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Demonstrations & Presentations
Clarissa Hudson demonstrates Chilkat spinning
techniques to children at the Smithsonian's NMAI Museum show
of "Listening to Our Ancestors" Exhibit, November
2006 |
Contact Clarissa
for permission to use text or images for educational purposes only
Clarissa has been demonstrating the art of Chilkat and
Ravenstail weaving since 1993. Her demonstrations include the following:
1) Demonstrates weaving techniques and tricks-of-the-trade on any
one or all upright looms: a robe, a dance apron, headdress, dance
leggings, bag, etc. Clarissa demonstrates on whatever project she
would be working at the time. If she has no project on any of the
looms, she will begin one specifically for the demonstration scheduled.
2) Raw Material hands-on display: cedar bark strips, shredded cedar
bark, merino wool, mountain goat wool; dye materials such as wolf
moss, copper (and nope, no urine, we all know what the stuff is!).
3) Demonstrate preparing the materials; splitting the bark, preparing
the wool
4 ) Demonstrate spinning warp yarns on thigh, plying wool and cedar
bark
5 ) Demonstrate spinning weft yarns on the portable wooden “Charkha”
spinning wheel used by Gandhi in the 1930s. Charkha available for
purchase through The
Woolery
6 ) Photo display of how to gather cedar bark
7 ) Clarissa’s portfolio and a copy of her “Chilkat
Weavers’ Handbook” self-published in December 2005
Clarissa’s presentations may include the above, and
may also include:
1) Power Point Presentation of Northwest Coast Native dance regalia
from research through the Regalia Project (see website: http://www.artstream.net)
and her research during her “Visiting Artist” fellowship
with the National Museum of the American Indian (see Clarissa’s
webpage article “NMAI Visiting
Artist). The PPP would highlight Chilkat robes in Museum collections
in North America. Several of the Chilkat robes were identified by
Clarissa as having been woven by her teacher, Jennie Thlunaut. Clarissa
identified 19 robes and 2 small weavings woven by Jennie collected
in 4 museums on the East Coast. Jennie had woven 50 robes in her
lifetime. She was 96 when she passed away in 1986.
2) Presentation may include Clarissa’s perspectives past and
present, on the role of Museums, particularly in regards to the
Native people of the Northwest Coast. These perspectives are based
on Clarissa's research at museum visits sponsored by the National
Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Visiting Artist Fellowship
she received in November 2006.
Past Demonstrations and Presentations have included:
2008“Chilkat Weaving demonstration, Smithsonian NMAI, New
York City, NY
2007 Cultural Interpreter, Holland American Line, Glacier Bay N.P.,
Gustavus, AK
2006 “Listening to Our Ancestors” Exhibit, Smithsonian
NMAI, Washington, D.C.
2005 Fusing Traditions” Artists Panel, Univ. of Washington
Burke Museum,“Seattle, WA
2005 Teach Math via Weaving, A laska Rural Systemic Initiative,
Univ. of Alaska, Juneau
2004 “Folklife Festival” & Grand Opening Festivities
of NMAI, Smithsonian, Wash., D.C.
2003 “Art Walk” Fundraiser for Institute of American
Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM
2002 “Tapestry” Show, Native & Western Science Convention,
Dine’ College, Tsaile, AZ
2000, ’99, ’93, ’91 U.S. Forest Service, Juneau,
Alaska
1996 “Made in America” Exhibit, Nelson Atkins Museum,
St. Louis, MO.
1993 “Artist on Board”, Alaska Marine Highway, Juneau,
AK
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