Dec 9, 2014 | Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The Curator of Native American Art at the Portland Art Museum, Deana Dartt with her unique staff Mike Murawski, Alex Mar, Todd Clark – They stand next to Clarissa’s recently completed Chilkat robe “Resilience” now part of the permanent collection of Portland Art Museum – December 2014
Surprises come in all sizes and shapes, some pleasant and unpleasant. Learning how to keep the emotions in check is, I have discovered during my mid-life “learning curve”, the best way to stay off the emotional roller coaster. I used to respond fully at everything, whether positive or negative; I have come to realize that was a lot of energy to expend especially now as I am getting older, it is best for me to conserve that energy for myself, to myself, as I am needing to keep any energy I have if I want to continue doing what I do and all the things yet that I intend to do before I go. So,…the surprise of seeing the Chilkat weavings collection at the Portland Art Museum was indeed pleasant that will last the rest of my lifetime. Why?
The double-headed Raven “Two Door” Chilkat dance tunic and its wooden pattern board – the tunic was woven by my weaver teacher/mentor Jennie Thlunaut
Though there were a couple of other weavings and button blankets etc., I focused on these two tunics I show herein: one is a “Grizzly Bear” tunic woven by Mrs. Benson, the paternal aunt and weaving teacher to my teacher/mentor Jennie Thlunaut, and the other tunic, the double-headed Raven “Two Door” tunic was woven by Jennie Thlunaut. Mrs. Benson was born in the mid-1800s and died in the early 1900’s; Jennie was born in 1895 and died in 1986. Jennie’s mother died when Jennie was 12; her mother had just started weaving another robe. With the help of Jennie’s 4 paternal aunts, Jennie completed the Chilkat robe her mother started. Mrs. Benson was one of those aunties.
Full view of the double-headed Raven “Two Door” Chilkat dance tunic by Jennie Thlunaut
The Portland Art Museum has in its collection a “weavers lineage” most likely, unlike any other museum anywhere else in the world. How is that possible? The “Grizzly Bear” tunic was woven my Mrs. Benson, the “Two Door” tunic woven by Jennie Thlunaut, and now the “Resilience” Chilkat robe woven by me! There is no other museum or cultural institution that owns a Chilkat weaving by me, so in this case, P.A.M. owns a weaving lineage of three generations! — Now how cool is THAT!?
Jennie wove two of the double raven “Two Door” tunics. Long time ago, I was told the story of why she ended up weaving two identical tunics, but now I don’t remember. And like anything, if I don’t TELL the story enough times, either verbally or at least written down, the story gets lost, so let this be a lesson to us! However, the Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia owns the other identical tunic and I KNOW they have the story!
Full view of the double headed Raven “Two Door” tunic pattern board
This hand-painted pattern board hosts two designs; on one side is the “Two Door” double raven, on the other side is the “Grizzly Bear”. Of course, It be sensible that this large piece of wood, which is cut the width of the tree, be used efficiently!
Close up of a Chilkat tunic neckline and sleeve woven by Jennie Thlunaut’s auntie “Mrs. Benson”
This particular Chilkat weaving tunic woven by Mrs. Benson is my ALL TIME FAVORITE woven piece since I first laid eyes on Chilkat weavings nearly 40 years ago! The design, the workmanship, and the colors which have yet to fade terribly are all fabulous – such an inspiration. In fact, back in 2000 I did a limited edition of only 40 silkscreened prints using a photograph of this tunic as my inspiration to portray Jennie Thlunaut’s lineage of weavers titled “ShaaxSaaniKeek Weavers Circle.”
“Bear” wooden pattern board for the Chilkat tunic woven by “Mrs. Benson”
Traditionally, because men were the artists who carved and painted the form line art of the Northwest Coast, they were the ones who designed the Chilkat. The form line of Chilkat is “translated” from the traditional form line so that the weaver can more easily weave the shapes. So in order to create a successful Chilkat pattern, the designer must understand how the weaving process is done. Very few artists know how the weaving process is done; in fact, there are many of our people who have never seen the weaving process, and when they do, they are shocked at the intricate amount of work and the numerous hours to create even a small weaving. They then understand why the Chilkat weavings are “expensive.”
The “Bear” Chilkat tunic woven by Jennie Thlunaut’s auntie, Mrs. Benson – trimmed with sea otter fur on neckline, cuffs and the sides
Dec 5, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Boarding the “MV Malaspina” of the Alaska Marine Highway, in Juneau, Alaska
Heading south for the Winter, I took my “Chilkat Mobile” filled with most of my artwork of prints, greeting cards, weavings, and supplies. I have a full month ahead of me; once I arrive in Bellingham, Washington, on Friday, December 5th, I drive a bee line straight down to Portland, Oregon for my presentation at the Portland Art Museum. I sure miss my parents; they would love to be on board with me. Alas, I travel with me, myself and I.
Clarissa’s 1992 Toyota Corolla “Chilkat Mobile” – one of a pair of “His and Her” vehicles, once owned by Peggy Garrison – the other one still lives in Juneau, once owned by Peggy’s husband, Dick Garrison
After 4 days in Portland (I have another presentation at P.A.M. on Monday, December 8th), I drive North to Seattle for another recording session with “Ku.eex”, and then afterwards….well… just keep an eye to this blog because I will post my travels as I go along…
Leaving Ketchikan, Alaska–notice the Chilkat robe reflected in the window – leaving Chilkat country!
We sailed three full days from Juneau, Alaska to Bellingham, Washington. These three days I relished because they were my first three days off I have had all year! Seriously, I have had one deadline after another and then some for an entire year; it’s my time for just me now. oh boy! My cell phone rarely had service, so no texting either. I wasn’t schlepping stuff here and there, no packing stuff in and packing stuff out. I didn’t have to do any errands. No Wi-Fi so no emailing or responding to emails; no bookkeeping, no researching on line for anything! I just sat back and watched the scenery go by, quietly, peacefully, and no one knocking at the door!
Playing every “Rain” song on the ukelele Clarissa can think of, to the tune of leaving “Rain Country…”
I played ukelele every day. I took a shower twice a day. I had breakfast and lunch (from my cooler) in my room. I drew every day. I wrote every day. I stretched and danced every day. I stared out the window doing nothing sometimes for at least a couple of hours every day. Golly, it was so much fun doing the basics!
There were no more 2-berth staterooms, so Clarissa settled for a 4-berth — Clarissa spread out all her work on each berth: just like her studio, Clarissa had one berth for weaving, one for drawing, one for music, one for her “office”…luxury, simplicity, …spoiled rotten!
For those folks who have never been to Alaska, I always recommend that they travel by way of the ferry system out of Bellingham, WA or Prince Rupert, B.C. It’s a great way to introduce one’s self out of the culture of the “Lower 48” into our unique culture in Alaska. It’s also a great way for those of us from Alaska to ease our way to the “Lower 48” without too much culture shock.
Drawing a “seaweed” pattern for Chilkat weaving, while ocean-bound: the view changes every second…!
Nov 30, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Showing Off, To Market To Market |
Clarissa paints the last of 12 masks she had for sale at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market
I remember when Peter Metcalfe, the producer/director of the Alaska-Juneau Public Market first started this venue for artists and craftspeople back in the early 80’s. The Public Market replaced the Juneau Arts Council’s “Holiday Fair and Market” started back in 1978 where I used to sell hand-made hats, hand-made kid’s clothing and hand-made masks. A few artists like John and Sharon Svenson (Haines), or Linda Fordham (Gustavus), came in from out of town.
Now, the Public Market has at least 250 local artists/crafts people from all over Southeast Alaska. Held during Thanksgiving Day weekend at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska, it feels like a “family reunion” of sorts because many of the artists only see one another once a year at this time.
Sue and Israel Shotridge hang out with Clarissa on “her side” of their shared booth at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market – November 28, 2014
1989 was my first year at the Juneau Public Market. I had a booth smack daeb in the middle of the lobby just outside the “great room” at Centennial Hall. I sold about 100 “dream catchers” traditionally made of branches and “sinew.” I think dream catchers made their debut in Juneau, Alaska (or maybe all of Southeast) that Thanksgiving Day weekend. They were an unknown thing back then. I learned how to make them in early ’89 from a Huron Native woman who was visiting the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. I taught a couple of friends (one in Santa Fe and one in Juneau) how to make dream catchers of silver and crystal beads; I know the single mother supported herself and her two daughters for a number of years making the silver dream catcher earrings, pendants and hair barrettes.
Jessica Isturis models the mask she purchased from Clarissa
2010 was my second year at the Juneau Public Market. (My father had passed away a couple of years prior, so I moved in with Mom. After about 6 months of living with Mom, she wondered why I was still around, like when was I going home? I paused before I answered her with this statement: “I will go home whenever….uh,…you “go home.”)
For two months before the market, I painted one of my largest called “Frog Speaks” along with about 7 smaller paintings. I also printed my own fabric and made 10 dolls with “Chilkat warp” hair (leftover “thrums” trimmed from Chilkat robes I had made in the past). The night before the opening of the market I got cold feet! Like I have spent 2 months working away on these things and I have not a penny to my name and what makes me think that anyone is going to buy this stuff….!?!?!?!
I sold all the paintings, sold 7 of the 10 dolls (the remaining 3 I gave to each of my children’s first born), and I sold a few prints! I made enough income to pay 5 months’ bills!
Nancy Barnes models the mask she purchased from Clarissa during the market
2014 was my third year at the Juneau Public Market. I had on display, my “Chilkat Child” woven ensemble and my daughter Lily’s “Little Watchman” Ravenstail ensemble, along with my tall charcoal on canvas “Totemic Theories.” I sold a few of my button blanket greeting cards, my hand-painted masks, limited edition prints, beaded hats, paper feathers, the children’s book I co-illustrated, but not one item of the Chilkat/Ravenstail spinning and weaving supplies sold. I now know that the Public Market is NOT the right venue for selling those supplies!
A couple of hand-painted masks finish drying on a piece of plastic
My oldest grandchild, Elizabeth Hope (I affectionately call her “SikiKwaan”), helped me sew spinning pads for those weavers who don’t mind spinning their own warp. She is shown here sewing on my 1974 “Genie” Singer sewing machine my mother bought me when I graduated from high school. This machine has “seen it all…!”
Grand-daughter “Sikikwaan” helps Grandma Rissy sew the spinning pads for sale at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market
The Shotridges and I shared this booth at the Juneau Public Market this year. It was quite cozy and full…! Between us, we had a variety of things for sale. You would think that we looked like we were having fun!—Little do people know that I was a bitch while setting up the booth that first morning! For three months prior, I had worked my fingers to the bone preparing a variety of items for sale and I was plum exhausted by the time we set up this cozy “gallery” that I didn’t FEEL like setting up, but who else is going to do it!?
So you folks out there who wear rosy-colored glasses thinking that artists “have a grand life” – go think again! Sure we set our own hours, HOWEVER, most of us work around the clock; we never leave our work! And do we really want to? Do we really want to leave our work? Hmmm…very good question! I have to ponder that one.
Sue Shotridge and Clarissa Rizal on “their side” of the shared booth at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market
Sue and I are like two peas in a pod. I don’t know if I have ever met anyone else who reminds me of me when it comes to how we operate. High energy, we are consistently on the go. And somehow we don’t “bump into one another!” Woe be to us if THAT ever happened! We’d blow one another out of the water!
Clarissa finishes painting masks and trimming out the child-size dance apron with .22 bullet shells in Clarissa’s “borrowed” studio overlooking a typical Alaskan waterfront home…!
Nov 14, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Charcoal by Clarissa Rizal
Here’s my Winter Schedule for upcoming Art Markets, presentations, classes and demonstrations. If you are in any of these locations, come by and visit; I’d love to see you!
1) One-day Chilkat/Ravenstail Weaving Class, Juneau, Alaska, Sunday November 23rd, 10am-4pm with potluck lunch — this class is for experienced weavers who have a project on their loom and need assistance, comraderie, support and a feast! Class is limited to just 10. The Northwest Coast Weavers’ Supply will have weaving/spinning items available for sale BEFORE the Public Market sales; so you will have the privilege to be the first to purchase your supplies for your next weaving project — Interested? Give me a call at 970-903-8386 or email me at: clarissa@www.clarissarizal.com
2) Alaska-Juneau Public Market, Thanksgiving weekend Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, November 28-30th, Booth #P-15 in the main room of Centennial Hall on Willoughby Avenue in Juneau, Alaska – Click here to see the list of some of the items I will have available for sale
3) Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon Presentation of “The Making of Resilience Chilkat Robe”, Friday, December 5th; I will also have Chilkat-related items available for sale AND I will have two woven ensembles on display only during this presentation
4) Evergreen Longhouse, Olympia, WA, — The Holiday Market is open Friday and Saturday, December 12 & 13; I will only be selling on Saturday! — Click here to see a list of some of the items I will have for sale.
5) “Raven’s Nest” Gallery (owned by Sue and Israel Shotridge), Vashon Island, WA — I will be demonstrating Chilkat weaving on a child-size robe; I will also have on display two child-size woven ensembles, “Little Watchman” a 4-piece Ravenstail outfit woven by my daughter Lily Hope, and my 6-pience ensemble “Chilkat Child.” I will also have items for sale as well; click list here to see list of some items.
6) Chilkat Weaving Class, Corvallis, OR – December 15-19th; for experienced weavers with a project on their loom. — This class is currently full.
7) Heard Museum Juried Indian Art Market & Fair, Phoenix, AZ – March 7-9, 2015
Nov 10, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Many, many braids in weaving “Resilience” Chilkat robe by Clarissa Rizal – 2014
HEADS UP! For those of you living in the Portland, Oregon area: I will be doing a public presentation on Chilkat weaving and a Power Point Presentation of weaving my latest Chilkat robe “Resilience” at the Portland Art Museum on Friday evening, December 5, 2014 at 5:30pm. Guitarist extraordinaire Dan Shanks, will be performing the live soundtrack. — If you are in the area, come on by! Two woven Child-size ensembles, one in Ravenstail and the other in Chilkat, be on display only during this presentation. Also, I will have a few things available for sale: my Chilkat Weaving Handbook, greeting cards, Chilkat prints, etc. See you soon!
Nov 4, 2014 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Washed Chilkat warp is pulled tight and set out to dry
Here’s a trick-of-the-trade to create smoother, more even Chilkat or Ravenstail warp with no give: after you wash your warp, pull tight as you wrap the warp around the back of a chair — let dry thoroughly, then groom.
Why do you want a smother, move even warp with no give? When you are weaving your weft yarns over this warp, you will notice a less bumpy, more evenly-laid fabric.
Periodically I post various tricks-of-the-trade in regards to spinning, weaving, designing or anything else I may think of to post here on my blog for all you wonderful artists/craftspeople out there in the world!–for more tricks, check out “Tools-of-the-Trade in the column to the right…
Nov 2, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
A few prints by Clarissa available for sale at the Juneau Public Market Thanksgiving weekend in Juneau, Alaska – Back to Front: “Red Salmon” (2005), “Shaax’saaniKeek’ Weavers’ Circle” (2001), and “Old Timers’ Basketball Tournament” (1981)
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)!
Oct 25, 2014 | Class Act, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Clarissa uses a trouser rack for her 2nd stage of the drying process of her newly-dyed weft yarns for Chilkat weavings
I generally dye my weft yarns for weaving twice a year: in the Spring when all the snow has melted from the back yard and in the Fall when the leaves are turning the same color as my favorite golden yellow weft yarns shown above!
Gently wash 2oz or 4oz skeins of yarn in lukewarm water with a squirt of Ivory dish soap
I dye a total of 16 ozs (1 pound) of wool per dye bath, so in the big bread bowl above, I gently washed and rinsed 8 2-oz skeins of yarn. After your wash and rinse, let yarn soak in the bowl for another hour before placing in dye bath – this allowance of time gives your yarns better absorbtion of color as well as evenly-distributed color.
Using rubber gloves, separately add each skein to the dye-bath; gently give the skein a stir into the bath
I ALWAYS DYE OUTSIDE. It is safer, especially if there is no wind. I use Lanaset commercial dyes for my weft yarns; they are color-fast, intense colors that will not fade easily. Follow the directions in your Lanaset dye recipe. Make your dye bath accordingly. Always wear rubber gloves when working with commercial dyes; always wear a dust mask too especially if there is wind or in an enclosed space – commercial powder dyes are toxic!
While gently stirring the dye bath every 2 minutes (shown in right pot), I had prepared the next dye batch by soaking the washed and rinsed weft yarns (in left bowl) AND in the meantime, I had washed about 100 yards of warp (in middle pot) — yes, indeed I am a multi-tasker!
When cooking outdoors, use a windscreen made from a piece of foil hooked together at the seam by a large paper clip…I learned this trick from my friend Lis Saya who helped me dye yarns last year…!
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)!
Oct 8, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Clarissa Rizal weaving the “Resilience” Chilkat robe she designed and wove, recently completed in June 2014
LET IT BE KNOWN WORLD-WIDE:
I am willing to do A TRADE for property with a cabin/home off of Mud Bay Road in Haines, Alaska for a Chilkat robe woven by me. Let’s get creative with terms, robe would be on commission basis designed by me OR a reproduction of an old robe. If your property is worth more than a standard-size Chilkat robe, maybe you would consider trading for an entire woven ensemble (robe, apron, leggings, headdress)…like I said, we can be creative with our negotiations.
I am serious about doing this trade; I ain’t getting any younger and it’s time for me to get my act together in our beloved Haines! If you are interested in this trade or you know of someone who may be interested, contact me on Facebook (under Clarissa Rizal), or email me here at: clarissa@www.clarissarizal.com or call my cell at: 970-903-8386 (and yes, 970 is indeed the correct area code).
Thank you very much for your keeping me and this trade in mind!
