A canvas spinning pad is strapped to the thigh and moistened to provide friction for spinning Chilkat warp. Yes, the pad was made my Clarissa today while Teahonna split cedar bark and prepared wool to begin spinning her first 100 yards of Chilkat warp!
Close-up beginning a series of mixed-media collage drawings on replaced cabinet doors; the series is called “Tlingit Cabinet” Series
Several years ago, when the way-too-little sewing room got replaced by a cedar sauna, I saved the cabinet doors. Because I cannot stand to throw away perfectly good wood, and these ones where already “framed”, I told myself that “…someday I’ll do some paintings on them…” (even though I hadn’t really painted much except one of the “Painted Ponies” of New Mexico). Finally, after about 10 years storage in the attic, I have begun the series. Again, this style of work is inspired by my collage/painter friend, Cecil Touchon. Partner Dan Shanks prepared the small boards (there are three small ones; three big ones) using acrylic matte medium to glue down sheets from a couple of old books. Then I use a couple of graphite pencils, dark and light with some cinnamon-colored, and do some shading – it’s a lot of fun – and like the rest of the contemporary work that I do, I just never know how it’s gonna turn out! Stay tuned for the completed triptych of this first set of cabinets. – And by the way, if you know of anyone who is remodeling their kitchen, etc., and they are getting rid of cabinets that are in good shape, send those folks my way! Thank you!
The back side of two child-size Chilkat robes side by side on Clarissa’s front porch – yes, it is past mid-October and it’s warm enough to weave! Where are we? Well…the color of the sky is the big give-a-way! We’re NOT in Southeast Alaska…
As I demonstrate on my robe, Crystal learns on hers. It’s the perfect pair. In this way, I don’t weave her experiences – she weaves her own experiences. The weaving looms are quite portable and compact. They were originally designed by my Ex and I years ago; these ones were created by local woodworker, Bill Hill.
Front view showing the borders of the child-size Chilkat robes
Crystal Rogers weaving her Chilkat robe; it is almost ready to begin weaving the design field – how exciting!
Drawing upon other Chilkat robe designs Clarissa has designed laying about her drafting table, Clarissa draws preliminary sketches for Crystal’s Chilkat robe.
Clarissa’s grand-daughter helps spin Chilkat warp with wool and cedar bark
Back in 1986, when I was apprenticing to master Chilkat weaver, the late Jennie Thlunaut, she relayed the story of how she began weaving. She said she was around 5 years old. Her mother and aunties were weavers and of course, spun all their own warp and weft. Jennie had no other choice but to “play” with the warp and weft, “weaving her own creations…” Jennie advised: “…so that is how I started, and that is how many of us can start…let the real little ones “play” with you…watch how they become…you will see whether or not they become one of us…” Jennie giggled and smiled real big “…heehee, you will see…”
Amelie has her own method of placing markers on the warp ends…at two years old, she is already demonstrating her innovativeness (is that a word?…well it is now!)
I don’t know why I never thought of this before, but I am weaving a child-size Chilkat robe. I am hoping I can help inspire other Chilkat weavers to do the same. I imagine a whole slew of them to be woven this Winter/Spring into Summer and to be completed in time for Whitehorse, Yukon Territory’s Adaka Festival the last week in June next year. Imagine little Chilkat robes being danced by little ones of the 1st Nations people of Yukon. Just way to cool. I think Jennie would be pleased to see this.
Just finished this collage directly at high noon today. It’s a part of my ongoing series of mixed-media collages started in 2001 – this one is “Tlingit World Series #099”
This collage is part of an international exhibit commemorating 100 years of Collage art (1912 – 2012) featuring collage artists from the world over opening on Friday, September 14th at the International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. This exhibit is curated by Cecil Touchon, director of the Museum. For information on the exhibit, visit the blog spot. For more information on the museum, to become a contributor and to view a few of the artists’ work, click here.
Stay tuned; I’ll post photographs of the exhibit opening after September 14th!
Clarissa Rizal’s booth #283PAL at the Santa Fe Indian Market – someone commented that the booth was set up like a “little museum” – and another commented it looked like a “miniature gallery” – nice compliments, indeed!
I just don’t know how artists do this market annually; when I was younger I bounced back – not any more. Some have done this market for 50+ years. I’ve done this market 4 times in 18 years, since my first one in 1994. As exhilarating and exciting this market can be with the variety of artists and their works, the thousands of people in just two days, and all the other art shows, fashion shows, musical and artistic events crammed into a total of maybe 4 days, I find that I am just not cut out for this kind of intense activity like I used to be. However, I think that I just have to learn how to preserve and contain my energies while I’m at the market so that it doesn’t take me three years to re-couperate!
Top left feathers hang; bottom left is the wire “tree” with gumboot earrings, Chilkat/Ravenstail doll with the red Rusisan-style Navy hat next to the Ravenstail ensemble of “Copper Child” with the “Totemic Mosaics” in the background
I give thanks to all the folks who put this event together; producing a market of this magnitude is a lot of work. What?–there are over 1000 artists crammed into tiny cubicles in the heart of Santa Fe – White booths line both sides of the streets each one block off the Plaza – and Santa Fe has done this for 91 years! HOly Moly! I commend SWAIA for the extraordinary dedication – I give thanks to all my friends, family members and DanDan who helped me get my stuff done and then off to market; and those friends who live in Santa Fe, whom I haven’t seen in months or years, who came by to visit. The experience of people working together for a “cause” is a pleasant feeling; it makes all the work worthwhile!
the wire “tree” is adorned with the gumboot earrings – what are gumboots? (See description below) These particular gumboot shells were harvested from Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast Alaska
The Gumboots chitons, Cryptochiton Stelleri are also known as the giant Pacific chiton – they are a food source for many indigenous peoples, harvested from Central Coast of California, up the Northwest Coast of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska to the Aleutian Islands and to Japan.
These chitons have eight armored “butterfly” plates running in a flexible line down their back. Unlike most chitons, the gumboot’s plates are completely hidden by its leather upper skin, which is usually reddish-brown, brown, or occasionally orange in color. They can grow up to 14 inches long, and can live up to 40 years.
The Tlingit people enjoy eating the rubbery-textured gumboots boiled and dipped in seal oil, or pickled just like cucumbers. True to Tlingit tradition, they utilize the entire animal; the shells either adorn regalia or get made into earrings, as you see here and most recently at the Santa Fe Indian Market this past weekend of August 18th and 19th.
Close-up of items for sale at Clarissa’s table: hand-caste paper feathers, cell phone covers (with padding), brochures and the infamous Russian-style Navy hats adorned with buttons and beads – if you look closely at the two ladies in the photo in front of the hats, on the left is Donna – she wears an actually Russian Navy hat from the 1800’s adorned with fringe – Clarissa (right) wears the Tlingit version in felted wool her grandmother Mary Sarabia created in the late 50’s/early60’s.
The Russian-style Navy hats were the big draw to Clarissa’s booth; most people had never seen anything like them and wondered where they came from.
The Russian sailor hats are reminiscent of the hats once bartered (or from battles) assimilated by the Tlingit for use in regalia in the 1800’s. After the purchase of Alaska, the sailor hats from Russia were no longer available in trading and Tlingits subsequently created elaborately styled wool and felt versions of the hat.
I will have these hats available for sale on my website within the next week by September 1st. I will also have my hand-caste paper feathers, greeting cards and cell phone covers available for sale too.
Waldorf School teacher Vicki Vessier and Clarissa wear Tlingit-ized Russian Navy hats handmade by Clarissa – Vicki’s is fringed with abalone shells and beads; Clarissa’s is fringed with red seed beads
For those of you who are self-employed artists/business folk, if you have not done so already, incorporate the smallest visa card contraption on the planet yet: the Square. Half of my sales were done with the Square – as easy as 1, 2, 3! The Square doesn’t cost a thing, you can do a sale anywhere as long as you have your iPhone to plug into, there is no monthly fee, and it’s only .275% off every sale. Check out the Square!
the Santa Fe Indian Market crowd – Saturday afternoon, March 18, 2012
DanDan and I had a great time at the market, although it’s gonna take several days to re-couperate from the intense activity. I am already planning next year’s market. I think the best part about Indian Market is after all the work is done, the booth is all set up like a “little gallery” and I can relax and meet people from all walks of life and from various corners of our Mother Earth! See you next year, same time, same station!
Friends Shayla, Emily and Rosalia model a few Russian-style Navy hats, each made with cotton fabrics and/or felt embellished with trim of beads, sea shells, and/or abalone, and the band trimmed with antique mother-of-pearl buttons
These hats are based on the actual Russian Navy hats of the 1800’s. The Northern Tlingit tribes adorn themselves with these hats, and although the original hats were from the Russian Navy, the hats of today are mainly worn by women. There is an historical event that took place over 200 years ago that to this day, is acknowledged by the “YenWaaShaa” (Women of the Navy) of the Kaagwaantaan (Wolf clan) women.
The Russian sailor hats are reminiscent of the hats once bartered (or from battles) assimilated by the Tlingit for use in regalia in the 1800’s. After the purchase of Alaska, the sailor hats from Russia were no longer available in trading and Tlingits subsequently created elaborately styled wool and felt versions of the hat.
Clarissa with long-time friend Kamala adorns one of the hats with that Scottish slant!
These hats will be available for sale at the Santa Fe Indian Market this coming weekend and also at the Alaska Juneau Public Market during Thanksgiving weekend. If you cannot make it to the Santa Fe Indian Market to purchase one, you may order one from my website (Shop and Buy page) after September 1st. They are $75 each plus shipping to wherever you are!
Clarissa Rizal’s button blanket images on greeting cards – 6 of the 9 images above include L to R: “Following Our Ancestor’s Trail”, “The Greater Nature”, “Wrestling With Angels”, “Step Into the Light”, “Owl Woman” and “Emergence”
Twenty years ago we hand-printed silkscreened greeting cards with 9 different images based on button blankets I had designed and created. Although not hand-printed this time, I am reviving the set of button blanket greeting cards; they will be available for sale at the Santa Fe Indian Market the weekend of August 18 & 19th, and by September 1st, they will be available for sale as a set of 9 cards for $35 on my website under “Shop and Buy.”
Late at night, the cards all organized and ready to fold with an envelope
I am fortunate to have friends available to help stuff the card/envelope into the clear plastic sleeves; it was a mid-day party! – the sleeves are a very nice clean, clear quality from www.clearbags.com
This clear, acrylic card rack holds 9 cards either horizontally or vertically – the card rack is also purchased from www.clearbags.com for about $68 includes shipping.
Chilkat/Ravenstail robe and Ravenstail leggings on the loom late at night – the leggings are not quite finished
My daughters and I collaborated on creating a Chilkat/Ravenstail/Buttonblanket 18″ doll. I sewed the leather body and finished off the leggings and trimmed the fringe of the robe. Lily Hope designed and wove the robe and began the leggings, Ursala Hudson designed, beaded and sewed the button blanket style tunic and the button blanket Russian-style Navy hat. Lots of fun putting the doll together and bringing this little being to life!
Ravenstail Robe for an 18″ doll woven by Lily Hope
Ravenstail leggings woven by Lily Hope modeled on the 18″ leather doll made by Clarissa
Backside of the Chilkat/Ravenstail doll
Front of Chilkat/Ravenstail doll–oops, one strand of the beaded hat is obviously flipped up…!
Side view of Clarissa’s cell phone cases with the image of her logo which is on her business cards, letterhead, etc. The image is from her mixed-media collage “Tlingit World Series (TWS) #052.”
I have a limited number of cell phone cases available premiering at the Santa Fe Indian market at booth #283PAL on Palace Avenue located between Washington (library street) and Cathedral Street (the street of the infamous Saint Frances Cathedral one block up from downtown Santa Fe Plaza). Santa Fe Indian Market is on Saturday and Sunday, August 18th and 19th.
Front view of Clarissa’s cell phone case; it has two parts, the outside and the rubberized inside — If you cannot make it to the Santa Fe Indian market this year, you may place your order for one of these cell phone covers with Ursala at: ursalarose@gmail.com or you may place an order on my website after September 1st OR if you want to buy it in person, you may at the Alaska Juneau Public Market during Thanksgiving weekend at Centennial Hall in Juneau – my booth will be #29 at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center (Old Armory)
The main reason why I purchased the expensive iPhone is so I can use my new sales device “The Square” enabling me to take visa card payments during any art markets (and anytime for that matter!). It is white and measures about 1″ square, and plugs into the top of your iPhone jack. For those of you who are business owners/artists and have not been exposed to the “Square”, you must check it out on line. It is so cool, you can make a sale anywhere! Check it out!
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.
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.