Review: Northwest Coast Artists Gathering 2006”

Presented by Artstream Cultural Resources, May 31, 2006
ANB Hall - Juneau , Alaska

Sponsoring Organizations:
Artstream Cultural Resources, Sealaska Corporation, Sealaska Heritage Foundation, University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North, Juneau City Museum

Committee Chairpersons:
Clarissa Hudson and Preston Singletary

Committee Members:
Donna Foulke, Chloe French, William Hudson, Aldona Jonaitis, Jean Lampe, Jan Steinbright, Tony Tengs, Doug Waugh. David Svenson and Beckie Etukeok joined the committee in Juneau and assisted during Gathering.

Gathering was held May 31, 2006, at the ANB Hall in Juneau, the day before Celebration. View the Power Point Presentation of the artists who participated; press the slideshow icon just above the images.

Our goals and objectives were to help artists meet, share ideas, show their work, and work together to create an art concept based on choosing a cultural or social issue they cared about in the improv collaborative exercise (see below).

"Gathering" Committee Members (left to right): Clarissa Hudson, Donna Foulke, Bill Hudson, Jan Steinbright, Myron Wheeler, Tony Tengs, David Svenson, Beckie Etukeok, Preston Singletary, Jean Lampe, Chloe French, Doug Waugh (Photo by Ursala Hudson)

Gathering brought together 125+ artists doing indigenous Northwest Coast style work. The group was composed of Native and non-Native, professional and non-professional artists.

The doors opened at eight a.m. to a waiting crowd. Most had pre-registered via the sponsoring organization’s website, Artstream Cultural Resources (www.artstream.net). But there were also a lot of people who registered at the door. Many had heard about the Gathering from the Sealaska Heritage Institute website, from the Celebration Program, and through word of mouth via our email and website at Artstream Cultural Resources. No admission was charged to attend Gathering.

A Native Continental Breakfast was served during registration. Local artist Jeanette Tabor and Executive Director of the Juneau City Museum, Jane Lindsey, provided fresh fry bread. The Juneau City Museum provided coffee and tea. Coordinated by Jan Steinbright and Jean Lampe, a variety of jams and jellies were donated by many of the attending artists and local Ravenstail and Chilkat weavers. The fry bread and jams/jellies were plentiful throughout the day.

Opening prayers were offered with a song each by Dolly Garza (Eagle Clan) and Jean Lampe (Raven Clan). Clarissa and Preston welcomed everyone, introduced the day’s activities and thanked Sealaska Heritage Institute; University of Alaska; Museum of the North, Fairbanks; and Artstream for their sponsorships; and Sealaska, Chris and Mary McNeil for their monetary contributions.

Over fifty artists submitted images of their art work for a PowerPoint Presentation slideshow. These artists stood and spoke about their work as it was shown. Each artist had one minute to introduce him/herself and speak about their work. This pace kept artists on task and kept the presentations moving smoothly. Artists not represented in this slideshow presentation stood and spoke afterwards. This last group often spoke for too long a time, which slowed the momentum of Gathering. The intent of the PPP was to introduce the audience to the artist and present a few images of their work that best represents themselves, connecting the artists' face and voice to their work.

Joe David, Nu-chul-nuth, from Vancouver Island, noted artist and Culture Bearer, was the keynote speaker and relayed a story about Cedar Man. Shgen George, a school teacher from Harborview School in Juneau, brought her elementary school students, who showed their group effort of a button blanket designed and created by the class, and they sang a song. Their contribution and presence in Gathering was very moving and well received.

The Native Foods Lunch was superb. The kitchen crew worked very hard preparing salmon, smoked hooligan (donated by Tom Jimmie, Jr.) herring eggs (donated by Jan Steinbright, Lily Hudson and Irene Lampe), fry bread, rice, potato salad, and brownies. Everyone raved about the food.

After lunch, Nora Dauenhauer, a Tlingit elder, was the second speaker and Culture Bearer. She provided an historical background on the meaning and significance of aat.oow. Many folks appreciated her presence and her speech.

Everyone then broke up into small groups for the Improv Collaborative Exercise. Each group was given a topic. For example, some of the group topics were: Non-Natives Doing Native Design; New Materials for Traditional Design; Subsistence Lifestyles; Film and Native Ideas, and so on. Each artist chose a group based on the topic of the cultural or social issue that was important to them. The design process began with simple brainstorming about the “key issues” related to the chosen subject. The facilitator leading each group was asked to be non-judgmental and to record on paper, all contributions to the discussion. The artists were then asked to select a partner and, together, to come up with some kind of visual icon or element that “told a story” about the key issues involved in their group topic. These icons or elements were further discussed and refined.

Finally, on large sheets of paper attached to the walls, each group was asked to create a sketch that utilized several of the ideas that their group had gathered. That sketch was to portray a possible future art piece that someone might create, and one that “told the story” of the group’s feelings, that day, about the issue at hand. Then, all the groups gathered together in a circle, and one by one, each group did a presentation of its art piece and spoke about its process. Many of the participants were inspired by this exercise.

This is a very creative and collaborative process, which enables participants to interact and create an image together based on a topic significant to each of them. These images are actual art concepts for the creation of a new robe, a mask, a totem pole, beaded regalia, a painting, or a carved box, etc. The intention of this exercise is to inspire and remind the artists that Northwest Coast art has always had a powerful storytelling element. Many modern artists have limited exposure to that tradition of storytelling through art. This exercise was a modest attempt to address that the traditional Northwest Coast art was, and is, extensively used for storytelling, record keeping, and to define tribal relationships. Also, the intent of this exercise is to encourage our Northwest Coast Native artists in the Gathering to work together and collaborate with someone they may have never met enabling them to begin a repoire with one another. Networking is a large component of Gathering.

Upon receiving the evaluation reports from the artists at the end of the event, it seems the collaborative storytelling process was, for many, the highlight of the Gathering.

Our third Culture Bearer, Tom Jimmy, Jr., Tlingit, gave an inspiring closing talk about “leaving no debt behind” for the next generation, that brought the day to a close. Participants filled out an evaluation and this part of the day was over. The evaluations were generally extremely positive and everyone said they would like Gathering to continue and grow.

"Little Big Band" members: Maurice Caldwell, Preston Singletary, Terry Maloney (Photo by Ursala Hudson)

The entire Gathering was documented on video tape. We hope to include a few video clips on this website by mid-February 2007. Stay tuned!

The evening performance, "Raven Brings Box of Delight" was held at the “Old” Armory. Preston Singletary and Tony Tengs oversaw this part of Gathering. Mark Alton was our sound man. An admission of $8 and $10 was charged for this event. Jim Simard constructed the set with Ishmael Hope. David Boxley, Jr. and his Jr.-high school students designed and painted a Tlingit design on the wooden backdrop. Thank you to the additional volunteers who assisted with "striking the set" including Tony Tengs, David Svenson and Bill Hudson.

Dee Lampe, Tlingit, was the MC and kept every one entertained during set changes. First, Perseverance Theater presented "Gunakadeit" complete with percussion music. Second was Preston’s "Little Big Band", which stunned the audience with their unique sound and then Archie Cavanaugh’s band, "Smokehouse" who brought down the house and closed the evening.

M.C., Dee Lampe and guest comedian from the audience (Photo by Ursala Hudson)

"Gathering" and "Raven Brings Box of Delight" were very successful events. The committee was composed of individuals from all over the country, communicating via email and conference calls. Although Clarissa knew all of the committee members, many of us had not met until the day before the event. We enjoyed working together and will do so again!

The 2008 Northwest Coast Artists' Gathering will be held for two days this time instead of one. The scheduled dates are set for Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3 and 4, 2008 at the ANB Hall in Juneau, Alaska. The Sealaska Heritage Institute's "Celebration 2008" is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, June 5-7, 2008. For more information, see 2008 Gathering Agenda. Registration ends April 15, 2008. Join us!

We appreciate any volunteers to coordinate this event. Please Click here if you are interested.

Review the 2006 "Raven Brings Box of Delight" evening of performances.