Tlingit artist studies how to weave increasingly rare tunics

In this May 22, 2019 photo, Anastasia Hobson-George, right, works with weaver Lily Hope as the Artist-in-Residence at the Walter Soboleff Center in Juneau, Alaska. A Juneau artist is working to become the fifth person alive who knows how to make an increasingly rare type of traditional clothing. Tlingit weaver Hobson-George was recently announced as a winner of a Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award, and she plans to use the $7,500 grant that comes with her project award to learn how to make a sleeved tunic that incorporates two types of indigenous weaving. (Michael Penn/The Juneau Empire via AP)

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A Juneau artist is working to become the fifth person alive who knows how to make an increasingly rare type of traditional clothing.

Tlingit weaver Anastasia Shaawat Kah Gei Hobson-George was recently announced as a winner of a Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award, and she plans to use the $7,500 grant that comes with her award to learn how to make a sleeved tunic that incorporates two types of indigenous weaving.

Hobson-George and her mentor Lily Hope, an award-winning Tlingit weaver and teacher, told the Capital City Weekly there are only four living weavers who know how to make tunics that use both Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving. It takes specialized skills to make the garment, with the shoulders of the tunic requiring particular attention, which is why tunic weaving is rare.

"All those four weavers are in their 70s," said Hobson-George. "It means I could easily be it for tunics, which is why I applied to preserve them."

Keeping the traditional art form alive is a big responsibility, Hobson-George said, but one that she welcomes.

"It is a cultural weight, but I feel I've been prepared to carry that," she said.

At 21, she is among the youngest to ever win a Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award in the program's 16-year history. Her limbs are adorned with multiple tattoos, including a vibrant red shark and lotus flower occupying opposite shoulders. Hobson-George said the tattoos represent balancing aspects of her identity: The shark is a reference to her Wooshkeetaan — Shark-Eagle — heritage, and the flower was tattooed shortly after she turned 18 during her first Pride Week. She's a Southeast Alaska LGBTQ+ Alliance volunteer.

She said her love of weaving goes back to her childhood.

She first tried her hand at it at 11 years old, and it was quickly apparent the art form and artist would be compatible.

"When I was weaving, I could weave for 10 hours and not realize how much time was passing," Hobson-George said. "There's something about weaving that clicks in my brain."

In this May 22, 2019 photo, Anastasia Hobson-George, left, works with weaver Lily Hope on Chilkat legging weavings as the Artist-in-Residence at the Walter Soboleff Center in Juneau, Alaska. A Juneau artist is working to become the fifth person alive who knows how to make an increasingly rare type of traditional clothing. Tlingit weaver Hobson-George was recently announced as a winner of a Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award, and she plans to use the $7,500 grant that comes with her project award to learn how to make a sleeved tunic that incorporates two types of indigenous weaving. (Michael Penn/The Juneau Empire via AP)

On Wednesday, Hobson-George was working with Hope on a pair of Chilkat leggings in a Sealaska Heritage Institute studio. Hobson-George and Hope have had a mentor-apprentice relationship for the past two years, but it will end soon. Over the past two years, Hobson-George has worked on her craft full-time with Hope and assisted with public presentations as well as the actual work of weaving.

Hope said her apprentice should be able to find professional opportunities and a few things are already booked for this summer.

On May 31, Hobson-George's partially paid apprenticeship was planned to conclude with a public lunch-hour presentation of Chilkat leggings she and Hope made.

“It does have a bittersweet feeling,” Hobson-George said. “It does end this two-year dynamic that we had. It didn’t feel like it was going to end. It’s been a lot of fun, and we’re like ‘Oh, wait, this is it.’”