Jun 6, 2015 | Tools-of-the-Trade |
“Frog Speaks” sand-blasted glass window by Clarissa Rizal – 2001
Back in 2001 I had the privilege to apprentice with two glass artists Preston Singletary and David Svenson at the Pilchuck School of Glass. We were working on the glass pieces that were inserted into the totem pole that David had designed to honor the 30-year anniversary of Pilchuck. The main body of the totem pole was carved at the Alaska Indian Arts in Haines, Alaska by Wayne Price, John Hagen, Steven Brown, Lee Heinmiller, David and others. While at the school, Preston encouraged me to use some of the school’s other studio spaces, like the print-making studio, or the sand-blasting area, etc. I learned how to prepare a plate of glass for sandblasting so I could create an embossed, limited-edition print of one of my favorite button blanket images called “Frog Speaks.” I kept the glass plate; since it’s been a part of my window decor in my studio. Maybe someday I’ll make a second edition of this print OR maybe someday I’ll make a series of embossed prints — just never know!
Dec 2, 2014 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Uncategorized |
Tlingit Carver, Wayne Price holds his hand-made Tlingit-style carving adze inside the Soboleff Cultural Center, Juneau, Alaska
It’s been a long time since a new building has been built in downtown Juneau; most likely since the Sealaska Corporation building was built (1971?) on the waterfront. Just a little ways behind Sealaska towards the mountainside, the Walter Soboleff Cultural Center is being built. As the construction crew works daily, so does master Tlingit carver Wayne Price. He’s chipping away at every exposed cedar plank, beam and column. Wayne has created many, many patterns in the wood; one of them is the “herring bone pattern” which is one of my favorite. He’s got his work cut out for him for several months. And I quote him: “….it all adze up!”
Wayne’s “work table” is located in what will be the “front stage” platform of the center
Wayne is from the Wooshkeetaan (Shark) Clan from Kake, Alaska; he lives in Haines with his wife, Cherri. They house the Silver Cloud Art Center in one of the big, white Ft. Seward (formerly captain quarters) homes on the hill overlooking Lynn Canal. They have held many classes and retreats in their home including: traditional dances and drumming, traditional food gathering and prep, carving, silver-smithing, and weaving. Wayne is one of the few Tlingit carvers who knows how to build the traditional dug-out cedar canoes…I quote him: “…and may I add that my canoes float, they are sturdy, ocean-going vessels…!”
Visit Wayne’s website at: www.silvercloudart.com
Wayne stands amongst yellow cedar planks he still has to adze…He says “…look at all the boards… there so many of them yet to still carve…I’ve got my work cut out for me; it all adze up!”
I first met Wayne on the eve of Halloween 1981. He had come up to Sealaska Corporation offices to “sell some of his wares…” I bought a hand-carved and painted “Moon” mask and a silver bracelet. I remarked to Wayne that he had a resemblance to my younger brother, Tim to which he replied: “Really?…I look like a family member of YOURS….!?”— My Lily had just met Wayne then, she was not quite 2 years old. When I asked Lily if she knew Wayne, to our surprise, she replied: “Yes,….that’s Uncle Tim…!”
Wayne adzes one of the “long boards”
I would have posted close-up images of Wayne’s variety of adzed patterns, but I leave it up to my reader’s imagination. I would rather you see his patterns first hand, like I said, in every exposed piece of wood in the building; it’s quite spectacular. Sealaska Heritage Institute did right to include the talented hands of Wayne Price’s swing—for many generations, his example will spur future generations to expand on his work!
Jul 5, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Wolf and Eagle headdresses worn by the children of the KwaanlinDun First Nations during their performance
What is the Adaka Festival? And where the heck is Whitehorse, Yukon Territory? And why does Clarissa just talk about Yukon Territory all the time?
This child dancer with the mask and leather gloves danced like the old-timers going down with low bent knees and extended arms with hands fluttering: wow! Bought back memories of my elder teacher Harry K. Bremner, Sr. from Yakutat, Alaska
My oldest daughter Lily Hope and excellent carver friend William Callahan – one of the best young carvers in all of Yukon!
New Zealand Maori carver, singer, musician Lyonel Grant presented slides of his work – and Tahltan Tlingit carver Dempsey Bob with his granddaughter
William Callahan and the Smith/Walker family (Shawn, Ann and Brian)
Wayne Price tells the story behind the song he sang: the migration under the glaciers
My daughter Lily and the great uncle Wayne Price of Lily’s son, Louis…so does this mean I am related to Wayne? Hmmm….shoulda known!
Aug 20, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Check out the hands of real berry-pickers!
Earlier this year, I made up my mind that I was going to pick berries – whatever it took, wherever I was, whatever weather! And luckily for us up here in the north, this Summer has been one of the best in recorded memory! I picked soap berries in Whitehorse, Huckleberries in Haines, nagoon berries in Juneau and raspberries and blueberries in Hoonah! I make my fortune by making myself fortunate in taking advantage of the fruits of our land — golly, and imagine all the berries that are out there that never get picked!
Wayne and Cherri Price, Teahonna James and Clarissa Rizal enjoyed an afternoon of picking huckleberries up a mountain on the other side of the Chilkat River in Haines, Alaska
Always pick berries with friends and relatives. Never go alone. Remember: we have bears who feast on berries just like we do at this time of year. Even though we see them as relatives, bears are much bigger and stronger than us and therefore, we must respect them, right? Right.
Tim Ackerman always comes prepared with his chainsaw in the back of the truck; never know when you’ll come across a fallen tree on the narrow dirt road to the mountainside berry patches. Wayne Price helps set aside the logs (that will eventually become somebody’s firewood).
Soapberries are named according to the high amount of saponin content — the chemical compound that makes the berries foam up when whipped or shaken with water.
We do not have soap berries in Southeast Alaska, so I never picked them. I remember my grandmother and mother would receive a precious jar of soapberries during a potlatch; it was always a prized possession. In fact, so prized that I was given a tiny jar of soapberries from a potlatch that I attended about 5 years ago – I still have it; never opened. I told myself that I would never open it until I meet the soapberry and pick ’em myself – I had this chance back in July – I picked all I could in a short amount of time and hand-carried it on a plane to my friend in Hoonah in honor of her mother who had recently passed.
Vanessa Morgan picking soapberries along the woodland path outside of our campus apartment in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Nagoon berries are the bestest berry in the world! They grow in open boggy fields in the northern part of Southeast Alaska — nagoon berry pickers do not let out where their special patches of berries are located – if so, then you must be someone very very very special – so take heed to those three people to whom I let my secret!
The “cloud berries” of Yukon, if I am not mistaken, seem to be a relative of the Nagoon, but do not quote me on this. These berries are generally the last berry to harvest, ripening in mid to late August. However, the berries are all in a bumper crop this year which of course puts stress on us berry pickers. The raspberries, nagoons, blueberries, and thimble berries are all ripe at the same time!
Washed and cleaned Nagoon berries hold their shape
The fragrance of the nagoon is like nothing else, just like its flavor. If you’ve never had nagoon, if you’ve never even picked a fresh nagoon from it’s habitat and popped it into your mouth, you have not yet lived!
Two 2-qt buckets were filled in 3 hours during hot muggy weather
What do we do after an afternoon in the nagoon-berry bogs? Wash up in a river beach!
Aug 18, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The making of the traditional dugout canoe at Cherri and Wayne Price’s porch in Haines, Alaska
How many of you know, or know of, the carver/silversmith/boat builder/hunter Wayne Price? Do you know where he lives? Have you ever taken a class from him? Have you met his wife, Cherri? Or met any of his friends or students or family? It’s time to meet him.
The Price House is always hopping with visitors coming and going – I’m not sure how Wayne gets his work done! And both he and Cherri are always accommodating; they generally drop what they are doing and will converse with you. (They sound like the way I am but I am trying not to be that way to the degree I was else I cannot get my work done!) Here they share their dry fish with Crystal Rogers, Jim Simard and Teahonna James
The Price House: …so I like to help them out in whatever way I can…in this instance, when I caught Wayne and Cherri talking about loading the firewood into the basement, I immediately volunteered the weavers Crystal and Teahonna and Lance Twitchell’s brother to help out…! The community has got to be reminded now and then to “give back” to Wayne and Cherri and it starts with each and every one of us who have benefited from their hospitality !
The Price House: Meagan Jensen looks over Teahonna James weaving the closure of her circle.
The Price House: William Wasden, from Alert Bay, B.C., sings songs from his neck of the woods, while Wayne tends to the fire, the weavers weave and the rest of us listen, watch and take in the scene!
Read more about Wayne and Cherri Price on their website; click here to the link. And when you are in Haines, stop by and say hello – let him know I sent ya!
Aug 18, 2013 | Honoring Others, North Tide, Poetry Alaskan, Relationship Overdrive, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Jennie Thlunaut’s hands weaving closing up the black braids to the eye – May 1986
As we weave the fabric of our lives, working hard through all the days
Mixing colors into twine, cedar too for warp that’s mine
Our hands do hurt but I won’t complain; my students here I’m going to train
To be a weaver of the robe, that people know over all the globe
Our work we do for time will stand, side by side from my ancestor’s land
Their hands I see when I close my eyes; heads of grey, hands wrinkled and wise
Their training I feel all through these days, now I pass it on in so many ways
What I teach I hope and pray, they will learn and weave will stay
Long past my last earth day
My Grandchildren’s Grandchildren I hope will say
This robe I weave is from my land, taught to me by someone Grand
Our story goes on and we prevail; I’m here to tell you a weaver’s tale.
Written by Wayne Price in honor of our weaving tour visit in Haines, Alaska three weeks prior and in memory of our weaving mentor, the late Jennie Thlunaut – written 18 August 2013
Wayne Price wears the “Diving Whale Lovebirds” Chilkat robe recently woven by Clarissa Rizal – June 2013 – weavers Cherish Clarke, Sherri Atlin, and Georgianna Low are standing behind Clarissa and Wayne at the Adaka Festival photo shoot – photo by Ken Kaunshansky
Jul 5, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, North Tide, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
A partial view of the annual Adaka Native Art Exhibit only held for a week during the Adaka Festival – exhibitors in this section were: Coppersmith Brian Walker, Carver Wayne Price, Weaver Lily Hope and Regalia-maker Clarissa Rizal
Charcoal on canvas 6-foot column by Clarissa Rizal next to painter, Jean Taylor
Several Yukon beadworkers’ moccasins are housed below Carver Jimmie Joseph’s masks next to Clarissa Rizal’s charcoal on canvas
- Hanging up in the rafters as part of the artshow below are two Ravenstail robes woven by Ann Smith flank Clarissa Rizal’s Chilkat robe
Jun 25, 2013 | Latest Art Projects, Ravens & Eagles, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Clarissa’s latest Chilkat robe “Diving Whale Lovebirds” danced by Wayne Price during the “Weavers’ Dance” at the Adaka Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory – photograph by Ken Kaushansky
Well…I finished this robe on Summer Solstice 2013 in Whitehorse, Yukon just before it was hung as part of the Northwest Coast art exhibit at the Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center. The owners of the robe rendevous-ed with me at the Festival to attend the ceremony, meet carver Wayne Price and have the robe placed in their arms. Again, it was not easy parting from another “child.”
The following photographs show the weaving progression from end to start – yes, sounds backwards don’t it, but just wanted to give you an artistic experience of “thinking backwards!”
In the professional photographer’s studio! (and no I’m not THAT big; the shirt is just big on me…hello!
According to my weaving teacher, the late Jennie Thlunaut, who passed at the age of 96 in 1986, she said that I must NEVER show my weaving-in-progress to the owners if the robe is commissioned. They are not to see the robe until it is completed. I never asked “why” because it was futile, I’d be wasting my words. To the best of my abilities, I did not, and have not, shown the progression of my robes as I have honored Jennie’s request.
Completed weaving the robe June 15th – then there were the side braids to be done – yum, yum, the side braids are the best part of weaving a Chilkat robe!
So now that I have completed the robe, and have delivered it to the rightful owners, I can show you the progression of the robe…
On the Alaska ferry from Juneau to Skagway…
Ursala weaves the side braids; Amelie “helps” too!
Close-up of how I finished the bottom yellow border
Whooooheee – finished the design field of the robe, just need to weave the borders, weave the side braids, weave the signature tie-offs, block the weaving, etc. – (a foreign language?)
One last portion to complete!
Started the form line of the last pair of eyes to weave
Close-up of weaving the borders down to match the left corner of the design field
Three-quarters complete!
A vivacious Chilkat face!
Beginning to weave the bottom of the top and bottom of the beaks – the left one is Eagle and the right one is Raven…of course!
The robe is a bit more than half-way woven….
A few weaving details….now, I have never considered myself a very good weaver, although there are many who say otherwise. In so doing and being, I can say that I am progressing at it…every time I weave I get slightly better…in ways, i get better, my dear,…in ways!
yep, the colors of this robe are brilliant…(unlike the weaver who has lost her brilliancy as she has aged…)
more details…the circles are pretty good…not too bad….not too bad! Always pay attention to the braids…the braids are what shape the shapes…!
I can say that this Chilkat robe is one-third complete!
No we do not weave straight across; this photo just makes it LOOK like we weave straight across…!
It is still winter time…had to wear my fleece topped by my Japanese quilted jacket with my hand-sewn Ainu headband…weaving, weaving, weaving…
The loom is in the guest room where I am borrowing the space cuz my studio is way too cold to work – it’s gotten down to zero degrees out there! — The plastic transparency “templates” are clipped to the warp…
Well, if you aren’t a friend of mine on Facebook, then you haven’t seen this photo take by my son, the film-maker…
Not a good idea to weave day and night like I can. Else you get to be a boring person; like I can be. And then you just want to stare at everything else except the weaving…and the grand-children! I don’t mind staring at the grandchildren! heeeheee!
…come to think of it, my eyes rest easy and well on my grandchildren!…so nice to have this one around while weaving…a real treat!
The ravenstail border is completed – yeah!
Bright and white day today…that’s because the spirits know there’s a new robe, a new “skin” that has been “born” most recently. good medicine.
Here’s a sketch of the proposed robe. It’s a ‘Diving Whale Lovebirds”
The preliminary sketch of the Chilkat robe I’m about to start some day soon – I drafted this design just three weeks before my mother passed away…June 2011 – it took me two years to complete this weaving; of course, though I was doing all kinds of other major things as well in that time period (i.e. burying my mother, moving to Santa Fe to attend IAIA for BFA degree, commuting to Colorado to spend time with my daughter and family, an exhibit, taught a couple of classes and three different apprenticeships, not to mention travel, etc. etc. You know, it’s called an “artist’s life.” I would not recommend this lifestyle for the weak of heart…!
