Woven in Wool: Resilience in Coast Salish Weaving showcases both historical and contemporary woven items, including blankets, tunics, hoods, and skirts.
Join us for a special field trip to the Burke Museum’s exhibit, “Woven in Wool: Resilience in Coast Salish Weaving” on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 11am-1pm (plus an optional coffee and chat to follow!)
Journey through the seasonal cycle of weaving, from gathering materials and spinning wool to dyeing with natural ingredients and weaving intricate designs. Along the way, learn firsthand from weavers and gain insight into the deep cultural and scientific knowledge embedded in every strand.
We will be led through the exhibit by Dr. Susan Pavel, Executive Director of the Coast Salish Wool Weaving Center and adjunct faculty member of Evergreen State College, and students from her class, “Art and Place: Pacific Northwest Native Weaving and Geographies.”
Our group will be invited to stay for coffee and continued conversation following the tour at Off the Rez Café, located at the Burke Museum.
About Dr. Susan Pavel
sa’hLa mitSa – Dr. Susan Pavel, Filipina by birth, first learned Coast Salish wool weaving during the summer of 1996. Her master teacher was subiyay – Bruce Miller of the Skokomish Nation, Uncle to her husband chixApKaid – Michael Pavel. Each summer she would take three full months to produce one ceremonial blanket and then gift it to elders of the tribe. By the fourth year it was suggested to sell her creations as an exchange of gifts and she started along that path. By the seventh year she was invited to teach weaving classes with Tribal Nations and has taught hundreds of students. She has curated, participated in, and solo exhibited in 12 museum exhibits and over 25 gallery exhibits. She has been awarded 17 artist-in-residence or grant opportunities. She has over 30 bibliographic acknowledgements. She has consistently taught, presented, and/or demonstrated for 25 years. Her weavings can be seen in 10 public venues and numerous private collections across the nation. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Coast Salish Wool Weaving Center. As well as an adjunct faculty member at The Evergreen State College. Today she continues to weave and teach, as she is obedient to SQ3Tsya’yay – Weaver’s Spirit Power.
This field trip is produced in partnership by Northwest Sewn and PNW Fiber Connect.
Northwest Sewn is building a thriving and resilient regional sewn-trades industry by connecting businesses, cultivating collaboration, and advancing circular textile practices across the Pacific Northwest.
PNW Fiber Connect unites the natural fibers industry within the Pacific Northwest to revitalize a robust, accessible, and regenerative regional fiber economy.
