An inadequate but sincere thank you, on Thanksgiving
As far as I can figure, I have the Snohomish and Puget Sound Salish people to thank for allowing me to live here. I would also like to thank the Hibulb Cultural Center for teaching my family about these peoples.
On Thanksgiving Day (such as it is), I would also like to thank the Duwamish people, the traditional stewards of the land that hosts my friends, art events and privileges I enjoy in Seattle. If you’d like to acknowledge artists descended from Chief Seattle:
consider visiting the exhibit “We’re Still Here” at Seattle’s Central Library (through December 15th)
consider buying artwork from the Chief Seattle Club booth on December 7th.
You can also show your support year-round by donating to Real Rent Duwamish. Contributions go toward sustaining Duwamish people and culture, which is more difficult without federal tribal recognition.
Motivation for artists: keep going
I knew I wanted to see “yəhaw̓: Together we lift the sky”; I just didn’t realize I needed to see it as well. Parts of my life have been pretty rough during the last month. So I was looking forward to a little distraction. Found it!
HollyAnna DeCoteau Littlebull made “Lifts the Sky” out of 15,190 pieces of upcycled plastic and about 150 cubic feet of Styrofoam. Stunning — but here’s the kicker. HollyAnna says she’s completely colorblind.
HollyAnna DeCoteau Littlebull (in red jacket) with an admirer of her work at “Together we lift the sky”
To her, the statue appears to be various shades of brown and gray.
Her friends helped make the Bigfoot statue possible by separating the plastics by color for her. Pretty cool metaphor: we can do Big Things Together. In fact, the metaphor’s right there in the exhibit name. The project’s website translates yəhaw̓ as “to proceed, to go forward, to do it.” I needed a reminder to keep going, and that my friends will come with me.
The exhibit at King Street Station features work from 200 Indigenous artists living in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana and British Columbia. That’s a lot of art to take in during one trip, which is why I’d suggest you visit at least two or three times to absorb everything. Good thing the exhibit will be open until mid-August 2019. That’ll give me time for more inspiration, and time to make more work of my own.