Clarissa Rizal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarissa Rizal
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Rizal in 2016
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| Born |
Clarissa Seya Lampe
June 4, 1956 Juneau, Alaska, U.S.
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| Died | December 7, 2016 (aged 60) Pagosa Springs, Colorado, U.S.
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| Nationality | Tlingit |
| Movement | Northwest Coast art |
| Awards | National Heritage Fellowship (2016), Honoring Alaska's Indigenous Literature Award (2007–08) |
Clarissa Rizal (born June 4, 1956 – died December 7, 2016) was an amazing artist. She was from the Tlingit people, an Indigenous group in Alaska. Clarissa was famous for her special weaving skills, especially Chilkat and Ravenstail styles. But she also created art through painting, carving, and sculpting.
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Clarissa Rizal's Life Story
Clarissa Rizal was born on June 4, 1956. Her birthplace was Juneau, Alaska. Her original last name was Lampe.
Her mother was part of the T'ak Dein Taan clan. This clan is from Hoonah and Glacier Bay. Clarissa also used the name Hudson for a while.
Clarissa had a son and two daughters. Both of her daughters became weavers, just like her. Her daughters, Lily Hope and Ursala Hudson, continue to weave. They also teach weaving in Alaska and other states. Clarissa Rizal passed away on December 7, 2016. She died in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Learning to Weave
When Clarissa was in her twenties, she learned a special skill. She became an apprentice to Jennie Thlunaut. An apprentice is someone who learns a craft from a master. Jennie Thlunaut was a very old and wise Chilkat weaver. She was in her 90s when she taught Clarissa.
In 2005, Clarissa Rizal wrote a book. It was called Jennie Weaves an Apprentice: A Chilkat Weaver's Handbook. This book helped others learn about Chilkat weaving. It even won an award in 2007–08. The award was from the Alaska Native Knowledge Network. This network is at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
Clarissa also helped create a children's book. She drew pictures for Mary's Wild Winter Feast. This book was published in 2014.
Awards and Special Honors
Clarissa Rizal received many awards for her beautiful artwork. In 2013, she won an Artist Fellowship. This was from the Rasmuson Foundation.
She also received a National Artist Fellowship in 2015. This award came from the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation. Clarissa was also a Cultural Capital Fellow. She received this honor from the First Peoples Fund in 2011 and 2016.
Highest Honor for Folk Art
In 2016, Clarissa Rizal received a very special award. It was the National Heritage Fellowship. This award is given by the National Endowment for the Arts. It is the highest honor in the United States for folk and traditional arts. Clarissa's mentor, Jennie Thlunaut, also received this same award in 1986.
Weavers Across the Water Robe
One of the last robes Clarissa worked on was a group project. It was called Weavers Across the Water. More than fifty weavers worked together on this robe. Some weavers made squares for the robe. Others helped Clarissa in different ways. All the woven squares were put together to make one large robe.
The robe was first worn by a master carver named Wayne Price. This happened at a special event. It was for the opening of a new Huna tribal house in Glacier Bay. After that, Clarissa took the robe to Washington, D.C. She wore it for the NEA award event.
