View 1.
Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2013 School for Advanced Research.
"Basket Maker"
Date: 2013
Artist or Maker: Glenda McKay (b. 1958)
Dimensions:
Approx. measurements: 17.8 × 16.5 × 14 cm (7 × 6 1/2 × 5 1/2 in.)
Medium: skin, seal | fur, seal | intestine, seal | skin, mink | skin, beaver | hide, deer | stomach, walrus | bone, whale | hair, human | sinew, caribou | ivory, walrus | ivory, mammoth (fossilized) | glass | gold | stone, obsidian | baleen dye, cranberry | dye, blueberry
Credit Line: Gift of the artist, 2014.
Object Number: SAR.2014-1-1
Not on view
Additional information about the materials used (provided by the artist):
Base = fossilized whale vertebrae
Figure:
Eyes = size 18 glass beads with whale baleen inlaid for the pupils. Eyes are pegged into the face.
Pigtails = human hair (hair belongs to Glenda McKay’s sister, Mary Wilson)
Barrettes on pigtails = size 18 and 22 beads, caribou sinew
Ruff of parka = beaver fur (made from five pieces)
Parka = seal skin with cuffs and trim made from brain tanned smoked deer hide with size 22 beads. Ruff on bottom of parka is made from mink
Pants and mittens = brain tanned smoked deer hide
Mukluks = sealskin with soles made from bleached sealskin
Sewing needle = walrus ivory
Thread = caribou sinew
Interior of figure = stuffed with whale baleen shavings
Inside the interior, a “heart” = walrus stomach, an Alaska gold nugget (so she is never broke), fossilized mammoth ivory (to connect the past and present), and obsidian (for safe travels and wellbeing)
Basket #1 (basket held by figure; 1”) = walrus stomach with bleached sealskin band, cranberry-dyed seal intestine and size 22 beads
Basket #2 (large; 1”) = walrus stomach with bleached sealskin band, cranberry-dyed seal intestine and size 22 beads
Basket #3 (small; ¾”) = walrus stomach with bleached sealskin band and size 22 beads
Work tray (1 5/8 x 5/8”) = walrus stomach, bleached sealskin, size 22 beads.
1) Sewing kit = stitched gauged seamer (3/4”), extra sewing needle with beads and sinew (3/8”), leather awl (3/8”). All are made from walrus ivory
2) Ulu (1/2” x ½”) = fossilized ivory with whale baleen inlays
3) Extra bleached seal skin
4) Roll of caribou sinew for sewing
5) Roll of walrus stomach for basket making
6) Roll of blueberry-dyed walrus stomach for basket making
7) A few dots of berry-dyed seal intestine
In Collection(s)
Bibliography:
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.