Telling Alaska’s Story: A Native artist uses local clay to revive an old tradition

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Alaska Native artist Ed Mighell’s work is a nod to a practice that goes again hundreds of years, one he he feels fortunate to revive.

Mighell stated the artwork tiles he creates are a part of a historical past of ceramics in Northwest Alaska that had all however died out.

“It was a misplaced custom,” stated Mighell. “The final girl to make hand-built pit fired pots died in 1880.”

Mighell has been making artwork tiles since 2004, gathering the clay he makes use of from the shores of Cook dinner Inlet. However Mighell didn’t begin out as an artist, as an alternative he took after his father, an engineer from Massachusetts.

“Our father was an engineer, and he preferred enjoying math video games with us. So 4 of us out of six grew to become engineers.”

Ultimately, Mighell stated he felt a inventive pull he couldn’t deny. He went again to highschool and obtained a level in positive artwork, which led to a brand new profession. Lots of Mighell’s designs honor his Native heritage, his mom is Inupiaq from Level Hope.

Tiles characteristic owls and whales and conventional hunters. Different tiles are extra fanciful, or tiles that include plant and flower impressions, come straight from nature itself. Mighell stated he enjoys sharing the tales of his designs with folks, however he additionally contains info on the again of every tile, together with each his English and Native names.

“Nakulturuq was a reputation that I used to be given by my mom as a nickname. All of us had nicknames. It sort of means massive head” he stated. “…At my grandmother’s service a couple of years again I met loads of older, elder girls from Kotzebue and Level Hope within the Northwest, they usually stated it’s a very good identify, it means I’ve room for many ideas.”

Mighell’s favourite stamp contains info that the tile was made with Cook dinner Inlet glacier clay in Alaska.

“Individuals actually like this further info,” he stated. “Particularly that half the place I stamp Cook dinner Inlet Clay, Alaska. Vacationers really feel like they’re taking somewhat little bit of Alaska again house with them.”

Mighell sells his tiles all through the summer season on the Alaska Native Heritage Middle. He additionally has an internet site the place folks can order his work on-line.

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