Fish Skin Tanning Workshop taught by June Pardue

Learn how to tan fish skin and craft with fish leather in this 5-day workshop with Master Alutiiq Artist June Pardue!

Updated Dates: August 9-13th

Open to everyone age 12 and up

 $200 Age 12-18

$225 Adult

Schedule

• Wednesday, Aug. 9th 12-5pm: Clean and begin the tanning process
• Thursday, Aug. 10th  1-4pm: Sewing workshop (barrettes)
• Friday, Aug. 11th 12-3pm: Change tanning solution
• Saturday, Aug. 12th 1-4pm: Sewing workshop (brooch)
• Sunday, Aug. 13th 12-2pm (break) and 3-5pm: oil, dry, and mount skins; sewing workshop (credit card holder)

Students will need to bring:

• 1 gallon container for tanning fish skins
• 1 tablespoon
• Small plier without ridges for sewing
• A piece of cardboard to mount their skin/s onto for drying.
• One fish skin to tan—could be fresh or from last year (not king salmon or halibut)

 Supplies will be provided for barrette, brooch, and cardholder sewing projects.

June Pardue grew up in Old Harbor, Kodiak. As a child, she spent time with her mother and their neighbor, Fedosia Inga, weaving grass into baskets and other types of containers in the traditional Alutiiq/Sugpiaq styles. Over time June Pardue became one of the most highly regarded traditional Sugpiaq weavers and began to work in other traditional mediums including gut and fish skin. Her artwork can be found in the collections of the Sheldon Jackson Museum, the Kodiak History and Alutiiq museums in Kodiak, and in numerous private collections. She is dedicated to teaching her art form, cultural values, and in particular, respect for elders, through her craft. She has been an artist demonstrator at Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage and an artist-in-residence at the Sheldon Jackson Museum and has given numerous workshops online and in person on sewing and tanning fish skin, gut, and pinguat (traditional Alutiiq beaded headdress) making.