Clarissa with a latest painting based on a button blanket robe "Frog Speaks"
A few readers wanted to see more photos of me on this blog. Okay, okay. Here’s a couple. Now are we satisfied? Thanks to Lis Saya for the photo shoot.
Clarissa weaving on her latest Chilkat robe; cedar bark strips hang in the foreground ready to spin with wool to create the warp for Chilkat weaving
I dare say this is the shortest blog I’ve written since I began over 2 months ago.
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.
Juneau artist Arnie Weimer stands aboard his scaffolding at 2nd St & Gold
What kind of normal people would work in Juneau weather? Laborers, gardeners, construction crew, long shoremen, city maintenance folks,…and, and…artists? I can’t say I know very many Juneau artists who are willing to design and paint an art installation entirely outdoors. I’m sorry folks, but Juneau’s weather gets to me; unless of course, I am working in the weather, then for whatever the psychological/emotional reasons, I can stand the constant rain.
Hey, what is this photo essay about? Juneau’s weather or Arnie Weimer’s latest endeavor!? Gadzooks, get on with it!
What’s Arnie doing this mural for? What’s the name of it? Why is he doing it? Who commissioned him? Or is this mural a donation to the city because the big wall needed some action? What’s the story on this mural? Who is Arnie, anyway?
A few dabs of paint while he poses for this photo
Obviously, the mural portrays aspects of Juneau’s diverse cultural history (i.e. miners, totem poles, fishing vessels and “no parking” signs. I think I’ll give Arnie a call and get some info, eh? Or would you like to respond with answers?
Last of the traditional Chilkat weavers Jennie Thlunaut
Arnie included his boat from long past in this fishing scene
The mural measures 20 ft. high by 120 ft. wide
Rain or shine, Arnie plugs along
Killerwhale Chilkat apron in progress by Shgen George
The last day of this Summer’s Chilkat weaving classes ended a couple of days ago – I’ve heard many of the students have Chilkat weaving withdrawal! (This is a very good thing!) We had a beautiful feast this last day. The sun was out, the sky was blue and the food, right down to the pumpkin pie, was fabulous. That’s the best part about Chilkat weaving classes: the excellent food!
The best part about Chilkat weaving classes: the food and the weavers who made the food!
The weavers before the feast
Many thanks to Atricia Makaily for organizing both classes!
Charlene Baker drove down from Pelly Crossing, YukonTerritory to attend this class
Fausto Paulo stands one last time to share a funny insight with his fellow weavers
Debra O'Gara is still chuckling over Fausto's humor; she's also happy to finally learn Chilkat
Assistant student teacher, Lily Hudson reminds Crystal Rogers to "do her braids."
Davina Barrill "puts up" the ends of her braids in the back side
Debra O'Gara admiring Jessica Isturis' fine weaving
Fausto Paulo is turning the bottom corners of his weaving; he is almost finished!
Gail Dabaluz is beginning to shape her Chilkat circle within the box
Jackie Kookesh is shaping the Chilkat eye and eyelid
When Leandra Makaily concetrates on her Chilkat weaving, she concentrates real hard - when she isn't in a concentrating mood, she doesn't weave - it is a good thing to understand this about Chilkat weaving
Marsha Hotch is pleased with her Chilkat circle
Pam Credo-Hayes is weaving the borders for a pair of leggings
Gail Dabaluz is inspecting Pam's Chilkat border on how the "Jennie Thlunaut" corners are woven; like what is that little specific trick!?
With his tapestry needle, Ricky Tagaban is putting up all his Chilkat weft yarn ends in the backside of his completed Chilkat hat; as in the "olden days" it's a process he would like a slave to do - look how he is pretending to be happy about it!
Look closely at the backside of Ricky's Chilkat hat; those are all the ends that Ricky is putting up - imagine how what it is like doing a full-size Chilkat robe! - Now, do you really want to be a Chilkat weaver, or just have somebody else weave something for you!? - that is the question we are all wondering...can you take it!?
Chilkat kids - the children of Chilkat weavers
Clarissa Rizal demonstrates the Chilkat interlocking technique to Charlene Baker
Nobody's weaving...where's everybody? We're busy sharing the Chilkat feast!
When we are finished weaving for the day, no matter what size your loom and its project, we always cover our loom and tuck them in for the night
Some of the looms are covered with a pillow case which is simultaneously used as a carry bag
Some loom covers are clean and pretty dishtowels or bath towels
Some loom covers are cloth gifts from Japan via a Chilkat weaver Shgen Geore, who just recently returned to Juneau from a year of teaching in Japan
Golly! what is the big deal about showing the covered Chilkat looms, huh? How come? – Well, why not!?
The Chilkat "after-feast!"
SEARHC's exquisite board room with skylights and plush chairs, where I've spent the last 6 weeks teaching Chilkat weaving to 25 committed students - whew! what a way to spend the Summer! What a treat!
Most everyone did not complete their weaving – that’s normal for beginners. Many of the students are experiencing Chilkat weaving withdrawal symptoms. That’s real good and real normal. There’s talk of getting together once a week starting on Sunday, September 5th. There’s also talk about doing a Ravenstail weaving class this Fall too. We’ll see. We’ll keep everyone posted.
During the teaching of these two Chilkat classes, for the entire 6 weeks, my fingers have been itching to weave – when teaching others to weave, we go from loom to loom; there’s a rhythm like duck, duck, goose, goose game. We’re just teaching, we’re not weaving our own thing,…it’s hard to just teach and not have moments to weave our own thing during class. It’s hard to control ourselves to not just sit at the student’s loom and just weave their project altogether! Chilkat weavers must have lots of self-control! If we are not born with it, the self-control eventually develops over time because Chilkat weaving and teaching the weaving forms you into things you did not know could exist in you!
Are you sure you want to continue learning and weaving Chilkat?
Davina Barrill uses a battery-operated headlamp
The effectiveness of using a headlamp is awesome!
Debra O'Gara, Marsha Hotch and Atricia Makaily
Fausto Paulo is weaving the eyelid
Jackie Kookesh is excited about weaving her first Chilkat circle
Jessica Isturis swifty works her white braids
Amber Baker is happy to have the assistance of Leandra Makaily
Lily Hudson and Charlene Baker use the transparency pattern to show where Charlene needs to insert her braids
Lily demonstrates to Charlene the insertion of the braids working the ends up into the backside
Lorraine DeAsis begins the weaving of her circle; she has supported her daughter Patrice DeAsis in learning Chilkat weaving the past three years - now that Lorraine is learning, and like Charlene and Amber Baker, as well as Michelle and Micaela Martin, and Shgen with Gabrielle George, they have a mother-daughter support system!
Self-taught in Chilkat weaving, Marsha Hotch is learning Jennie Thlunaut's fingering technique for speed, accuracy and tension
Pam Credo-Hayes is weaving her first pair of Chilkat leggings
Pam shows Fausto Paulo the leggings pattern
Crystal Rogers demonstrates the fingering technique to Marsha Hotch; Fausto Paulo watches Jackie Kookesh weaving her circle
14 students learning Chilkat weaving gather in SEARHC's board room
This Chilkat weaving class began Monday, August 16th with 14 students. This is the largest class I’ve ever taught, only because I have an assistant, my own daughter, Lily Hudson. Teaching a class with my special assistant is sooo nice – I’m able to relax more each time I make my rounds with each student and I like that Lily’s knowledge of Chilkat weaving is increasing as well. She is a fine teacher.
This class is unique in that there are four mothers with their four daughters whose ages are 6, 9, 13 and 16. Before this class, I’ve only taught 2 children under the age of 16 (and I have discovered that teaching children is much easier than teaching adults!).
Gabrielle George gifts a cloth to fellow student Amber Baker
When Chilkat weaver, Shgen George and her daughter Gaby returned recently from their year in Japan, they brought beautiful cloths as a gift to each student in this Chilkat weaving class! These cloths are to cover our weavings.
Lily Hudson demonstrates measuring warp using a pre-cut cardboard warp board
My Chilkat weaving teacher, Jennie Thlunaut from Klukwan, had many tricks-of-the-trade including her convenient “warp board” – the device that measures consistent lengths of a weaver’s warp. Each student was given their warp board. Using pre-cut cardboard cut to the proper length of the weaving, they wrapped their warp, cut one end, and “dressed” their looms!
Student Debra O'Gara checks her tension on her cardboard warp board
Pam Credo-Hayes wraps her warp around the board following the direction of the arrow, a guide to keep us in the right direction!
Amber Baker is organizing her warp into bunches of five because her warp size is 10 e.p.i. (warp ends per inch)
Fellow Chilkat weaving student/teacher, Ricky Tagaban teaches eager Amber Baker how to weave Chilkat. Ricky was a student in the previous Chilkat weaving class held in July.
Lily and I invited Ricky Tagaban to come to class and be our assistant-to-the-assist teacher – he’s just plain fun to have around, let along a pretty dang good weaver for a beginner!
Trisha Makaily has moved a project from one weaving loom to another - here she is re-hanging the warp using the cotton cord anchoring strand
Lily guides Michaela Martin weaving her "anchoring row", the first strand on the weaving project that holds all the warp ends in place. Davina Barril, Jessica Isturis, Crystal Rogers and Jackie Kookesh pay close attention.
Lily demonstrates Jennie Thlunaut's unique fingering - notice how some of the weaver's hands are imitating the motion! Crystal Rogers, Charlene Baker, Michelle and Michaela Martin, Jessica Isturis, Debra O'Gara, Davina Barrill and Marsha Hotch laugh at how smooth Lily's fingers fly through the warp - like how can THEY ever achieve that motion, huh!? They'll soon discover!
Pay attention to 9-year-old Amber Baker, a member of the next generation of Chilkat weavers!
Students in this class are: Gabrielle and Shgen George, Michelle and Michaela Martin, Charlene and Amber Baker, Atricia and Leandra Makaily, Jessica Isturis, Crystal Rogers, Davina Barril, Debra O’Gara, Marsha Hotch, Lorraine DeAsis and Jackie Kookesh. The class is for two weeks ending on Sunday, August 29th.