As part of the Share Your Culture/Share Your Research Winter Series, guest speaker Jan Steinbright (non-Native) will give a presentation entitled “Out of Roots, Bark, Grass, and Baleen: Alaska Native Basketry Stories.” People may attend the event in-person at the museum or on Zoom. To attend via Zoom, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89591164275?pwd=RXJDNDZBNHM5K1Y3R2h0ZGRqMzBidz09 and input meeting ID: 895 9116 4275 and passcode: Jan.
Steinbright shares this about her presentation:
“In my 40-some years living and working with Alaska Native artists, I have had the honor of getting to know some incredibly talented people. As an artist myself, I was particularly drawn to the practice of basketry, an art form I had been involved with since childhood. My job allowed me to gather materials and interact with Native basket makers as they went about their work. I also was privileged to organize workshops around the state and work on exhibits for museums on basketry. From these precious experiences, I have come away with many stories which I love to share.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, I will talk about the gathering and preparation of natural materials and the basket construction, and share some personal stories of these amazing people.”
Watch this space – details to follow!
As part of the Share Your Culture/Share Your Research Winter Series, artist Maryteri Kennedy (Tsimshian) will give a Zoom-only talk entitled “Cultural & Environmental Changes of Tsimshian Weaving.” To attend, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81519229955?pwd=Rkx1Vjh0YWNXcTQ2YkhUYUh3NHdNQT09 and input meeting ID: 815 1922 9955 and passcode: Metlakatla.
Kennedy will describe traditional Tsimshian weaving – the style of weaving, materials used, and how language was used to “teach” this style of weaving. She will also detail how the Metlakatla weaving style was heavily influenced by neighboring tribes and how it has changed slightly over time. The talk will highlight weaving in the 1980s and 1990s, when Lillian Buchert, Lucy Rainmen, and Brenda White were known for Tsimshian weaving. At that time, Violet Booth taught many students at Annette Island School District, though only a handful of students became weavers in their adult lives.