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!
Nov 7, 2013 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Chilkat weaving class taught by the late Jennie Thlunaut at Raven House, Haines, Alaska, March 1985 – photo by Larry McNeil
Weavers of Chilkat, Spruce root, Cedar bark and Ravenstail gather to share their knowledge during the Clan Conference held this weekend starting today through Friday and Saturday at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska. Click here to find out more info; read the Juneau Empire article.
For those who are in Juneau and do not want to attend the conference but want to see the weavers, there is a $5 fee only on Friday and Saturday paid to the Clan Conference. Thank you to Peter Metcalfe for inviting the weavers back in full force this year! Thank you to Lily Hope for assistance in coordinating the event. Many thanks to all the volunteering weavers who have come from far and wide and locally; happy spinning and weaving to all!
Oct 27, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The right corner of the Chilkat robe – the top border of yellow is completed – 26 hours later…! So far so good, I am on track…!
26 hours to complete the yellow border and the 5 strands of braids at the bottom of the border – those hours are in between the hours of this particular Fall, winterizing the house/studio, nor coordinating the Weavers’ Gathering demonstration at the Clan Conference, nor babysitting grand-children, nor painting a donation piece, nor spinning warp for a Chilkat/Ravenstail pouch for another donation, nor cleaning and organizing the studio for another round of intense work until June, nor the daily routine of eating, sleeping, and taking care of my body.
I am far from lazy, from from being bored, far from being a “kept woman” and far from taking a vacation any time soon! All I do though, I LOVE to do; I have a lot of love in my life – all the things I do I love, all the things I be, I love. I realize I spend most of my day “in love.” There isn’t much time in the day spent on things I do not love. I’ve been this way a long time. Even though I may not act like it sometimes, I give thanks every morning no matter what my mood, and I give thanks every night as I put my “home” to bed. It’s been my unspoken way of appreciation and gratitude.
Nobody needs to know any of this though I share it here with you, the reader. Why? Because some day some time long past me posting this blog entry, I may read this again years later, because in a way this blog is like my work diary. I used to keep track of all my work via hard-copy photographs placed in a plastic sleeve with pages of notes on the current project at hand…I’ve got shelves of my work all categorized in big 3-ring binders on shelves I had built to take the weight of it all. Now my recordings have gone virtual with the blog site. I may read this entry years later and it is a reminder of who I have been, where I was at, and I get to compare it with who I am on that future date!
My work lives in the future. My system, my entire way of thinking is mainly in the future. So this blog serves as a vehicle to contain the present-day work and adventures for eventual past reflection. When I am real old and I look upon my past, I intend to enjoy myself and others all over again!
Oct 22, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Completed the black top border of the robe – 41 hours later!
Here’s a close-up photo of the black top border of my Chilkat “Resilience” robe that I am weaving for the Portland Art Museum…notice the subtle texture of the weave. I weave over three warp ends instead of two when weaving the black and yellow borders of a Chilkat robe. I learned this from my teacher/mentor Jennie Thlunaut, last of the traditional Chilkat weavers who passed away in 1986. She suggested that I use size 3/6 weft yarns (equivalent to 3-ply commercial yarns) and weave over three warp ends – ONLY IN THE BORDERS! These techniques create a subtle texture and a larger “frame” for the design field of the robe.
I will be posting more updates while weaving this robe over the next few months; stay tuned and thanks for visiting!
Oct 19, 2013 | Class Act, North Tide, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Della Cheney and Percy Kunz demonstrates cedar bark weaving at the Weavers’ Gathering demonstration during the Clan Conference in Juneau, 2009
Once again, the Clan Conference will convene in Juneau at Centennial Hall Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 7, 8, & 9th. This is a time of shared and gained educational experiences from the Native and/or collegiate perspective. For more information on the details of the Clan Conference and a listing of the lectures, please click here to visit the website. or click here for the Juneau Empire’s announcement of the Clan Conference.
Chilkat, Ravenstail, Cedar bark and Spruce root weavers will gather together in the lobby of Centennial Hall for the entire three days, 10am to 4pm to share their knowledge. In 2009, the presentation was a big hit, we’ve been asked to demonstrate again. Click here to see past photos of the weavers’ demonstration.
We welcome weavers to join us and participate in this fun endeavor! Contact Clarissa Rizal or Lily Hope if you are interested!
Oct 15, 2013 | Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Left to Right: bundle of Chilkat template transparency pattern sit atop 800 yards of Chilkat warp; the warp stick (to measure the warp lengths efficiently – fashioned after the late Chilkat weaver, Jennie Thlunaut’s stick); dyed yellow weft and black weft yarns accompanied by stack of baby socks (for keeping warp ends clean); deep turquoise blue weft yarns; backdrop is a partial view of the Chilkat robe pattern board
After 3 months of preparing my materials and pattern for my next Chilkat robe, I am about to begin warping the loom (aka “dressing” the loom),…maybe by tonight! I am on schedule. My goal was to begin weaving the robe on October 15th! Today is the day! And I celebrate here with you today with a photo of my materials!
This robe is commissioned by the Portland Art Museum; check out the complete image and story on this robe at this former blog entry. And read Portland Art Museum’s Curator of Native American Art, Deana Dartt-Newton’s narrative of this robe.
Sep 14, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Balls of Chilkat warp and bundles of split cedar enjoy a great view from the upper deck of the KVI Beach House in Vashon Island, Washington State
While standing inside the dining room window, I shot this image of Melissa and Sue – two strong-willed, organized, power-packed women who are still busy doing business while we make an effort to relax at this wonderful beach house retreat!
Sue Shotridge insisted that she, Mellisa Rinehart and I take a two-day retreat to this wonderful beach house on Vashon. She INSISTED and she was PATIENT with my initial responses of “what for…?” She had to explain that I was an extreme “Type A” personality who after taking a three-month weaving tour at my age, needed a break. She also needed a break and she wanted to talk with Melissa and I about the logistics of hosting a week-long weaving retreat next year in September at this beach house. We relaxed while doing business. What a wonderful concept! I intend on conducting business this way more often!
Melissa and Sue take photos while heading down the hillside to the beach (just a couple of stones throw away from the house)…
KVI Beach House – from the beach
close up of KVI Beach House – from the beach…
Clarissa demonstrates to Melissa how to split and prepare the wool roving for spinning with cedar bark to create Chilkat warp
I taught Melissa how to spin her own warp so that a year from now when we do the weaving retreat, she will have enough warp to do a large project or several small ones. We spun while Sue took notes planning the weaving retreat.
Clarissa demonstrates how to groom balls of warp to Melissa, an attentive student indeed!
- A perfect stage for relaxing while spinning warp for our next weavings…!
Check out more photos and information of the KVI Beach House at: http://www.vrbo.com/408415
Stay tuned for an announcement about the Northwest Coast Weavers Retreat. Space is limited; first come first serve. We are gonna have a blast!
Sep 13, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Ravens & Eagles, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Chilkat/Ravenstail headdress, double-sided Ravenstail vest, and Chilkat/Ravenstail handbag woven by Clarissa Rizal – 1989
My very first Chilkat piece was a small ghost face pouch woven in a week in 1983. A lousy weaver, I dare say that when I threw the thing against the window it just about cracked it! Nope I never show that one to nobody! Other than the one side of a pair of leggings that I wove with Jennie during our apprenticeship, and the Chilkat woven flap to a leather backpack, the three pieces above and the wall pouch below are my very first weavings before I wove my first Chilkat robe (Sea Grizzly 1999) and my first Ravenstail robe (Copper Woman’s robe woven in 1994).
“Father Cyril Bulashevich & St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church” Chilkat wall pocket woven by Clarissa Rizal – 1990 – private collection, Denver, Colorado
Though I have woven several small pieces not pictured here (or anywhere else for that matter), and I am a multi-tasker who has created other major pieces of art in a variety of mediums, the photos in this blog are all of my major weavings. This blog post is to honor my children and grand-children to whom I leave my legacy and especially today to my youngest child whose birthday is today; she is the one who created this website, who created and encouraged me to blog, and who still continues to be a level-headed side-kick.
“Sea Grizzly” Chilkat robe woven by Clarissa Rizal – 1999 – private collection, Vancouver, B.C.
“The Diamonds Robe” woven by Clarissa Rizal – 1997 – private collection, Juneau, Alaska
“Hauberg Raven” Chilkat robe woven by Clarissa Rizal – 2001 – private collection – Seattle, WA
“Copper Woman” 5-piece Ravenstail and Chilkat ensemble woven by Clarissa Rizal – 2001 – Collection of Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, Alaska
“Copper Man” 6-piece Ravenstail and Chilkat ensemble woven by Clarissa Rizal – 2006 – private collection, Mercer Island, WA
“Copper Child” 4-piece Ravenstail ensemble woven by Lily Hope and Clarissa Rizal – 2009 – Collection of Sealaska Heritage Institute
“Jennie Weaves An Apprentice” Chilkat robe woven by Clarissa Rizal – 2011 – Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA
7-foot Ravenstail border for a button robe – 2013 – private collection, Vashon Island, WA
“Diving Whale Lovebirds” Chilkat robe woven by Clarissa Rizal – 2013 – private collection, New York, NY
Dancing of “Diving Whale Lovebirds” Chilkat robe by Clarissa Rizal – 2013
Pattern Board of “Resilience” Chilkat/Ravenstail robe designed by Clarissa Rizal – in the process of being woven; completion by June 2014 – commissioned by Portland Art Museum
Aug 26, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
A Chilkat face: when we finish the eyebrows, the weaving can “express” how it feels…
Besides the clan emblem or the story a Chilkat robe image has to convey, I experience the emotional/spiritual aspect of the robe itself. Every robe I’ve woven gifts me with a different experience that transcends just the technical aspects of weaving.
Two years ago I finished the “Jennie Weaves and Apprentice” Chilkat robe. During the four years the robe was on my loom, the weaving of this robe “held me up” and “saved my life” during a very rough length of time; I was actually able to weather some big “storms.” This year I completed the “Diving Whale Lovebirds” Chilkat robe; after nearly 30 years of weaving, I finally felt like I actually KNEW what I was doing. I didn’t really have to think about weaving (and as some of you know how to weave, this type of weaving requires a lot of thinking!). My total time on the robe was 6 months! I remember Jennie saying that she could weave a full-size, full-design Chilkat robe in 6 months and that was hard for me to believe. Over the years, I have come to believe many of the things she said. She gave me many gifts.
A Chilkat Face: When we finish the eyes, the robe can see into our world…
This child-size Chilkat robe that I am presently weaving is my robe of gratitude; a time of giving thanks for this gift of learning Chilkat and sharing Chilkat, a time of appreciation for all the folks who, especially during this weavers’ tour and especially the past 5 years of my life, have been there in whatever time and shape. I hold this robe with affection as if it is a grandchild; very close as as I know the very thing that provides me the happiness also has the other side of the coin, and some day it shall “fly away” and not be in the same position I had become accustomed to know. This Chilkat robe is my time of experimentation, a time of expanding into things I have not normally done, whether it be reflected in the weaving, reflected in a thought pattern or behavior. I look forward to my internal world expanding, ever eternal as we all are…
Stay tuned to see the progress of this robe. Thank you for making the time to be a part of my life via visiting my blog! Gunal’cheesh!
A Chilkat Face: when we complete the nose, the weaving can smell everything about you and your world – and when the mouth is completed the weaving can communicate with you…
A Chilkat Face: …and when Clarissa starts re-drawing her Chilkat robe design, uh oh, watch out…she might take another 10 years before she is happy with the image…!
Aug 19, 2013 | Class Act, Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Catrina Mitchell from Juneau, Alaska winds the skein of weft onto the ball winder to create a ball of weft – working from a ball of weft is much easier to draw the yarn from than the skein…
A student of Ravenstail and Chilkat, Catrina Mitchell knows what she wants to do in the evenings and on the weekends this Fall and Winter into Spring: Ravenstail weaving! We’re excited! Am I going to reveal WHAT she is weaving, for WHO and WHEN she wants it done? NO. Hello…That’s a secret! It’s enough to know she is one of several women on a mission to complete her weaving(s) by Celebration 2014 next year. — For those of you who haven’t gotten started on your weaving; what are you waiting for? Winter is coming! Let’s get on the ball and have fun! And let’s join for a Weavers’ dance and song next year!
Catrina has warped up her loom (or “dressed” her loom) – She wove her first row (called the “anchoring row”) and before she weaves her first 5 rows of white, she is now double-checking the length of each warp end making sure they are all the same length
Catrina is happy to remember how to do Jennie Thlunaut’s fingering for speed, accuracy, tension and most of all: GRACE!
A perfect Weaver’s Tote! Each compartment has a purpose of its own – four distinct places for the four colors: black, white, yellow, blue – compartments for pen and small spiral-bound notebook – compartment for scissors, large-eye tapestry needles, cotton twine/sinew, and then some!
