Coffee @ 10 with Renee Wasson Dillard, traditional Anishinaabe natural fiber artist and teacher

Renee Wasson will talk about her fiber art work, traditional Anishinaabe methods, materials, and teachings.

Renee ‘Wasson’ Dillard is a traditional Anishinaabe natural fiber artist and teacher, raised in Anishinaabe communities of Michigan. The art of natural fibers and weaving was passed on to Wasson at an early age, by both her mother and her
paternal grandmother. Wasson started weaving her first yarn sash, at age nine. It came natural to her, and thus began a lifetime of artistic expression and community teaching through traditional Anishinaabe approaches. Throughout the
years, she has also learned from other Anishinaabe community teachers, and continues on her path to re-discover knowledge and further sharpen her skills. Wasson uses various indigenous materials in teaching, and to produce traditional
pieces. In staying true to Anishinaabe methods, she harvests and processes the materials herself. Such materials commonly include basswood, birch bark, cedar, cattails, spruce, milkweed, red willow, black ash, sweetgrass and bulrush. Whichever the fiber, she prefers to teach the discipline in its entirety, from plant botany, environment and weather, seasons and life cycles, responsible-harvesting techniques, natural dyes, processing methods, Anishinaabe stories, songs, ceremonial teachings, historical connections, and related Anishinaabe language. Even when the workshop focus is limited to the creation of the art piece, she provides teachings surrounding all that accompanies it. Wasson strives to fully pass it on to new generations, in the same time-honored manner she received it, and to instill within each learner the relevance of revitalizing such Odawa customs.