Aug 31, 2010 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
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?
Aug 27, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Relationship Overdrive |
Jan and Greg
I played match-maker for two of my friends, Greg Garrison and Jan Parrish. I was driving up to Alaska from Colorado in mid-March 2007 and brought Jan with me to meet Greg. Since, they’ve been two peas in a pod.
Up to the Reliance
I’ve known Greg for a long time; he’s born and bred in Juneau. We home-schooled our kids together back in the late 80’s. Owning Harbor Marine in Hoonah since the mid-90s, he’s the only boat mechanic/refurbisher of his caliber in the entire Glacier Bay area. He bought the famed “Reliance” sail boat years ago; it’s a beauty. Being on board the Reliance reminds me of my childhood days fishing with my father and living across the street from the Juneau Float. I wonder about having a boat when I permanently move back to Alaska – in Haines, of course!
Hooray for Greg; he is finally making time to remodel and rebuild his own boat. I look forward to her first sail!
Jan, Greg and Clarissa
Greg explains how the engines took 3 entire days to move from one part of the ship to the other
The diningroom will be able to seat 8 comfortably
Jan and Greg stand in one part of the livingroom
A suggestion in the bathroom
The Reliance's hull
Hull colors
Best wishes for Jan and Greg in completing the Reliance's remodel
Aug 27, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Relationship Overdrive |
Greg and Clarissa act as if they're gonna eat a berry while Jan keeps the bucket from tipping over
Like I said in my previous blog entry yesterday, instead of celebrating Hoonah’s veterans and doing the ANB Hall fundraising event, I chose berry-picking on a sunny day in Hoonah, Alaska!
Blueberries, Black & Red Huckleberries are there for our taking!
The red huckleberries are Jan's favorites - a good year for plump ones
Our berry-pickin' view couldn't get any better
4 gallons of berries in a silver bucket
Between the three of us, we picked about 6 gallons of berries in 2 hours! - whadda day!
Aug 26, 2010 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
On the Auke Bay ramp to the float to catch the Allen Marine's Catamaran
Two Allen Marine catamarans pulled out of Auke Bay’s boat harbor to Hoonah early morning last Saturday, August 21, with almost 150 Juneauites on board each boat. The town of Hoonah has more veterans in the State of Alaska per capita than any other town in Alaska – it was time to celebrate. To coincide with the event, Hoonah’s Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall hosted a fundraising event to pay for its taxes for the year; 5 Native dance groups from Juneau participated. The catamarans were packed. This was just a day trip. 15 minutes out of Auke Bay’s harbor the weather, of course, improved. The 2.5 hour sail to Hoonah was beautiful; the sky broke, the ocean glassy, and the captain shut down the engines for about 20 minutes while a pod of about 12 humpback whales swam around us! (when I learn how to add videos to my blog, I’m adding the one I took of the whales swimming towards us…check back by the end of August to see this video).
Although I am not part of a dance group in Juneau, I brought my button robe and beaded hat. I knew there would be the welcoming ceremony when we arrived at the dock in Hoonah. As we pulled in to the harbor, most everyone on board (who was attending the event) dressed in their regalia. Songs were shared. Cameras were flashing; videos shot. And there were lots of children!
2nd Catamaran pulling into Hoonah Harbor; Graveyard Island in background
Arriving Hoonah town
One of my mother's best friends, Lillian Austin
Eagle/Raven Dance group leader, Atricia Makaily and daughter Leandra are Chilkat weaving on board the ship
Clarissa checks out Atricia's work
A son assists his father doning his regalia to prepare to greet their hosts
Hoonah's Mt. Fairweather dance group welcomes their Juneau guests
Dancers listen to their hosts singing the welcoming songs
Rose with baby Lilliana wait to disembark
Heading for the ANB Hall in Hoonah
Everyone heads up the Hoonah dock ramp in anticipation of a good celebration at the ANB Hall
I went to Hoonah to pick berries with my friends Jan and Greg. I knew this was my only chance. I had to make a choice between celebrations and berry-picking. The harvest was fabulous!
Aug 24, 2010 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
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
Aug 18, 2010 | North Tide |
A one-man submarine with a canon? We've seen it all!
Among many things, my father William Lampe was a commercial fisherman. Sometimes he would take his kids out fishing, or just “steer the boat!” His boat, the “Clarissa Rizal” was moored at the Juneau Float which was down the Carrol Way stairs and across the street from where we lived – most convenient for him as well as I, who loved to be down at the harbor. Walking Auke Bay’s boat harbor, I reminisce the days of being in the company of boats, high tide, the aroma of saltwater sea and salmon, and folks dressed in fishing attire and the Juneau boots. Then there’s the addition of the modern, eclectic, sensible statements aboard some vessels…
Always remember to take your grill and gloves when fishing...!
Christmas colors in August...
In Alaska, a man's boat IS the "other woman!"
Aug 18, 2010 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
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.
Aug 17, 2010 | North Tide, To See or Not to See |
We Alaskans know we gotta catch a sunset while we can!
Sunset Close-up
The same sunset!? LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING!?
Fly with it while we can!
Aug 16, 2010 | Acting Out and Musical Chairs, Relationship Overdrive, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Young "stars" of "A Hundred Thousand Drops of Rain"
Dan and I were headed out to pick berries on this rare sunny day in Juneau, but we got sidetracked by attending the last performance of “A Hundred Thousand Drops of Rain” directed by Ed Littlefield, with assistantdirector/stage manager Austin Tagaban and written by Ishmael Hope, was sponsored by Perseverance Theatre’s annual STAR (Summer Theatre Arts Rendevous) program.
The boy and his dog...
The shaman decides it's not going to hurt to go out on a date; they're just talking, that's all...
The canoe journey to...
The "good woman's" sillouette...
Pleading to have his way...
It is an extremely challenging play, Hope said, based on shamanism and dealing with themes of cultural healing and regeneration.
One of the children in the play told her mother that she didn’t really understand what was going on in the work, which he says, in a sense, “is wonderful.” Growing up, Hope said there were culturally significant seeds that were planted in him by his family and heritage which he didn’t fully recognize until later.
“When I became a man, they continued to help me become human,” he said. “We are not born fully human, we have an unusually long period of growing up. When you’re young, you’re still forming, so when you’re older you go, ‘Wow, there was this thing guiding me the entire time.'”
Cast members included: Kevin Allen, Savannah Strang, Kendrea Makaily, Bryan Johnson, Talia Lee Davis, Maxwell Peterson, Kenneth Morris, Savannah Leisholm, Adriann Rusch, Taylona Lafferty and Kyndra Blacks.
The STAR program is a five-week program that provides Juneau youth with the highest quality theatre training and performance opportunities available in Alaska. Launched by Perseverance Theatre in 1982, the STAR program has provided professional theatre instruction to youth for the past 28 Summers, offering training in acting, directing and playwriting. this specialized training culminates in final, fully-realized public productions. In 2002, STAR was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of the 16 outstanding American arts programs for young people.
Special thanks to Sealaska Heritage Institute for providing scholarships for Alaska Native students in the STAR program.
Aug 15, 2010 | North Tide |
Devil's Club has many healing properties
A forest of Devil's Club can stand 10 to 12 feet high!
Yarrow
Plantain
Many of these plants are used for medicinal purposes. There are a few folks in Alaska who make healing tinctures, balms and salves. Visit my accupuncture friend, Jan Parrish’s website: www.alaskanabotanicals.com for more information on the healing properties of these plants – she has products that could help make your healing adventure a bit smoother – check out the site!
Mint
