HOW TO TEND THE FLOCK with weaver and sheepherder Tyrrell Tapaha
Tyrrell Tapaha, a sixth-generation Diné weaver and sheepherder, will tell you there’s nothing in his work that specifically belongs to him. And while it may be true that there’s nothing new under the sun and that all artists draw from deep wells of collective experience, I can’t help but think that there is something special about Tyrrell’s work—the use of text, the collage-like shifts in weaving patterns, the subject matter—that sets his work apart.
In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Tyrrell and I discuss:
① the intrinsic differences between sheep and goats
② how his great-grandmother’s loom fits perfectly on top of his car
③ how to balance preserving tradition and forging new pathways
WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
In this conversation we explore Tyrrell’s personal and cultural experiences with weaving, with insights into how he combines a practice that’s deeply rooted in tradition while simultaneously creating new and unexpected work
REFLECTION PROMPT
Reflect on the concept of "tangible memories." How do you document or honor significant periods or events in your life?
THREE ARTISTS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW
① Kevin Aspaas, Diné weaver from New Mexico
② Jared Tso, 4th-generator Diné potter
③ Nokosee Fields, Osage old-time musician
HELPFUL LINKS
→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ Claim your free copy of 10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED QUILTING
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE → Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM
