Aug 11, 2012 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Latest Art Projects, North Tide, Showing Off, To Market To Market |
Blending recycled papers to pour into the paper casting bath while granddaughter pays attention(?)
15 years ago, I made a button blanket ceremonial robe in honor of a fellow clan member, J.B.(short for John Bruce) Fawcett from Hoonah, Alaska, who passed away in the mid-80’s. The robe was called “A Robe to Capture the Passion of Our Tears” made of paper feathers sewn to a blanket of handwoven raw silk adorned with a painted leather capelet. While moving back into my studio last Winter, I found my feather papermaking frames and told myself that I would begin making paper feathers once again. So here I am 15 years later making paper feathers for the Santa Fe Indian Market this coming weekend of August 18th & 19th.
Submerging the feather frames in the paper bath
Just in case you are in Santa Fe during this coming weekend, my booth number is 283PAL which is one of the 10′ x 10′ booths on Palace Avenue which is located between Washington and Cathdral Streets. When you head East on Palace from where all the local Natives sell their wares year around, my booth is on the right. Come by and pluck a feather; they will be available for sale starting first thing in the morning by 7am at the 91st Annual Santa Fe Indian Market!
Placing “leftover” cedar bark strips as the central “vein” of the feather
Handcrafted paper press
After pressing the stack of feathers (that are placed on cloth sheets), Clarissa pulls up each sheet of feathers to dry in the sun.
Once feathers are dry, Clarissa peels each one off of the pressed sheet
I embellished the one-of-a-kind feathers with buttons and beads and wrote inspirational quotes by a few Native leaders and chiefs.
My beaded work table: Once feathers were completely dry, a mother-of-pearl button and single beaded tassel were sewn at the tip of each feather, then the written quote.
the stack of unique, hand-cast paper feathers
During the last minute before heading driving down to Santa Fe for the Indian Market, thank goodness for friends like Emily and Shayla who helped attach the fine elastic loops at the top of each feather
I will have these paper feathers available for sale on my website under “Shop & Buy”; they are $25 per feather or 2 for $30 – they measure approximately 11″ high x 3 to 4″ wide.
Aug 8, 2012 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, North Tide, Showing Off |
Vanessa prepares to begin weaving the design field of her child-size Chilkat robe
This blog entry is a continuation of “Vanessa Learns to Chilkat Weave” posted a couple of weeks ago. Vanessa is an apprentice to Clarissa Rizal. She has started on a child-size Chilkat robe and intends to complete it by mid-February 2013 for an annual event in her village on the Nass River.
Clarissa completes design for Vanessa’s Chilkat robe; she translated a button robe image of the design into a Chilkat rendition specifically designed for weaving in the Chilkat style – the design is one of Vanessa’s clan emblem, the Frog Starfish – this is a copyrighted design; it belongs to her clan — we request no one else use this design
A modern “Chilkat template” where the pattern is transferred onto clear transparencies – again, this pattern is copyrighted – it belongs to Vanessa Morgan who clan emblem is the Frog Starfish – we request no one else outside of her clan family use this image
Vanessa begins weaving the top central portion of her design field – notice her “Ravenstail” nails!
To establish her left and right boundaries, Vanessa begins weaving the side faces of her Chilkat robe.
With just a couple of weeks of weaving, Vanessa has completed her robe thus far.
Jul 23, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
“Totemic Mosaic 002” – Clarissa’s 2nd of a series of “mosaics – Giclee on canvas painting on board – measures 28″h x 30″w
Just having fun creating this series of “mosaics” that may last who knows how long – most likely as long as I am having fun exploring…! I’m creating these in between other business including teaching Vanessa how to weave Chilkat, ordering supplies and equipment, planning for the Santa Fe Indian Market, planning for a Chilkat Weavers’ Gathering, planning a button blanket making class on Vashon Island, planning, planning, planning….and then of course, having hugs and kisses with granddaughters!
Jul 19, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
“Totemic Mosaic” by Clarissa Rizal – first of a series of canvas “mosaics.”
okay, I’ve got to admit I am surrounded by artists and musicians and quite frankly I like it that way. My son-in-law, Chris Haas was over at my friend’s Cecil and Rosalia Touchon’s house – and when you are at the Touchon’s you cannot help but be influenced by one thing or another and sure enough, Chris came home with the idea of using the left over canvas pieces (from stretching canvas for the Touchon’s) and he created these really cool “mosaics” of geometric imagery – and Chris said with a big grin “oh yeah, I can see the wheels turning in Clarissa’s head…before ya know it, she’s going to do her version of this simple work of mine (which is based on Touchon’s work),…!
Yep, he’s absolutely right. I am so hooked on these mosaics, I’m already cutting, pasting, painting and laughing with delight on a couple more. Stay tuned for the next ones!
Jul 17, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
“Eagle She Bear” acrylic on canvas is 50″w x 40″h
Since 1983, I’ve completed 50+ ceremonial robes in the Chilkat, Ravenstail and button blanket styles. I am creating a contemporary “mate” of each robe created in one of three mediums including acrylic painting, charcoal, or collage.
About 10 years ago the late Deloresa Cadiente commissioned a button robe from me; she was Eagle Teikweidee Bear Clan. This acrylic painting on canvas is the contemporary “mate” to the robe.
This painting is currently in a show entitled “The Spirit of Woman” which recently opened at the Wild Spirit Gallery in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Jun 26, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
While her son Louis is on her back, Lily Hope washes down the whale's tail in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts and Culture Center - Juneau, Alaska
The Juneau Arts and Humanities is sponsoring a project to help bring awareness to the support of a large bronze whale’s tail to be created by local artist Skip Wallen. 10 polyuerothane foam resin whale tails are being embellished by 10 selected local artists. Lily Hope submitted a proposal; we were selected as one of the 10. We were going to create a modern Tlingit-influenced stylized form line design painting, however, that would require at least three days of sunshine, and by this Summer’s lousy weather pattern we’ve been experiencing in Juneau, we decided to create something a bit simpler yet elegant.
Lily begins spraying the toxic, smelly black spray paint
Each whale tail is being sponsored by a local business – Thank you to Huna Totem Corporation for sponsoring ours!
Lily completes the black; Clarissa begins to spray touches of red
All 10 whale tails must be completed by July 1st; 3 will be in Juneau’s Fourth of July parade. In September, the whale tails will be auctioned.
Modeling for a pretend magazine article - haha!
We had to wait for a couple of hours for the paint to be completely dry before attempting to move it and begin gluing buttons.
Lily begins gluing smokey-gray mother-of-pearl buttons
Lily finishes gluing the buttons, then each is nailed down to survive any weather
Louis helps nail down the buttons too!
Please tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about the big auction on Saturday, September 15th at the JACC (Juneau Arts & Culture Center, i.e. the Old Armory), where all the wonderful creations will be auctioned off to the highest bidder!
Do we look proud of ourselves or what?
Thanks to all who are volunteering and participating in the Animal Parade and supporting this Whale Project, which will place a spectacular life-scale bronze humpback whale and fountain on Juneau’s waterfront, in recognition of Alaska’s 50th anniversary of Statehood. This will be an icon for Juneau, and the third sculpture of Skip Wallen in Juneau.
Many thanks to Kathy Ruddy for coordinating this event; thanks again to Huna Totem Corporation for sponsoring our particular whale tail!
Jun 25, 2012 | Class Act, Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Teaching Lily all the do’s, don’ts and options in designing for a Chilkat robe
Many weavers of the Chilkat method of weaving are not designers of the imagery. They either copy a design that belongs to the clan or family, or they have an artist draft one up for them. Chilkat weaver, Lily Hope is learning how to design Chilkat; it is not as easy as it looks! A designer must understand how the weaving is done in order to design a Chilkat robe successfully. Lily has an advantage that she is both a weaver and knows how to draw!
The pattern transparency serves as the template
Lily is in the process of designing a child-size Chlkat robe with her clan image, the T’akDeinTaan. She is doing a take-off on a robe her mother designed for her Auntie Jean. She continues to reinforce her knowledge by true discipline, making the time to weave even though she runs a household and takes care of 2 children.
Clarissa and Lily calculate to which warp the next row is to be woven
Lily and Clarissa weave Chilkat together
Lily Hope rips back a few rows; no such thing as mistakes, only “learning opportunities”
Thank you to the New England Foundation for the Arts Native Arts Program for their monetary support for Clarissa’s grant to travel from Colorado to Alaska to help Lily get started in designing and beginning her own robe!
Jun 17, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Poetry Alaskan, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Pasting pages with matte medium onto old recycled cabinet doors
Back in March I cleaned out the attic; 18 years of accumulated family, personal, business and theatre stuff were set in the driveway. I let go of lots of stuff, however, I hung onto other things I felt I would use later. About 10 years ago, I had saved three, wooden cabinet doors from a remodel. I told myself that I would use them someday whenever I got into doing paintings for a living. Although I began painting about 10 years ago, I never really took it seriously until lately when a number of things accumulated this past year one of them being the return of my friends Cecil and Rosalia Touchon. Undoubtedly my contemporary works in paintings, collage and charcoals are influenced by Touchon. Check out their work at Cecil Touchon.com
Once all three panels were covered with pages and were given a couple coats of matte medium over the entire surface, Clarissa sketches shadows here and there to give a 3-D appearance
Rummaging through my box of collage-making papers, I came across a book of international poetry published in 1961. The pages were weathered; I liked the look – pasted them onto the gesso-ed cabinet doors which I will from now on will refer to as my “canvas.” I then pasted a cut up paper print of my Chilkat robe design pattern called “Jennie Weaves An Apprentice.” I edged each strip with a bit of golden yellow acrylic paint. I am having fun.
I order most of my acrylic paints, canvas, matte medium, brushes, etc. from Artist Supply Warehouse (ASW); as far as I know, they have good quality products at the lowest prices. If you find anything better, would you mind letting the rest of us know? Thank you!
A better view of the 3_D shading example
After a bit of shading with a soft lead drawing pencil, I stood back and liked the effect; like wow, now I am really having fun! – If I am not mistaken, this is my very first mixed-media collage on wooden cabinets done with this type of effect. If you want to see more of this effect, make sure you visit Cecil Touchon’s website. He’s an expert at this!
So far, so good, but not quite finished with this triptych
Each panel measures about 40″ high and about 20″ wide. They are available for sale as a unit at the Alaska Juneau Public Market during Thanksgiving weekend in Juneau.
Jun 15, 2012 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Last August 2011, on the Alaska ferry heading south from Juneau to Belllingham, Washington, one of my favorite weaving students and elder, Louise Dangeli was on board. Louise is a dear member of the Nishga’a tribe along the Nass River, British Columbia, Canada. She was on her way to attend the wedding of her grandson. I invited her to my stateroom where I was finishing up my “Jenny Weaves An Apprentice” Chilkat robe; I was explaining the design meaning of the robe Here’s a video shot by one of Louise’s neices, Norene Otnes:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=211616705626297
Jun 10, 2012 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Working the last piece of the triptych
In 2003, (or was it 2004?), while attending Ft. Lewis College in Durango working towards my Bachelor of Fine Arts, I enrolled in a required class: Drawing I. (Now you are most likely thinking to yourself: hmmm….after 30+ years as an artist, Clarissa needs to take a drawing class?) Well…yes, because like I said, it’s a requirement towards my BFA. I learned a lot in that class and will not regret it because it introduced me to working in charcoal and I love it!
Total concentration and thorough enjoyment working in charcoal with the challenge of not getting filthy! - Notice Clarissa is wearing black...
After 8 years, I have finally returned to completing this project. My impetus was to have this triptych to show in Juneau at the Native Art Market during Celebration 2012, however, when I unwrapped it to hang in my booth, there were a few ripples in the paper – the mounting was not done correctly, either that or the change in weather (sunny and warm when I glued it down to cold and damp two weeks later when I unwrapped it!). So no one got to see this triptych; oh well!
Close up of the middle image - I refer to it affectionately as a stylized image of my son, Kahlil - the expression on his face reminds me of when he was a small child about 30 years ago
Clarissa's completed charcoal triptych
Each panel measures 11.5 inches wide by 17.5 inches tall. I recently pulled out the triptych thinking that I was going to figure out how to repair all the tiny ripples where the glue did not take – lo and behold, all three pieces were as it was when I initially wrapped them and there are no ripples whatsoever! What a relief, yet Hmmm….what happened? Can anyone tell me?
