Irene Clark

Irene Hardy Clark is a Navajo weaver. Her matrilineal clan is Tjbahj (water's edge people) and her patrilineal clan is Honjghjahnii (he walks around one people). Her technique and style is primarily self-taught, incorporating contemporary and traditional themes.[1]

This article is about the Navajo weaver. For the American painter, see Irene V. Clark.

Irene Clark
Born
Irene Hardy

1934
Navajo Nation at Crystal, New Mexico, USA
NationalityNavajo
EducationSpecial Program for Navajos in Chilocco, Oklahoma
Known forweaving, educating others in traditional Navajo weaving and fiber arts
SpouseJimmy Clark Teesto
AwardsWomen'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

Her mother, Glenebah Hardy, mentored her in traditional techniques. Clark processes the sheep's wool used in her weavings by washing, cleaning, carding and hand spinning it. She then dyes it with plant and lichen dyes, and uses an upright steel loom to create the weaving. Clark's work has been exhibited in museums, art galleries and has been featured as the subject of the 1991 film, Weavers, by DeSciose Productions, Denver.[2][3][4] Clark is a traditional teacher, having shared her knowledge of weaving and techniques to several generations.[5]

Exhibitions

Clark has exhibited her work at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff; Kennedy Museum of Art at Ohio University; and had three works in a traveling exhibition originating at the Denver Art Museum, Contemporary Navajo Weaving: The Gloria F. Ross Collection of the Denver Art Museum that traveled to the Heard Museum, Phoenix; the Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC; the Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha; and the National Museum of the American Indian, New York City.[6] Clark has also shown at Gallery 10, [Scottsdale], Arizona and other art galleries.[7][8][9]

Collections

Clarks work is in the collection of the Denver Art Museum.[10] Her work is included in numerous public and private collections including the Edwin L. and Ruth E. Kennedy Southwest Native American collection at Ohio University.[11]

Commissions

In 1990, Clark received a commission from Gloria F. Ross Tapestries, New York City to weave Nááts 'ííllid (Rainbow), and to interpret the paintings of the American artist, Kenneth Noland in tapestries.[12]

Awards, honors

Women's Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award 1995.[13]

References
  1. Wilkins, Teresa J. (2013). Patterns of Exchange: Navajo Weavers and Traders. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806186627. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  2. "Annual Report". American Association of Museums, Museum News. 73 (1): 65–80. January–February 1994.
  3. Bolz, Diane M. (1994). "The Enduring Art of Navajo Weaving". Smithsonian Magazine. 25 (4): 20.
  4. Hedlund, Ann lane (2004). Navajo Weaving in the Late Twentieth Century: Kin, Community, and Collectors. Tucson: University of Arizona. ISBN 9780816524129. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  5. Brown, David M. "Weaving New Traditions: Irene Clark, creator of Navajo rugs, hands down her art generation to generation" (PDF). Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  6. Smith, Roberta (December 27, 1996). "Contemporary Navajo Weaving". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  7. Hedlund, Ann Lane. "Irene Clark" (PDF). nationalwca.org. National Women's Caucus on Art. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  8. Gutzwiller, Steve (1984). Ray Manley's The Fine Art of Navajo Weaving. Tucson.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. Conroy, Sarah Booth (July 5, 1994). "ART: Review of "Contemporary Navajo Weaving"". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  10. Reflection of the Weavers World: The Gloria F. Ross Collection of Contemporary Navajo Weaving. Denver, Colorado: Denver Art Museum, exhibition brochure. 1992.
  11. "Weaving is Life: Navajo weavings from the Edwin L. and Ruth E. Kennedy Southwest Native Art Collection". Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  12. "Kenneth Noland, Naats' íílid (Rainbow)". The Gloria F. Ross Center for Tapestry Studies. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  13. "Past Honorees". Women's Caucus for Art. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.