Sep 28, 2010 | Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Weaving "Jennie Thlunaut's face" in my Chilkat robe "Jennie Weaves An Apprentice"
Upon seeing me, I’ve had local friends ask, “Hey, how long are you in town for…?” I moved back in June. Surprised, “Really? Huh? I haven’t seen you; where you hiding out?” I am weaving a robe and it is due the first week in November…
Above is a photo of part of the robe. I cannot show the rest of the robe because it is a tradition of ours to not let the owner see the robe before it is finished. So as much as I’d like to share with y’all and as much as my students would love to see the progress, I cannot expose photos of the robe until it is complete. Even then, I will not have time to post the completed robe until December because I’ll be on a business trip and doing some other projects. In the meantime, here’s a glimpse. If you see me out and about, there are such things as other aspects of life that require my participation.
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 2, 2010 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Lily Hudson and Elizabeth “Betty” Hope wait for daddy to appear on stage
Ishmael Hope explains the shape of Alaska by using his hand - a perfect visual for demonstrating to the tourists where Juneau is located in relationship to the rest of Alaska! Yet, even we locals laughed at the hand demonstration because many of us had never seen that gesture before!
If you guys didn’t get a chance to see Cedar House’s last performance this past Saturday, August 28th, you missed out on the re-telling of four old Tlingit stories by Frank Katasse and writer of Cedar House, Ishmael Hope. Ishmael had re-written the stories to set for the stage recorded by the late Robert Zuboff. The play was directed by Flordelino Lagundino (www.flordelinolagundino.com).
The play was staged for this Summer’s tourist season, however, there was so many requests for the play to be performed for the locals, Perseverance booked a couple of weekends.
Four stories were enacted out on stage between Frank and Ishmael. The kept us quite entertained hearing the dialogue exchanged between the two as the stories were conveyed with motions, shouts, quick costume changes and facial expression – so much fun! The four stories included:
The Origin of the Mosquito – about how a young man overcame a terrible evil during the earliest years of Tlingit history.
The Birth of Raven – about how the major figure in Tlingit mythology came to birth, survived his treacherous uncle and arranged the Tlingit world today.
The Salmon Box – about how the Raven created the salmon cycle.
The Raven and the Brown Bear – about the Raven at his most scheming and devilish.
I had heard these stories several times before, and even acted out the mosquito turned cannibal giant story with the Native theatre group Naa Kahidi Theatre back in the early 90s, but to see two expert storytelling actors portray these stories in a different light was just so much fun!
A full house and standing-room-only at Perseverance Theatre's last performance of Cedar House
Storyteller Frank Katasse and Ishmael Hope refer to their list giving thanks to all those who assisted with this production
After the play was over, Frank and Ishmael stuck around to answer more questions from audience members
Miah Lager and Lily Hudson with their children pointing to the "stars"
HUH!? you are probably wondering why I didn’t include any photos of the actual storytelling!? Like, what happened!?
I couldn’t. The audience was not allowed to take photos during the show.
Sorry folks. I was just being a good girl and did what I was told; for once!
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.
Aug 31, 2010 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Killerwhale Chilkat apron in progress by Shgen George
The last day of this Summer’s Chilkat weaving classes ended a couple of days ago – I’ve heard many of the students have Chilkat weaving withdrawal! (This is a very good thing!) We had a beautiful feast this last day. The sun was out, the sky was blue and the food, right down to the pumpkin pie, was fabulous. That’s the best part about Chilkat weaving classes: the excellent food!
The best part about Chilkat weaving classes: the food and the weavers who made the food!
The weavers before the feast
Many thanks to Atricia Makaily for organizing both classes!
Charlene Baker drove down from Pelly Crossing, YukonTerritory to attend this class
Fausto Paulo stands one last time to share a funny insight with his fellow weavers
Debra O'Gara is still chuckling over Fausto's humor; she's also happy to finally learn Chilkat
Assistant student teacher, Lily Hudson reminds Crystal Rogers to "do her braids."
Davina Barrill "puts up" the ends of her braids in the back side
Debra O'Gara admiring Jessica Isturis' fine weaving
Fausto Paulo is turning the bottom corners of his weaving; he is almost finished!
Gail Dabaluz is beginning to shape her Chilkat circle within the box
Jackie Kookesh is shaping the Chilkat eye and eyelid
When Leandra Makaily concetrates on her Chilkat weaving, she concentrates real hard - when she isn't in a concentrating mood, she doesn't weave - it is a good thing to understand this about Chilkat weaving
Marsha Hotch is pleased with her Chilkat circle
Pam Credo-Hayes is weaving the borders for a pair of leggings
Gail Dabaluz is inspecting Pam's Chilkat border on how the "Jennie Thlunaut" corners are woven; like what is that little specific trick!?
With his tapestry needle, Ricky Tagaban is putting up all his Chilkat weft yarn ends in the backside of his completed Chilkat hat; as in the "olden days" it's a process he would like a slave to do - look how he is pretending to be happy about it!
Look closely at the backside of Ricky's Chilkat hat; those are all the ends that Ricky is putting up - imagine how what it is like doing a full-size Chilkat robe! - Now, do you really want to be a Chilkat weaver, or just have somebody else weave something for you!? - that is the question we are all wondering...can you take it!?
Chilkat kids - the children of Chilkat weavers
Clarissa Rizal demonstrates the Chilkat interlocking technique to Charlene Baker
Nobody's weaving...where's everybody? We're busy sharing the Chilkat feast!
When we are finished weaving for the day, no matter what size your loom and its project, we always cover our loom and tuck them in for the night
Some of the looms are covered with a pillow case which is simultaneously used as a carry bag
Some loom covers are clean and pretty dishtowels or bath towels
Some loom covers are cloth gifts from Japan via a Chilkat weaver Shgen Geore, who just recently returned to Juneau from a year of teaching in Japan
Golly! what is the big deal about showing the covered Chilkat looms, huh? How come? – Well, why not!?
The Chilkat "after-feast!"
SEARHC's exquisite board room with skylights and plush chairs, where I've spent the last 6 weeks teaching Chilkat weaving to 25 committed students - whew! what a way to spend the Summer! What a treat!
Most everyone did not complete their weaving – that’s normal for beginners. Many of the students are experiencing Chilkat weaving withdrawal symptoms. That’s real good and real normal. There’s talk of getting together once a week starting on Sunday, September 5th. There’s also talk about doing a Ravenstail weaving class this Fall too. We’ll see. We’ll keep everyone posted.
During the teaching of these two Chilkat classes, for the entire 6 weeks, my fingers have been itching to weave – when teaching others to weave, we go from loom to loom; there’s a rhythm like duck, duck, goose, goose game. We’re just teaching, we’re not weaving our own thing,…it’s hard to just teach and not have moments to weave our own thing during class. It’s hard to control ourselves to not just sit at the student’s loom and just weave their project altogether! Chilkat weavers must have lots of self-control! If we are not born with it, the self-control eventually develops over time because Chilkat weaving and teaching the weaving forms you into things you did not know could exist in you!
Are you sure you want to continue learning and weaving Chilkat?
Aug 26, 2010 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
On the Auke Bay ramp to the float to catch the Allen Marine's Catamaran
Two Allen Marine catamarans pulled out of Auke Bay’s boat harbor to Hoonah early morning last Saturday, August 21, with almost 150 Juneauites on board each boat. The town of Hoonah has more veterans in the State of Alaska per capita than any other town in Alaska – it was time to celebrate. To coincide with the event, Hoonah’s Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall hosted a fundraising event to pay for its taxes for the year; 5 Native dance groups from Juneau participated. The catamarans were packed. This was just a day trip. 15 minutes out of Auke Bay’s harbor the weather, of course, improved. The 2.5 hour sail to Hoonah was beautiful; the sky broke, the ocean glassy, and the captain shut down the engines for about 20 minutes while a pod of about 12 humpback whales swam around us! (when I learn how to add videos to my blog, I’m adding the one I took of the whales swimming towards us…check back by the end of August to see this video).
Although I am not part of a dance group in Juneau, I brought my button robe and beaded hat. I knew there would be the welcoming ceremony when we arrived at the dock in Hoonah. As we pulled in to the harbor, most everyone on board (who was attending the event) dressed in their regalia. Songs were shared. Cameras were flashing; videos shot. And there were lots of children!
2nd Catamaran pulling into Hoonah Harbor; Graveyard Island in background
Arriving Hoonah town
One of my mother's best friends, Lillian Austin
Eagle/Raven Dance group leader, Atricia Makaily and daughter Leandra are Chilkat weaving on board the ship
Clarissa checks out Atricia's work
A son assists his father doning his regalia to prepare to greet their hosts
Hoonah's Mt. Fairweather dance group welcomes their Juneau guests
Dancers listen to their hosts singing the welcoming songs
Rose with baby Lilliana wait to disembark
Heading for the ANB Hall in Hoonah
Everyone heads up the Hoonah dock ramp in anticipation of a good celebration at the ANB Hall
I went to Hoonah to pick berries with my friends Jan and Greg. I knew this was my only chance. I had to make a choice between celebrations and berry-picking. The harvest was fabulous!
Aug 24, 2010 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Davina Barrill uses a battery-operated headlamp
The effectiveness of using a headlamp is awesome!
Debra O'Gara, Marsha Hotch and Atricia Makaily
Fausto Paulo is weaving the eyelid
Jackie Kookesh is excited about weaving her first Chilkat circle
Jessica Isturis swifty works her white braids
Amber Baker is happy to have the assistance of Leandra Makaily
Lily Hudson and Charlene Baker use the transparency pattern to show where Charlene needs to insert her braids
Lily demonstrates to Charlene the insertion of the braids working the ends up into the backside
Lorraine DeAsis begins the weaving of her circle; she has supported her daughter Patrice DeAsis in learning Chilkat weaving the past three years - now that Lorraine is learning, and like Charlene and Amber Baker, as well as Michelle and Micaela Martin, and Shgen with Gabrielle George, they have a mother-daughter support system!
Self-taught in Chilkat weaving, Marsha Hotch is learning Jennie Thlunaut's fingering technique for speed, accuracy and tension
Pam Credo-Hayes is weaving her first pair of Chilkat leggings
Pam shows Fausto Paulo the leggings pattern
Crystal Rogers demonstrates the fingering technique to Marsha Hotch; Fausto Paulo watches Jackie Kookesh weaving her circle
Aug 18, 2010 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
14 students learning Chilkat weaving gather in SEARHC's board room
This Chilkat weaving class began Monday, August 16th with 14 students. This is the largest class I’ve ever taught, only because I have an assistant, my own daughter, Lily Hudson. Teaching a class with my special assistant is sooo nice – I’m able to relax more each time I make my rounds with each student and I like that Lily’s knowledge of Chilkat weaving is increasing as well. She is a fine teacher.
This class is unique in that there are four mothers with their four daughters whose ages are 6, 9, 13 and 16. Before this class, I’ve only taught 2 children under the age of 16 (and I have discovered that teaching children is much easier than teaching adults!).
Gabrielle George gifts a cloth to fellow student Amber Baker
When Chilkat weaver, Shgen George and her daughter Gaby returned recently from their year in Japan, they brought beautiful cloths as a gift to each student in this Chilkat weaving class! These cloths are to cover our weavings.
Lily Hudson demonstrates measuring warp using a pre-cut cardboard warp board
My Chilkat weaving teacher, Jennie Thlunaut from Klukwan, had many tricks-of-the-trade including her convenient “warp board” – the device that measures consistent lengths of a weaver’s warp. Each student was given their warp board. Using pre-cut cardboard cut to the proper length of the weaving, they wrapped their warp, cut one end, and “dressed” their looms!
Student Debra O'Gara checks her tension on her cardboard warp board
Pam Credo-Hayes wraps her warp around the board following the direction of the arrow, a guide to keep us in the right direction!
Amber Baker is organizing her warp into bunches of five because her warp size is 10 e.p.i. (warp ends per inch)
Fellow Chilkat weaving student/teacher, Ricky Tagaban teaches eager Amber Baker how to weave Chilkat. Ricky was a student in the previous Chilkat weaving class held in July.
Lily and I invited Ricky Tagaban to come to class and be our assistant-to-the-assist teacher – he’s just plain fun to have around, let along a pretty dang good weaver for a beginner!
Trisha Makaily has moved a project from one weaving loom to another - here she is re-hanging the warp using the cotton cord anchoring strand
Lily guides Michaela Martin weaving her "anchoring row", the first strand on the weaving project that holds all the warp ends in place. Davina Barril, Jessica Isturis, Crystal Rogers and Jackie Kookesh pay close attention.
Lily demonstrates Jennie Thlunaut's unique fingering - notice how some of the weaver's hands are imitating the motion! Crystal Rogers, Charlene Baker, Michelle and Michaela Martin, Jessica Isturis, Debra O'Gara, Davina Barrill and Marsha Hotch laugh at how smooth Lily's fingers fly through the warp - like how can THEY ever achieve that motion, huh!? They'll soon discover!
Pay attention to 9-year-old Amber Baker, a member of the next generation of Chilkat weavers!
Students in this class are: Gabrielle and Shgen George, Michelle and Michaela Martin, Charlene and Amber Baker, Atricia and Leandra Makaily, Jessica Isturis, Crystal Rogers, Davina Barril, Debra O’Gara, Marsha Hotch, Lorraine DeAsis and Jackie Kookesh. The class is for two weeks ending on Sunday, August 29th.
Aug 16, 2010 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Relationship Overdrive, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Young "stars" of "A Hundred Thousand Drops of Rain"
Dan and I were headed out to pick berries on this rare sunny day in Juneau, but we got sidetracked by attending the last performance of “A Hundred Thousand Drops of Rain” directed by Ed Littlefield, with assistantdirector/stage manager Austin Tagaban and written by Ishmael Hope, was sponsored by Perseverance Theatre’s annual STAR (Summer Theatre Arts Rendevous) program.
The boy and his dog...
The shaman decides it's not going to hurt to go out on a date; they're just talking, that's all...
The canoe journey to...
The "good woman's" sillouette...
Pleading to have his way...
It is an extremely challenging play, Hope said, based on shamanism and dealing with themes of cultural healing and regeneration.
One of the children in the play told her mother that she didn’t really understand what was going on in the work, which he says, in a sense, “is wonderful.” Growing up, Hope said there were culturally significant seeds that were planted in him by his family and heritage which he didn’t fully recognize until later.
“When I became a man, they continued to help me become human,” he said. “We are not born fully human, we have an unusually long period of growing up. When you’re young, you’re still forming, so when you’re older you go, ‘Wow, there was this thing guiding me the entire time.'”
Cast members included: Kevin Allen, Savannah Strang, Kendrea Makaily, Bryan Johnson, Talia Lee Davis, Maxwell Peterson, Kenneth Morris, Savannah Leisholm, Adriann Rusch, Taylona Lafferty and Kyndra Blacks.
The STAR program is a five-week program that provides Juneau youth with the highest quality theatre training and performance opportunities available in Alaska. Launched by Perseverance Theatre in 1982, the STAR program has provided professional theatre instruction to youth for the past 28 Summers, offering training in acting, directing and playwriting. this specialized training culminates in final, fully-realized public productions. In 2002, STAR was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of the 16 outstanding American arts programs for young people.
Special thanks to Sealaska Heritage Institute for providing scholarships for Alaska Native students in the STAR program.
Aug 10, 2010 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Chilkat hands helping Chilkat hands
Fausto, Mary, Gail, Trisha, Leandra - "the sitting weavers..."
We wanted to have a meal together so the last day of class was gracious hosted by Catrina at her home.
Catrina Mitchell has got the Chilkat "bug!"
Comfortably well fed, happy Chilkat weavers at Catrina's
Fausto is holding up his pattern transparency to find out exactly where he is on his weaving
Jeanette Tabor is happily braiding - again!
Leandra Makaily races to the finish line!
For the 5th time, Lily is completing her eye!
Ricky Tagaban ("La Machine") could teach the class next time!
Trisha Makaily seems to be having trouble? Is that normal for a beginning Chilkat weaver?
Secretly, Sharon Zuboff is completing the eyelid!
Thank you again to all who made this class possible: Trisha Makaily, SEARHC, and of course, all the new and returning students! It was a blast – we’ll do it again!
