Feb 28, 2011 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Nora Dauenhauer files away her weaving notes in her attache' case of;Chilkat weft yarns
For the past year, Della Cheney has been hosting a group of artists every Sunday afternoon at the Fireweed Place here in Juneau, Alaska. Like Della, most of the artists are Ravenstail weavers, cedar bark and/or spruce root basket weavers, although some of them include additional talents like beadworking, and leather work making moccasins and mittens. When Chilkat weavers joined the basket and Ravenstail weavers last Sunday, Fireweed Place’s activity room was packed. There was a lot of fun and excitement. Time flew!
Yoko Kugo explains to Della Cheney the research she is conducting about whether or not there are effects of climate change on the cedar trees.
There are no specified “teachers” in the group, as we are all learning from one another and teaching one another. There are those of us who know how to weave cedar bark hats, yet are learning how to make moccasins; those that know how to weave Ravenstail and are learning how to weave cedar; those teaching Chilkat who are learning Ravenstail. The combination of learning and teaching goes on and on.
Lorraine DeAsis reinforces her children's knowledge of weaving cedar bark headbands and hats by weaving right along side all four. L to R: Patrice, Joshua, Lorraine, Armondo & Antonio
Leandrea Makaily works diligently on her Chilkat headband
Mary Ebona Miller is weaving three Ravenstail projects on her loom
Shgen George is spinning Chilkat warp on her thigh
Kendra Makaily is learning cross-stitching from Debra O'Gara
Lily Hudson is refreshing Nora's memory about weaving her "bear claw" pattern
A bowl of cedar bark soaks while Patrice DeAsis weaves a cedar bark hat
Eileen is one of Della’s basket weaving students; she has learned enough to pass on her knowledge to others in the group. Although I started my cedar bark hat with Della almost two years ago in a class in Teslin, Yukon Territory, Eileen is helping me complete the very edge of the hat. Both Della and Eileen are wonderful teachers. I’m enjoying the comraderie of these women and all those who are attending the Sunday gatherings.
Eileen Wagner shows Dorothy Owen the 6-strand finishing row of her cedar bark hat
Of course, there are some of us who bring food to share. Eileen is one of those follks. She has been co-hosting this gathering of weavers every Sunday with Della Cheney providing some sort of a hot dish of salmon with rice, snacks and vanilla wafers. She takes really good care of us “kids!” We wanna come back every Sunday for more of everything!
Nov 30, 2010 | Health and Wellness, Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Juneauite Connie Hamann won 1st Place: the Chilkat "Ghost Face" leather bag
Thank you to all who donated towards the cancer fundraiser for my brother, Robert Lampe! The winners are as follows:
1st Place: Connie Hamann, Juneau — 2nd Place: Eileen McDargh, Dana Pt., CA — 3rd Place: Atricia Makaily, Juneau — 4th Place: Jan Parrish, Juneau
The drawing was held at 4pm, Sunday, November 28th at Clarissa Rizal’s Public Market booth at Centennial Hall in Juneau. 10 minutes before the drawing, silversmith and friend, Ria (Swanson) Larson donated a pair of her silver “Forget-me-not” earrings; thank you Ria! You may visit Ria’s website at www.riaswanson.com
2nd Place winner, Eileen McDargh lives in Dana Point, California – I am sorry I cannot provide a photo of her being thrilled at accepting her gift. However, you may enjoy the smiling faces of Atricia and Jan.
Juneauite Trisha Makaily won 3rd Place of "Gray Wolves" Limited Edition Giclee reproduction
Juneauite Jan Parrish won a pair of "Forget-Me-Not" silver earrings donated and made by Ria (Swanson) Larson
We raised a total of $1375.00. Robert (Bunny) and his wife, Sarah arrived from Anchorage yesterday from his first round of chemotherapy. Perfect timing – just 15 minutes after Clarissa walked in the door from closing at the Public Market, Bunny and Sarah arrived. They were quite surprised, honored and humbled to receive this kind of support from (most of the) folks they don’t even know.
As many of us know, there are all kinds of “hidden” expenses for families undergoing cancer treatments (i.e. travel, food, household bills, etc.). Any funds a family receives is always a blessing. Again, thank you very much to all of you who contributed towards this fundraiser. In our Tlingit language: Gunalcheesh!
Nov 28, 2010 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Clarissa's Booth C-4 at Alaska-Juneau's Public Market displays her recent acrylics on canvas, Limited Edition Giclee reproductions, hand-made dolls, last of her greeting cards and hand-silkscreened prints, and a few copies of her Chilkat Weaver's Handbook
The last time Clarissa did the Public Market was back in 1989 where after her move back to Alaska from New Mexico; she had a booth in the center of the lobby and introduced the then intriguing dream catcher to Juneau. The Market was fun back then as it is even now!
Limited Edition Giclee prints and original paintings include "Rain", "Tlingit Jedi", "Totemic Theories", "Good Thing I'm Crazy Else I'd Go Insane", "Gray Wolves", "Frog Speaks" and prints of her "Tlingit World Series" collages
Clarissa's mother, Irene Lampe and brother, Rick Lampe pay a visit to the booth
“Across the street” is Jack Tripp, Jr.’s Mt. Juneau Trading Post featuring Native drums, moccasins, carvings, rugs, jewelry and the best collection of antique shell buttons I’ve ever seen! He’s turning 49 today – we’re just gonna have to beat those drums, sing Happy Birthday Tlingit style and shake a leg!
Mt. Juneau Trading Post's booth at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market "across the street" from Clarissa Rizal's
Fabulous Northwest Coast Native art (and regalia-making supplies) at the Mt. Juneau Trading Post
Jack Tripp, Jr.'s fabulous display of Tlingit art - check out the Chilkat wool rug handwoven in Nepal (no, it's not a traditional ceremonial robe - it's a rug!)
Nov 26, 2010 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
A portion of Clarissa Rizal's "Frog Speaks" acrylic painting on canvas - In this photo, the painting is not quite finished but it will be finished by the Public Market opening Friday, November 26th at noon - it measures approximately 40"w x 52"h
A few places I’ve exhibited my work are in Banff and Vancouver Canada, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Seattle, Washington; and have done demonstrations at the Smithsonian in New York and Washington D.C. I do not recall exhibiting my work in my own home town! Like, what’s up, huh? Am I just too good for Juneau? NOT!
During this 3-day weekend, at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market in Centennial Hall, I will show some of my latest contemporary, acrylic paintings on canvas amongst a few of my favorite Giclee reproduction limited edition of prints on canvas, and a Collector’s Edition of handmade dolls. I will also have a few copies of my Chilkat Weavers’ Handbook available for sale.
Come visit and check out my work at Booth C-4 in the main hall of Centennial Hall. And while visiting me at my booth, you may still make a donation towards the fundraiser for my brother Robert Lampe, who is presently undergoing chemotherapy in Anchorage. All three of the gift items will be available for viewing at my booth. You don’t remember what those gift items were? Check out my entry here on this blog under the “Health and Wellness” section; click “Tlingit Art Fundraiser Opportunity for Robert Lampe.” The drawing will be held the last day of the Market on Sunday, November 28 at 4pm.
Limited Edition of 8 Tlingit-design dolls entitled "An Ocean Runs Through Us"
Juneau Public Market hours are Friday, noon to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm. I look forward to seeing you at the Market!
Nov 20, 2010 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
"An Ocean Runs Through Us" Limited edition of 8 dolls by Clarissa Rizal - In the background you will notice a small version of a print of the original painting of the same name
I just completed these dolls today and had to post them ASAP because my most favorite part about finishing them off was making the hand-written, matching canvas labels! Ha-eh!? That being said, I know you can relate, right?
The title for this particular collection of dolls is “An Ocean Runs Through Us” – named after the large triptych painting I did in 2005 because the fabric of these dolls is printed with the imagery of the painting. (I also have a limited edition of Giclee reproduction prints available in a slightly smaller size than the original painting – you may see this set of prints on my website under the “Shop & Buy” section.)
One of the dolls is holding the labels (that I am so proud of!)
I purchased a large format Epson 7880 24″ printer from Parrott Digigraphics, Inc. – I wasn’t sure if I was savy enough to learn how to operate the machine and retain the information, but a couple of experts assisted me to print my paintings’ images on cotton, silk, canvas and paper. Although the operation of the printer is sometimes a pain in the ass cuz things just do not always go smoothly, I have a blast with this printer; it is soooo much fun!
The dolls' "hair" and "ties" are scraps of Chilkat warp I had accumulated over the years knowing I would put the scraps to use someday
Each of these 18″ dolls are one-of-a-kind, no two alike. The Epson Ultrachrome inks are guaranteed 80 years from fading. Printed on cotton sateen fabric, the dolls are stuffed with polyester, with cedar bark and wool warp for hair and neck ties, and held together with antique mother-of-pearl buttons. Each Limited Edition doll is signed and numbered; there are only 8. Come down to my booth (C-4 in the main hall) and check them out at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market during the Thanksgiving weekend at Centennial Hall. Doors open at noon on Friday, November 26th. We’ll see you then!
A bird's eye view of a doll and the hand-made labels with the tools to make them
Nov 17, 2010 | North Tide, Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The obvious "Split U-shape!"
Have you ever wondered how the unique Northwest Coast Tlingit form line art came to be? Ever wonder where and when it started? Look at the photograph above. The clouds were shaped like a “split U” against the forest. (Any of you who understand the terminology of the form line art will understand it when I say the terms like “ovoid” (the oval shape), “split U” (a shape of a U that has a split down its center), etc.} The split-U shape in this photo was the real thing!–As I have mentioned before, I do not tamper or enhance any of my photographs on my blog.
I have a theory about the origins of the Tlingit art. It is a “natural” theory – meaning: it came naturally through nature, just like the photograph above. My theory is Northwest Coast Native form line art evolved from Nature. The following is a story I made up to support my theory:
“There was a modest pile of split cedar logs near the campfire where he sat. He was relaxing after a full day of fishing. His belly was full of fresh salmon and herring eggs. The wife was putting the kids to sleep and she probably feel asleep too, or else she would have joined him by now. He stoked the fire. Identical colors of the sunset tied rolled in reflecting the same kind of fluid motion as the fire. As if sunset, tide and fire were one. As if the fire were imitating the sea’s sunset. As if the sunset were an act to be imitated! And as if the sea eve cared! – He was delighted and amused with the awesome view and his lazy insights.
His mind rolled with the tide, soft movements of wondering left no place for a thought to truly rest. he put some more wood on the fire. Just as he was about to place another piece into the flames, he noticed the grain of wood. It seemed no different than any other pieces of wood he had handled, he had built many, many campfires, yet for some reason, he was attracted to this one. he placed it on a rock before him. In the firelight, he could see the grain of wood layered as if the waves along the shoreline were intentionally imprinted: “What? ” He thought to himself, “Now the grain of this wood, the fire, the sunset and the ocean are all one?” He laughed. he stoked the fire with his stick. “How come the world has to be in unison, how come it seems everything is related, how come human beings seem to be the aliens? ” he began poking the piece of wood that lay between he and the fire.
With the end of the fire stick, he poked the ashes and doodled mindlessly on the split log...He just followed the grain...naturally...and before he realized, there was this form...hmm... now what does that remind you of?
The tip of the stick followed the grain, leaving a trail of charcoal following the lazy lines that he felt in his mind. he liked the fluid movement. He put the stick into the fire again, gaining more charcoal at the tip, and began darkening other areas, giving contrast to areas he hadn’t ever really noticed before. “Whoa! That’s cool, like, check this out!” he could see where lines widened, where they tapered, where they flowed in a motion around one another. He continued to play with making some areas darker than others as well as leaving some as they natural became, just lines and blobs. Suddenly, there was a cracking sound in the forest behind him. He froze. He waited for a few seconds. He turned slowly towards where the sound came but did not look. He arose slowly, walked a few steps inside his home where he felt safe in his nice warm bed.
In the morning, his children were poking at the embers. He remembered his “journey” from the night before and searched for the piece of wood. He thought he left it where he first set it on the rock between where he sat and the fire pit. Where did it get to? Huh, even the stoking stick was gone! He asked his kids if they had moved the piece of wood from the rock. The replied “What wood?” Confused, they looked about the rock; all they could find were a pair of footprint impressions in the sand, impressions like that of a Raven!”
Nov 13, 2010 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
"Tlingit Jed-i" acrylic on canvas - 16" W x 20"H - by Clarissa Rizal - November 2010
These are my latest paintings on canvas. They will be available for sale at my booth in the main hall at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market opening the Friday after Thanksgiving, running the weekend through Sunday at the Centennial Hall in Juneau. I started these paintings this past Spring while living in Santa Fe; but with the major move back to Juneau in May, and the time getting back onto my feet, I am now settled long enough to complete the set of five (and then some)! Come visit and see other new items of interest. My booth is C-4 (How do you remember? Think “C” for Clarissa)
"Good Thing I'm Crazy Else I'd Go Insane!" acrylic on canvas - 16"W x 20"H - by Clarissa Rizal - November 2010
"Ravens Prepare For Next Ice Age" acrylic on canvas - 16"W x 20"H - by Clarissa Rizal - November 2010
Nov 11, 2010 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
"Hands Up!" Time to celebrate by taking a breather from creating...just for a moment, only - just for a moment!
On Tuesday, November 9th, I discovered I have been awarded one of the First People’s Fund “Artist in Business Leadership” grant for 2011. I have applied to the FPF for a couple of their grants for about 5 or 6 years. If any of you have applied and not received a grant yet, ask them what were the key points that you had not met. There is a trick to grant-writing; you gotta provide what the grantors want to see and what they want to hear. Of course, I am very happy to have this support; it comes at a very good time. This grant assists in paying for various aspects of my business (i.e. website updates, blogging, new brochure, new business cards, publication of my first book of robes, etc.).
Celebrating with popcorn! Yah! (If you are grossed out by this photo, it's your own fault for looking!)
As part of the grant-writing, FPF asked a few questions: What motivates me to create? What is my most rewarding experience in creating my work? What is the greatest challenge in establishing my art career? What have I done to promote my business? I don’t know if anyone has ever asked me these questions, so I had to think about my life as an artist and what are the things that are true for me. I share with you my answers.
“I cannot say if I’ve ever been asked what motivates me to create? I just create; I never thought about why I have a powerful drive, though I’ve had this passionate drive as far back as I can remember. Could my motivation be inspired by the humpback whales cresting beside the boat, the eagles nesting outside the window not a stones throw away, the ebbing of the tides reflecting a sunset on a lonely beach? Is it the smile on a toddler’s face dancing to a drumbeat for her grandmother? Is it a weaving student’s eagerness to learn another trick-of-the-trade in Chilkat weaving? The appreciation of a client’s cry as they receive their first button robe? The creation of another wild, colorful painting offsetting the grey skies of Southeast Alaska? Salmon running upstream; tender smoked salmon with steamed rice for dinner? Am I motivated by the gift of dreams that may provide concepts for a new robe design, a tune never sung, the planting of a tree in someone’s honor? Am I motivated by the mourning of my father, the pending passing of my mother, another clan matriarch? Does motivation, passion and creativity have a beginning and an ending?
My most rewarding experience in creating and selling my work is the level of patience and gratitude that has grown in me as I have evolved as a student into a practicing artist, entrepreneur, cultural instructor and an elder-in-training eager to continue learning, expanding and sharing.
The greatest challenge in establishing my art career was the financial illiteracy; I had zilch education in that department during my entire career. I jumped into doing business and all that is required to run one. It was never a thought to get educated. I experienced the school of hard knocks, yet I persevered; I learned by trial and error. I did pretty well considering. However, I want assistance as I really begin to take clear action to expand.
For the first time, I created a Marketing Plan this past Spring 2010. I have not looked for outside sources to finance my business. All expenses have always been financed out-of-pocket. (Most of the income I make goes right back into my business.)
This past Spring 2010, I took a few classes at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They included the (above mentioned) marketing class, introduction to accounting, introduction to new media and intermediate painting. My website is the only online market I use. In the near future, I will be included in the Redtail Native American online market as soon as the new venture is launched.”
Okay...celebration is over; time to get back to work!
