2019 Wool Blanket Design Contest [VIDEO]

Eighth Generation - the first Native owned company to offer wool blankets - is looking for the next indigenous artist to design a wool blanket!

Every week, we receive emails from highly skilled indigenous artists interested in collaborating with us on a wool blanket. As much as we are honored by this interest, we just aren't able to say yes as much as we'd like to, so in 2017, we launched our first ever wool blanket design contest.

This contest both symbolizes our respect for these artists and ensures that we will help one new aspiring artist become an Eighth Generation blanket designer. This designer will add their work to a growing collection of more than fifty blankets, each designed by a Native artist and symbolizing how support for Native-owned companies leads to opportunity for Native people.

Check out this video to learn how you can apply, and help us spread the word about this creative opportunity by sharing it on Facebook or Instagram!

Eighth Generation's first wool blanket design contest produced two highly anticipated collaborations with Jared Yazzie (Diné) of OXDX and David Robert Boxley (Tsimshian).

The "Tribute" Wool Blanket by Jared Yazzie

For his "Tribute" Wool Blanket, Jared Yazzie adapted traditional rug designs woven by his grandmothers into a striking wool blanket that pays homage to his family's cultural legacy. Jared says of the design, “While my grandmothers are no longer with us, these patterns and colors remain to tell us the story of where they come from. I felt it was important to show tributes to their design through my new work. It makes me feel as if I am passing along their legacy.”

The "Confluence" Wool Blanket by David Robert Boxley (Tsimshian)

The beautiful "Confluence" Wool Blanket by David Robert Boxley (Tsimshian) represents the powerful and inextricable connection between humans and the world around us, and serves as a reminder of our responsibilities to care for it all. For a look at the behind the scenes process of creating this blanket, you can keep an eye out for the launch of the upcoming short film, Eagle Vision: Taking Native Business to New Heights!

If you think you have what it takes to be the next artist to design a wool blanket with Eighth Generation, check out how you can apply below!

HOW TO APPLY:

• All submissions must be the sole original work of the submitting artist.
• Images should be .jpg file type, no more than 2MB in size.
• Include Tribal Affiliation, Website, and/or Social Media links.
• Personal statement should highlight how your story aligns with Eighth Generation's values and goals (300 words or less).
• Open to indigenous artists in the United States and Canada.

Please note: when you submit your artwork, you are granting permission for us to share it, along with appropriate credit and your preferred website link, through our social media channels.

Deadline: March 13th, 2019. Contest is now closed. Finalists will be contacted for phone interviews.

Compensation

$2,000 minimum - varies depending on qualifications and other factors.

Other Considerations

• Just to be clear - we are NOT asking you to create a blanket design to submit! We don't ask artists to do work for free.
• Wondering what pieces to send? Choose artwork that you feel best represents your skills - pick the art that you're most proud of.
• Questions? Please email [email protected]