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 28, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Auke Lake trail looks just about like any other trail in Juneau until...
...you come out onto this metal ramp...huh? Pretty cool,...but why metal? It looks so metallic in all that water and wood landscape...like it's totally out of place! Somebody answer the question: why metal?
How many Juneauites who live downtown know about this walk? How long has it been here? I had no idea we could walk Auke Lake. I had been wondering why i saw all those cars parked in that little out-cropping of a parking area on this side of the float planes. It’s easy, peaceful and if it weren’t for the occasion field mouse running across the path, it’s almost boring. There are no hurdles anymore; the City has paved so many of the trails we’ve been like there are no stumps to jump, no slipping and sliding amongst big roots and swampy puddles to dodge! Where’s the excitement, man? We’ve got it so easy now. Okay, Okay, quit the complaining. I am soaking up the scenery; that’s always exciting.
This is a significant sign! Especially for Dan and i who in the past year, with all the moving around I've done, to deal with the commotion and disorganization, he calls it "...oh, you're just packing it in and packing it out, packing it in and packing it out...I get it!"
Beautiful Auke Lake - when we were kids, we saw Auke Lake on occasion because very few of us in the neighborhood had cars...I was always in awe of Auke Lake...I'd call it the peaceful black lake (it doesn't move like the tides); it's still mysterious to me now and is was then...
Do any of you remember the Filipino photographer, Vincent Isturis? He had a famous tinted, black and white photograph of Auke Lake back in the 60’s – the lake had no houses, the Mendenhall Glacier was very full behind the short trees and there was a yellow-painted wooden guard rail – remember that? (goodness, the days of wooden guard rails!) My friend Margie has a framed photo of this image that was a gift from Vincent to her father Frank.
Okay. I guess there's beauty in a metal walkway!
To answer that question of why a metal walkway? We’ve got lots of rain, honey, we’re in a rain forest, remember?
The shallow underwater world of water lilies and fallen trees
A rippling reflection
Earthy lime green is everywhere in this climate - i grew up with this stuff - no wonder why green is my favorite color!
Several Alaskan folks who live elsewhere in the world have made comments upon seeing my blog of our Juneau walks – they say they get homesick. I apologize for this. I mean no harm in posting delicious reminders of what they are missing. Honest. I am just sharing this small part of our world. I apologize to those folks, however, I must keep posting the beauty because that’s what I see, and also think about this: sooner or later, there may be some natural (or man-made) disaster and then things will change and then it’s messy, and because our Earth is ever-changing and ever-forgiving, it comes back to beauty again. We gotta soak up what is about us while we can, as the world is ever-changing. And because we can’t be in two places at once, we have to look at photos of our home State and so be it, we get homesick. Isn’t it wonderful that you know you love a place so much by how much you get homesick?
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 23, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Fireweed going to seed at Eagle Beach Boy Scout Meadow
Like I mentioned earlier in a blog a couple of days ago, I hadn’t spent a whole lot of recreational time outdoors in Juneau (except when I had my landscaping company 25 years ago – but this doesn’t count because I was running a landscape business; it was not necessarily leisure). When the Bill of Rights celebrated it’s 100-year anniversary (1996?), they celebrated it in Juneau because the U.S. Government deemed this place the most beautiful capital city in the U.S. – really? You mean Honolulu is not more beautiful? – After romping through the forests, beaches and mountains of Juneau this past Summer, I too deem this place the most beautiful capital city in the States!
There are few ways to survive the weather in Juneau: 1). get out in the weather for a walk, hike, whatever, every day, 2) attend all the social & cultural activities that interest you, 3) get into doing some kind of art that pleases your soul, and/or 4) spend time with the very young and the very old. I recommend all of the above. Please share if you have any other suggestions!
Eagle Beach Boys Scout Camp Meadow stretches about a square mile wouldn't you say?
Nagoon Berry at Eagle Beach
If you ever receive a jar of Nagoon-berry jelly from someone, you must be really, doggone special to that person because it isn’t easy to find this berry in the Juneau area anymore…I found two little berries this day I was at Eagle River. Berry folk like myself know this is the best berry in the world – and we’ve got fields of these gems in specific areas in the northern part of Southeast Alaska. Dundas Bay (part of Glacier Bay National Park) is a great spot; the berry stalks are taller than any of us have ever seen in the Juneau area!
The beauty of ebbing - how many of us know how to do this?
Eagle Beach ebbed peninsula
You think you've seen one sunset so you've seen 'em all?
Do you know anyone who is tired of sunsets?
Eagle Beach cannot help be Sunset Alley
Eagle Glacier alpine glow
A mysterious reflection
So at first we saw this big porcupine at a distance and thought it a small cub!
When's the last time you saw a frog? huh?
Sep 22, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Mendenhall Glacier's additional waterfall
Have you been out to the Mendenhall lately? If you want to see the glacier in the sunshine, according to the online weather report, we’ve got one day left before the rain sets in. Big chunks of ice calved from the glacier exposing the latest waterfall. The photo above barely shows the little waterfall. If you follow the base of the big waterfall (on the right) and move your eye to the left to where the rock comes to a point, you will barely see the waterfall (against the newly-faced glacier wall). I don’t know if it’s been named yet cuz it’s just a “newborn” and the Forest Service is busy with other matters. Go visit our local glacier. It’s melting fast. Our glaciers may not be around in 40 years. If anything, check out the icebergs!
Mendenhall icebergs as big as houses!
Mendenhall icebergs, again?
How can we tire of Mendenhall icebergs? Check out that shade of turquoise!
Can you see the profile of a dude in this rocky cliff sporting Nugget Falls at the Mendhenall? This dude even has a double chin - he's saying to himself: "ha, so what's with all the water!?"
Sep 22, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Jellyfish Horizon
Have you ever seen a beached jellyfish? We think this was a sunburnt jellyfish – got caught by the Indian Summer weather at Eagle Beach near the Boy Scout Camp out here in good ole Juneau, Alaska. Check out the sunflower character looking like a jello mold!
Checking out the alien...
You asking how big this thing was? Maybe 18″ diameter. Do jellyfish get bigger than that? I have never seen a jellyfish out of water so I cannot gauge what this one would measure when it’s in the ocean. What does the jellyfish feel like? jello? I don’t know. We shoulda poked it as any normal human would.
Jellyfish Swirl
Jellyfish Close-up
What do Jellyfish and sunflowers have in common?
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 14, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Mt. Roberts trail head signs
I cannot remember the last time I hiked Mt. Roberts Trail: 10 to 15 years ago? I done see some new improvements during the entire hike beginning right at the trail head. In the “olden days” there weren’t the modern conveniences of a metal stairwell up the first part of the trail head of Mt. Roberts, let alone signs telling you where you are, what to do and how to behave! Gawd! Like have we advanced or what!? These amenities musta been the result of the City and Borough of Juneau accommodating to the few walking tourists…I have to say that walking up the metal steps at the trail head is sure a lot easier than the steep, and often times slippery and muddy path that once was. Aren’t you glad we have tourists? !^P
Log Walkway
A covered rest area!
The covered rest area has a view!
This view has overgrown indeed – time to cut the entire forest down so we can see what we’re looking at from the rest area, doggone it!
Another log walkway
For you "cheechako's", remember that Devil's Club berries are poisonous!
What's up man, like holy cow! - To how many walkways do I subject you guys!?
It's just not true that once you've seen one root and log walkway, you've seen 'em all!
Getting closer to the tramway, there are still lots of blueberries ripe for the pickin'
View across to the town of Douglas, Alaska
A Spruce head
Tramway view looking down at the Gastineau Channel
Looking west from Mt. Roberts tramway to the beloved Chilkat Range
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 | Latest Art Projects, To Market To Market |
A wooden box captures all the necessary little tools when jumping from weaving loom to weaving loom, whether they are looms in a class setting, or my own looms in my studio
Artists employ all kinds of tools for their trade and we never really pay homage to the tools that assist us in whatever the art we create. I’ve taken photographs of few of my most trustworthy “friends” who are with me on a day-in day-out basis, making business all that artfully simpler.
Very Important Paperbooks (VIP): A Franklin Covey planner and two notebooks, one for computer skill notes and website updates, and the other to list all the projects with "to-do" listings under each project category
Folks wonder how I accomplish so many things, like where do I find the time for it all? Well, besides not having much of a social life, nor owning a television all my adult life, nor taking vacations or looking for entertainment outside of myself, I have lots of time to organize, speculate, design and create (as well as the bookkeeping, note-taking, email responses, website updates, blogging, etc.). Outside of having creative time, and the usual paperwork, keeping organized is the key to accomplishments. I am a left-brained, right-brained person, can you tell?
Keep organized. It's a joy to reach out and select what you need in the very moment of its need instead of searching through stacks of paper strewn about the desk top - like just reach out and touch...the very thing you need
Let's face it you backwoods, artists - get with it! The wave of this future is right now and guess what, if you don't have a computer or laptop, the world of business is going to leave you way behind...as much as I resisted for many years to the technological world and the hubbub, I was forced to get on board by sheer pressure
This HP Officejet 6500 Wireless is not as quiet and smooth as my Canon MX700, but it does the job when i need to download, print and fill out applications to submit on the double!
Peppermint tea English ala creme with Vitamin Bs and C and a dash of cellphone radiation is a way to start a vigorous day
Love seats are a necessary tool to accommodate to sporadic visitors and late-night Netflix videos while spinning Chilkat warp - this is the first time I've owned a love seat - they are not sprawling like a couch
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…!”
