UW News

August 16, 2007

A weekend of interactive fun planned at the Burke

Song, dance, storytelling and demonstrations of art and crafts will be offered in Celebrate Native American Arts!, a special two-day event at the Burke Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 18 and 19.


The event, which will feature demonstrations by and visitor interaction with tribal artists, is inspired by the Burke’s current exhibit, In the Spirit of the Ancestors: Contemporary Northwest Coast Native Art, which will close on Sept. 3.


“There’s a lot going on, and it’s the first time we’ve ever done this particular format,” said Carl Sander, the Burke’s public program manager, who is coordinating the event. “There will be lots of opportunity to interact with Native artists and ask them about their work and how they make it, and I think that’s very important.” Sander added that visitors to this weekend event also will be able to purchase arts and crafts from about a dozen participating artists. Among items available for browsing will be masks, weaving, paintings, glass work, photography and other arts and crafts.


On hand will be Coast Salish carvers Bruce Cook and Jordon Seward, as well as Nuu-Cha-Nulth carver George David, who will demonstrate the art of drum making. Sander said Cook will work publicly on a large house post — a sort of totem pole built into a structure — during both days. Artist Shawn Griffith also will be demonstrating skin kayak building, he said.


Storytellers Johnny Moses of the Tulalip tribe and Roger Fernandes of the Lower Elwha band of the Klallam tribe also will be on hand to share tales of their heritage and cultural traditions.


Dance, too, will be part of the festivities. On Saturday, the Haida Heritage Dancers, a group using only traditional hand-made regalia, masks and drums to perform both ancient and contemporary songs and dances. And on Sunday the Northern Star Dancers will perform Tlingit, Tsimshian and Haida songs.


The event is free with museum admission. For more information on the exhibit, the weekend of activities or the Burke Museum, visit online at www.burkemuseum.org.