Willow Kipp, owner of the WillowCahill brand.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Thursday, March 28 will mark the release of the Sacred Ground rug collection featuring the brand, WillowCahill by Willow Kipp, a Shoshone-Bannock and Blackfeet citizen.
According to a press release, American Dakota, is a U.S. based rug mill, specializing in rugs for rustic-refined cabins, mountain homes and western ranches.
Other Indigenous artists contributing to the collaboration include Randy L. Barton (Dine’) and Eugenia Stanley (Dine’).
Part of the company’s mission is to partner with talented Native Americans and provide the artists with income from the sales of their designs. Which will earn them 50/50 of the profits. Therefore, the artist can continually receive revenue as the author of the work, as opposed to a one-time transaction. It also makes works of art more affordable for homeowners.
The Sacred Ground collection consists of 12 patterns made from 100 percent EnduraStran nylon and all the rugs are available in seven sizes. The rugs are made-to-order in the USA.
Sacred Ground comes from WillowCahill who explains, “The name Sacred Ground is a reference to walking in beautiful places and creating designs that cover such large areas of people’s homes, workspaces or anywhere these rugs may be placed, is doing that. It shows care and respect for that place, and care for the feelings of all who see the space. Those are all sacred spaces.”
Kipp’s Sacred Collection designs.
Willow’s artist background began with making her own powwow regalia at 12-years-old, she was taught by her mom. That inspired her to come up with her own digital designs on her iPad, which were then printed by her mom on T-shirts and she also designed her own shawls.
She learned about tribal specific designs geared towards her Shoshone-Bannock and Blackfeet Tribes.
Since then she’s been contracted on quite a few projects, including murals. In 2019 she did a mural in New Zealand and in 2020 did a mural in Missoula, Mont. This year, she launched her WillowCahill.com website and describes it as an extension of her artistic abilities. So far, she’s released a collection of leather purses with her digital designs.
A year and a half ago, was when she got in contact with American Dakota, who’ve also worked with Native artists Lauren Good Day, Steven Paul Judd and Naomi Glasses. He told her to send him some designs and sent him three, which are the ones used for the collection. Each design comes in two colors and is available in different sizes.
WillowCahill’s rug, named “Buffalo Rising,” shows buffalo as powerful forces in the landscape. “They shape it and help the ecosystems in several ways, their presence as keystone species to my region is crucial. Like the buffalo our native cultures are resilient. I have a personal connection to Buffalo (“Iinnii” in Blackfoot) because Blackfeet have entire cultural beliefs based around buffalo. Triangles and sharp points are highly used in Blackfoot-style art and in the Horse design, sharp zigzags are mimicking lighting and thunder. You don’t see thunder, but the U-shaped claw is a reminder that thunder always follows lighting and they are always welcome on the plains,” states Willow.
Her work with the Intertribal Buffalo Council and other non-governmental organizations that work towards conservation set the tone for her work.
Her other designs are “Peak to Peak” and is also buffalo centered. As well as “Plains Speak,” that has a ledger horse design featuring running horses with lightning and thunder going down the center and a geometric mountain design going around the boarder.
Promotional photo released by WillowCahill, showing her Peak to Peak design.
Up next for Willow is presenting a dress and arm covered shawl to recently Oscar nominated actress Lily Gladstone. It will be gifted to her on “Lily Gladstone Day” March 26 when she visits the Blackfeet Nation and will be getting a headdress transfer from the Women’s Stand-Up Headdress Society. One of Willow’s rugs will also be used for her to take photos on and be gifted to the Blackfeet Tribal Council Chambers.
Willow hopes in the future to also gift a rug to the Fort Hall Business Council Chambers.
She encourages young artists to seek out opportunities through utilizing all of the technology. She wants them to not be afraid of taking chances and asking questions. She said to let people know what you want and what you are doing.
“Basically, don’t be afraid to create space for yourself,” she said.
Mark Ford, President of American Dakota says, “It’s quite an honor to be trusted with an artist’s work, especially when the art is so personal. Sometimes artists have spent months at a loom to create a masterfully woven rug that they then allow American Dakota to translate onto an affordable machine-made version.” Ford continues, “While we could never replicate the touch, feel and detail of the original, American Dakota’s version makes this labor of love affordable for those who admire these weavings.”
You can see the collection and find dealers at www.americandakota.com and they will also be available at WillowCahill.com on March 28.