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Description

Rectangular wall hanging woven with wool, and dyed. The pattern is repeating overlapped triangles in olive green and dark pink-red down the centre. There is a band of red within the olive green, and a band of olive green within the red. Flanking the centre design are wide off-white zigzags. On the right side is a small band of dark brown-grey and small band of light grey within the off-white section. The sides follow the zigzag design on the inside edge, in dark red and grey mottled wool. One end has a series of small open loops of off-white wool with a small section of pink, and the opposite end has long fringe in off-white wool with a small section of pink. Blue 'Salish Weaving' tag sewn to back. The colours have faded on the front of the textile.

Narrative

Purchased by Gayle Stelter from a shop in Chilliwack, c. 1973-1975. The weaving has a 'Salish Weaving' tag on it, from the Salish Weavers Guild, which operated out of Sardis between 1971-1985.

History Of Use

The Salish Weavers Guild was inspired by the research of amateur anthropologist, Oliver Wells. Mr. Wells, a local farmer, spent much of his time interviewing his Sto:lo neighbours about their history and cultural traditions, while making collections of cultural objects - many of which are now in the Chilliwack Museum. During the 1960s, Wells became especially interested in Salish loom weaving, and with the assistance of Mary Peters of Seabird Island, helped to organise a local guild that operated out of the Coqualeetza Cultural Center between 1971-1985. Weavers worked together to dye and spin wool. They made weavings on commission, or brought their work in to fill orders as they were recieved.