Robert Davis Hoffman is coming to town this weekend to teach a formline design workshop at the library.

Formline design is the characteristic element in Tlingit art. "It describes the basic shapes that are used. It's a very sophisticated art form, but once you understand some basic rules, almost anybody can find a starting point to understand it," Hoffman said.

The historical use of the Native design is important to Tlingit, Haidi and Tsimshian clans.

"It's the clan crest art form. I'd say about 90 percent of all the Northwest Coast art was representative of a person's clan crest."

Hoffman...