Two Sisters: Lily Hope and Ursala Hudson

Tlingit sisters Lily Hope and Ursala Hudson seem to exist between worlds, in a realm that affords them the opportunity to both remain connected to what came before while reflecting the modern world of today. They each possess artistic talent inherited and nurtured by artistic parents. Their late mother, the renowned Tlingit weaver Clarissa Rizal, both directly and indirectly passed down to them the unique and special knowledge of how to weave complex and stunningly beautiful Chilkat Dancing Blankets and woven Tlingit regalia. Clarissa also passed down the importance of not feeling bound only by tradition, but inspired and encouraged her daughters to utilize these learned traditional techniques for personal expression and to explore freely.

Through the works in this exhibit, Two Sisters, Hudson and Hope engage with themes of heritage, identity, modernity, and feminism and showcase their exceptional weaving skills through traditional ensembles, modern garments, and woven masks, as well as woven jewelry and 2D mixed media collages.

The pieces in this exhibit reverberate with movement. A number of the garments by Hudson walked the runway at the recent SWAIA fashion show in Santa Fe, while others of these extraordinary pieces by both of these artists will head to Washington D.C. for an exhibit at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 2023.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the intricate details and finely crafted works created by these two sisters.

Exhibition Dates: