Feb 5, 2014 | For Crying Out Loud, Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
Buddy Tabor – Castle Valley, Moab, Utah – 2006 – I imagine that if he saw this particular photo, he may have used it for an album cover
I don’t think Buddy saw any of these photos I took of him. I think this series of photos in this blog entry he would have enjoyed seeing. It’s been two years since his passing on February 5, 2012. This blog entry is in honorable memory of him.
Buddy with friends Connie and Phil – 2006
Every year in the Falltime he would make his annual visit. He always encouraged us to take a weekend trip somewhere in the Southwest. One year he rented a real jeep and we went into Canyonlands National Park just south of Moab, Utah. Gawd, what an adventure! Something I had never done before or since! The photos here in the Southwest were taken in Castle Valley, near Moab, Utah.
Buddy Tabor Running Rocks – Utah – 2006 – this could have been an album cover too
There are many of us across this continent who miss Buddy. An unforgettable singer-songwriter gone with a blinding flash of light!
Buddy Tabor – 2006
Buddy Tabor with my lovebird, Kiwi – 2005 – though I’d like to think that this photo and the next could have been album covers too!
Buddy Tabor Bear – 2005 – this could have been an album cover for his 2nd children’s album!
Feb 4, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
Clarissa’s four grandchildren, Bette, Louis Violet and Amelie – with another on its way due at end of July 2014
When we are young, we don’t think about the things middle-agedness and old-age may bring us. We are thinking about getting through the day-by-day stuff and we may plan a little bit into the future maybe 5 years down the road. The thoughts about preparing for being middle-aged and old-aged are the farthest things from our minds let alone taking action to prepare for it. That’s like doing everything you can now to prepare for having the perfect experiences in having a baby and raising that kid! uh-huh. Live is an ever-changing, ever-learning experience as we grow up, plateau and then “grow-down.” We learn as we go.
I thought that possibly I would have grandchildren but I really didn’t know what that would look like, nor did I know how I would feel once these kids came into being. With the addition of these young souls in my life, I’m doing things right now to help provide me with the feeling that I have the time to truly be with my kids. I say “feeling” because much of the time, when I am with them, I might be there in person, but because I am a full-time artist and the income I make is entirely from my art business, I’m always thinking of my work. (And all of you who have been a full-time, self-employed artist know exactly what I am talking about—-we do not have the luxury of leaving the office and the rest of the night or weekend is free—-that’s because we ARE the office and we carry our business mind-set wherever we go!).
So for me to FEEL the freedom of truly hanging out with my grandchildren, I’ve got to know that every month my bills will be paid. That is hard to do with sporadic income. So I am making attempts to diversify my income. Diversification doesn’t mean that I will quit doing art for income; it means that I am adding other ways to make income.
Like I said, I am making additions to my life so that I can feel the freedom of truly being with the greatest of all my additions: my grandchildren!
Feb 3, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
“Diving Whale Lovebirds” Chilkat dance robe by Clarissa Rizal – on the ferry (Alaska Marine Highway) to Skagway, Alaska – June 2013
Here’s a link recently posted January 27th on U-tube to a brief video clip created by the Penn Museum in Philadelphia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1uvgmXP48
Postindian Warriors: Creating a New Consciousness in Native America highlights the influential work of Anishinaabe writer and activist, Gerald Vizenor. Vizenor’s expressions of “survivance” and “Postindian” reject Native American histories of absence and domination, and focus instead on the active presence of Native America today. Tlingit artists Nicholas Galanin and Clarissa Rizal speak about the importance of movement and change in their lives and work as well.
About the project:
Penn Museum’s Native American Voices Video project, completed in 2011, was conducted over fourteen months with support from the Annenberg Foundation and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten. The project resulted in the creation of Postindian Warriors: Creating A New Consciousness in Native America, five short videos about contemporary Native America for inclusion in the long-term exhibition, Native American Voices: The People – Here and Now. Five 8 minute films were produced to highlight important themes that emerged from the discussions.
The interviews were in May 2011. My paintings on the wall were “in-progress”; and, obviously same with the Chilkat robe on the loom “Jennie Weaves An Apprentice” completed in August 2011.
Feb 2, 2014 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Lots of braids when you are about to weave the eyes and bridge of nose…yep, folks, this is what a Chilkat weaving looks like when in “full bloom!” – and you wonder how we keep track of it all!
I’m doing a trade with Preston Singletary. The first pair of Chilkat leggings were a little too big for him, so they became a part of the “Copper Man” Ravenstail/Chilkat ensemble (which is now in private collection in Seattle), so I began weaving this pair about 6 years ago. It’s slow going; trades are slow going when you’re trying to keep up with paying the bills. Trades are always on the back burner. Though these leggings are getting done, slowly but surely.
It’s proof in the pudding that practice-makes-perfect. I look at this weaving now and think “golly, it’s not very good…” compared to how I weave now. Also, the warp is not very good. It’s spun pretty evenly but before I figured out the trick of stretching the warp taut when wrapped around the wooden back of a chair to dry, this warp is too bulky. For those of you who know how to spin and know how to weave, and have figured out tricks-of-the-trade in making good warp, you will understand what I am talking about here.
From the beginning shape of the eyes in the photograph above to the completed “electric” eyes in this photo, it took about 3 hours to weave
Even so, the weaving is okay. despite my critiques. I’ll be getting back to it again as soon as I complete the “Resilience” Chilkat robe. I am finishing up old business as well as completing commissions and trades. It feels real good to do this.
Thank you for staying tuned in during the progress of this weaving!
Jan 30, 2014 | Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive, Uncategorized |
Lily Lalanya Hudson Hope and her mother, Clarissa – December 2013 – Juneau, Alaskaphoto by Kelly Burnett
The moment Lily was born the morning of January 30, 1980, my condemning, self-judgments began to cease. This thing called “love of self” was felt in every cell of my body; I remember it quite well. I feel this is the gift she gave to her mother and this is the gift she gives to the rest of the world – it is also the gift in and of herself.
Lily is all kinds of things, but first and foremost the past six years, she is a mother of two of my favorite people in the world, Bette (Grandma’s nickname for her is “SikiKwaan”) and Louis (Grandma’s nickname for him is “Ajuju”). She enjoys homeschooling her kids; being a full-time mother right now is her favorite job, though for her sanity, she has her own weaving/sewing/beadworking room!
Lily has done all kinds of jobs, she always went “up the ladder” in no time due to her organizational abilities, her mathematical mind and her love to just be busy making people happy. When she was 18, after only a month, she became the manager of McDonald’s in Pagosa Springs, Colorado; then at 20 she became the Marketing Director for Whole Foods in Santa Fe, New Mexico and a beadwork artist for an internationally-famous mask-maker out of New Orleans. When she returned to her hometown of Juneau, Alaska 10 years ago to help take care of her Grandma Irene, she was led back into her Native roots.
She received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Alaska Southeast in 2005. By way of Perseverance Theatre in Douglas, she became an actress and with the assistance of her Grandpa Bob Hudson attended the San Francisco School of Acting. She also became an award-winning storyteller, winning top awards in the All-Alaska Storytelling competition; she and her husband, Ishmael Hope have performed at the Smithsonian. She got back into Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving and won 1st Place for the 4-piece, child-size woven ensemble in the Traditional Arts category of the Sealaska Juried Art Show. She used to have a website under Lily Hudson, but her name changed when she married Ishmael and she hasn’t gotten her younger sister, Ursala the web-designer to create a new website just yet. Although you can visit Ishmael’s superb website at: www.alaskanativestoryteller.com
Ishmael, Lily and their two children live happily in Douglas, Alaska.
Happy Birthday, my Nina!
Jan 19, 2014 | Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive |
Kahlil Lampe Hudson – 37 years old on January 19, 2014
37 years ago today, my son Kahlil Lampe Hudson was born. Strong-willed and energetic about everything, he was always a handsome one; I remember Grandma Shirley Hudson warning us “oh he’s a real looker…the girls are gonna flock all over him…!” He was the first grandchild on both sides. The only grandson on my side of the family, my parents spoiled him rotten.
Kahlil’s gift to me the moment he was born was patience. I sure wasn’t born with patience, but this boy is all about patience. He is one of the most patient people I know (and I know he didn’t get it from my side of the family!). I first developed patience with Kahlil; I have been learning patience since. Kahlil and I butt heads while we were growing up until he was 16 and I was 36; we had our last argument in this incidence: I snapped a kids-size broomstick over his right shoulder, and while I was in shock at my behavior, I told myself that whatever topic he and I didn’t agree on, just leave it alone, it ain’t worth it! And that was the end of our dumb bickering.
Kahlil is a professional film-maker/cinematographer/photographer receiving his Masters Degree from UCLA. His work has led him all over the world, from India to British Columbia to France and Africa, throughout the U.S. and the most interesting project yet, the Missionary Children on the Pine Ridge Reservation. With his best friend Tyler Hughen, Finback Films was created – they won numerous awards from the Film Festival circuit around the world for their documentary film “Low and Clear” – click here to trailer on website. And if you’d like to buy a copy of the film via Amazon, click here.
Kahlil was also the cinematographer for a feature film “Kumare” – a documentary by a friend who became a self-proclaimed guru. A must-see, very interesting film. You can rent it on Netflix or you can buy it for $2.99 on Amazon by clicking here.
With his wife, Mikiko Ellis, who was born and bred in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, they have a six-year old daughter, Violet, who is one of the best grand-daughters in the world! — They presently live in Denver, Colorado.
Happy Birthday, Kahlil – let’s see what you continue to be and do in the next 37+ years!
Dec 22, 2013 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Preston’s new band tentatively called “Koo.eex” L to R: Gene Tagaban, Clarissa Rizal, Bernie Worrell, Skerik, Stanton Moore & Preston Singletary
Back in October on a Friday night, out of the blue, I received a text from Preston: “…will you be a back-up singer in my band? We will be recording a CD this coming December.” — “Huh? Like who does he think I am; a singer? What makes him think I can sing? He’s gotta be kidding….” —- So, I didn’t answer him. Four days later on the following Monday I got a call from Preston:
“Well hey, Clarissa, uh,…did you get my text?” —
“Yes.” —
“Uh, well, what do you think? (and like how come you didn’t answer…!?)
“What am I supposed to think? I do not recall ever indicating that I am a singer to nobody, like what makes you think that I can even sing, much less be a back-up singer in a band that is going to record it’s first CD!?”
“Hahaha. Hey I remember those songs you sang around the campfire at the end of the two-week work session completing the glass and wood totem pole at Pilchuck…you blew everyone away…!”
“Preston, that doesn’t count…those were dirty songs…!”
“Yeah, well…it’s how you presented them,…it’s the way you sang. I want that kind of energy in my band…will you join us?”
One of Preston’s bass’
Preston’s first love is music. Not glass blowing. How can I tell? He gets that look in his eyes. It’s that true musician’s look as if they are in another time and place; smiling inside out. I grew up with a musician. I’ve been around musicians. Some of my best friends are musicians and although some don’t necessarily “make a living” creating music, there’s that “way of being”….So for those of you who think Preston is a hot glass blower and that is his first love, you got it all wrong. I don’t care if the dude makes thousands on his work and thousands of art collectors have a piece of his work, his true love is music. Bottom line. — But if you must check out Preston’s glass blowing website: www.prestonsingletary.com
Bernie Worrell on keyboards – check out Bernie Worrell website at: http://www.bernieworrell.com/ This guy is no ordinary keyboard player! He is all over the board!
So Preston gathered together his friends, Gene Tagaban, Skerik and I along with two big name musicians (that at the time I didn’t know were big names), Stanton Moore and Bernie Worrell. For the past eight years, Preston had imagined putting together a jazz/funk rock fusion band to record a CD. He saved up money to do so; this December with the help of us buddies, he made his dream come true. The sound that came out of this band was so fantastic and fun, it blew all of us away! The music had become so much a part of me in just three short days, I barely slept. I began to understand why musicians “move to a different drum.” I began to understand why they stay up late into the wee hours of the morning. I also understand why some become drug addicts or are alcoholics or at least have a stiff drink before they go to bed. IT IS HARD TO GO TO SLEEP AFTER FEELING THE MUSIC IN YOUR BONES AND EVERY NERVE OF YOUR BODY!!! Holy cow!
Gene Tagaban on Native flute, Skerik on sax
Who is that drummer, Stanton Moore? Gawd, the guy can drum. Like I thought my friend D.C. Duncan could drum and for the past 20 years I’ve always enjoyed D.C., but man, this Stanton guy is something else!!! When I got back home after the recording sessions, I saw D.C. and asked him if he knew Stanton Moore. He said “well, hell yeah, I have bought his CD’s and have made myself a better drummer through his instructions over the years, the dude is goooood! The guy is THE drummer of all drummers – like he is #2 in the entire world – Why do you ask?”
Stanton Moore on drums — check out the Stanton Moore Trio on youtube and if you are a drummer or wanna-be-drummer, this is the man to hang with; New Orleans born and bred – check out his website at: www.stantonmoore.com
So, we spent three days improvising songs. A total blast. These songs were based on traditional Native songs of the Northwest Coast; we started out with the chants, then the band would slide on in and take off! It was a honor to play with these guys; thanks for the invite, Preston. I have appreciated every moment in actual time and now in memory!
Preston begins with a traditional tune – notice the child-size Chilkat robe in the background – I’d weave when I wasn’t singing…
Gene Tagaban has definitely made his way in the world with his storytelling and musical talents. I had no idea the extent of his talent until this recording session. He topped off these songs; he added so much depth and meaning. His contributions rounded everything out, like bringing the entire fusion together full circle. These are just my opinions folks, you do not have to believe everything I say here. Just make sure you buy the CD when it comes out by the Fall of 2014; it’s nothing like you’ve ever heard!
Gene Tagaban adds a story of Raven…walking along a beach…check out Gene’s website at: http://www.storytellingraven.com/
- Preston Singletary on bass
Bernie Worrell’s keyboarding hands
After the excitement of the first song the entire band played, Stanton and Bernie vigorously shook hands, honored to play with one another
Skerik on sax – this guy rips — Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed saxophonics. Check out Skerik’s FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/skerik
In the sound room, Gene Tagaban, Bernie Worrell and Preston Singletary listen to the second day’s improv recordings
Sound engineer, Randall at the 1969 “board”
In the dining room kitchen, sound technicians and band members share home-made squash pie and baked apples hosted by Stuart, the owner of the “Avante!” recording studio – YUM!
Dinner at the Bitterroot Restaurant
After a fine day and night of playing together, and sharing a late dinner, Bernie Worrell and Preston Singletary share a bench and a smoke already reminiscing the “old days”…and the next project!
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 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 | 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/
