January 2009 - Northwest Basket Weavers

December Greetings from JackieAbrams!For several years now, I have been working in Africa,helping to develop craft industries. Just this week Ireturned from my third trip this year, this time tonorthern Ghana and Uganda. You can read moreabout these travels on my website:http://www.jackieabrams.com/africa.html.This work seems important, and I am rethinking myplans for 2009.I will continue to teach. I enjoy it, and it helps to paythe bills. I will not be participating in any craft shows,only in much smaller gallery and museum exhibitions.My time in the studio will be spent exploring some newtechniques, influenced by the women I meet and workwith in Africa.While refocusing, I will be clearing out both my studioand my website. All work is 30% off the listed price.40% off for two or more pieces. This does not apply tospecial orders. If the piece is over $100, shipping isincluded. Please call or e-mail about the availability ofany piece that interests you.I wish you all a happy and healthy 2009!Jackie Abrams21 Howard StreetBrattleboro, VT 05301802-257-2688jackieabrams@verizon.netwww.jackieabrams.comNative Women Artists Featured atAnnual Museum GatheringJanuary 24, 2009, La ConnerLa Conner, WA – Nine distinguished artists from sevenPacific Northwest tribal communities from Oregon toAlaska will be featured at “Qwu?qwsa - A Gathering ofNative Women Artists: Celebrating Old & New Traditions”on Saturday, January 24, from 11 am to 4 pm, at theSkagit County Historical Museum.Throughout the day, the artists will demonstrate and discusstraditional and contemporary forms of weaving, basketmaking, quilting, fiber arts, pottery and beading. A paneldiscussion at 2 pm will focus on the role of women in therevival of traditional native art, the adaptation of traditionsto contemporary life and the challenges for passing on thesetraditions. The artists’ works will be available for purchase.The following distinguished artists will participate:Sharon Akers, Omaha, has been beading for many years.She does beadwork and makes dance regalia for her family.Northwest Basket Weavers/Vi Phillips Basketry GuildJanuary 2009Ms. Akers is accomplished in several different styles ofbeading and especially enjoys creating bags. Appropriately,her Native name, Haa Wate’, means “leather dress.”Bernyce K. Courtney, of Wasco Tlingit heritage,expresses her traditions in quilting and has had her quilts onexhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of theAmerican Indian.Chloe French is a member of the Tlingit Killerwhale clan.Since retiring to Bellingham after teaching for many yearsin California, she has concentrated on Chilkat weaving, andis focusing now on completing a full-size Chilkat robe. Ms.French weaves hats and blankets, spinning her own warp onher thigh, the Tlingit way. She also creates traditionalbutton robes and beaded necklaces and gives instruction inChilkat weaving and button robe making.Pat Courtney Gold, Wasco, is a featured basket weaver inthe PBS series, “Craft in America” and the traveling exhibit.She is also co-producer and director of documentary film,“Northwest Native Elder Basketweavers, Honoring OurHeritage.” She helped revive the art of Wasco basketweaving with its geometric images and motifs. Ms. Goldreceived a National Endowment for the Arts HeritageFellowship in 2007 and the 2001 Oregon Governor’s ArtsAward. Her work has been exhibited nationally andinternationally.Fran James is an honored Lummi basket maker. Fran wasraised by her grandmother on an island where they raised500 head of sheep. She learned to gather traditional basketrymaterials, spin and knit from her grandmother at the age ofnine. Ms. James and her son, Bill James, have beeninstrumental in reviving and continuing the traditionalweaving and basketry skills of the Lummi people.Betty Pasco, a Suquamish tribal member, works intraditional Coast Salish basketry as well as traditional Salishwool weaving. She has been instrumental in helping torevive these art forms and teaches her skills to Suquamishgirls.Lillian Pitt, from the Columbia River Gorge, is known as agreat innovator within her tradition. She works in a widevariety of materials including clay -- using the Asian rakuand anagama techniques – along with bronze and preciousmetals, and mixes media and technologies from around theglobe. Ms. Pitt’s art has been exhibited in Europe, NewZealand, Japan and the U.S. including the Burke Museumand Heard Museum.Lisa Telford is both a master Haida basket weaver andtraditional cedar bark garment and ceremonial hat maker.Her award-winning work incorporates both contemporaryand traditional methods of weaving including twining andplaiting. Lisa’s dedication to educating and preserving herculture helps to protect the disappearing traditional Haidaart forms. Her baskets can be seen in the collections of TheOregon Historical Society, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, The