Amy Meissner
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Sami Stories in Alaska

3/8/2015

16 Comments

 
Despite your preconceptions about Anchorage, Alaska -- whether or not you have had the opportunity to visit here -- just know this: we have a world class museum. And if you ever make it up this way, or up this way again, go. to. it. 

"Sami Stories" is a recent exhibition that has traveled here from Tromso, Norway (with a stop in New York at Skandinavia House) and was curated by Charis Gullickson from the Northern Norway Art Museum. The show features historical objects as well as work from 8 Sami artists, 2 of which traveled to Alaska for a symposium at the University of Alaska Anchorage, a panel discussion at the museum and a gallery tour this last weekend. I attended the 2 latter events.

The Sami (pronounced SAH-mee, not SAMMY like I heard many visitors pronouncing it) are the indigenous people of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. In the past, they have been referred to as "Lapps," (perhaps you've heard of  "Lapland"), however they do not call themselves this as the "lapp" in question refers to a piece of cloth for mending and was a name imposed upon them. They have never had their own country (which "Lapland" sort of implies), instead are citizens of whichever country's borders they live within. In 1989, a Sami Parliament was implemented in Norway -- a landmark event that has done much to strengthen and validate their voice. Their connection to the land is deep and vital, referring to it as Sapmi or Same. Many of them still make their livelihood through reindeer husbandry, although this is swiftly shifting due to environmental changes and an ever-shrinking landscape. The fight to preserve their language is fierce, despite the fact that only about 30,000 people use it.* 

Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.

I was thrilled to meet one of the visiting artists from Sweden, Britta Marakatt-Labba, and she indulged my broken Swedish for quite some time. My mother always used to talk about the Sami, but although she grew up in Sweden I think their culture was a mystery to her. She left in 1965, well before the Sami Act was passed in Norway in 1987 with a new constitutional paragraph added in 1988: 

"It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions enabling the Sami people to preserve and develop its language, culture and way of life." (The Norwegian Constitution, Skogvang 2009:179-194).

Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.

Britta Marakatt-Labba is a textile artist and painter. She studied at Sunderby College, The Industrial Art School of Gothenburg and the Sami College in Kautokeino. Her work is part of the collections of the Swedish Parliament, The Sami Collections in Karasjok, The Sami Parliament of Norway, The University of Tromso, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge's Art Foundation and the Northern Norway Art Museum.* Two of Britta's pieces were featured in the exhibit -- embroideries on white linen -- which depict both historical, political and mythological components while holding fast to the traditional duodji, or traditional Sami handicrafts.

Britta Marakatt-Labba, Garjjat, The Crows. From the blog post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Garjjat," The Crows, (23.6" x 32.7") 1981.
Britta Marakatt-Labba, Garjjat, The Crows, detail. From the blog post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Garjjat," The Crows, detail 1981.
Britta Marakatt-Labba, Garjjat, The Crows, detail. From the blog post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Garjjat," The Crows, detail 1981.


Garjjat, depicts the Alta Conflict in Sami and Norwegian history, featuring crows descending on the protestors and morphing into policemen.

The second piece (on loan from the University of Tromso in Norway) is a 78-foot long linen embroidered tapestry, Historja ("History"), which took four years to complete. My photos don't do it justice, but I'll include a few here:

Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.
Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.
Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.
Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.
Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.
Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska
Britta Marakatt-Labba, "Historja," detail 2003-07.

This lady -- and her work -- blew me away. What an absolute honor to see this exhibit and to meet her in person.

Britta Marakatt-Labba, Historja, detail. From the post Sami Stories in Alaska, www.amymeissner.com/blog/sami-stories-in-alaska

*details gathered from the exhibition publication, Sami Stories: Art and Identity of an Arctic People, v. 1 & 2.

* * *
Here's another layer.

So, I'm not a TV person, but if you're interested in watching Jon Henrik, a Sami man walk out on a contemporary stage wearing traditional clothing that his "mamma made for him" and proceed to floor an audience singing a Sami joik that he wrote and composed, then you have to watch this clip (ummm ... can I just say he's gorgeous?). The joik is the traditional folk music of the Sami people -- often written to depict a person, or animal or the land -- and was forbidden in Sami schools as recently as the 1950s, considered sinful. Sigh. Of course.

It is powerful and haunting, not written about his friend who died, but as the embodiment of the friend. This is the spirit, the purpose of the joik.
And yes, Jon Henrik won this competition in 2014. Quite the soundtrack to the above images of Britta's work.

16 Comments
Claire DeBerg link
3/8/2015 01:28:29 pm

Cried. For the beautiful textiles and the soundtrack. Oh my heart!

Reply
Amy Meissner link
3/9/2015 12:28:11 am

Claire--I cried when I heard the panel speak about the exhibit and the struggles and strengths of the Sami people, I cried after I spoke with Britta, I cried when I listened to the joik. Either I need some serious antidepressants or this experience was just flat out powerful.
XOX Amy

Reply
velma
3/8/2015 07:31:41 pm

remarkable work! (i had no idea that anchorage had such a fine museum.) Historja is an amazing piece, i'm so glad you showed us.

Reply
Amy Meissner link
3/9/2015 12:32:03 am

Velma -- yes! A gorgeous museum, which is incredibly active in the circumpolar community and creating a powerful voice for all people of the North. I'm thrilled you liked the work I shared! Thanks for reading --
XO Amy

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Roxanne Lasky link
3/8/2015 10:18:18 pm

Thank you, Amy, for introducing me to another cultural context.
I love the narrative behind a piece of work. But the visual is what makes me pause to take a look. It is all so beautiful. Wish I could see it in person.

Reply
Amy Meissner link
3/9/2015 12:36:58 am

Roxanne -- I, too, love a compelling narrative (I think it's what makes us human) and I love work that pulls me in with the visual then force me to ask "What?" and then insist on more. I wish you could see it in person, too, as my iPhone just really doesn't do it justice and you have to "walk" this piece, very slowly. Preferably with a very lovely Sami woman by your side, but alone is good too. Thank you for reading and commenting!
XO Amy

Reply
Paul Jackson link
3/9/2015 09:37:31 pm

Dear Amy. Sitting here with my wife we have fallen into your beautiful visual narratives of the work by Britta Marakatt-Labba, and wondered of the emotion and history behind them. Along with the extraordinary Joik which left us both in tears, which I am sure is a common experience! The two shafts of light from this quite and I would imagine-proud people, who live in the far north of ours lives has reached deep inside. I have now for more than 20 years Told the Stories from the North as a storyteller for both cChildren in schools and Elsewhere. The Sammi stories in particular have something about them that allows me to feel connected, stories such as those about Akanidi, daughter of the Sun and others of that rich Pantheon. So it was a lovely reminder and flame to see and hear the beautiful work of these people. I will now try and go to the Museum and see the work . Thank you.

judy martin link
3/8/2015 10:39:32 pm

How long is this exhibition up? Maybe I need to come to Anchorage!!!

Wow, what an amazing body of work. Thank you for sharing your experience with it so beautifully.
x

Reply
Amy Meissner link
3/9/2015 12:40:15 am

Judy -- I believe the exhibit is on through April. This is the last time "Historja" will be loaned from the University where it is permanently displayed. You'd have to travel to Tromso if you miss it here. Hard to say which is closer!
XO Amy

Reply
karoda
3/8/2015 11:09:50 pm

Thank you for the introduction to Sami people. And if John Henrik ever makes an album, I want it!

Reply
Amy Meissner link
3/9/2015 12:45:31 am

Karoda -- I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were a number of Sami recording artists who have work available. I think one just has to do a little sleuthing online and this world will be at your fingertips. I don't know if I can own any of it, however, because I would just be reduced to a sobbing puddle of mush. I have the same response to bagpipes and children's choirs. Very embarrassing.
Thanks for reading!
XO Amy

Reply
carolyn g halliday link
3/9/2015 09:46:07 am

Amy, I barely have time to pay attention to TAFA but another post of yours recently caught my attention so you are now on my radar. Thank you so much for sharing this sensitive, extraordinary work. Alaska has been on my mind this past year (I even wrote a grant to do some research at the Anchorage Museum but didn't get the grant) as I have been researching the indigenous use of seal gut. So I am intrigued to see another side of what the museum exhibits. I so appreciate your sharing of this. Carolyn Halliday

Reply
Amy Meissner link
3/9/2015 12:13:00 pm

Carolyn, I think I have to put food on my children's plates about 10 times before it's on their radar so if I'm on hit #2 with you I think I'm in a good place -- thanks for checking out my blog! Fabulous that you are researching seal gut...where are you? Circumpolar? If you ever make your way up here, we have a fabulous Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center (https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/about-us/museum-spaces/smithsonian-arctic-studies-center/), but you probably already know this. I, too, barely have time to pay attention to the amazing blogs out there (I think I'm too busy introducing questionable foods to my children...), so I'm thrilled that our paths have crossed.
XO Amy

Reply
Adele Vandenburgh
3/9/2015 11:01:52 pm

I love the Anchorage Museum and have many photos from my visit there. Wish I could return to see this exhibit! Thank you, Amy, for sharing.

Reply
jill Kerttula link
3/9/2015 11:34:51 pm

Thank you for this. Just fantastic!

Reply
Rachel Biel link
3/10/2015 12:39:48 am

Wow. So powerful. Both the embroidery and the music. I found it so strange that a Colombian would have been adopted into such a faraway place and that then he would have been subjected to bullying. I wonder how that all happened... A double whammy, losing his native culture to one that is also being lost... Thanks for this beautiful post!

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    Amy Meissner, textile artist. Photo credit Brian Adams, 2013. www.amymeissner.com

    Amy Meissner

    Artist in Anchorage, Alaska, sometimes blogging about the collision of history, family & art, with the understanding  that none exists without the other.
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