Dec 1, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Collage of “Tlingit World Series #101” by Clarissa Rizal – 2013
Today I completed two new collages marking the beginning of the next 100 collages in this collection called “Tlingit World Series.” Since 2001 I have made 100 collages. Most of my collages are made of reject hand-printed silkscreened prints, maps, found papers, giclee prints, and on occasion, Japanese papers.
These two collages are donations for a good cause; they will be available for sale at the fundraiser auction for the new Klukwan Cultural Center. The auction is held at the Burke Museum in Seattle, Saturday, December 7th starting at 6pm.
If you are in the Seattle area and want to collect Northwest Coast art, please attend!
“Tlingit World Series #102” by Clarissa Rizal – 2013
Nov 28, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Health and Wellness |
“The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush” by Andreas Moritz – My library consists of topics on art (mostly Northwest Coast art of course), philosophy, gardening and alternative health – Order this book online via my Amazon Associate account by clicking here.
I include a “Health and Wellness” section on my blog for the very reason that when we keep our bodies healthy, we can continue to create art, teach classes and “run with the wolves!” I am a seeker and practitioner of what is called “alternative health” – I tend to choose the less invasive, non-violent, cost-effective methods of healing. I will seek doctor’s diagnosis but generally do not take their remedies. I am the steward of my own body and its health. Again, I share with you another technique of “weaving a healthy fabric” to assist our well-being!
A few years ago I learned that if I want my car to live a long life, change the oil and filter every 3000 miles. Doggone if this ain’t true! This year I learned that if I want to live a long, healthy life, clean the “filters” of my body once or twice a year. These filters are mainly the liver and gallbladder, and of course, the kidneys too. Last night/this morning I completed my liver/gallbladder flush; it is a good way to begin my Thanksgiving weekend. The cleanse was painless; I feel clean with better clarity. I have been experiencing other symptoms I won’t name here, and I will keep tabs the next few days and weeks to see if those symptoms vanish. I feel no pain in my liver or gallbladder. I am thankful for the information from medical practicioner and writer of the book Andreas Moritz, and I am thankful for being brave enough to follow through with the cleanse. I am thankful my body co-ooperated and I actually survived this cleanse! hahaha! I feel happy! Truly a Happy Thanksgiving!
For the past four years my liver and gallbladder have been giving me pain. A Juneau doctor said I could get rid of the pain in one afternoon’s operation via laser. I told him that I wanted to keep my gall bladder, thank you very much, to which he was surprised (what? A patient wouldn’t take his remedial advice!?) I changed my already-pretty-clean diet a bit more to avoid the pain, though now and then if I drank or ate the wrong foods, I would feel pain. Then a month ago, I came across this book; it’s changed the way I think about my internal organs. Really, for the first time in my life, I AM ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR FUNCTION AND EXISTENCE!!! I am actually giving them REAL POSITIVE ATTENTION!!! I have come to recognize and appreciate these things that allow me to LIVE! HELLO!?
I am going to order at least 10 copies of this book for Christmas gifts to those closest to me: “The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush: A Powerful Do-It-Yourself Tool to Optimize Your Health and Wellbeing” (My father’s birthday is today; he would have been 84. His gall bladder was removed when he was 50. I wonder how much longer he would have lived if he had known about this cleanse years ago, because he sure didn’t want to go when he went!)
In this revised edition of his best-selling book, the Amazing Liver Cleanse, Adreas Moritz addresses the most common but rarely recognized cause of illness – gallstones congesting the liver. Twenty million Americans suffer from attacks of gallstones every year. In many cases, treatment merely consists of removing the gallbladder, at the cost of $5 billion a year. But this purely symptom-oriented approach does not eliminate the cause of the illness, ad in many cases, sets the stage for even more serious conditions. Most adults living in the industrialized world, and especially those suffering a chronic illness such as heart disease, arthritis, MS, cancer or diabetes, have hundreds if not thousands of gallstones (mainly clumps of hardened bile) blocking the bil ducts of their liver.
This book provides a thorough understanding of what causes gallstones in the liver and gallbladder and why these stones can be held responsible for the most common diseases so prevalent in the world today. It provides the read with the knowledge needed to recognize the stones and gives the necessary, do-it-yourself instructions to painlessly remove them in the comfort of one’s home. It also gives practical guidelines on how to prevent new gallstones from being formed. The widespread success of The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush is a testimony to the power and effectiveness of the cleanse itself. The liver cleanse has led to extraordinary improvements in health and wellness among thousands of people who have already given themselves the precious gift of a strong, clean, revitalized liver.
Andreas Moritz is a Medical Intuitive and practitioner of Ayurveda, Iridology, Shiatsu and Vibrational Medicine. Author of The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush, Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation, Lifting the Veil of Duality and It’s Time to Come Alive. Founder of the innovative healing systems, Ener-Chi Art and Sacred Santemony – Divine Chanting for Every Occasion.
I intend on living a long life, so help me God – a healthy, long life! I will avoid illness of whatever type so I can have my freedom to be mobile with a clean body, mind and heart. I still have a dream to fulfill and I intend to grow up with my grandchildren and spend whatever time I have left with my great-grandchildren.
I intend to keep the filters in my body clean for a long-running engine!
Order this book online via my Amazon Associate account by clicking here.
Nov 27, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Uncategorized |
Weaving the beginning of the “seaweed” Chilkat weaving I designed for a small handbag
The village of Klukwan, Alaska is hosting a fundraiser to assist in the construction of their Cultural Center. This even is held next week on December 7th at the Burke Museum, University of Washington State, in Seattle. Click here for more information on the cultural center and see other artists’ donations for the fundraiser.
Yesterday I began weaving this Chilkat “seaweed” bag to donate for the fundraiser. I intend to finish it by Saturday’s 2pm mail out deadline. I intended to have it completed by the first of this month but many unforeseen circumstances arose; slowed me down a bit. At times like these, I call myself “Cutting-It-Close Clarissa.”
Later this week, I will post photos of the completed project; stay tuned!
Nov 12, 2013 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
“Resilience” Chilkat robe with Christian symbol and filler U-shapes
When you catch the “weaver’s bug”, all you wanna do is weave, weave, weave. We can get so obsessive about weaving that we will tend to neglect the rest of our life and all the things that need tending (i.e. family, relationships, body, house, other business, etc.). My teacher, the late Jennie Thlunaut brought this challenge to my attention. She did not explain what would happen to me when I caught the “weaver’s bug”, she explained things like this: “…you be good to your husband…!” or “…take time out to eat and sleep!” or “…be good to your kids!”
Yep, that’s all I wanna do is weave. Alas….sigh….there are other things I love just as much!
Thank you Jennie, for taking me under your wings to teach me more than just weaving! You changed my life in many more ways than just being a weaver!
This Chilkat “Resilience” robe is a “document” depicting icons of Western influences that changed our Northwest Coast indigenous peoples during the past 300+ years; this design includes Native logos reflecting cultural integration and strength.
The Icons and their meanings:
• ships – Russians, Spanish and English explorers/traders
• double doors flanked by columns – museums, collectors, anthropologists
• pair of hands holding the gold pan – mining, western monetary system
• Christian symbol – Christianity, missionaries, organized religions, boarding schools
The Logos and meanings:
• Eagle and Raven represents the clan system-the fundamental foundation of the culture; also represents the Tlingit and Haida Central Council (logo) established in 1935
• Within each wing, logos of the ANB (Alaska Native Brotherhood) established 101 years ago in 1912 and the ANS (Alaska Native Sisterhood) were first indigenous civil rights groups in the U.S. – these two organizations gave “flight” for indigenous rights
• Within the chest of the Eagle and Raven, the Sealaska Corporation logo, 1 of 13 Regional Native Corporations of Alaska spawned from the passing of the Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971 – these organizations reflect the “heart” of the present-day cultures’ integrating western ways of living and conducting western business while maintaining cultural values and ethics
• Tail – the new “rudders”; the new institutions created to assist in archiving, preserving and perpetuating the Native cultures of today; depicted is the Sealaska Heritage Institute (logo) established in 1980.
I am using Ravenstail techniques on the left and right sides of the robe. I’ll also weave Ravenstail here and there in the central design field of the robe. It’s fun to incorporate the Ravenstail weaving patterns into the Chilkat robes.
Nov 12, 2013 | For Crying Out Loud, Honoring Others |
“Father Cyril Bulashevich in the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Juneau, Alaska” Chilkat woven wall pouch – 1990 – 16″w x 24″h – Private Collection, Denver, CO
Even though the above Chilkat weaving is in honor of the priest I grew up with, Father Cyril Bulashevich, I use this image here in honor of Walter Porter from Yakutat, Alaska. In his own way, because he was what I would regard as a spiritual man, Walter Porter was “priestly.” It’s really the only way I have known him. (The first time I met his wife, MaryAnn Porter, was at the Chilkat weaving class taught by Jennie Thlunaut in 1985 – MaryAnn and I were fellow students.) Hearing of Walter’s passing on November 6th was shocking. Fellow artist, Preston Singletary texted me; I spent the entire week passing tears not able to do much else really. I know the news hit Preston even harder as both Walter and he were planning on working together again. The way I see Walter, the entire State of Alaska received a big blow, a big loss to our spiritual/emotional way of being.
Walter Porter explains a design concept at the 2nd Northwest Coast Artists’ Gathering 2008 Juneau, Alaska
Walter was our guest speaker at the 2nd Biennial Northwest Coast Artists’ Gathering in 2008. His lecture was recorded and is on his website. Walter was an interpreter, a guide to assist us into thinking differently about the way we saw our world.
Condolences to our MaryAnn, their children and family. A big hole has been left – We will miss him for the rest of our lives!
To get a glimpse of Walter and his work, please visit Walter’s website at: http://www.tlinkimo.com/
Nov 7, 2013 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Chilkat weaving class taught by the late Jennie Thlunaut at Raven House, Haines, Alaska, March 1985 – photo by Larry McNeil
Weavers of Chilkat, Spruce root, Cedar bark and Ravenstail gather to share their knowledge during the Clan Conference held this weekend starting today through Friday and Saturday at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska. Click here to find out more info; read the Juneau Empire article.
For those who are in Juneau and do not want to attend the conference but want to see the weavers, there is a $5 fee only on Friday and Saturday paid to the Clan Conference. Thank you to Peter Metcalfe for inviting the weavers back in full force this year! Thank you to Lily Hope for assistance in coordinating the event. Many thanks to all the volunteering weavers who have come from far and wide and locally; happy spinning and weaving to all!
Nov 2, 2013 | Honoring Others |
Joan passed away (without real fair warning) on September 30, 2013 – though I did not find out about her passing until her husband, Jack emailed me a month later. Of course it would take him at least a month before he could say anything. Those two were inseparable; they were two bumps on a log who were supposed to forever get real, real old together to the point where neither could get out of the rocking chairs and they would just be found on the front porch holding hands with the grin of old death on their wrinkly faces! But no, that’s not what happened. Someone gave them the damn, WRONG script!!! %^$$%#@! wrong script!!!
Jack and Joan lived with us about 15 years ago; at least, maybe 18 years ago, I don’t quite remember. They were in between houses and needed a place to stay, so I shifted the house around a bit and moved our bedroom into my studio; they and their daughter Hope lived upstairs – their son Jay was off in college; our two older kids had already left home (so I know it had to be sometime after 1996). We lived together peacefully for about two months before they found their new home. We took turns making and sharing dinners each night; during the day, we each had our respective rooms to work – they were self-employed and so were we, so no one went anywhere to “go to work.” Our house isn’t that big, only 2300 square feet, though none of us really got in one another’s way; it didn’t even feel like we had another family living in our house! When someone would come to the door for the Hudson’s or for the Koppelman’s, the other would say: “uh,…just wait a moment and I will check to see if they are home…!”
I know Jack and his family are adjusting big time. Words cannot describe this loss. It is way too hard to imagine Jack without Joan; impossible. It’s not supposed to be so, and yet damn it that the script they received is what it is!
Oct 30, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Close-up of “Where We Going” painting – acrylic with a touch of gold paint on curved wooden frame
Last night I finished the painting for the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s fundraiser coming up in February 2014. For information on SHI and their fundraiser, click here to link to their website.
Both paintings will be sold as a set – they each measure 10″ x 10″ – acrylic on curved wooden frame
To show the curve of the wooden frame, I took this shot although it makes one frame look larger than the other…but, like I said, they are the same size!
Oct 29, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Adding another layer of paint…!
Last week I finally began painting a pair of small curved canvas paintings, a donation for Sealaska Heritage Institute’s fundraiser art auction in February 2014. For the past 10+ years, I’ve been painting on curved canvasses; it’s fun! Kinda different. And it’s inspirational for me to continue to do more (in between other projects, of course!)
Oct 27, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The right corner of the Chilkat robe – the top border of yellow is completed – 26 hours later…! So far so good, I am on track…!
26 hours to complete the yellow border and the 5 strands of braids at the bottom of the border – those hours are in between the hours of this particular Fall, winterizing the house/studio, nor coordinating the Weavers’ Gathering demonstration at the Clan Conference, nor babysitting grand-children, nor painting a donation piece, nor spinning warp for a Chilkat/Ravenstail pouch for another donation, nor cleaning and organizing the studio for another round of intense work until June, nor the daily routine of eating, sleeping, and taking care of my body.
I am far from lazy, from from being bored, far from being a “kept woman” and far from taking a vacation any time soon! All I do though, I LOVE to do; I have a lot of love in my life – all the things I do I love, all the things I be, I love. I realize I spend most of my day “in love.” There isn’t much time in the day spent on things I do not love. I’ve been this way a long time. Even though I may not act like it sometimes, I give thanks every morning no matter what my mood, and I give thanks every night as I put my “home” to bed. It’s been my unspoken way of appreciation and gratitude.
Nobody needs to know any of this though I share it here with you, the reader. Why? Because some day some time long past me posting this blog entry, I may read this again years later, because in a way this blog is like my work diary. I used to keep track of all my work via hard-copy photographs placed in a plastic sleeve with pages of notes on the current project at hand…I’ve got shelves of my work all categorized in big 3-ring binders on shelves I had built to take the weight of it all. Now my recordings have gone virtual with the blog site. I may read this entry years later and it is a reminder of who I have been, where I was at, and I get to compare it with who I am on that future date!
My work lives in the future. My system, my entire way of thinking is mainly in the future. So this blog serves as a vehicle to contain the present-day work and adventures for eventual past reflection. When I am real old and I look upon my past, I intend to enjoy myself and others all over again!
Oct 22, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Completed the black top border of the robe – 41 hours later!
Here’s a close-up photo of the black top border of my Chilkat “Resilience” robe that I am weaving for the Portland Art Museum…notice the subtle texture of the weave. I weave over three warp ends instead of two when weaving the black and yellow borders of a Chilkat robe. I learned this from my teacher/mentor Jennie Thlunaut, last of the traditional Chilkat weavers who passed away in 1986. She suggested that I use size 3/6 weft yarns (equivalent to 3-ply commercial yarns) and weave over three warp ends – ONLY IN THE BORDERS! These techniques create a subtle texture and a larger “frame” for the design field of the robe.
I will be posting more updates while weaving this robe over the next few months; stay tuned and thanks for visiting!
Oct 19, 2013 | Class Act, North Tide, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Della Cheney and Percy Kunz demonstrates cedar bark weaving at the Weavers’ Gathering demonstration during the Clan Conference in Juneau, 2009
Once again, the Clan Conference will convene in Juneau at Centennial Hall Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 7, 8, & 9th. This is a time of shared and gained educational experiences from the Native and/or collegiate perspective. For more information on the details of the Clan Conference and a listing of the lectures, please click here to visit the website. or click here for the Juneau Empire’s announcement of the Clan Conference.
Chilkat, Ravenstail, Cedar bark and Spruce root weavers will gather together in the lobby of Centennial Hall for the entire three days, 10am to 4pm to share their knowledge. In 2009, the presentation was a big hit, we’ve been asked to demonstrate again. Click here to see past photos of the weavers’ demonstration.
We welcome weavers to join us and participate in this fun endeavor! Contact Clarissa Rizal or Lily Hope if you are interested!
