Raven and Carver Doug Chilton on Sonny Grant Wolf Studio blog

Sonny Grant Wolf Studio
http://sonnygrantstudios.blogspot.ca/

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2007



Doug Chilton and the Raven

 

Native American Douglas Chilton (or Yaa nak.ch, his native name) started carving a canoe this fall, when a raven alighted near his workspace. Chilton, who belongs to the Raven clan of the Tlingit Indians, viewed the raven's appearance as a blessing, especially because he and his colleague Rosita Worl from Sealaska Heritage Institute had already worked out a raven design for the canoe prow.

"I've heard about such coincidences happening to other people, but this is the first time it's happened to me," Chilton says. As word about the black-winged sentry spread, clan elders came to offer blessings and prayers, naming the raven "the watcher." (There is no Tlingit word for guardian.) When Chilton and his family members work on the canoe, the raven takes up a post in a nearby tree and periodically squawks a call, as if to say, "Hurry up!"


Chilton's canoe was commissioned for the new Ocean Hall, shich will be opening next September at the National Museum of Natural History. He is at work now just outside the Sealaska in Juneau, Alaska (a contributor to the Oceans Hall). A web cam is following Chilton's daily progress, and from time to time, the raven can be seen there too. It has a slightly damaged wing, but it seems to be boldly patrolling the canoe and shooing away the curious.


Chilton Remembers seeing a raven, which also had an injured wing, at a site 11 miles away when he was preparing the log for carving. He believes it't the same bird and intends to honor the raven's vigilance by incorporating its damaged wing into the canoe design. Though ravens are common in the Northwest, witnessing a myth in the making--online--that's a rare sign of the times.


Doug Chilton and the Raven

October 18, 2007

http://aroundthemall.smithsonianmag.com/archives/category/natural-history-museum

Around the Mall, Smithsonian Magazine

(Douglas Chilton and the raven, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute)



This article is posted here because people are having difficulting finding it... later I'll have all the periodical info here.



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Labels: Doug Chilton, Raven, Smithsonian Canoe




WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2007



Simon Koonook



Simon Koonook carving soapstone

.

Simon was so fast at carving soapstone that he would get coated in soapstone dust. I would sit there drinking coffee and watch him...turn a stone into a bear in 15 or 20 minutes. It was just amazing to see. I started off sanding sculptures for him, first starting with 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper, then finishing with 400 grit. He would sand the sculpture in warm water, keeping the hazard of dust in check, then he would dry it off. The sculpture would be sprayed with an acrylic spray. He often said that the smell of the spray smelled like money. He was a great believer in afternoon naps... so if I was stuck on a sculpture mid afternoon, I would have to find him, then wake him up. He had such a sweet spirit that he would smile, get a cup of coffee, then proceed to help me. The last carving technique I learned from him was using a bow saw for rough cutting the stone. The saw does the most work, thus it is the most important step. It removes the most material. It took me a long time to master the saw, I used to cut myself so many times that I had a small first aid kit in my tool box. Now I can cut stone without really thinking... thoughts just turn into action... voila!... a sculpture.

Inupiaq sculptor and painter, from Point Hope, Alaska.


Simon illustrated some books with his paintings... if you google him... you will see the books his drawings are in. He used to dbe a DJ at a radio station in Barrow... and he would sometimes talk like he was on the radio. He was so funny that he would entertain crowds of people that was watching us. The Wiemer gallery was a place that traveling artists would come by to visit... to show thier latest work. It was so great meeting so many outstanding artist. I knew back then that I really loved this work. It slowly took hold in my life, until it was all I thought of... sculpture. I later studied and worked with Simon's teacher in Anchorage at TAHETA... with George John and Patrick Mezzena. Later I will tell you interesting stories of my time at TAHETA. I can give you a hint... the profession picks the person... it takes a special person to be a native artist.



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Labels: Juneau, Simon Koonook, soapstone, Sonny Grant




TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007



Juneau, Alaska

 

I was born and raised here in downtown Juneau. It was at the Wiemer Gallery where I met Simon Koonook, an Inupiaq Eskimo from Point Hope, Alaska. Simon taught me the art of soapstone sculpture where I apprenticed with him for three and a half years. Since my apprenticeship, I have studied the art of stone carving in alabaster, serpentine, pipestone, and marble. I have always said that sculpture picked me... I never thought I would be a stone sculptor.



When I was growing up, I used to draw alot... so much so that I repeated third grade. I went through different phases of drawing. My first subjects were of battlefields from the Civil War to World War II. I use to draw different famous battles such as the 'Battle of Gettysburg', to 'Normandy'. Then it switched to drawing navy ships. I used to draw all the famous battleships from all over the world, but my favorite was the U.S.S. Missouri. Then later I would draw plants and trees... and soon I would do Alaska outdoor scenery. Then finally I started to draw Alaskan animals. I did pencil, pen & ink, wood block, acylic and oil paintings.



In seventh grade I carved a Northwest Coast cedar panel of a 'sea monster'. I carved several panels of different NW Coast designs... but my favorite was a Tlingit design of an eagle. I really loved carving wood, but I really didn't know too much about wood carving. I should have carved with my uncle Leo Jacobs Sr., who was a master totem carver... but I was young. I did sell all my wood carvings to people from church and school. Soon girls and music took my interest and I drifted away from it. Later in middle school I fell in love with photography and learned to develop black & white film, then color, and then finally color slides. I took up graphic arts in high school, and our department did all the graphics for our high school. Later on I moved to San Francisco and did graphic design using Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Pagemaker, using a Macintosh. I worked for several firms in SF, but my favorite job was doing graphics at Arthur Court Designs in SOMA. My specialty was doing catalogs. I did business graphics for Bain & Company in SF, a management consultanting firm.



After a couple of years of doing graphics, I moved back to Juneau, and looked for a job doing graphic design. Juneau is small and there was very little work available in graphics. I happen to walk in the Wiemer Gallery and there inside was my art teacher from high school... Arnie Wiemer. Working with Arnie was Simon Koonook, an outgoing and happy eskimo carver from Point Hope. I started carving with Simon and made some seal sculptures. My first sculptures used to take me all day to complete. My job hunting was depressing, so at some point I would end up at the Wiemer Gallery. I carved everyday, and Simon Koonook was happy to teach me. Each sculpture I carved would sell. Simon would talk some tourist into buying it. He would say, "look at my students work, isn't it good." At the end of that summer, I asked Simon if I could apprentice with him. He said that he was hoping I would ask him to study with him. It took a long time to feel like a sculptor, because I was such a slow learner, but Simon was patient with me. We both loved our own native culture... and we both loved each others native traditions. He would tell many Inupiaqstories and personal stories of Point Hope. I shared with him myTlingit stories and traditions which he loved very much. Juneau was often too warm for him so we had many walks along the Juneau waterfront to cool off, especially when the temperture reached the seventies. Work would come to a halt when it was warm, he would say "Sonny, lets walk along the waterfront." We would talk about life, girls, Alaska, but mostly we talked about art... stone sculptures from cultures all over the world.



In 1996 after I returned from Italy, I told Simon that I saw the 'David'in Florence. He was so happy to hear about my experiences in Europe. It was then that we agreed to do a trip together to Italy, to see the works of Michelangelo in Florence. But later in the fall, Simon drowned in an accident. It was a terrible lost to me. I think of him often when I carve stone, or even when I look at sculptures. We used to stroll in downtown Juneau and look at sculptures in the many galleries along Franklin Street. Today I am quite fast at carving stone, but I know that Simon was still faster than me. Simon had alot of high hopes for me... as an artist, even when I felt like my work sucked! I often wrestled with insecurities with myself and my work... but I just remember Simon's laugh and his words of encouragement. It took me a long time to see what Simon saw in me, and today my work is still influence by Simon's joyful view of life. I love all forms of art, but I especially love sculpture... and I can finally say today, "I am a sculptor."



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Labels: Juneau, soapstone, Sonny Grant





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Introduction	I work with soapstone, serpentine, pipestone, alabaster, and marble... also bone, ivory, and wood. I travel to do gallery & art shows across the U.S. to share my art with others. I have often considered myself as Alaska's unofficial ambassador.

Tinglet carver

Sonny Grant

Tinglet carver

NT

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

I work with soapstone, serpentine, pipestone, alabaster, and marble... also bone, ivory, and wood. I travel to do gallery & art shows across the U.S. to share my art with others. I have often considered myself as Alaska's unofficial ambassador.

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Birthday:
April 15
Hometown:
Juneau, Alaska
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Wolf Studios
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011

Native Artists --- 2011

I have a ‘black belt’ in adaptation, you artist out there know what I mean. We survive where few others could, we adapt, and we make slight corrections on our inventory, focus on other animals or designs, or change the stone or wood on the art piece. We do what ever we can to follow a changing market, so we don’t get left behind, or stuck in one place too long. We are like ducks on a swollen ocean, going to and fro on the current, and you can make little corrections, so in effect, you can go against the current and get some where. You use ‘uncertainty’ to your advantage… regardless if the buyer is pondering the consequences of buying your art. The smart artist knows that ‘they’ always have the advantage… “We make the art!

A sea lion rookery in soapstone

I know native artists in almost every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada. We are part of a small network who communicates with each other… we know when a certain area is hot and big sales are being made… or we know when another area is taking a dive. We always make time for each other… hang out, share stories, but most important, is to find out where the buyers are, in any particular town you are in. If it’s bleak, you look around a little, and then buy your way out of there… and hit the road! We follow the money, and sometimes the journey is quite interesting.

I have been asked how I come about in creating some beautiful pieces of art… I don’t think I could accurately answer that. It just happens. Sometimes I see the bears moving in the stone or the sea lions are ‘barking’… I keep removing the stone until the seal can’t move! Sometimes I see the whole design in a flash… other times you work on a piece, and all of a sudden you notice another seal sitting close to the one you are working on. Other times you know what you are doing, you know exactly how it will turn out… but it is taking a long time… fighting you every step of the way, but you have to be tough… hungry enough to persevere, and then… all of a sudden, you are finished! This beautiful polar bear is standing there, and it had such a difficult childhood. Lately I have allowed myself a ‘moment’ to admire what I just created…  before I spend the time it takes of selling it. “No money, no honey!”  My young five-year-old cousin used to say that. She would come up to me, and see me carving, and she would smile, and say “No money, no honey!” “Yes… I know” was my reply. Then most of the time, you are just carving to keep busy, and a little inventory starts to develop.  You start dreaming of cruise ship season eating steaks instead of ‘tube-steaks.’ When the first cruise ship arrives in Juneau, you see a bunch of us native artist… waiting, to greet the first ship with open arms… “Welcome.”

The Tucson Gem shows are the biggest show of any kind in the world. It has a life of its own, it has many facets, and many shows… you must learn its jargon to follow what’s going on there. It takes time to prepare for the show… if you want to have a successful show, you must put in the time in preparation. Just don’t fantasize too much… be realistic about the outcome. Too many times I would think about certain scenarios in the show… “Oh yes, I can take my coffee break when I go to the bank to make a deposit.” Hahahaha… ha-ha! This year I didn’t make any deposits until I was near the end of the show. I deposited my check to my account, and I can hear the ATM chewing on my check… making me feel that I’ll never see that money again! If I were a smoker, I would light a cigarette after making a bank deposit. I made enough to pay my way there, to maintain a comfortable stay, eat nice meals, enjoy other vendors, and maybe have some ‘walk around’ money to maybe buying something. Most of us are just waiting to sell something big; you put in the time and just hope that today you’ll make a huge sale. Then it’s steaks, buying people a ‘round’, buying some art, and just sits in a café pondering the state of the world. But many times you just miss out, took a break at the moment a major buyer came around. You hope that the show you are in has a great selection of interesting ‘stuff’ that would attract buyers to your show. Weather also has a big effect on the outcome of a show… we are all amateur meteorologists… looking up at the sky, trying to figure what’s going on, and with your ears… listen to the Federal Reserves Economic Report on the Economy. Last night they said that they have confidence in the economy and expect it to grow by 4% within the next year. Most of the time we’ll witness ‘one of us’ native artist, hit a home run, making a big sale, and we all stop and just watch with happiness for them. At least we know that big money is being made. Every once in awhile, just when you think you almost lost it, we make a big sale… like hitting a grand-slam in the last inning, the last hitter, the last ball in a ‘no-hitter’ game… you knock the ball out of the stadium. Then you feel invincible; you can do anything, even calculus! The artist, who keeps working, no matter what is happening, will always make it.

We always look forward… not backwards. It is better to look ahead, to get better, and try to learn from past mistakes. If you don’t make money, you always want to at least learn something… to add to our experience, which is valuable to other artists. To be part of an artist network, you must also contribute to the knowledge being passed around. Keep moving, keep growing, and to be like, ‘Cain, who wandered around the land’ in the TV series Kung Fu. I like what my teacher Simon Koonook used to say… “Have tools, will travel.”

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Tucson Gem Shows 2011 --- Day Fourteen

The leisure class are every where here in Tucson, from the homeless living on the streets, to the winter mansions up to the eastern hill, the rest of us in-between are just working for a living. Native artist are somewhere in-between, one foot in tradition, the other using the latest business technique in selling our art. We have laptops, cell phones, Ipods, digital cameras, and websites to promote our work. Some have I-phones that can surf the ‘web’, but I have my eye on the new I-phones, that you can swipe credit cards from your customers when buying your art. My native artist friends all over the U.S. and Canada are very similar with each other; we all share the same hardships that come with our profession. The successful artist actually sell them selves… not their art, it is their passion for art that spreads to the customer. The art piece is just a representation of an ‘idea’ that we hold special in our hearts. I don’t think twice about going to the ‘rez’ to hang out with friends. It’s true that conditions in most ‘reservations’ are similar to most third world countries, but it’s the people there that make the difference. They are friends, and they are family. Their traditions may be different from mine, they have different names for familiar things, but they are just like you and me.

My demonstration space

I love coming to Tucson for the gem shows, and meeting people from all over the world. I see familiar faces, same vendors, the same promoters, and have course… many buyers who over the years have become my friends. We all take care of each other; we may buy things that we don’t need because it would help our friends. Others buy sculptures from me, because they need a gift for someone… but we do things for each other at these shows because we want each other to succeed. I love staying at the Road Runner Hostel in Tucson, because so many people there come every year during the Tucson Shows. We eat together; show each other the purchases we made, talk of exciting events happening during the shows.  The food is great in Tucson; the El Dorado restaurant in the old Barrio is fun, 99-cent Margaritas are the main attraction, along with good Mexican food. El Minuto Café just has great Mexican food. The Grill located on Congress Street is open 24 hours and serves breakfast, hamburgers, and pasta at all hours. The Silver Saddle along I-10 is a steak house, featuring prime rib. I don’t eat much seafood here in Tucson, because we are in the middle of a desert. As a Tlingit whose traditional food is seafood, makes me very picky, I always note how far I am from the ocean. There are so many restaurants that I can’t list them all. The Barrio Brewery is fun because when ever a train goes by; there are drink specials available for the whole bar. One night a mile-long train inched by slowly, so the drink specials were on for some time.

The Tucsonans who live here does a great job of hosting the gem shows. We kind of take over their town, the accommodations are full, we add to the traffic, and make their coffee lines much longer. They always make us smile when they complain the temperature dipping below 68F (20C)… most of the visitors here are from colder climates. At home we don’t have little ‘house plants’ growing all over the place like it is in Tucson. The little cactus is quite cute, and I have to resist the urge to dig them up and take them home. The saguaro cacti are quite tall and they each look different. I used to have a collection of photos of my favorite cactus… looking like they are waving… or having both hands up. By next month, they will be bloom with little red flowers on top of a cacti fruit, and the Tohono O'odham, the local tribe, harvests them to eat, and to make teas.

2011 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show at TCC

Most Tucsonans are happy when it’s 90F (32C). A couple of years ago, I stayed for six months after gem show, and house-sat this little home for a friend. At the same time, I used James Fendenheim’s yard outside his art studio for carving stone. It was perfect studio for me; I set up a tall tent and carved stone sculptures underneath. The climate here is dry, and to me… very warm. By April 4^th of that year, the temperature reached 100F (37.8C)… it was so hot for me! I started working on sculptures at night because in the day the temperatures felt ‘life-threatening’ to me, I would run from shadow to shadow. One day the temperature reached 109F (42.8C)… and on that day, I became a ‘man of leisure’… I didn’t do anything, but sit there and contemplate ‘suicide.’ I asked my Tohono O'odham friends how they handled the heat; and they said they are miserable too. The American southwest in the summer becomes an ‘oven’ and there is no relief from the sun. Tucson becomes a ghost town when compared to the busy times of the gem shows. The large mansions up on the east hills of Tucson are empty, as the wealthy move north to cooler climates… like to Santa Fe. Native artists also move, we follow the money; we emphasize different types of designs on our art. In Alaska I make polar bears, sea lions, humpback whale sculptures… and sell every one of them. In the Tucson Shows, my polar bears are big sellers. Not many other sea mammals sell at the local galleries, but bears of any kind sell, as much as I can make them. In a few days I will have a show at Gathering Tribes in Albany, a suburb of San Francisco. My friend Pennie who owns the Gathering Tribes Gallery told me a native radio station wants to do a radio interview with me, so I’ll go early to San Francisco. At the moment, I am just enjoying Tucson; already looking forward to next years show… let the sales begin.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2011

Tucson Gem Show --- Day Four

It was a nice slow day at the show. It was windy today with gusts up to 30mph (48 km/hr) and the temp was around 59F (15C). The weather is decent for me, but terrible for the Gem Show people, or customers. I’m not certain why they don’t show up; because 95% of the vendors/buyers are from cold climates… their homes are socked in with three feet (meter) of snow. That’s all right; I made a bunch of little polar bears out of soapstone, and sold one of them. I enjoyed the ‘summer breezes’, let my mind wander, thinking of times growing up in Alaska.

James Fendenheim & Terry Williams

When I was a teenager in Juneau, on really hot days (70’s F or 20’s C), a bunch of us Tlingit’s would go to the dock and jump off into the Gastineau Channel, much to the delight of the tourist. Back then only the Princess ships would come to Juneau in the summer, a throng of them would be on the dock taking photos of us. The water felt good at 42F (5C), because the sun would warm up the top layer, but if you dove in, you felt this intense cold, that would almost suck the life out of you, and you shot back to the surface.  I remember walking along Sandy Beach just south of the town of Douglas, across from Juneau, about a half mile (0,7 km) was the ‘glory hole’ and near there on the beach was a hole… in the water, about the size of a hot tub, and the Kaatzeek brothers where sitting there, in that hole, like they were enjoying a hot tub, except this is sea water. I went in and joined them, it was all right, but after awhile, you would get cold, but you didn’t want to show anyone that you were cold, you had to be a ‘tough bastard’ … a real Tlingit! Long time ago the Tlingit men would run in the water naked and sit in it for 15 minutes, then run back out. They did this to gain strength. In the 1800’s the guards at the Russian Sitka fort, often witness the Kitsadi Tlingit’s run naked, yelling, and diving into the water, and stay there for some time before running back to the clans houses, this happened in the middle of the winter some dark mornings.  It kind of made the guards uneasy when they saw the Tlingit’s not affected by the winter. When I was in High School, a bunch of us Tlingit’s spent Christmas in Los Angeles, we went to Disneyland, Magic Mountain, went on the Queen Mary, walked on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and then we ended up at Huntington Beach, just south of Anaheim. We just love it, the waves were huge, the beach is long, and there were only a few people there. We took off our shoes/socks and stepped into the Pacific Ocean ‘Ahh, it’s really warm!’ So we all put on our swimsuits and jumped in! We were splashing, swimming, body surfing, and just having a blast! We were the only people in all of Los Angeles bowl that was swimming. Other people were jogging, walking their dogs, or just having a romantic walk along the ocean. They all stopped to watch a bunch of Tlingit’s splashing around in the ocean, just days away from New Years! Yah… what’s cold for me would kill most people! Most Alaskans I know, even the weak ones, can outlast anyone else in tolerating cold. Tucsonites & gem show folks are such a docile, over-weight little creatures who need an extra blanket, or to turn up the heat a little, but I still love them… I like their bank accounts. It was slow today because, God forbid, the temperatures were in the high 50’s. I don’t think those folks will survive the next ice age… the Tlingit’s will, so will the Athabaskans, the Inupiaks, the Yupiks, the Aleuts, the Haidas and other native Alaskans.

James Fendenheim, Sonny, and Alex Streeter

We all met at Terry’s & Bua, hanging out, watching TV and watching the events happening in Egypt, then we decided to eat out, go to Pho’s #1… a Vietnamese restaurant on Stone Avenue. Terry said, “it’s on the intersection of Grant & Stone, just a little south…” Well, I told him I knew where it was; I have eaten there the last gem show, so I thought I could find it. Terrence and myself left and told them we’ll ‘meet you there!’ We arrived in a short time, but we couldn’t find the restaurant. The restaurant business card that Terry gave me was not on my ‘person.’ I looked in all my pockets, in my wallet, and even around the truck, but could not find it. We drove all over Grant, and up/down Stone Avenue. This restaurant disappeared off the face of the earth! Terry doesn’t have a cell phone, so we just kept driving, trying to find Pho’s #1! We found two other Vietnamese Restaurants… Terry & Bua was not there… but still no Pho’s #1. After an hour of driving up and down Stone Avenue, we headed downtown and ate at the ‘Grill’… an all night diner with good food, opened 24 hours a day... since 1938. We headed back to Terry & Bua’s house and we chucked about our ‘tour’ of Tucson. It turns out, the neon sign for Pho’s #1 was out, and it was full of Gem Show vendors… kind of hidden from Grant/Stone. As I left, Terry said, “at least you spent an hour on Get-Stoned Avenue,” a Tucson nickname for Stone Avenue. Tomorrow is day five for the Tucson Show… let the sales begin!

MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2011

Tucson Gem Shows --- Day Two

Terrence, Sonny, Tomara, & Terry

Damn, what a day! The promoters just love me at this show, but they don't want other artist with me, even if they we're distant family. They kicked them out. I pleaded their case to no avail, and I was bummed out. I finished the day, making one sale, then I closed up. I had a few ‘bites’ on my large bears, and I think they will nibble some more, and then I'll snag them, reel them and  'close' the sale, all before they know what happened. 'You are the proud owner of an eight inch long soapstone polar bear!' But sadly the influx of cash is immediately going some where, out of your possession, never to be seen again. Bills, debts, or new stone eats up the cash at the beginning! Some artist and vendors are just squeaking by when the Tucson Show opens, it seems they have just enough for morning coffee, just waiting for those sales. So when my friend Terrence had to move out, I was unhappy, I felt bad, the promoters wanted me to stay put, but I had ask my friend & distant relative to move. I felt terrible. It was a good thing other good friends came to the rescue, they are buying my friends art at wholesale or on consignment. At the end of the day... it was 'beer thirty!' Terrence and I went to 'El Minuto Cafe', located near the Tucson Convention Center and had a drink, a plate of 'Cheese Crisp',  'Carne Asata Burros' with a salsa salad, soft shell tacos, and Tortilla & salsa... it was heaven. Then we went to Terry and Bua to visit, started watching 'Ace Ventura Pet Detective', very funny, and then Mags and James Fendenheim (High Times magazine did an article on James entitled 'Getting high on the Rez"... also an IAIA graduate) dropped by to visit. After a while I had another beer, talking Tucson Show 'incidents' of years gone by (I've done the shows since 1985), talking of how we used to stayed up all night, eating late dinners, going to a bar, then ending up at someone's house, miles from the Gem Show, and you start figuring out how you are going to make it back. It seemed we had a lots of stories like that. I don't do that anymore, the mornings are harder if I did. Once in awhile I still see artists or vendors with blood shot eyes, all hung over, drinking coffee, and looking at your art. I felt bad for them. We each had stories of working in New York City, Montreal, Vancouver, Whitehorse, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Washington DC, Europe, and Central America... and of course southeast Alaska.

Sonny is roughing out a sculpture from soapstone

Many years ago, my teacher Simon and myself got stuck in Ketchikan, Alaska with no money! Back then Simon Koonook, who was teaching me soapstone carving, was in charge of the money. He some how spent, lost or just gave away a couple hundred dollars between Juneau and Ketchikan on the ferry. It was 10pm, broke, no place to sleep, we were sitting there at the Ketchikan ferry terminal... and the summer night was finally getting dark. We each started carving sculptures, sitting there on a bench, until we each made a couple sculptures, then we packed ourselves and headed to downtown where an all night cafe was open. On our way to downtown, Simon recognize a gallery owner who was going back to his gallery at midnight at the Sunshine Mall. He invited us in his gallery, and then he presided to buy all of our work. Now we had money, ate a large breakfast at 1am, then called around to find a room... they were all booked, I have no idea what's happening in town, and why all the rooms were all taken, but we found one costing almost two hundreds a night... and it had a hot tub. One moment we were broke, stuck some where, then later we were in a hot tub drinking wine, wow, what a contrast. Today is a day like that. After the ‘Ketchikan incident’, I was in charge of the money. Here in Tucson, all of us native artists had stories like that... of just making it in by just a hair. The only thing certain is your ability to make art, just put in your time, crank it out, get the piece complete so you can  sell it. We had so much fun telling funny stories and events that happened in Gem Shows years ago. At some point it’s late so we started getting ready to leave, and James Fendenheim is persuasive, persistent, and talkative... so I’m sunk! At some point, Mags, Jimmie, Terrence, and myself are driving to the dark streets of the ‘Burrio’.... old Tucson, to stop by and visit a friend. It looks dark, but Jimmie knocks at the door loudly for over ten minutes straight, someone finally arrives at the door, and say they were reading a book. Oh yah I thought, they fell asleep with the book on their chest. They invite us in, and another hour goes by as were visiting and telling Gem Show stories, and soon we decide to leave. They wanted to go driving, but no!! Its late, I open up for business in seven hours. I must go home to sleep. We had plans to check out the night life, but that went out the window when James came by. One night with Jimmie is all I can handle. Next week at the show, I’ll be asleep by seven! Tomorrow is day three.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010

Tucson 2010 --- Part One

I departed Juneau sleepy, and I arrived in Seattle just exhausted. The brief stop in Ketchikan was bumpy as sh*t and I considered drinking some coffee. I was trying to sleep on the plane, but the passenger next to me was big and she was knitting a scarf. It seems like every trip always ends up as an adventure of some sorts, like there must be hurdles you have to cross as a native artist. In Seattle I discovered my Krylon Crystal Clear Spray was gone, in its place was a terse note from TSA (Transportation Security Agency) saying they confiscated it due to such & such regulation. I was mad. I often used to joke about crossing the border and say... "the man with the latex glove was surprisingly gentle." Some TSA guy picked up my little suitcase full of soapstone, which weighted 49.5 lbs, and said 'I wonder what is in here?' I needed that spray to finish some sculpture to sell in Seattle, but now the thought of taking a 40 minute bus ride to the nearest hardware store gave me second thoughts, plus TSA would just take it from my Seattle to Tucson leg. So I just gave up the idea of work, along with the thoughts of meals & imported beers I was going to have with the extra money, so now it is just coffee at Daddy warbucks (Starbucks). My friends Pam & Clarita entertained me with wine & conversation that bordered on native politics. I was amused, because earlier that evening I wasn't in the mood to do anything except sleep.

I love it when I arrive in Tucson or 'Tuck-sun' as my Tohono O'odham friends call it. These large saguro cacti with thier large arms waving welcomes you at the airport. It just finished raining and the warm desert air smelled sweet & moist. Lightning flashed in the distance and the mountains to the north had a light dusting of snow. My friend Terry picked me up and brought a burrito for me, which I scarfed down quickly. Once I settled in the Roadrunner Hostel, I wandered over to my favorite cafe in Tucson the 'Shot in the Dark.' They have great coffee, nice selection of food, free wifi, and a smoking section to enjoy it all, but I am a non smoker now. I drew a lot of 'looks', and I can see thier little minds working... 'He's not mexican, he must be native...' I am wearing a red-cedar Fedora hat, a Chilton silver bracelet, and a Schleifman Tannah pendant. They get excited when I tell them I am from Alaska, and that I am Tlingit. I find myself smiling when I think of that bumper sticker back home... "Not only am i perfect, I'm Tlingit." My friend Terry tells me that my Tohono O'odham friend Rick has a cell phone, and he gave me his number. I called and he answered, I said "Is this Rick so and so?" He immediately said "This is not Rick so and so and there is no Rick so and so at this number... you have the wrong number!" Oh course it was Rick, I recognize that voice anywhere. I said "Rick, this is Sonny Grant from Juneau!" Then he remembered and said he didn't recognize my phone number. Native artist everywhere are such an interesting bunch. Often I find that the more brilliant the artist is, the more eccentric thier behavior is. Many of my T.O. (Tohono O'odham) friends are like that, all creating beautiful art, and time spent with them is never dull. My other T.O. friend James, a great jewelery artist made and interesting observation, "artist like to talk about themselves." It's true, and when you get a bunch of them together, then it really becomes fun. You have to get really creative & witty just to interject a comment. When I find myself thinking of Tucson, I look forward to meeting all the great artist there, all present for the Tucson Shows. I often discover that when I talk with dealers or other artist... our financial situation are simular. We are pinching pennys and all waiting for that first day of the show. We are skating on thin ice, and a sneeze would threaten to bring everything down to a lower level. But we're all cautiously optimistic, we have to be, otherwise we're doomed. Tomorrow is set-up day at the Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show. I have to show up early and sign some papers of disclosure or disclaimer of some sorts, then I get my badge and this Saturday, is the first day of the show... let the sales begin.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008

AFN Arts & Craft Show --- Anchorage

Brian Chilton & Sonny manning the table
The 2008 Alaska Federation of Natives Arts & Craft show was held in Anchorage at thier new convention center on October 23rd, 24th and 25th. Doug Chilton, Gene Chilton, and I drove up from Haines to Anchorage... a drive that is about 870 miles. Brian Chilton flew up from Juneau. The AFN is mostly a political event of Alaska Native leaders from all over the state. Alaska's political leaders all come to address the assembly... Mark Begich spoke, as well as Don Young. Ted Stevens was having his trial at the moment, and our worship... the governor... Sarah Palin was running for Vice President of the U.S. The AFN has a show called the AFN Arts & Craft Show... which attracts the best native artist in the whole state of Alaska. This is definately the most important show we have here in the far north.

Silver & Copper bracelets & stone sculptures.
The Chiltons had thier Tlingit silver & copper engraved bracelets & jewelery. I had my stone sculptures of polar bears, seals, sea lion rookeries, owls, and whales... all made of soapstone. We did quite well... but we did better in Fairbanks when they hosted AFN. But there was many more vendors here than there was in Fairbanks. The convention center is so beautiful... It was quite comfortable place to have a show.






Aakatchaq Schaeffer
My friend Aakatchaq Schaeffer came by for a visit. I haven't seen her since the Juneau Public Market in 2007. Her work is quite beautiful... especially her masks. Her paintings are great too, I am sad that I missed a show of hers... just down the street. She is talented and so great to talk about art. That is why I love these shows... you get to catch up with other artists friends... and see thier latest work. I was trying to convince Aakatchaq to come down to Juneau for the Public Market. The only problem is there is never enough time to visit... because after the show is over... everyone is tired. I did get to spend a little time with her... she came over to my sister Carolyn for dinner. It was fun. You can check out her work at her website listed at the bottom of this web page.



Brian Chilton Jr., Gene Chilton, and Aakatchaq.
Gene Chilton, Brian Chilton, Aakatchaq, and myself were at the table. Doug Chilton was at the AFN conferences... working on different native issues. It doesn't look like much art on the table... but it is all work thousands of dollars.





A view of the main floor of the AFN Show
There was about 120 vendors... maybe more. Our table was easy to find... we had a six foot totem pole next to it.






Sonny and Aakatchaq

It is always sad to say goodbye. Doug and I were getting ready for the long drive back to Haines. It was quite cold outside... about 9 degrees F. I'll miss Aakatchaq... as well as other artists here in Anchorage.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2008

ANB Arts & Crafts Show --- Juneau, Alaska

Front Table: Brian Chilton, Doug Chilton & Sonny

This is the first annual Alaska Native Brotherhood Arts & Craft Show held at the ANB Camp 2 on Willoughby Avenue in Juneau. This event also celebrated Native Heritage Day. There was about twenty vendors selling native art. Three Tlingit dance groups performed on the main stage, and there was native food on the menu at the cafeteria... including fry bread. The most popular event was the drawing... held on the last day which artwork was given away, donated by the vendors. The thing that everyone was waiting for was the silver bracelet engraved by Doug Chilton. It was a lot of fun... but very tiring... since we helped set up this event. Next year it will be larger... and it will coincide with the Juneau Public Market.

Sonny with his niece Nova

My niece Nova is so happy to see me... but she is shy when the camera came out. I look so tired in the photo... I had only about 30 minutes sleep the night before... I must make changes in my life so I never do a show with that little sleep. I wasn't the only one... Doug Chilton, Benjamin Schleifman, and Tom Wehnes were up with me to the wee hours of the morning.

Yaaw Tei Ti Dancers of Juneau 

The Yaaw Tei Ti Dancers of Juneau performed during the show. All of together, three dance groups performed at the show. Another favorite group was the All Nations Childrens dance group, performed at noon on Saturday... this group has trained over hundred kids Tlingit singing and dancing. The vendors donated artwork for the drawing... which was popular... and of course... everyone loved the fry bread.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008

Control of old E-mail finally achieved!

Hello Everyone, I finally been able to regain access to my old e-mail:eagle_wolf99@hotmail.com which was hijacked for about 5 days. I have been working with Christian of MS Windows Live to gain access to my e-mail account. Now I am sifting through all the e-mails that this person sent... saying I was stuck in Dublin, Paris, London, Vancouver, and Bali... saying that I lost my wallet and needed $2000... 2000 Euros, 2000 pounds.... and to be sent to some address in London. I am thankful that no one fell for this scam. I am working with Windows Live to help capture or at least let authorities know about this scam. I hope everyone is doing well. I am currently preparing for the two shows here in Juneau. Presently, it is snowing and about 30 degrees F. I am doing well and still living in Juneau, Alaska. Cheers.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2008

New E-Mail, old e-mail is hijacked!

Hello Everyone, my old e-mail: eagle_wolf99@hotmail is compromised... someone hijacked it and is sending e-mails to people... saying I am stranded in Europe... and need money. I wouldn't mind being stranded in Dublin, Paris, or Florence... because I am quite capable of supporting myself in Europe. Currently I am home in Juneau, Alaska... and am doing well despite the problems associated with my old e-mail. My new e-mail ischilkat.wolf.studios@gmail.com . I am current working with MS Windows Live team to regain control of my old e-mail account. Take care.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2008

Two New Shows in Juneau, Alaska

There are two shows coming up in within the next three weeks. Both shows are put on by the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) Camp #2 at the Andrew Hope Building on Willoughby Avenue in downtown Juneau.

Public MarketANB Camp #2 Arts & Craft Show
November 28th & 29th.
Andrew Hope Building, Juneau
Juneau Gallery Walk
ANB Camp #2 Arts & Craft Show
December 5th & 6th.

The show that happens during the Juneau Public Market is separate from the events that happen at Centenial Hall. In fact, Pete Metcalf, who happens to be an ANB Camp #2 member, will periodically announce 'our' show during the Public Market show.

Both of the shows will have a great selection of native artists from southeast. The ones confirmed so far are, Doug Chilton, Gene Chilton, Brian Chilton, Tom Wehnes, Dwaye Bousch, Benjamin Schleifman, and of course myself... I'll have a nice large selection of sculptures. There will be many more artist that will be vendors, I'll announce them later with a more complete list.

http://sonnygrantstudios.blogspot.ca/






I am a Tlingit stone carver, born & raised in Juneau, Alaska. I make Alaskan sculptures made of soapstone, alabaster, and marble. I have been carving for over twenty years, and apprenticed under master carver Simon Koonook. There are 48 galleries that represent me in Alaska, and about 50 outside of the State of Alaska.

on DC

Thompson Boat Center, Potomac River
In early June, I called my friend Doug Chilton in Juneau (I was still in Seattle) and he told me that the installation & ceromonies was moved up to late June. Well... I quickly changed my plans and bought a round trip ticket on Northwest Airlines from Seattle to Washington DC for $405... two days before departure! Those websites for air fares are great, you might have to surf the web for a bit, but if you are lucky, you can get great deals. I arrived in DC on June 18th at night, met my friends from Juneau, and the next day I laid eyes on the finished canoe that Doug Chilton and his brother Brian carved. I only worked on the canoe for about 4 months. I looked great to see it in all 'her' glory, sitting there waiting to go in the water.
The Raven Canoe was given the name "Raven Spirit."
Many representatives from the Sealaska Corporation, the Sealaska Heritage Institute, and our State Senators were there to witness, talk about the canoe project and present the canoe to the officials of the Smithsonian Museum. It was quite warm that day, temperatures in the high eighties, but the humidity is what I will remember... it was sauna like. The canoe was given the name "Raven Spirit"... the design on the canoe is from an old Tlingit story called the 'Box of Daylight', where Raven steals a box of daylight from a wealthy old man,... when raven opens the box the sun flew out up in the sky, where it has been ever since. The naming ceremony was done by Tlingit tradition. Many of our elders were there to witness it and to make sure it was done by proper protocol.
Master carver Doug Chilton and the 'Raven Spirit.'














Doug Chilton was the one who recieved the commission to carve the Raven canoe for the Smithsonian. Many people, myself included, are so proud of Doug for this project. The canoe will be in the Museum of Natural History in the new Oceans Hall... forever... for all to see.
Doug Chilton is the Captain of the 'Raven Spirit' in the Potomac


















The 'Raven Spirit' is finally in the Potomac River. When I was helping Doug & Brian with the canoe, we would often talk about this day... paddling the canoe in Washington DC. Back then when it was cold out last winter, paddling the canoe in the Potomac seemed like a far away dream. It was so great to see 'her' going up the Potomac. In my mind I can say, the Tlingits were here in Washington.
Group photo around the 'Raven Spirit'















The carvers and paddlers... are posing for a group photo with the Raven Spirit. Brian Chilton (wearing a black vest on the left), myself, Doug Chilton (wearing a black vest on the right), and our State Senator of Alaska, Albert Kookesh (right of Doug) were along side the canoe. It was a proud moment.
Carvers: Sonny Grant, Doug Chilton, Brian Chilton.














Doug, Brian, and myself had official visitors passes for the Smithsonian Museum, we could walk anywhere we wanted... including to the depths of the basements where the really interesting art is kept. Here we are standing in front of the Museum of Natural History where the 'Raven Spirit' will be displayed. Come and see it... all the museums of the Smithsonian are always free.
The White House, ol' George wasn't there at the moment.


















This was my first trip to Washington DC... it is a great city to visit. I went to the White House Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and to the Vietnam War Memorial. There is so much history here. It was nice to see it in person.

FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008

Sculpture Show at Gathering Tribes, Berkely

Pennie Opal Plant and Sonny Grant.

I first met Pennie Opal Plant at her gallery called Gathering Tribes in Berkeley, California. I was passing through San Francisco after the Tucson Shows. She liked my work and bought some of my sculptures for her gallery. She suggested that I have a show at Gathering Tribes in April on the 12th & 13th. I quickly agreed and I proceeded to Seattle. I met a few friends from Juneau, Alaska in Berkeley... it was nice to see familiar faces. Indian Rock was so close by, I was so tempted to go there to boulder... best place in the Bay Area to rock climb.

Gathering Tribes, 1573 Solano Ave., Berkeley 
On the 12th of April, I arrived at SFO early in the morning, jumped on the BART and went directly to the gallery in Berkely. The weather in the Bay Area was hot... temperatures were in the low eighties. I didn't have time to check in my hotel at Fisherman's Wharf in SF... I went directly to Berkely BART station and took AC Transit to Solano Ave. I arrived at the gallery and it was hot... there was a few people waiting to see me. I proceeded in carving small soapstone sculptures.

Rebecca Haines is the gallery manager when Pennie not there, Rebecca was quite helpful in helping me set up. I sold almost all the sculptures I made the first day at the show... that is always great for me... that people like my art, and I get paid for my work. A day never goes by that I am thankful for the gift the good 'Lord' has given me... and yet it feels like the profession picked me.

Solano Avenue in Berkeley 
The show went very well, many people came by to visit and say hello. Most people never seen anyone carve soapstone before so quite a few of them stayed and watched me carve several sculptures. I carved some sea lions, polar bears, some snowy white owls, and a harbor seal. I mostly made several small seals and bears. After the first day of the show, I walked around San Francisco to China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, and of course Union Square area. It was so fun to be back in the 'city.'... the city by the bay. The next day I carved several more sculptures... including a large walking bear. Several people almost bought it... but by the end of the day, Pennie bought it for the Gathering Tribes. I really like Pennie and her partner Michael Horse... it is so nice to meet great people who happen to be 'Native American.' Her staff at the gallery were also really nice, and made me feel right at home there on Solano Avenue. The customers who came by were really interested in my work, and seem to know quite a bit about Alaskan art. It was a fun experience. If you are ever in the SF Bay Area, drop by Gathering Tribes on Solano Avenue... they have a great selection of native art.

View from Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf

I stayed at the Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf... for only $14 more to my roundtrip ticket to SF. It is great using those special travel discount websites on the net. It was so beautiful in San Francisco... it felt good to be back in the 'city'. The city waterfront is so nice, they removed the old viaduct freeway that went along the north waterfront. They replaced it with a boulevard. The sea lions at Pier 39 are fun to see... it makes me feel like I am at home in Alaska. There are about 30 to 40 seals laying on the floats... if you are in the right place, you can smell them. You can hear them from far away, their barking carrys quite a distance in SF.

Union Square, downtown San Francisco

Union Square is in the middle of the shopping district in downtown. On earlier visits, I stayed at Hostelling International, located one block from here. I worked on sculptures on the edge of this square along Powel Street, watching the cable cars go up and down the steep hill. Many people came by to watch me carve seals and bears out of soapstone. I even met people I knew from Vashon Island here. When I travel, I often find myself carving sculptures in the oddest place... like along Powel Street at Union Square. I attract a lot of attention when I carve because many people never seen anyone carve soapstone before. I have often considered myself as Alaska's unofficial ambassador... I tell people of how it is like to grow up in Juneau... tell bear stories... and fishing stories... of the big one that I caught... its true. I also help people plan thier trips to Alaska... to guide them on places to see.

Weekdays

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Mobile business last seen near 1803 W 36th Ave

907-209-4457

sonnygrantstudios.blogspot.com

le, and his pieces range in size from a few ounces to 500 pounds.

Grant is a full-time artist, and his work is in two dozen galleries in Europe and up the West Coast of America. In Juneau his carvings are in Raven's Journey and the Mount Juneau Trading Post.

He works with traditional motifs, and bears and seals are favored subjects. In one stone carving, a half-dozen sea lions jostle for positions on a rocky island.

``I try to get the emotion of the animals. I was listening to sea lions one day, and I thought, `That's a real community, and they're communicating,''' he said.

Some background: Grant, 42, is of the Kaagwaantaan clan from the Chilkat Valley and was born and raised in Juneau. He is the great-grandson of master Chilkat blanket weaver Jenny Thlunaut, and he said she instilled an appreciation for art in him at a young age.

``I just watched her a lot, doing baskets, Chilkat blankets and beading. I was mostly observing how passionate about it she was. I loved art, but I wasn't really sure if I would be an artist. It grew on me,'' he said.

His grandfather Austin Hammond, a respected Southeast elder, and his father Edward Grant were storytellers, and their personal and traditional stories still serve as inspirations.

Former computer animator: Grant worked as a graphic artist, computer animator and printmaker in San Francisco for 12 years. He traveled extensively in Europe, making contacts with galleries and studying art. He returned to Juneau in the early 1990s and apprenticed with Eskimo carver and sculptor Simon Koonook. He spent the past three years working in Canada, and said his work really progressed there.

``I think my association with those Native artists in Canada was a catalyst for me, especially those who overcame serious obstacles in their lives. My eyes opened up to possibilities,'' he said. ``I felt a lot more free to create.''

Big pieces: Grant's largest works have been in the 200- to 500-pound range.

``One was a wolf sitting upright. At the same time it's a woman kneeling down. Kind of an abstract piece of marble. And a few rookeries of sea lions on rocks,'' he said. ``I plan to do more large works this spring out of marble, soapstone and alabaster.''

http://juneauempire.com/stories/010600/Ent_grant.html