Weston Backcountry x Vernan Kee
With the Mission Series, Weston has teamed up with Diné Navajo artist, Vernan Kee, and the National Forest Foundation to support the Wood For Life Tribal Fuelwood Initiative. The program responsibly redistributes firewood from forest restoration projects to indigenous communities for cooking and heating their homes in winter.
For my design, I drew inspiration from traditional Navajo art representations of the Red-tailed hawk or “Atseelton” through a modern lens. Feathers of the Red-tailed Hawk are used in ceremonies by Navajo medicine men and the bird is respected and honored by the Navajo People. Also known for being fast and precise, their feathers were tied to arrows so they fly true without mistakes. The speed and precise movements of skiers/snowboarders reminded me of Red-tailed hawks soaring down to catch prey.