ABOUT CHHOLING - Shawl Lady dot Com

Chholing P. Taha, Cree First Nations
Welcome to my workshop

b. 1948 -

I am certified Native American artisan of Cree First Nations heritage. I have been art-crafting and writing intensively for the past 40+ years. My family and beloved pugs now reside within the stunning boundaries of Minnesota.

Living has been a circular journey. Traveling through sometimes stormy canvases and eventually flying into the open skies splashed across shawls. As with all living beings we will return back to the beginning at the end of the trail, a time for review, heart lights reflection.

My art works may be found in museum, corporate and private collections throughout the U.S., Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Japan.

2012 Began :Singing Water Project, a series of art works that honor the importance of water and
acknowledge the work of the Water Walkers
2012 Permanent exhibition "Native Voices" located at the National Institutes of Health in Washington DC
2011 my first novel was published: "She Who Was Taken"
2009 & 2011 Best in Show at the In the Spirit Contemporary Art Exhibit
2008 First Place winner in Textiles at the Annual Eiteljorg Indian Market
2007 winner of the Eiteljorg Purchase Award,

ABOUT SHAWLS & WEARING BLANKETS

The beautiful shawls and wearing blankets you are viewing today are a culmination of dreams, memories, cultural history, and stories from the "Olde Tyme" shared by relatives, friends and acquaintances throughout my years ambling upon this Turtle Island.

Each shawl pattern, imagery and color are a mix of the ancient, modern and often the names of the wearer are incorporated. Each color has a story and meaning, every animal depicts a mission to help mankind, and the shawl itself is a gesture of respect to the Creator, drum, dancers and prayer.

All shawls and wearing blankets are made from the finest materials available: rich 100% woolen, cashmere, camel hair and blends (polyester is available upon request for those who are "wool sensitive"), colorful silks, satins and washable suede are selected. The fringing is all hand cut and knotted one-at-a-time in approximately 16-18" lengths.

ABOUT ORIGINALS AND PRINTS

Many people wonder: "Chholing, why don't the people in your paintings have faces detailed on them?" I leave a blank canvas within a finished painting, the face, so whomever views these experiences will have a place to stand within the image. I don't want any preconceived notions, confusion or likeness to distract from a deep sharing of my heart's vision.

Each painting depicts an inner transformation. These stories are from dialogs with my Aunties, other relations, and friends who braved the journey to discover ones self. Often it was a healing of sorts, a confrontation with spirits, and self realization, or the peace of collecting medicine.

I invite you to come along with me and lets walk slowly together along the road towards home.

The intimate experience of an internal dialog will bridge time and space for human beings and all living matter. All work produced is to invoke a universal living experience to encourage, bring hope, inspire and touch the child sleeping within all of us. It is my wish to bring a sense of wonder, common bonds and excitement between the audience, and myself through narrative the experience we will share.

An experience of symbols, emotions, confrontations, Life & Death and beyond.

Chholing P. Taha
Artist

Many thanks go to all the people who pray for all of us, the earth, wind and sky,
for their encouragement and inspiration to keep a'going is priceless.