A long time ago, all the world was green and the honeybee had a hard time finding the flowers.
The people and the animals wanted more honey, and they fought over what the hard-working bee could produce.
The bee needed help.
The butterfly was asked to paint the flowers so the bee could find them more easily. But the butterfly’s job was overwhelming, too.
Knowing that creatures such as the eagle and the bear were too big to help, the butterfly asked the hummingbird to help color the flowers, and gave specific instructions on what to do. But the hummingbird had a mind of its own and came up with wild colors and designs.
The people told the butterfly and the hummingbird that they loved them both. The bee found all the flowers and there was peace. And plenty of honey.
That was the story told by Tulalip artist Ty Juvinel at the recent opening of the new exhibit on color at Hibulb Cultural Center.
“Vibrant Beauty: Colors of our Collection” is displayed through next spring.
Hibulb guide Mary Jane Topash suggested the exhibit, which is designed to engage children with numerous hands-on and interactive displays. As Hibulb curator Tessa Campbell said, the idea is that the children will “keep our cultural fires burning.”
For adults, however, the highlight will be the display of dozens of items from the Hibulb collection of artful antique artifacts, divided by six colors.
View and read about these items, which include beads of all sorts, beaded moccasins, cuffs and bags, carvings of miniature paddles, racing canoes and story poles, a model stick game, woven baskets, sharpening stones, a bark shredder, arrows, candle holders, ribbons, headbands, jewelry, and a knitted vest and gaiters.
People who visit the exhibit will be challenged to choose a favorite color, see what color represents their personality, find out about the science behind color and learn the Lushootseed names for colors.
Visitors also can learn how color — as a part of the lives of Coast Salish people — has evolved. Red and black are the tribes’ colors. Historically, for example, canoes were painted black on the exterior and red inside. Colors were made from berries, clay, roots and fungi.
Contemporary artists in the Tulalip Tribes were interviewed about their use of color for the exhibit.
Artist Joe Gobin said he likes the traditional red and black.
“I have always been drawn to red. It is my favorite color.”
Ty Juvinel said he doesn’t have a favorite color, and he uses all the colors of nature in his art.
“It has to match emotion. If it’s a sad piece, I’m not going to put yellow,” he said. “Color is about how I am feeling. Last week, I liked the color purple.”
If you go
Hibulb Cultural Center, 6410 23rd Ave. NE, Tulalip.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; on the first Thursday of each month, Hibulb is open until 8 p.m. with free admission.
Admission is free for tribal members and all preschoolers, $6 for military, veterans and students, $7 for seniors and $10 for adults. A family can be admitted for $25.
More at www.hibulbculturalcenter.org.
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