Oct 23, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Showing Off, To Market To Market, To See or Not to See |
Grand-daughter Amelie hugs the golden yellow, hand-dyed, merino weft yarns hanging out to dry — and of course the weft was dry when this photo was shot!
I invite you to visit my Booth #P-15 at Alaska-Juneau Public Market booth during Thanksgiving weekend at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska! The booth is right across the isle from Tony Tengs “Chilkat Cones” in the main hall of Centennial Hall. And please note: I will be sharing the booth with Tlingit carving artist & silversmith, Israel and Sue Shotridge (www.shotridgestudios.com).
The following is an inventory of items for sale; they include (but are not limited to):
A limited supply of Chilkat weaving and spinning supplies: Cedar bark without the sap (both whole and split), Chilkat warp, Chilkat weft yarns in golden yellow, turquoise, black and cream, spinning pads, etc.
Books for sale that I wrote, made or co-illustrated include: “Chilkat Pattern Templates”, the “Chilkat Weavers’ Handbook”; Juneauite author Hannah Lindoff children’s book “Mary’s Wild Winter Feast” — and books that I highly recommend: “The Intenders” by Tony Burroughs and “Go Pro – Becoming A Network Marketing Professional” by Eric Worre.
Miscellaneous items include: my button blanket greeting cards, hand-caste paper feathers, limited edition Giclee prints, hand-sewn, beaded, felt Russian Sailor hats, and gumboot shell earrings made by daughter Lily and sister Dee Lampe.
Come check out my latest 5-piece Chilkat woven ensemble called “Chilkat Child” which will be on display next to my daughter Lily’s 4-piece Ravenstail woven ensemble “Little Watchman.”
We’ll see you in a few weeks during the weekend of Thanksgiving at the Public Market in Juneau (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)!
Sep 26, 2014 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Child-size Chilkat headband in progress — Clarissa Rizal — 2014
I have been weaving a Child-size Chilkat dance ensemble which includes a robe, apron, leggings and headdress. These two photos show the progress of the headdress above and one of a pair of leggings below…stay tuned for images of the completed ensemble this November!
The beginnings of the blue curlique in the child-size Chilkat dance leggings — Clarissa Rizal 2014
Sep 11, 2014 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
A woven Curlique using Chilkat weaving techniques — by Clarissa Rizal
I am weaving a child-size Chilkat apron as part of a 5-piece Chilkat woven ensemble which will also include a headdress, robe, and leggings. My goal is to complete the ensemble by end of October; I will have the entire ensemble shown at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market during Thanksgiving weekend at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska. Above is a semi-completed image of my first curlique using the Chilkat weaving techniques. The merino yarns were hand-dyed by a yarn company out of Homer, Alaska. Stay tuned for updates on the “Chilkat Child” ensemble.
Sep 2, 2014 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Poetry Alaskan, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
The back and front cover of Juneauite author Hannah Lindoff’s “Mary’s Wild Winter Feast” co-illustrated by Nobu Koch and Clarissa Rizal
Hot off the press, you may purchase this book at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market at Centennial Hall in Juneau during Thanksgiving weekend at my booth #P-15 in the main hall OR you can purchase directly from Hannah OR you can order a copy from a couple of sources below:
Here is the book’s page on UAF: http://www.alaska.edu/uapress/browse/detail/index.xml?id=511
Here’s the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Marys-Winter-Feast-Hannah-Lindoff/dp/1602232326/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409341461&sr=8-1&keywords=Mary%27s+Wild+Winter+Feast
You want a signed copy? Come by my booth P-15 at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market! We’ll see you there!
Aug 2, 2014 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Flanked by two Ravenstail robes woven by Shgen, Clarissa poses with Shgen George (center) and her daughter Gabby Kay at her first show opening during 1st Friday Gallery Walk, August 1st, 2014 at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center (JACC), Juneau, Alaska
Shgen George has been an elementary school teacher for at least 10 years; she carves out time from her other roles as mother, wife, mentor, teacher, and daughter to do her art – it isn’t easy! Like where do you find the time to do your art when there’s always student’s class assignments to check during the weekend!? She had an impressive showing of buttonrobes, Ravenstail robes, beaded, appliqued and woven Chilkat and Ravenstail octopus bags! Wow. Even I have never had a one-man show and I’ve been at this for nearly 40 years! — Click here for more information on Shgen and her show at the JACC during the month of August.
Shgen says that I am her mentor. (Really? Me?) I am not only her teacher of Chilkat, I am her mentor. I have never really considered myself a “mentor” – like what does that mean? Someone who knows a little more about life’s certain topics that shares it on a consistent basis with specific person(s). She says that I have inspired her tremendously and wants to do what I have done in my life. I have never had anyone else tell me this; I wonder if there are others who feel the same way? I had not ever considered myself as someone “to follow in their footsteps…” so to speak. I am 58 years old this year; I better get on the ball and take my position seriously. So I have given her some pointers on how to go about doing this: what to watch out for, the dedication, determination and drive of doing art to keep yourself sane while growing up and old all the while becoming more of a human being, and all the while balancing your life with your husband, your kids, your community, your health,…and of course, your other job!
A few years ago, when I saw Shgen’s astounding beadworked octopus bags, I told her that I had woven a couple of octopus bags, one Ravenstail, the other Chilkat. I encouraged her to weave octopus bags of all kinds, and why not!? Nobody’s doing it and it’s gotta be done and I’m too busy doing other weavings and works so it might as well be her! By golly, she’s done it!
Shgen too is part of Jennie Thlunaut’s legacy of a Chilkat weaver. I know Jennie would be proud of Shgen, her character, her talent and her works.
Congratulations Shgen!!! And Gunulcheesh to her husband, daughter, mother, father and other community members who have supported Shgen in her achievements!!!
Can we have an Amen!? Can we have a HOO-HAA!?
Aug 1, 2014 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Pair of Chilkat armbands .22 bullet shells on fringe; will add fur trim and line with leather; hand-dyed blues and yellow — woven by Clarissa Rizal — July 2014
Like the “Resilience” Chilkat robe I just completed in June, I am finally getting around to weaving an idea I had 20+ years ago: an 8-piece Chilkat/Ravenstail ensemble called “Chilkat Hombre” which includes these armbands above, “dreadlock” headdress (like I wove over 10 years ago for my “Copper Woman” outfit), a chest sash, pair of gauntlets, codpiece and Chilkat/leather chaps! Stay tuned for more images of the other pieces; I intend to complete the entire ensemble by March 2016 !
Jul 30, 2014 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Back-side of the Chilkat face by Crystal Rogers
Crystal Rogers has returned towards completion of her child-size Chilkat robe. She began her apprenticeship with me last summer during our Chilkat weaving retreat and tour in Yukon and the northern parts of southeast Alaska. (Click here to read about the weaving tour and see many, many photos)
Front side of Crystal’s Chilkat face of her child-size robe
Any student or apprentice who learns Chilkat weaving with me is directly part of Jennie Thlunaut’s Chilkat weaving legacy. I am proud of Crystal for completing her Chilkat face. She has learned just about everything I learned from Jennie Thlunaut nearly 30 years ago…now she is on the Chilkat path of a life-long learning process by way of weaving, weaving, weaving!!! Congratulations Crystal! — Anytime you need assistance in your weaving, you know how to get a hold of me!
Jul 5, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Wolf and Eagle headdresses worn by the children of the KwaanlinDun First Nations during their performance
What is the Adaka Festival? And where the heck is Whitehorse, Yukon Territory? And why does Clarissa just talk about Yukon Territory all the time?
This child dancer with the mask and leather gloves danced like the old-timers going down with low bent knees and extended arms with hands fluttering: wow! Bought back memories of my elder teacher Harry K. Bremner, Sr. from Yakutat, Alaska
My oldest daughter Lily Hope and excellent carver friend William Callahan – one of the best young carvers in all of Yukon!
New Zealand Maori carver, singer, musician Lyonel Grant presented slides of his work – and Tahltan Tlingit carver Dempsey Bob with his granddaughter
William Callahan and the Smith/Walker family (Shawn, Ann and Brian)
Wayne Price tells the story behind the song he sang: the migration under the glaciers
My daughter Lily and the great uncle Wayne Price of Lily’s son, Louis…so does this mean I am related to Wayne? Hmmm….shoulda known!
Jul 4, 2014 | Class Act, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Louise Baker pays attention to Lily Hope teaching Diane Knopp how to dress her next weaving project on the loom
Ann Smith and I taught our second weaving class together in Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving during the week-long Adaka Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Lily Hope assisted for four days (her first time being away from her family!).
Ann Smith drafts out pattern configuration for Ravenstail design
Ann Smith and I were two of Cheryl Samuel’s first students to learn Ravenstail back in 1989. Since then Ann has woven approximately 5 Ravenstail robes and numerous smaller weavings and has taught classes in Yukon and British Columbia. Ann was one of my first students in Chilkat weaving back in 1991; in fact, she inspired me to weave robes instead of weaving contemporary pieces of regalia. Only recently have I decided to incorporate weaving smaller items in my time line!
Clarissa demonstrates the fantastic fingering technique of her teacher/mentor Jennie Thlunaut. L to R: Dan Shorty, Stefanie Sakinya, Diane Knopp, Andra Hunter, Clarissa, Marge Baufeld, Louise Baker, Sally Lutchman, Charlene Baker
Most of the techniques and spiritual information I teach are directly from my apprenticeship with the last of the traditional master weavers, Jennie Thlunaut from Klukwan, Alaska who passed away in July 1986 two months after she taught me. All students who learn from me are a direct lineage of Jennie’s legacy, the most prolific Chilkat weaver of all time with 50 robes and 8 tunics.
Lily Hope demonstrates weaving techniques on Clarissa’s child-size Chilkat robe to visitors at the Adaka Festival
Lily Hope has been weaving Ravenstail for nearly 10 years. She started weaving Chilkat weaving 4 years ago when she was an assistant teacher during one of my classes in Juneau; little did anyone know that as she was “student teaching” she was for the first time learning how to weave Chilkat!!!
Louise Baker (Tagish) measures her warp for the child-size headband using Jennie Thlunaut’s old-time technique of cutting a piece of cardboard to the length of the project, wrapping the warp loosely but evenly around the board and then cutting one end, before hanging strands on the loom
The class is fairly full with 10 eager students
Lily demonstrates how to “dress” your loom
Ann helps Marge Beaufeld with her first braids while Nita Clarke whizzes away with happy anticipation of another weaving!
Charlene Baker (Whitehorse) shows Debra Michel (Atlin) the additional weaving she has on her loom – one is her first Chilkat weaving the other is her combination of Chilkat and Ravenstail (of which she is well versed).
Debra Michel weaves her second Chilkat weaving, a dance apron she designed…
Lily helps Zach James (Haines, AK) establish his first row of his Ravenstail pattern while Dan Shorty pays attention
Andra Hunter and her mother, Sally Lutchman contemplate what to do next
Stefanie Sakinya Sidney has begun another weaving project on the other side of her loom…!
Ann Smith (with her granddaughter) have fun with Nita Clarke – (let’s face it people, Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving is a lot of work, but it’s fun work!)
Ann reminds the weavers to be mindful of keeping their “stitches” even
Stefanie, Zach, Lily Sharon and Louise
L to R back row: Debra Michel, Charlene Baker, Diane Knopp, Sharon Shorty, Carver Dempsey Bob, Marge Beaufeld, Nita Clarke – Front row: Clarissa Rizal, Ann Smith, Louise Baker (missing: Lily Hope, Zach James, Sally Lutchman, Andra Hunter)
I am totally impressed with the commitment and dedication of the Yukon weavers. It is quite an honor for us to teach weavers who are eager to learn and eager to create more dance regalia for their family, friends and community members. This experience has been an instructor’s dream. And I know it was Jennie’s dream come true as well. She was the last traditional weaver; imagine how she must have felt! Imagine what she would feel if she were to see the number of wanna-be-weavers that have come out of the woodwork to dedicate themselves to a life-long learning process! I know only a small fraction of what she would feel; it has brought me to my knees with gratitude and compassion to be a part of Jennie’s legacy – to be a part of the traditional Chilkat weavers’ legacy and to be a part of this present-day legacy of this younger generation who will carry this forward. Can I have an Amen!? Can I have a Hoo-haa!
Looking through the class window at Clarissa’s yellow “Chilkat mobile” in the parking lot of the KwanlinDun Cultural Center in Whitehorse, Yukon
Thank you to Charlene Alexander, Executive Director of the Adaka Festival (in it’s 4th year), who coordinated another year of this amazing event and once again has invited us to teach weaving! Thank you to all the weavers who came out to learn more about our traditional weaving styles; Gunalcheesh!
Jun 22, 2014 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, Honoring Others, North Tide, Poetry Alaskan, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Of all the things I have ever aspired to be and do, it’s never been to be a lead singer, or one of the singers in a band! Though at the request of my friend the glassblower, Preston Singletary, I thought I’d give it a go. We sing traditional Tlingit songs with the back up of a fantastic sound called funk jazz fusion played by outstanding musicians that practically blew flutist Gene Tagaban and I right off the stage with the very first drumbeats at our very first performance in Seattle the night of June 20th. We are called “Khu.eex” (pronounced “koo eeeexch” which in the Tlingit language means “potlatch.”
Preston’s other band is called “Little Big Band” – this band is a totally separate band with a totally different sound from Khu.eex, You may visit Little Big Band’s website by clicking here at “A Little Big Band.com”
The following are a few photos of “Khu.eex” taken by Dan Shanks and I:
Let’s introduce you to “Khu.eex” – L to R: drummer from New Orleans Stanton Moore, Clarissa Rizal, keyboard player from New Jersey Bernie Worrell, Seattle musicians: bass player Preston Singletary, flutist/spoken word Gene Tagaban, saxaphonist Skerik, lead guitar Captain Raab, and sound engineer Randall Dunn at Avast! Studios, Seattle.
Read more about the various band members & the recording studio on their websites:
Bernie Worrell, keyboard artist: http://www.bernieworrell.com
Stanton Moore, drummer: http://www.stantonmoore.com
Preston Singletary, bass: http://www.prestonsingletary.com
Gene Tagaban, flutist/spoken word/singer: http://www.storytellingraven.com/
Clarissa Rizal, singer/spoken word: http://www.clarissarizal.com
Avast! Recording Studios: http://www.avastrecording.com/
Preston rounded up Gene, Captain Raab and Clarissa to create the set list.
I thought to myself “man, this is serious, we are really performing for an audience and are no longer in the recording studio…” like “hello, wake up dearie, we are not in Kansas anymore…!” The following photos are rehearsal shots:
Preston, Stanton Skerik and Bernie during our one rehearsal directly before the first of two shows on the evening of Thursday, June 19th, Seattle,Washington.
Here are a few more shots of our performances:
When are we going to take this troupe on tour? Well, a few things have to line up: First, Preston is working on finalizing the recording sessions and it looks as though there is enough material for two CD’s. Secondly, Preston’s two kids have to get a little older by about two years so that they can come on tour with us. Thirdly, we have to do some fundraising (maybe via Kickstarter) to pay for the tour.
And fourthly, for me, now that my throat is pretty much healed from last Winter’s spell of pneumonia, I can continue to take my voice lessons from Brett Manning’s Singing Success.com – click here to find out more about how you can take these fun voice lessons — if I can take voice lessons, you can take voice lessons! Being a part of Preston’s band, I feel like I have to contribute more than just being able to sing the native tunes; I have to really learn how to sing so my voice is an actual instrument allowing me to be more CREATIVE!!!
Bernie Worrell with Dan Shanks (who was the photographer for most of the photos on this blog post).
Both Bernie and Dan (as well as Gene Tagaban) are part Cherokee — can you see the resemblance? I can….(elongated shape of skull/face, certain width at bridge of nose, ears are flat to side of head, and the human kind graciousness of their character…)
