Rick, a blanket maker
Appliquéd, hand-tied, mural blankets that tell a story. Rick Kagigebi, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe.
26/06/2024
Exhibit continues through June 28, 2024
Four Directions Blanket from the exhibit Air and Water
by Rick Kagigebi
See Air and Water now in our Giinawind Creative Space! We are open tomorrow from 10am - 5pm.
"Blankets are a core element in Indigenous cultural life. Blankets are shelter, warmth, an expression of generosity, a place of safety. Spouses are wrapped in a blanket at a wedding ceremony. Within ceremony, blankets are sent out to carry healing to distant communities; imbued with medicine and prayers for long, good lives. When we die, we are again wrapped in a blanket as we begin our journey home.
Going to ceremony as a teenager with my father in 1980, I made my first blanket for giveaway, for healing. Hundreds upon hundreds of blankets followed. Previously limiting my work to ceremony gifts or private commissions, I began to show my blankets publicly in 2018.
I create appliquéd mural blankets where a story is told conveying Ojibwe cultural values. What’s most rewarding is people waking up the stories within themselves and to the beauty in Ojibwe culture."
02/05/2024
AIR AND WATER, a new exhibit
Opens Friday May 3, 2024 in Grand Rapids at the MacRostie Art Center.
🔘Artist talk Friday June 7 at 6pm.
We are so excited to welcome artist Rick Kagigebi back to the Giinawind Creative Space! 🎨 Join us tomorrow from 4pm - 7pm as we celebrate new exhibitions in our Minnesota and Giinawind galleries.
Four Directions Blanket from the exhibit Air and Water
by Rick Kagigebi
Blankets are a core element in Indigenous cultural life. Blankets are shelter, warmth, an expression of generosity, a place of safety. Spouses are wrapped in a blanket at a wedding ceremony. Within ceremony, blankets are sent out to carry healing to distant communities; imbued with medicine and prayers for long, good lives. When we die, we are again wrapped in a blanket as we begin our journey home.
Going to ceremony as a teenager with my father in 1980, I made my first blanket for giveaway, for healing. Hundreds upon hundreds of blankets followed. Previously limiting my work to ceremony gifts or private commissions, I began to show my blankets publicly in 2018.
I create appliquéd mural blankets where a story is told conveying Ojibwe cultural values. What’s most rewarding is people waking up the stories within themselves and to the beauty in Ojibwe culture.
04/04/2024
Today's the last day for reserve orders on these bags
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Exclusive for Spring 2024 – reserve a Tote Bag $60 each . 9 to choose from . .
DM me through Facebook messenger to reserve (pay later)
Can take delivery (& pay) at Indigenous Art Fair / Fargo / Plains Art Museum on Saturday April 27 + Sunday April 28, 2024
Or arrangements can be made beginning in May to mail out with additional S&H. Can accept PayPal for mailed orders.
⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥
Miigwech Joe Allen, Animikii Print Club and Manoomin Arts Initiative for showing us the way - additional photography support from Tj Turner Pictures and Region 2 Arts Council💕
⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥
Product:
All-Over Print Large Tote Bag w/ Pocket
16” x 20”
Maximum weight limit: 44lbs
Capacity: 4.4 US gal
Large inside pocket
Comfortable cotton webbing handles
Vibrant colors that won't fade
*Only one bag has artwork on both sides
The following link is a review of a variety of PRINTFUL tote bags. The only bag offered for sale now and through Rick, a blanket maker is called "All-Over Print Large Tote Bag w/ Pocket".
https://youtu.be/YjNMHF9sLyE?t=273a
01/04/2024
Reserve orders on these bags closing Thursday April 4
Note: some design elements have been adjusted
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Exclusive for Spring 2024 – reserve a Tote Bag $60 each . 9 to choose from . . Please see comments for images of individual bags
DM me through Facebook messenger to reserve (pay later)
Can take delivery (& pay) at Indigenous Art Fair / Fargo / Plains Art Museum on Saturday April 27 + Sunday April 28, 2024
Or arrangements can be made beginning in May to mail out with additional S&H. Can accept PayPal for mailed orders.
⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥
Miigwech Joe Allen, Animikii Print Club and Manoomin Arts Initiative for showing us the way - additional photography support from Tj Turner Pictures and Region 2 Arts Council 💕
⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥
Product:
All-Over Print Large Tote Bag w/ Pocket
16” x 20”
Maximum weight limit: 44lbs
Capacity: 4.4 US gal
Large inside pocket
Comfortable cotton webbing handles
Vibrant colors that won't fade
*Only one bag has artwork on both sides
The following link is a review of a variety of PRINTFUL tote bags. The only bag offered for sale now and through Rick, a blanket maker is called "All-Over Print Large Tote Bag w/ Pocket".
https://youtu.be/YjNMHF9sLyE?t=273a
28/03/2024
Miigwech Textile Center and McKnight Foundation!
24/03/2024
Exclusive for Spring 2024 – reserve a Tote Bag $60 each . 9 to choose from . . see comments for images of individual bags
Note: Some design elements are updated
DM me through Facebook messenger to reserve (pay later)
Can take delivery (& pay) at Indigenous Art Fair / Fargo / Plains Art Museum on Saturday April 27 + Sunday April 28, 2024
Or arrangements can be made beginning in May to mail out with additional S&H. Can accept PayPal for mailed orders.
⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥
Miigwech Joe Allen, Animikii Print Club and Manoomin Arts Initiative for showing us the way - additional photography support from Tj Turner Pictures and Region 2 Arts Council 💕
⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥
Product:
All-Over Print Large Tote Bag w/ Pocket
16” x 20”
Maximum weight limit: 44lbs
Capacity: 4.4 US gal
Large inside pocket
Comfortable cotton webbing handles
Vibrant colors that won't fade
*Only one bag has artwork on both sides
The following link is a review of a variety of PRINTFUL tote bags. The only bag offered for sale now and through Rick, a blanket maker is called "All-Over Print Large Tote Bag w/ Pocket".
https://youtu.be/YjNMHF9sLyE?t=273a
11/03/2024
Miigwech for your support, Manoomin Arts Initiative 💕
13/02/2024
9th Annual Indigenous Art Fair - Fargo ND
Saturday and Sunday, April 27th and 28th, 2024.
Artist application deadline is Friday March 15th, 2024.
The event will take place at Plains Art Museum and has been extended for two days.
Any questions please contact the Plains Art Museum at 701-551-6100.
https://plainsart.org/indigenous-art-fair-2024-submission-form/
30/11/2023
Some of my work 2018-2023
21/09/2023
🔥🔥 Save the date – TWO DAYS Saturday April 27 + Sunday April 28, 2024 is next Indigenous Art Fair
at Plains Art Museum, Fargo ND
15/08/2023
Saturday, August 26 from 11-4 in downtown Mahnomen
22/07/2023
Rick, a blanket maker, has 4 new blankets in this show
08/06/2023
Water Woman.
A head full of waterfall-ing hair ending in four direction foam at her feet. She wears a water robe and a sea shell hat. Four wisps of hair sprout out from underneath her hat. Each wisp ends in a water droplet.
Watching over her are Grandfather Sun, Grandmother Moon, Mother Earth, and her fellow peoples. Guiding her path are the star people.
Notice how those that are watching her have a reflection showing up on her robe. Just as it would off a serene crystal clear lake having a glass like surface.
She wears a rainbow scarf that is actually the rainbow you see in the mist of the water. It embraces her hair.
The blanket background shows the sandy shoreline in which she travels. Just think of the shore of your favorite body of water. For me, it is Lake Superior.
Photo credit: Tj Turner Pictures
Appliquéd mural blanket, dimensions W78”xL93”
link to purchase below
💖 Miigwech LRAC for 2022 Career Development grant: This activity is funded in part by a grant from Lake Region Arts Council with McKnight Foundation funding.
💖 Miigwech r2arts for photography support by Tj Turner Pictures.
https://redcloudschool.shop/products/lady-thunderbird?pr_prod_strat=use_description&pr_rec_id=ae236a261&pr_rec_pid=7192081793087&pr_ref_pid=7192081760319&pr_seq=uniform
08/06/2023
The second of four blankets being exhibited at The Heritage Center at Maȟpíya Lúta.
This is a Four Directions Shield. Picture a bubble, a sphere with you standing in the middle. Directly around you is the glow of the four direction colors (an inner shell). They are warming, relaxing, stress free. In fact, you probably fell asleep already!
Going outward you have four black bears, each followed by four grand mothers. That is a lot of back up! Let's not forgot the Tree People depicted by the four diamond shapes.
As you get to the outer surface, you have the four directions again.
Each having three layers:
Top layer has birch trees.
Middle are the four directions.
Bottom has the guidance of Grandmother Moon.
This design is meant to be pictured as 3-D ball that is rotating.
Photo credit: Tj Turner Pictures
Appliquéd mural blanket, dimensions W78”xL93”
link to purchase below
💖 Miigwech LRAC for 2022 Career Development grant: This activity is funded in part by a grant from Lake Region Arts Council with McKnight Foundation funding.
💖 Miigwech r2arts for photography support by Tj Turner Pictures.
https://redcloudschool.shop/products/four-direction-shield?pr_prod_strat=use_description&pr_rec_id=963a3481e&pr_rec_pid=7192081727551&pr_ref_pid=7192081825855&pr_seq=uniform
23/05/2023
Coming soon - exhibit dates June 4 through to August 13, 2023
Opening Event: Saturday, June 3, beginning at 12p MT
https://redcloudart.show/
11/03/2023
Rick and Penny both have work this in traveling exhibition. Make plans to submit your art or film this fall for next year’s show.
Currently in Bismarck, the 4th Annual North Dakota Human Rights Arts Festival is a traveling exhibition that will visit museums and art galleries throughout North Dakota. The festival's mission is to educate, engage and facilitate discussion around local and world-wide human rights topics through artists’ work.
Hillary Kempenich selected as 2023 Invited Artist | The Human Family Award-winning artist Hillary Kempenich has been selected as the 2023 North Dakota Human Rights Film and Arts Festival‘s Invited Artist. The exhibition seeks out those artists creating relevant social justice work and invites them to display selected work in the exhibition. Invited artists receive ...
A Little Blanket Story by Rick Kagigebi
Let me set up a scenario that most people can relate to: It's a very chilly night. You can hear the snow falling. And you? You are curled up in front of the fireplace. Your dog, or cat by your side sleeping. You have with you your favorite book by your mostest favorite author, and you have your favorite steaming hot beverage at hand. No cookies! No! Those are reserved for Santa. Your worries are left outside by the trash bin. Let the raccoons deal with those. You are now ready for a warm quiet comforting evening. Or are you? Besides a wolf howling off in the distance, what else is missing? Where is your blanket that you are supposed to be snuggled up into? Ahhh, see there was something missing.
Although, I cannot tell you who your favorite author is or what your favorite hot beverage is. If you have a dog or cat. If you'll eat cookies anyways. Out of spite, maybe? Was Santa bad this year? These I may or may not be able to see, but I can do my best to provide that blanket for you. And to make it clear, the blanket I try to provide is not necessarily the one you are wrapped up in, it may be the one that has just told you this little story. I want my blankets to make you feel happy, safe, protected, proud, touched, or all of the above. If you're happy, I'm happy. The blanket is functional. I do want you to wrap yourself up into them, that is what they are for.
THE END
PS. Read the book, it's so much better than the movie.
Videos (show all)
