Irene Hardy Clark is a Navajo weaver. Her matrilineal clan is Tabaahi (water's edge people) and her patrilineal clan is Honagha nii (he walks around one people). Her technique and style is primarily self-taught, incorporating contemporary and traditional themes.[1]
Her mother, Glenebah Hardy, mentored her in traditional techniques. Clark processes the sheep's wool used in her weavings by washing, cleaning, carding and hand spinning it. She then dyes it with plant and lichen dyes, and uses an upright steel loom to create the weaving. Clark's work has been exhibited in museums, art galleries and has been featured as the subject of the 1991 film, Weavers, by DeSciose Productions, Denver.[2][3][4] Clark is a traditional teacher, having shared her knowledge of weaving and techniques to several generations.[5]
Clarks work is in the collection of the Denver Art Museum.[10] Her work is included in numerous public and private collections including the Edwin L. and Ruth E. Kennedy Southwest Native American collection at Ohio University.[11]
Commissions
In 1990, Clark received a commission from Gloria F. Ross Tapestries, New York City to weave Nááts 'ííllid (Rainbow), and to interpret the paintings of the American artist, Kenneth Noland in tapestries.[12]
^Reflection of the Weavers World: The Gloria F. Ross Collection of Contemporary Navajo Weaving. Denver, Colorado: Denver Art Museum, exhibition brochure. 1992.