Yup’ik Story Knives

On Saturday, Borderless Arts TN Teapot Diplomats learned about Yup’ik Story Knives. The participants made their own knives and then used them to tell stories under the artistic direction of Jennie Harriman. The story knife is a traditional toy of the Yup’ik people in Alaska used for sketching pictures on the ground or in the snow. The pictures show clothing, people, houses, animals, and events, and are drawn to illustrate a story or as a game in which others try to guess the artist’s subject. Knife stories were accompanied by songs.

This year, Borderless Arts is focusing on how cultures tell their stories through the arts. The Teapot Diplomat program is supported by Mark and Niki Antonini.