Bio:
sa’hLa mitSa - Dr. Susan Pavel, Filipina by birth, first learned Coast Salish wool weaving during the summer of 1996. Her master teacher was subiyay - Bruce Miller of the Skokomish Nation, Uncle to her husband chixApKaid – Michael Pavel. Each summer she would take three full months to produce one ceremonial blanket and then gift it to various elders of the tribe. By the fourth year it was suggested to sell her creations as an exchange of gifts and she started along that path. By the seventh year she was invited to teach weaving classes for other Nations and has taught hundreds of students. She has curated, participated, and solo exhibited in 12 museum exhibits and over 25 gallery exhibits. She has been awarded 17 artist-in-residence or grant opportunities. She has over 30 bibliographic acknowledgements. She has consistently taught, presented, and/or demonstrated at least 80 times. Her weavings can be seen in 10 public venues and numerous private collections across the nation. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Coast Salish Wool Weaving Center. As well as an adjunct faculty member at The Evergreen State College. Today she continues to weave and teach, as she is obedient to SQ3Tsya’yay – Weaver’s Spirit Power.
Artist Statement:
I first and foremost weave for ceremonial reasons, both when the spirit moves me and when an occasion such as a naming, wedding, birth, death, and life passage arises. I create, educational exhibits in community spaces because I strongly believe in instructing the public. When we observe and participate, we appreciate the weaving and culture much more. I weave, because I was entrusted with the sacred obligation to pass on the teachings to our next generations, resulting in classes and presentations. I exhibit, the weaving as an art form to share the deeply woven beauty that is the Coast Salish. Above and beyond the “I”, WE weave because we honor SQ3Tsyay”yay ~ Weaver’s Spirit Power.