According to APRN, a new national artist award will allow Tlingit weaver Teri Rofkar to explore the use of non-traditional materials in making traditional ceremonial regalia.

For over two decades, Rofkar, of Sitka, has made traditional raven's tail pieces using ancient methods and natural materials, like mountain goat wool, buffalo, cedar and spruce roots.

But in a two-robe project supported by a grant up to $50,000 from the New York firm Creative Capital, she's looking to experiment with high-tech fibers like Kevlar, programmable fiberoptics, and even illuminated nanoparticles. She calls it her "Tlingit Superman Series."

Such new materials will open up endless possibilities, she imagines, some of which might appeal to the younger, wired generation:

What would a robe look like that is more applicable to the young people? Would it be programmable? They'd want to link it up to their iPods or their MP3 players. Would the colors get brighter as the drums got louder and the singing got louder? Would it change color with the story?

Despite her eagerness to explore the frontiers of creation for the next 2-1/2 years without worrying if the new pieces will find a buyer, she says that the future of her own art won't change permanently with the new project.

"Oh, I can't wait to get back to my mountain goat wool," she says, "This is just like, 'oh my what have I done'."

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