Though intimidating at first glance, porcupines and their quills generally do not pose harm to people. Their quills, though sharp, are used to adorn many items throughout Dene regions in Alaska and beyond. Join Lily Grbavach and Dena Drake in this program to learn more about porcupines, their habits, and how to craft using porcupine quills.
Registrants will learn using a mock-up of materials before preparing and crafting with real porcupine quills. Free; registration required.
In Context is a museum program in which experts provide context for the history, art, science and culture of Alaska and the North.
About the Speakers:
Dena Drake is an artist and designer based in Anchorage, Alaska. She is originally from Mamterilleq (Bethel), AK. She was introduced to fur and fabric sewing, crafting, and exploring new art forms from an early age by her grandmothers on both sides of her family. That influence sparked a lifelong passion for creating and working with her hands. As an artist, mother, and crafts educator, she sees crafting as a way to connect generations.
Lily Grbavach serves as the Director of Education at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in Portage, Alaska. AWCC is a non-profit organization and wildlife sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care. She regularly cares for three North American porcupines living in human care and oversees educational programs focusing on conservation, including porcupines, as ambassadors for their species and the wildlife of Alaska.