Traditional Chilkat weaving is practiced by only a handful of Alaska Native artists but a group of Juneau artists are trying to change that. Master weavers Clarissa Rizal and Jennie Thlunaut have led a group of Chilkat weavers in developing the next generation of Chilkat weaving. They will present their work at a group exhibit at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center at the December Gallery Walk on Friday.
“Descendents of the Masters: Chilkat Faces Woven by Students of Clarissa Rizal and Jennie Thlunaut” takes place at 4:30-7 p.m. at the JACC at 350 Whittier St. Under Rizal and Thlunaut’s tutelage, the new and experienced weavers each created an 8-by-10 inches Chilkat face using painstaking traditional techniques.
The JACC will also offer 10 percent off holiday cards and ornaments in the lobby shop and will have the JACC wrapping station set up to wrap and mail your gifts in a one-stop shop. Floyd Dryden Jazz Band &Voices of Alaska Choir will be performing in the main hall from 5-6 p.m. and Juneau Ballroom Dance will offer a Winter Wonderland ball from 7-10 p.m., which is a pay-as-you-can event. All proceeds are donated to the JACC.
Check out the Capital City Weekly, inside today’s newspaper, for a full list of December Gallery Walk events.