Arts of Alaska

November 10 – 24, 2004

(Washington, D.C.) – November 4, 2004 The Indian Craft Shop presents “Arts of Alaska.” As you celebrate American Indian Heritage Month in November, be sure to visit the Indian Craft Shop’s special display of art representing the diversity of Native Alaskan cultures. Much of the carving and craft work of Alaskan artistry is done during the long dark days and nights of the winter months.

Featured Arts – “Arts of Alaska” includes carvings made of whalebone and walrus tusk ivory that depict the native animals and wildlife, spirit dancers, drummers, dog sled teams and other cultural life subjects of Native Alaskans. Carvings in wood include masks, such as “Raven Bringing the Sun” by Alutiiq artist Jerry Laktonen, paddles and even counter top sized totem poles, such as “Frog and Raven” by Tlingit artist Brian Chilton. Basketry made from cedar, woven with grasses and of baleen (baleen is from the mouth of the toothless whale species) and masks made of whalebone and caribou skins. Children of all ages will enjoy sealskin yo-yo’s, Alaskan dolls and “Eskimo Beanie Babies” by Inupiat dollmaker, Mary Hankee, and many traditionally dressed dolls with ivory, wooden, clay or skin faces. There will be contemporary sterling silver jewelry, sealskin thimbles and much more.

Alaska’s Culture Groups – Alaska is a vast land area with several distinct cultural groups. The Tlingit, Haida and Tsimpshian are located in southeast Alaska with its heavily forested coastline and islands, glacier-carved fjords and bays that are part of the inside passage that connects the Gulf of Alaska to Puget Sound in the lower 48 states. The Aleut and Alutiiq are located in southwest Alaska that includes the Pribilof Islands and the coastline from Prince William Sound to the Kodiak Archipelago and Aleutian Islands. The Yup’ik and Inupiat, historically known as the Eskimo, are located from Bristol Bay in western Alaska up through the tundra of the northern Arctic to the Canadian border, including St. Lawrence, Nunivak and Little Diomede Islands. The Athabascan are located from the interior of Alaska to the Canadian border.

To Learn More -- The Indian Craft Shop provides a free public education brochure and information on Arts of Alaska on request, and offers over 30 titles of publications on the arts of Alaska and the Northwest for further reading.

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Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events:

• December 16-18, 2004 – Innovators in Southwest American Indian Jewelry
  Guest Jeweler, Boyd Tsosie (Navajo)
• December 16 – 18, 2004 – Innovators in Southwest American Indian Jewelry;
• January 10 – 21, 2004 – Indian Craft Shop Annual Sale!

INDIAN CRAFT SHOP SATURDAY HOURS --
OPEN SATURDAY, November 20 from 10 am - 4 pm

The Shop is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is closed on federal holidays. The Shop opens on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Department of the Interior Museum also opens on the third Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Located in the Department of the Interior federal building. Photo ID required for entrance. The visitors' entrance is at the C Street entrance. Handicap access is available at E Street.

Public Transportation
There is metered parking on the street. Farragut West and Farragut North are the closest metro stops. It's a six-block walk, or catch an S1 or 80 bus to the corner of 18th and C Streets. Buses are $.35 with a metrorail transfer (pick one up at the Metro rail station before you get on the train).

Photo ID required for entrance.
For more information, call 202-208-4056.

Indian Craft Shop
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
(202) 208-4056

IndianCraftShop@GuestServices.com