Juneau artist Lily Hope has been awarded the 2023 Marie Darlin Prize. The $5,000 Marie Darlin Prize is administered through the Juneau-Douglas City Museum (JDCM) and is awarded annually to an individual or collaboration whose work, through a combination of vision and shared sense of community, expresses a regional commitment to women’s rights, social history, or community advocacy. The Friends of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum (FOJDCM) and the Juneau Community Foundation (JCF) support the funding for the prize. Lily Hope was chosen to receive this prize because of her outstanding body of work which expresses a regional commitment to social and cultural history.
Lily Hope was trained in Chilkat weaving by her mother Clarissa Rizal and artist Kay Parker of Juneau and she has become a major artist and figure in the Tlingit Chilkat weaving movement. Today there are less than 10 Tlingit Chilkat weavers and Hope has made sharing her knowledge with others a priority. With support from granting agencies and tribal and community organizations, Hope mentored 30 apprentices in Chilkat weaving between 2020 to 2022. Each apprentice was tasked with completing a child-sized robe and due to sheltering during the pandemic, much of her mentoring was done online.
In a letter of support from Ricky Tagaban, a Juneau Chilkat weaver, Ricky notes, “During covid, Lily adapted her workshops to an online platform. This allowed Lily to work with weaver mentees across Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48, including the 17 weavers who contributed to the ‘For Our Children: Chilkat Regalia Woven in the Lineage of Jennie Thlunaut & Clarissa Rizal’ exhibition showcased at the Juneau Douglas City Museum.”
Zachary R Jones, who holds a Ph.D. in history, also wrote a letter of support stating, “As a scholar of Chilkat weaving’s history, I cannot document another time in history when this many Chilkat weavings have been produced for one project. Nor have this many people been training to this level of skill — an apprenticeship that lasted two years and resulted in substantive woven product. Even the celebrated event of 1985, when a small group of weavers gathered in Haines for a few weeks to study under Chilkat weaver Jennie Thlunaut, did not result this amount of product, train this many people, and have such results. Lily’s efforts are a moment in history. Her work is a demonstration of commitment to Indigenous art in Southeast Alaska. “
Hope’s contributions also extend to marginalized members of our community. Tagaban states, “As a founding member and President of Spirit Uprising, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the integrity of Ravenstail and Chilkat Weaving by promoting excellence, educating students, and supporting weaver communities internationally, Lily has helped coordinate projects that raise awareness on domestic and missing/murdered Indigenous people. As owner of Wooshkindein Da.áat Studio, Lily employs women and Queer folks to help create pieces for collectors, tribal members, and museums.”
The 2023 Marie Darlin Prize selection committee, the JDCM, the FOJDCM and the JCF are pleased to recognize Lily Hope’s contributions to regional social and cultural history. A community recognition event will be held spring 2024 at the City Museum to celebrate Lily’s achievements.
