Rose Frank

Rose Josephine Corbett (née Compo; April 6, 1912 – January 19, 1999), later Rose Josephine Frank, was a Native American artist of the Nez Perce Tribe, known for her cornhusk weaving. Frank used her art as a way to preserve her tribe's craft, traditions, and rituals by creating artwork and instructing others.

Personal life and career Frank was born in 1912, in Sweetwater, Idaho into the Nez Perce Tribe, Her father died in 1919, and her mother died in 1920 of tuberculosis. When she was six years old, Frank became an orphan and was taken to the St. Joseph Mission at Slickpoo. She lived as a housewife for the majority of her life until she took a class with Ida Blackeagle, who is credited as the impetus for Frank becoming a professional artist. Blackeagle was an instructor at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho and was teaching a textile arts class that Frank chose to attend. Some sources have stated that the class was held at the nearby Lapwai High School as opposed to the college campus.

Frank mainly focused on traditional, geometric Nez Percé patterns such as diamonds, but would also produce floral patterns as requested by a customer. She later taught others the art of cornhusk weaving to ensure that the traditional techniques were passed down to the next generation. Frank stated that she praised every piece of work her students created, as this would encourage them to apply consistent effort and potentially lead to improve their work.

Artwork styles

Frank used twined cornhusk to create bags and other weavings. She would also incorporate other materials such as acrylic yarn or dyed twine for added color. Frank would use traditional Nez Perce geometric designs, which she created by weaving yarn and cornhusk around the weft as it crossed the warp. Her bags were capable of holding items as opposed to being only for display and her work was valued "not only for her meticulous craftsmanship, but also for her equally tenacious maintenance of traditional aesthetic principles." This award is given to show one's lifetime achievement in folk or traditional arts. 1986: received the Governor's Folk Award by a former governor of Idaho, John V. Evans.