Cahuilla Style Pottery
In a virtual and screen-obsessed world, get hands-on and learn how to harvest and make clay, then create the beautiful ollas used by the Cahuilla people of Southern California to store food and water.
Porcupine quill embroidery is a true American art form. Long before glass beads from Europe were exported and traded in the Americas, many natural materials were used for the adornment of traditional regalia. In this workshop, you will engage in the entire process of quillwork. Join us as we experience the quill art process, from extracting quills from a pelt to cleaning to applying them as an embroidery fiber. You will create your own smoked, brain-tanned deerskin drawstring pouch with embroidered quill adornment.
June 10 – June 14, 2024
One week session
Every Friday at 4pm, Parks Exhibition Center
18+
$1,784
$890
$80
$50
All levels
12 students
You will begin by removing quills from guard hairs from a porcupine pelt and washing the quills to remove dirt and oil, then sorting the quills according to size for embroidery, wrapping, and stringing methods will be taught. You will also dye quills using vegetal and commercial dye baths. Once quills are prepared, you will engage in practice exercises and learn the zig-zag, banding outline, and single quill line embroidery methods.
Once the materials are prepared you will have the option of creating a drawstring medicine pouch to adorn with the quill embroidery, a medallion (necklace), or cuff bracelet. By the end of class you will have completed at least one of these projects.
Melanie Sainz (Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin) has worked as an art educator in both public and private schools for over 30 years. As an artist who enjoys teaching about art, Melanie strives to educate students about appreciating art through the lens of the art maker. Her artwork has been shown in exhibitions throughout the US, and she has won awards at prestigious art markets including the Eiteljorg Museum and the Heard Museum. Melanie is Executive Director of Little Eagles Arts Foundation, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the arts and culture of Native people through providing quality cultural arts education programming. www.littleeagleartsfoundation.com
Includes beading and sewing needles, thread, beeswax, awl, brain-tanned deerskin, porcupine pelt.
A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE!
Optional:
Padded cushion for your seat
Back support device
Clamp on light
Clip on fan for comfort
Reading glasses if necessary
Each day, your workshop starts at 9 am. Lunch is served from 12 pm to 1 pm. Workshops all recommence at 1 pm and wrap up at 4 pm. Dinner is served from 5 pm to 7 pm. NOTE: Some instructors allow for after-hour work sessions. If the instructor(s) is/are willing and present in the classroom, you can work on your pieces after 4 pm.
1) Native American Community Members, Leaders, Artists, and Teachers
For adults 18 and older with current tribal affiliation, the scholarship brings community leaders, artists, members, and teachers to workshops at Idyllwild Arts to benefit both the scholarship recipient and those in their schools or tribal communities. Applicants with financial needs may receive priority. We also offer scholarships for Native American Teens for both the Summer Program and the Academy.
Click here for more information about adult scholarships.
In a virtual and screen-obsessed world, get hands-on and learn how to harvest and make clay, then create the beautiful ollas used by the Cahuilla people of Southern California to store food and water.
Learn the art of weaving from master Navajo weavers Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete, originally from Two Grey Hills and Newcomb, NM. While instructing and demonstrating, sisters Barbara and Lynda will share their family’s personal weaving stories and experiences, giving you a view into the world of Navajo weaving.
Explore the fundamentals of working with hot glass, guided by an award-winning glass artist, Ramson Lomatewama. Ramson's glass art is viewed as a "contemporary expression of an ancient and artistically rich people…evoking a beautiful yet humbling mindscape which we all long to find."