If you happen to be in Kodiak this weekend -- or if you’re looking for a reason to go -- the Baranov Museum is hosting an open house that focuses on the museum’s gut parka conservation work.

Visitors will also get to see behind-the-scenes collections and view all four gut-skin jackets in the museum collections and meet Object Conservator Dana Senge.

Below is a press release from the Baranov Museum, which is at 101 Marine Way in Kodiak. For more information, click here.

Enjoy.

-- Steve

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Baranov Museum Open House

Join us for an Open House event on Saturday, February 6th, from 12 to 3 pm, to learn about our gut parka conservation work and see behind-the-scenes collections care in the front gallery. This event is an opportunity to view all four gutskin jackets in the Museum collections, meet Objects Conservator Dana Senge, and learn about this innovative local technology.

For more information about this free event please call the Museum at 486-5920.

About the jackets and the conservation work:
A gutskin parka (also known as kamleika or kanaglluk) is a rain jacket made from the intestines or esophagus of bear or sea mammals. For centuries, the Alutiiq / Sugpiaq people of Kodiak Island created and wore kamleikas with strips of the light and tough material arranged horizontally and sewn with ingenious waterproof stitches.

The gut material of the jackets stays flexible only when saturated with water. When dry for an extended period, the material can become brittle and misshapen. The conservation treatment will include humidification and reshaping of the jackets, cleaning, repairs to tears, and stabilization of loss areas. The project will also see the development of custom storage and exhibit mounts for each jacket.

There are four kamleikas in the Baranov Museum collections. Two jackets are associated with Afognak Village, one with Woody Island and one of unknown Kodiak provenance. An additional Open House event for individuals, families and guests of the Afognak, Port Lions and Woody Island communities will be held on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 5 to 7pm.

Objects Conservator Dana Senge has completed treatment of the 19th century spruce root basket discovered in the June 2008 archaeological excavations on the Baranov Museum grounds. The kamleika conservation work was designed to maximize time already scheduled on the island corresponding with the return of the spruce root basket. The basket will also be on exhibit during the Open House.