We’re excited to be working with award-winning Tlingit Artist and Carver James Johnson once again. Born and raised in Juneau, AK, James is a lifelong snowboarder and belongs to the Tlingit Ch’áak’ Dakl’aweidi [Eagle Killer Whale] Clan.
For our latest collaboration, we were lucky enough to feature James’ Eagle design on a cozy plush throw blanket and a quick-dry kitchen towel. We caught up with James to learn more about the Eagle design, his process, what’s inspiring him these days, and the importance of carrying Tlingit culture and tradition forward through his work.
Read the full interview with James below.
We’re excited to be working together again. What’s been changing or evolving in your work lately?
It's been amazing working with Slowtide, really happy with how this collab turned out. There isn't a word for "art" in our language, our history, and stories were told thru the "art form" going back 10,000 years in southeast Alaska. My ancestors set an incredibly high standard for what we're doing today, I'm constantly chasing that standard. I don't think I'll ever reach it in my lifetime. It's never really about the finished piece, it's your skill that is constantly progressing along the way. I want to push it as far as possible, the point I'm at right now is exciting. I feel like anything is possible. But, it's always about honoring my ancestors, honoring the Tlingit people through what I do.
Can you tell us a little about the Eagle design featured on this blanket, what it represents, and your personal connection to it?
Eagle is one of our top clan crests in our culture. The 2 Top clans are Raven and Eagle. I am Eagle. Our culture is matrilineal; you follow your mother's clan. So, creating a piece like this honors my lineage. The foundation for the design is called formline, it's our visual language displaying our stories, our lineage, and our identity.
We love getting a look behind the scenes of your process. How does a piece like this come together from the first drawing to the finished carving?
Everything starts by drawing, all by hand too. Tlingit formline carries many rules and guidelines that must be followed for the design to be proper. I spent close to 10 years just drawing formline to learn it correctly. The better you are at drawing formline, the better carver you'll be. It teaches you the balance within the art form. I love that the design was originally based on a carving. Doing formline that can be carved is important to me; it carries the traditional aspect of Tlingit art. The Eagle panel was also displayed at the Museum of Art in Fort Collins, CO. It's a quality piece, one of my favorite panels I've done.
What’s inspiring you most these days, both in your art and outside of it?
The work of my ancestors will forever be my inspiration. I've visited every major museum across the country, studying their work, spending hours upon hours with it. My time and energy are focused strictly on learning from them. For example, I've been to the Museum of Natural History in NYC a few times now, but I can't even tell you what is in the museum. I go directly into their collections, put on gloves, and study my ancestors' work, then leave. I don't care to see anything else. It's emotional, it's powerful, and it's also necessary to interact with these objects. The connection is very real.
What do you hope someone takes away from this piece when they bring it into their home?
Our culture is alive, it's constantly moving, and I've dedicated my life to carrying it forward. Our history going back thousands of years is told through the art. I, like most people, fall in love with the visual aesthetics of Tlingit art, but the meaning behind it is way more important. When people comprehend what it stands for. Tlingit live in balance with all things: humans, animals, and the earth all exist on the same plane, none above the other. All contain spirit, and respect is given to all. These days you can easily see how out of balance we are. Indiginenous knowledge is the way forward. Gunalcheesh (thank you).
Click here to shop James Johnson x Slowtide. Check out James on Instagram to see more of his work & follow along for what's next! 
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