because we know that Mom is gonna be calling up the day before and say “…let’s have breakfast at Donna’s…it’s my treat.” Sometimes our cousins, the Belarde girls and their families attend. Sometimes sisters Jean and Deanne; other times it’s just brothers Rick and Tim. This time it’s a combination that hasn’t ever happened before…
Irene calls for another Sunday morning breakfast at Donna's: Betty, Lily, Ishmael, Dee, Rick, Dan, Mom...and I (not pictured cuz I'm taking the photo)
I hadn’t ever noticed how much my mother enjoys her meals more when someone is eating with her – huh? – the simplest of things that go unawares for many years until a person’s life gets simplified! She doesn’t want much anymore. She just appreciates her every breath at hand. And because it was another rare, sunny day in Juneau, she wanted to put flowers on the graves, to visit the memories of her mother, brothers, niece, sister and husband, knowing that any day she will be joining them.
Beautiful grave roses
Three weeks before my father passed away in Decmeber 2008, my father requested that we put 5 red roses on his grave in memory of him along with his 4 best friends who were blown to smithereens in a tank during World War II in the Phillipines. Dad said he would have been in that tank had he been accepted into the Phillipine Army – but because he was an inch too short, he was not accepted into the army.
Our brother Richard Lampe with our mother Irene Lampe visiting graves at the Alaska Memorial Park on Riverside Drive
How many middle-aged men do you know who take care of their mother full-time? Our brother Rick has been taking care of Mom since our father’s passing almost two years ago.
Our grandparents' graves, Mary Wilson Sarabia and Juan Sarabia
Our Mother Irene says she'll be laying next to Dad someday...
Sep 13, 2010 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Andy Cadiente, Ben Quick, Arnold Haube, Betty Marvin and Rick Hutseson
Do you know any of these people? Did you know they knew how to play the guitar? – Half of these folks I did not recognize, the other half, well, I had no idea they played music! Like where have I been?
Familiar faces in Southeast Alaskan towns is a given. Depending on the town, some of us are related to everyone! If you are a public figure head, then everyone knows or at least recognizes you, even if you are the town clown or the town drunk. Then there are those of us who are independent and reclusive; few people remember our face – (now listen up people, I’m not necessarily referring to me!)
Andy Cadiente and Ben Quick
Sealaska Heritage Institute sponsored a Native Guitarist Jam on Monday, August 30th from 5-7pm at the Old Armory, now called the JACC (Juneau Arts and Culture Center). The poster design caught my eye a couple of weeks before the event. The poster had a Tlingit design by Preston Singletary on the front of the guitar. (The colors of the poster and the concept of a Native design on a guitar reminded me of the poster that my Ex designed and silk-screened for an Archie Cavanaugh performance back in the 80’s. In fact, Archie will be using this design concept for his second album to be released soon this Fall/Winter.) The poster for this event too was quite striking and intriguing – “Native Guitarist Jam?” What’s that? Huh? – On a Monday late afternoon? Huh?
Just the event title alone was enough of an impetus let alone a Monday and a late afternoon? Later, I figured that the event was accommodating to the Alaska Summit conference held next door at the Centennial Hall? I’m not sure, I’m just guessing.
(Hey, how come it took an entire 2 weeks before this event was posted to this blog? Cuz my laptop would not receive my photo disc because it said there was “an error” so I had to take it to Fred Meyers to get the photos onto a disc and just how often do I go to Fred Meyers? And hey, I’m a busy girl, so there. No more excuses.)
Cyril George plays a jazz riff
I first met Cyril George in Angoon when I was 16 on a Totem Center youth trip led by Gilbert Lucero back in the Fall of ’72. I’ve known him in the context of Native leadership in culture and politics. What a surprise: I had no idea he could play the guitar.
Andy Cadiente
And did I know the Cadiente family had another older brother – like where does he stand in the long line of service-oriented Cadiente’s?
George Paul Gospel singers include his wife, Verna with back up from Ben Quick, Arnold Haube and Betty Marvin
Betty Marvin explained to the audience that the group had only practiced together 3 times before this public performance. Even as modest a venue and crowd, they were brave to share their music.
Arnold Haube and Betty Marvin
An appreciative audience
Matriarch Irene Cadiente and some members of her family
An estimate of 150 folks showed up for this first-time event. Rosita Worl, Executive Director for the sponsoring organization Sealaska Heritage Institute, would like to make this an annual event, and include other Native musicians locally, regionally and nationwide. Well, you just never know. I remember how the Alaska Folks Festival got started back in 1974 at the Alaska State Museum; it was a one-night, 2-hour gig with about 8 local acts. My Ex and I were one of the acts. So ya just never know how big something may get; if you have a strong personality with a strong vision who is organized and who can gather up a bunch of volunteers, that’s all it takes to expand. Rosita has it all.
Rosita Worl, Executive Director of Sealaska Heritage Institute thanks all the guitarists
Many thanks to Rosita and her staff at the Sealaska Heritage Institute for introducing these closet musicians to this community. I feel it’s just the beginning!
Sep 10, 2010 | Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
Japanese artist Julia Sai Carlson assists Robin Putnam on a wall mural in Telluride, Colorado
For 6 months in 2005, Julia Sai Carlson apprenticed with me in learning Ravenstail weaving and button-robe making. She initially contacted me via email from across the ocean in Japan. Of course, I receive all kinds of emails from people who want to learn Chilkat weaving or button robe making, but very few actually follow through and so my initial response from Julia was “yeah, sure…”
Since the end of our apprenticeship, she has been attending the California School of Arts and Crafts, going for her BFA degree, where she recently met her present boyfriend, Robin Putnam. Robin has been working on a painted wall mural for the town of Telluride, a small town in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Last weekend they had the unveiling of the mural. You may read the article at: http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2010/08/27/news/doc4c770ee308c6b873224608.txt
Robin and Julia
I am proud of Julia; she is living her dream of becoming a full-time artist. What I want for her, I want for my own children, I want for anyone including myself: to live their life to the fullest in living their dream(s). I treat Julia like one of my own kids – just can’t help that when a youngster comes to live for 6 months and just about does everything I do and travels everywhere I go. In those six months that she was with me, she helped keep the house clean, the garden weeded, and helped keep my ex in line. She traveled with our family to visit my parents in Alaska; she traveled with family to spend a week with my in-laws vacationing in Hawaii; she traveled with me when we took a side trip to visit the Navajo weavers at Toadlena Trading Post near Shiprock, New Mexico. She was my side-kick for 6 months! The last time I had that was with my youngest child, Ursala – until she went to public school in the 3rd/4th grade.
Robin and Julia each have their own websites. You may visit Julia’s website at: http://juliasaicarlson.web.fc2.com/ You may visit Robin’s website at: http://www.robinputnam.com/
Sep 9, 2010 | Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
The soft light of Irene Loling Sarabia Lampe
As many of us have experienced, or are presently experiencing, it is not easy watching our parents get older. It’s not easy for them either. Remembering my weaving teacher, Jennie Thlunaut’s words back in 1985 when she was 95: “…don’t get too old! Don’t get too old!” As she was trying to get up off the couch, “You cannot get up,…or walk anymore!” As she looked out at all of her students her thick glasses made her look like an owl: “…you cannot see anymore…!” She struggled with her false teeth flapping in her mouth: “…you cannot even talk anymore…!”
Two nights ago my sister and I were in sitting with our mother, Irene Loling Sarabia Lampe. At one point, Mom said the same thing as Jennie. She also said she is getting tired of living and just wants to go now. We don’t blame her. Since our father passed in December 2008, our mother has sorely missed him; this of course, has made her living a little bit less palatable. They were married almost 54 years.
My mother was the youngest in her family. After the passing of her brother Robert Sarabia and her sister Sue Belarde over 10 years ago, she remarked that she was the only one left in her family; she felt very alone. Yet, just a year before the passing of our father, my parents got to experience the birth of their first great-grandchild, Elizabeth Deanna Hope. Then 6 months later, they met their 2nd grand-daughter, Violet Sol Hudson. I hadn’t seen that kind of happiness since my own children were born. My mother will meet the next grand-daughter, Amelie Soleil Haas next month as she will be here for a two-week visit with her parents. We look forward to the celebration.
My Mamma naps and dreams of another time and place where she is no longer slow, bent and in pain
Out of the sky blue, my mother asked me when I’m going to cut my hair. I told her “after you are gone..” She curtly replies “Why are you going to wait until AFTER I am gone!? I want to see it now! I want to see all the curls you once had when you were a little babe…!”
Sep 3, 2010 | Honoring Others, North Tide |
Juneau artist Arnie Weimer stands aboard his scaffolding at 2nd St & Gold
What kind of normal people would work in Juneau weather? Laborers, gardeners, construction crew, long shoremen, city maintenance folks,…and, and…artists? I can’t say I know very many Juneau artists who are willing to design and paint an art installation entirely outdoors. I’m sorry folks, but Juneau’s weather gets to me; unless of course, I am working in the weather, then for whatever the psychological/emotional reasons, I can stand the constant rain.
Hey, what is this photo essay about? Juneau’s weather or Arnie Weimer’s latest endeavor!? Gadzooks, get on with it!
What’s Arnie doing this mural for? What’s the name of it? Why is he doing it? Who commissioned him? Or is this mural a donation to the city because the big wall needed some action? What’s the story on this mural? Who is Arnie, anyway?
A few dabs of paint while he poses for this photo
Obviously, the mural portrays aspects of Juneau’s diverse cultural history (i.e. miners, totem poles, fishing vessels and “no parking” signs. I think I’ll give Arnie a call and get some info, eh? Or would you like to respond with answers?
Last of the traditional Chilkat weavers Jennie Thlunaut
Arnie included his boat from long past in this fishing scene
The mural measures 20 ft. high by 120 ft. wide
Rain or shine, Arnie plugs along
Sep 1, 2010 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The silent auction included art prints, Native foods baskets, jewelry, overnights for 2 at various local hotels, and a couple of Pendleton blankets!
Last Friday, August 27th, a fundraiser dinner was held at the ANB Hall in Juneau, for cancer patients Clarence Jackson and Barbara Fields. The fundraising efforts included a Chinese and Silent Auction, of course topped of with a salmon/spaghetti dinner which included herring egg salad, steamed rice and fresh rolls, served to a hungry group of 250+ folks who just got off of work at 4:30pm.
I apologize for not taking any photographs of the food – I was too busy eating, and by the time i thought of taking photos of the food, it was too late! (Come on you guys, you know I like taking photographs of food, right!?) I think my mother and sister got full on the herring egg salad, so they couldn’t eat the fresh sockeye salmon – I got to take their portions home…ah, the benefits for just being there!
A Chinese auction included 2 sets of Alaska Airline tickets, a painted bentwood box, and a huge box of subsistence foods from Angoon!
Mayor Jan Hill from Haines, won the 1st set of Alaska Airlines tickets for two!
Young dancers performed for the audience
How much money was raised during this event? I don’t know. Yet, it was a good feeling to see the large number of folks who came out to help support both Clarence and Barbara in their journey towards healing themselves of cancer.
