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Irene Clark
Born
Irene Hardy

1934
Navajo Nation at Crystal, New Mexico, USA
Nationality Navajo
Education Special Program for Navajos in Chilocco, Oklahoma
Known for weaving, educating others in traditional Navajo weaving and fiber arts
Spouse(s) Jimmy Clark Teesto
Awards Women's Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award 1995
numerous first place awards from the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, the Navajo Nation Fiar, and the Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff

Irene Hardy Clark is a talented Navajo weaver. She creates beautiful artworks using wool. Her family background is important in Navajo culture. Her mother's family, called her matrilineal clan, is Tabaahi (water's edge people). Her father's family, her patrilineal clan, is Honagha nii (he walks around one people).

Irene Clark learned her weaving skills mostly on her own. She mixes old Navajo traditions with new ideas in her art. This makes her work unique and special.

Her Amazing Weaving Process

Irene's mother, Glenebah Hardy, taught her many traditional weaving methods. Irene does every step of the process herself. First, she takes wool from sheep. She washes and cleans it carefully. Then, she cards the wool, which means she brushes it to make the fibers straight. After that, she spins the wool into yarn.

Irene uses natural dyes to color her yarn. She gets these dyes from plants and lichen. Lichen are tiny plant-like growths. Once the yarn is ready, she uses a tall, strong loom made of steel to weave her designs.

Where Her Art Has Been Seen

Irene Clark's amazing artwork has been shown in many important places. Her weavings have been displayed in museums and art galleries. For example, her work was at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. It was also at the Kennedy Museum of Art at Ohio University.

Some of her weavings were part of a special traveling show. This show started at the Denver Art Museum. It then went to other famous museums like the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. Her art is also part of the collections at the Denver Art Museum and Ohio University.

Special Projects and Awards

In 1990, Irene Clark got a very special job. A company called Gloria F. Ross Tapestries asked her to weave a piece called Nááts 'ííllid (Rainbow). She also created tapestries based on paintings by an American artist named Kenneth Noland.

Irene Clark has received many awards for her weaving. In 1995, she won the Women's Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also won many first-place awards at big events. These include the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, the Navajo Nation Fair, and shows at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Teaching Others

Irene Clark is not just a weaver; she is also a dedicated teacher. She loves to share her knowledge of traditional Navajo weaving. She has taught her skills and techniques to many people over the years. This helps keep the art of Navajo weaving alive for future generations.

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