Translations: An Exploration of Glass by Northwest Native Carvers and Weavers

March 30 - November 10, 2019

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Exhibition Overview

In a unique partnership, The Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, Evergreen State College, and Museum of Glass organized Translations: An Exploration of Glass by Northwest Native Carvers and Weavers, an exhibition that marks a historic moment: a collaboration by artists who are family members of Mary Ellen Hillaire (Lummi), Gerald (Bruce) Miller (Skokomish) and Hazel Pete (Chehalis)--three of the Pillars of the Evergreen Longhouse.

The group explored the many possibilities of glass in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop, inspired by carvings and weavings held in the archival collections of the Washington State Historical Society. Under the leadership of glass experts Dan and Raya Friday (Lummi), the families produced innovative new work that forms the core of this exhibition. Grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren from each family created work based on historical baskets, bentwood boxes, and sculptural figures. The engagement between these established artists and the historical archive opened a wealth of creative opportunities to translate expressions of their heritages into glass. Translations: An Exploration of Glass by Northwest Native Carvers and Weavers will also feature original carvings and weavings from the three families’ personal collections. Undoubtedly, much has been gained in this work of translation.

Featured Images

Image Credits

  1. Dan Friday (Lummi, born 1975). Sxwo'le (Reef Net) Anchor, 2018. Blown glass; 17 x 12 in. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by Ian Lewis.

  2. sm3tcoom Delbert Miller (Skokomish, born 1957). Remembering the Ancestral Law, Made at Museum of Glass in 2015. Blown and sand-carved glass. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by Duncan Price.

  3. HoWaNeetzl Ho-Wan-Ut “Haila” Old Peter (Chehalis/Skokomish, born 1986). Thunderbird, Made at the Museum in 2015. Blown glass; 8 ¾ x 9 in. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by Duncan Price.

  4. sm3tcoom Delbert Miller (Skokomish, born 1957) and wa'X Wup Kaya Jack-lyn Smith (Skokomish, born 1980). Family Outing, Made at Museum of Glass in 2015. Blown and sand-carved glass; 6 x 16 ½ in. Courtesy of the artists. Photo by Duncan Price.

  5. Artists, Delbert Miller (Skokomish), Dan Friday (Lummi), and Yvonne Peterson (Chehalis) with vessels made of glass cane that reflect adaptations of their own familiar basketry designs. Photo courtesy of the Evergreen Longhouse.

  6. HoWaNeetzl Ho-Wan-Ut “Haila” Old Peter building pattern for Thunderbird with cane at Museum of Glass Hot Shop, 2015. Photo courtesy of the Evergreen Longhouse. 

Exhibition Credit

Organized by Museum of Glass and The Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, Evergreen State College. Guest curated by Tina Kuckkahn-Miller, J.D. Sponsored by Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, The Tulalip Tribe, and Suquamish Tribe Foundation.