Tides Woman

• Main Author: Laws, Marie
• Other Authors: Given to the University of Washington Libraries by Norman Jenisch Rose and Louise R. Rose
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Pacific; New Zealand; tlingit; Alaska
• Online Access: http://cdm16786.contentdm.oclc.org:80/cdm/ref/collection/p16786coll14/id/29

10 of 35. Information supplied by the Artist: "When I was a little girl, we didn't have electricity or television, or radios. So things like the night sky were fascinating to me. If there was a full moon, I would crawl up on my mother's lap by the window and she would tell me this story: Tides Woman. Sometimes people will tell you there's a man in the moon, she's really a woman. A long time ago, before Raven threw the Sun, Moon and Stars into the sky, the tide used to come in and go out whenever it wanted to. That made it really dangerous to go clam digging or picking abalones, because the tide could come in and you could drown. Or you might take your boat and go to a berry picking place, if the tide would go out, your boat could be high and dry for months. When Raven gave the Moon her freedom, she was so happy that she promised the people she would make the tide go out slowly for six hours and come back in for six hours, and she's done that ever since! When my mother finished her story we would both sit and look at the night sky." About the Artist: "Marie Laws belongs to the Tlingit Nation, is a Raven and is from the T'akdeintaan clan. Her Tlingit name is L'Daanaat. Marie has had formal training in painting, sculpture, clay, stone, weaving and wood carving. She has demonstrated and interpreted northwest art forms at the Southeast Alaska Cultural Center where she was involved in the design and weaving of two ceremonial robes. Recently Marie was an instructor in the Alaska State Council on the Arts Master/Apprentice Program. Marie has attended symposiums and workshops in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her works in weaving, carving and paper making have been exhibited in New Zealand as well as in many venues throughout the U.S. and Alaska." Information supplied by Sitka Rose Gallery, Inc., Sitka, Alaska. This is the first piece by Marie Laws given by Norman and Louise Rose to the UW Bothell Library. The 2nd Piece, "Raven/Y'eil," is a cast bronze sculpture.