Urchin
My first urchin was in Neah bay years ago. Sushi before there was sushi.
10 years forward on the other side of the globe I found my feet in the sand with Clarissa Rizal at a fish market looking at a fish market. She asked me there what do you want to do with your art? I told her I want our Coast Salish art to have recognition and know that I didn’t do all this work for nothing. I never forget her turning her head toward the night as the coastal wind from across our waters blew the wind in her face. I feel the same she said.
“and what gets you there nephew”.
I felt honored to be called nephew by a weaver taught by masters.
“persevering and discipline” I said
“Look at that” she said standing on the coast with me pointing to feather fans over the fish to keep flies away. “what I love about being far from home is these people that pray and give thanks for their food like we do”.
It tapped into me the core of why we have our art shaped around salmon and ceremony.
I went on to explain that I wanted to break barriers in art to recognize unsung heroes the way few painters did in renaissance.
“Like who”. she asked
worker ant
blue jay
raccoon
Auntie making be Gangsta holding fake guns in Kaohsiung
she stopped me and said “like the way people talk about mouse woman”.
“Exactly” I replied with movement I can’t explain A weaver who recognized my understanding of many languages that accepted me and understood my vision made me feel worthy.
It was 90 degrees on the low end as we worked in the coming days. We ate mostly snails and as I was growing tired of it she told me, they are like lipids sonny when she saw me grow tired of them.
Near the end of that trip she asked about my concept for art moving forward long term.
“I want this division of our people to have some resolve.”
“you will accomplish that because we are just one people after all”. She said that two days before we were left in Kaoghsiung without a translator or way to the airport. It was the artists who came together to ensure we found our way home but it was that moment of a conversation I felt committed to I never let go of.
I made it home and off the plane I was wearing a bamboo art piece on my head and countless gifts the people shared with me on our way out for sharing culture with them. A tall man with a shaved head saw how Native I was wearing all my regalia because I could’t pack it pulled up his sleeve to show me a Spindle whorl design and said “Haida”. I didn’t have any way to tell him because I was exhausted the history but I just gave him a nod.
Years later I got a phone call from her asking if I was doing what I aimed at and I told her yes.
“good” she said “keep making goals”.
from our talks I went back to the sketches I discarded and uncovered the intention I noted to her. An idea of the first otter to break Urchin and was reminded of Nuu-chah-nulth print work int eh 80’s and 90’s that had to do with the subject.
At times I find myself where I can’t carve but am able to explore some old things If I’m patient enough. When the time is right and I feel it in my bones I can’t pull myself from the page that rights me.
Carving the pole for a destination not far from where we had that conversation. A friend recommended I listen to “Crying in H Mart” as I carved into the cedar I had to put it down after the first chapter to make this.
When Zauner talks about going to a market yearning for her experience of packages items with things written on them. I was so reminded how we have no written language. I know so many words I don’t know how to write but I know their sentiment and what I take with me in that is story itself.
I’ve admired my aunties who weave and my late uncle Bruce for knowing how to make things not packaged but treasured.
When I talked to my auntie who weaves who taught me some of the dialect I know she told me a phrase “come give me a kiss, I know you are good”
I heard this from other houses only because I earned my way into that love from being there.
Their upbringing had so much to do with hurt but they held onto the better parts of what was there. Without a package I took my idea I kept with me all these years as people sell art without meaning. I give this to those who are Salish and Tlingit because Clarissa would want me to.
Alex Jackson gave us a design and despite the way I thought of things so technical I offer this as concept.
One can own all the currency in the world but not to engage is to be like a billionaire on a deserted island.
I chose the concept of Otter and Urchin as the example of balance for an entry into a window. The black hole of urchin is to know that life is shared. From you my heart is whole. You keep me alive and I give you thanks.
I’m moved beyond words by the work of her daughters and the work Jennie fostered for this to be here and witness. It shows that endurance and discipline are not forgotten.
Hello, World!