Museum of Natural and Cultural History opens Salish weaving exhibit

Native American Basket (Photo by Ernest Amoroso,
National Museum of the American Indian)

A new art exhibit at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History will showcase Native American weaving. "SQ3Tsya'yay: Weaver's Spirit Power by Susan Pavel" will be on view in the MNCH Galleria Sept. 7 through Jan. 29.

SQ3Tsya'yay is pronounced "cut-see-ya-ya" and means "Weavers Spirit Power." The exhibit includes woven blankets, used as clothing and worn on ceremonial occasions, and hand woven goat and sheep wool textiles. Visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at weaving and touch samples of weavings and materials, including rare mountain goat wool.

sa'hLa mitSa (Susan Pavel) spent six years as an apprentice under Coast Salish master weaver subiyay (Bruce Miller) (Skokomish) to become a master weaver and weaving teacher.

Pavel will attend a free public reception to answer questions about her art from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the museum.

This was a press release from the University of Oregon.