Owl Woman

Wool fabric, mother-of-pearl buttons, abalone buttons
5 ft x 6 ft
Private Collection
© copyright 1989 by Clarissa Hudson
Contact Clarissa for permission to use image for educational purposes only
 

My friend Tom Jimmie commissioned this robe based on his recurring dream about an owl that would transform into a woman, tell him important information, and then change back into an owl.

I finished the robe the day of Tom's family potlatch.  But there were a few things that Tom wanted me to change on the robe, so I took it home that evening and worked on it until 3 in the morning, when I delivered it to him at the potlatch, which was still going on.

Inside the ANB Building, Tom and I had spread the robe out on a table to see if it were satisfactory.  Just then, an elder walked by and looked at the robe in astonishment.  She exclaimed, "Where did you get this robe?  This is an old robe... a very old robe... where did this robe come from?"

Tom and I looked at each other.  I was holding my breath, it was obvious to Tom that I wasn't going to answer, so he spoke carefully.  "She made it... she just finished it..."

The elder looked at me, then at the robe, then back at me, total confusion on her face, and walked off.  I let go of my breath.  Tom smiled real big.  "Clarissa, I think that the highest compliment was just made by that woman.  Yep, you did well..."

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