Salmon depicts a Pacific Northwest indigenous woman who believes that the salmon is her spirit guide. She believes that salmon are the souls of people. She holds an offering of smoke to the salmon people. In the spring, the first salmon they catch is shared by the entire community. Each person takes a bite. In a healthy community, no person goes hungry.
Sold at Portland Open Studios on October 11, 2025
"With its ability to shed its skin, it serves as a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of letting go of the past to embrace new beginnings"
This textile artwork, created with yarn braids, rainbow-colored weaving, and embedded feathers, explores personal transformation. The piece began before a trip, with the central figure shown in a state of hope. After an insect bite and vivid dreams of flowers growing from my head, I reworked the composition to reflect change sparked by a fleeting moment. The final figure captures a layered emotional journey—one of physical impact, dream symbolism, and inner growth—expressed through color, texture, and form.
"a spirit animal was told to have appeared whenever a tribe required help or guidance when it came to carrying burdens. As the bull stands for determination, this means that Native Americans valued those who stood by their convictions, which was how it gave name to one of the most famous chiefs, Sitting Bull."
Some Pacific Northwest Native American women identify three primary stages in life: birth, finding a guardian spirit, and death. The tradition of finding one’s spirit is a rite that forms a common bond within the community, while simultaneously defining an individual’s personal identity.
