July 2007 Newsletter by Fairbanks Arts Association

State of the Arts The

monthly newsletter of Fairbanks Arts Association

July 2007

I N THIS ISSUE p2

Dinne r s in the h o m e

G a l l e r y e x hi b it

Re a d ing S e r ies

V o l untee r c o nne c ti o n

G a l l e r y A r tist

g a z e b o s c he d u l e

G a z e b o N ights

o p p o r tunities f o r a r tists

A r tist s p o t l ight

V o l untee r s o f the m o nth

“Promoting contemporary and traditional arts in Alaska’s Interior.”

Fairbanks Arts Association’s Dinner in the Homes By Rosalie Stockwell-White “It’s like having a group of friends over for dinner—it doesn’t have to be a big production.” These are words of wisdom from volunteer host, Kerynn Fisher. That’s right, it is time once again for one of the most talked about and enjoyable fundraising events in town—Fairbanks Arts Association’s annual Dinners in the Homes! “It was nice having this interaction with visitors when they’re not rushed. Many times they’re so rushed that they don’t get to benefit from the interaction with the local people as much as when they

hosts and guests more opportunity for conversation. Volunteer host, Laura Burgh, admits that before she hosted, she was a little intimidated. Since then, she’s hosted several times and finds “the people who

If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions about Dinners in the Homes please contact Rosalie Stockwell-White at 456-6485 ext. 224.

“I enjoyed my visit, I saw so many things that I thought I would never see....Thank you all of you who treated us to a delightful supper.” –Mildred Beets have a relaxed setting,” said Kerynn. We appreciate hosts who participated last year and would like to extend an invitation to do the same this summer. There will be over 1000 visitors eager to meet people with whom they can have an authentic Alaskan experience. Most people visiting are curious about our long, dark winters, midnight-sun summers and are curious about activities such as fishing, skiing or growing 40 lbs. zucchinis. Dinner dates available to host: June 29th, July 13th, 20th, 27th, August 17th, 24th and September 14th. Consider hosting 4 guests or more, hosting more than once, co-hosting with friends or assisting with transportation. We always need help finding new hosts, so please tell co-workers, neighbors and friends about this special event. The Dinners are scheduled on Friday nights at 7pm. As a host, you’ll pick up the visitors at Wedgewood Resort Visitor’s Center on the evening of your dinner, host a meal and return your new friends to the hotel afterwards. We encourage and recommend a simple meal, which will allow both

Judy Kreith, Mark Taylor and guests. come are so gracious and warm and interested in meeting people that by the time dinner is over, you feel like you’re fast friends.” Guests traveling with Collette Tours and are given this unique opportunity by Fairbanksan, Michelle Bartlett of Maiden Alaska. The Fairbanks Arts Association receives $25 per person in this unique fundraising event. “Volunteering for Dinners is a much more personal way to support the Fairbanks Arts Association than writing a check and I did it because I love talking about Fairbanks and life in Fairbanks,” said Kerynn. Join this summer’s volunteers who will share our culture, meet travelers and support the arts. Let’s make this fundraiser a success for everyone. Cover Photo: Penny Wakefield, Rachel Kvapil, and June Rogers share a fun evening with four of our Dinners in the Homes guests.

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July 2007

July Committee Schedule: Community Writers Group July 8, 1-4 pm Visual Arts Committee July 11 at 5:30pm Literary Arts Committee July 12 at 5:30pm Cinema Arts Committee July 18 at 5:30pm Long Prose Meeting July 19 at 6:30pm Community Arts Meeting July 25 at Noon All meetings in the Bear Gallery, 3rd Floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way

Gift Shop Artist for July: Dee Carpenter Although I have been creative my whole life and used a sewing machine for over 40 years, I only began searching for the artist in me in the more recent years. It started with stained glass, but once I found the soft warm texture of fiber, I was hooked. I have been quilting seriously ever since. In the Fall of 2005, I started to learn watercolor painting and discovered yet another new part of myself. I learned that self-discovery is not limited to the young and that learning is a life-long process. I am very literal in my artistic interpretation. I create mostly wall size quilts although I have also made several bed size quilts up to king size. My favorite subjects are Alaskan wildlife, wild birds in particular and Alaskan flowers. I work primarily from photos or composites of photos. Some of my pieces begin with a background piece of fabric and a simple idea of what type of piece I wanted to create. I use the background as my canvas and additional fabric as my paint. I glue pieces of cut fabric to the background and arrange the pieces until I get something I like. Another type of fiber piece also begins with a background fabric, mainly one of my hand-dyes and I try to visualize what is “in” that fabric. When I find out what that is, I paint it on the fabric with acrylic fabric paint. These types of quilts are rare ,as not every fabric lends itself well to this concept. My work has been displayed in shows at New Horizons Gallery and Bear Gallery as well as at various business locations around Fairbanks.

FAA Reading Series: Ulyana Korotkova Born in 1970 in Ukraine, Ulyana Korotkova was introduced to the best of community arts since childhood. She has published her first articles and short stories in regional and district newspapers such as Avangard (or the Forefront) and Krimskiy Komsomolets (or Komsomol Youth of Crimea). In America she has published works in local newsletters and magazines such as Open Arms Newsletter (which she also edits), Zion’s messenger, NAMI News, The Ester Republic, and Ice-Floe. She will be reading from her collections of children’s stories on July 14th at 4pm in the Fairbanks Arts Association’s Bear Gallery.

Ulyana Korotkova • Literary Reading July 14th • 4pm • Bear Gallery

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Fairbanks Arts Association

Artists Down the Road: Kodiak Island Drummers from two to eighteen.

Drumming

experience ranges from 3 months to 7 years. The group gains experience quickly by performing and giving workshops approximately ten times a year. KID performs diverse music from a variety of influences such as Africa, South America, Japan and Asia and the drummers come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds themselves. J.P., age nine, says the best part of KID is that, “It’s all about respect.” Other kids The Kodiak Island Drummers, “KID”,

KID, a member organization of the

have the unique opportunity to share

Kodiak Arts Council, is dedicated to

their drumming talents as they travel

teaching musical expression to kids

around the state of Alaska and beyond.

through the art of drumming, while

A distinctive combination of drums

emphasizing “DRUM” or Discipline,

including congas, bongos, tubanos,

Respect, and Unity through Music.

dijembes, timbales, and djun-djuns

The group consists of a number of

create a powerful sound that can be

young people from all of the different

described as both robust and jubilant.

Kodiak area schools, ranging in age

Gazebo Nights! Fairbanks Arts Association’s 3rd annual Gazebo Nights features local musicians, dance groups and storytelling groups every evening in June, July and August at 7pm. Gazebo Nights is an intimate venue, perfect for musicians and performers who want to share their art with the Fairbanks community and its visitors. Gazebo Nights first began as a weekly event and has gained enough support to become available every night of this summer. Fairbanks Arts Association and Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation co-sponsor the series. Performances include folk, bluegrass, accordians, classical, jazz, cabaret,

sacred island drumming and storytellers. All performances are free, fun and appropriate for all ages! Performances are located at the Gazebo near the entrance to Gold Rush town at Pioneer Park , 2300 Airport Way. We recommend bringing a chair or a blanket because bench seating is limited. Performances go on through rain or shine, so come out and support your local performers with friends and family!!!

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July 2007

appreciate being part of the group because of the sheer fun of what they do and the smiles drumming brings to one another and to audiences.

July Gallery Artists: Sara Tabbert & Mark Fejes Sara Tabbert

Artist statement “Found in Translation” Last year I discovered that a Japanese blogger had found one of my images on the web and put it onto his website. Curious, and slightly annoyed, I hit the “translate” button on Google. What popped up through the automatic translation were paragraphs of bizarre but poetic text. I never got any closer to the intended meaning of the author, but I did find some marvelous phrases that provided the seeds for this body of work. Every title in the show comes from his website. I felt like this was a fair exchange.

Mark Fejes Mark Fejes was born and raised in Alaska and currently works at Well and Good Studios in Fairbanks where he maintains his own studio as well as workspaces for other artists. The show that he is presenting to the Fairbanks Arts Association this month is entitled, “New Work”. While he currently enjoys his time as a full time sculptor, he has in the past operated design and construction companies responsible for commercial and residential products that stressed cost-effective aesthetics and program responsive environment. The image on the right is work that is untitled and made from “hammered artifact steel”.

Exhibit Dates: July 6-29 •

Opening Reception: Friday, July 6, 5-8pm

July 2007

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Fairbanks Arts Association

To Our Wonderful Volunteers! Thank you Gallery Docents Jane Gregory Cora Cook Karyn Janssen Ginny Kawasaki Frances Schulz Peggy Birkenbuel Mary Lou Jorrison Debbie Bayer Cheryl Joens Lee Harris Betsy Bear Kathy Dubbs Krista Katalenich

Bonnie Brody Jason Dahlen Margaret Van Flein Jerrie Graham Penny Wakefield

First Friday Crew Jason Dahlen

Dinners in the Homes Mary Mitchell Anne Sherman Keith Gianni Barry and Dorli McWayne

GAZEBO July NIGHTS presents

! eeded n s r e te Volun y Docents ant)

2007

nd er • Gall , Gallery Atte eek s w le a a s s y sponsored by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks op da uly and Recreation (Gift sh or 4-9pm, 7 ay in J es m o H m e ery Frid v h E t , n 11-4p m i ers 0-9p Free Admission •Dinn visitors) • 6:3 w f e o All Shows at 7pm r p C u y ro a g ) d n a i o r r ti al fo para irst FMiller llery Sundays Martin •F g a me ood Pre AA BStorytelling ear Ga (HostinMondays (1st 2 weeks) and FSteel F rs • te Cold Steel Drums e M M (Gre m 4-9 P rew! m 3-7 P 6th froSouth (Last 2 weeks) Polynesian g C Island 14th fro Dancers uly nSea i J ly , u d y J a a , e d y •R Fri rda Tuesdays Karl Monetti Slack Key & Guitar Variations ) • Satu n Crew ct: w o d k nta a Wednesdays Mike Stackhouse Original Folk o re C B r d e n e a t p 6 n tu e (S : 22Accordians Thursdays VoluBellows ToBlazing 85 ex

JUNE

Fridays Saturdays

GAZEBO presents NIGHTS 2007

4 456-6 Tundra Caravan Middle Eastern Dance sponsored by Fairbanks North Star Borough No Compromise Bluegrass GospelParks and Recreation

JUNE JULY

Free Admission All Shows at 7pm

GAZEBO presents NIGHTS

Sundays Martin Miller Storytelling Sundays Jean McDermott Celtic Fiddle Tunes Mondays Cold Lindy SteelRaines &Steel Drums Mondays (1st 2 weeks) Ron Veliz, Friends Jazz, Guitar, Solo & Duo South Sea Island Folk/Rock/Country Polynesian Dancers Tuesdays (Last 2 weeks) Joe Feller Tuesdays Monetti Slack KeyFolk & Guitar Variations Wednesdays (1stKarl 2 weeks) Mike Stackhouse Original Wednesdays (Last Mike Stackhouse Folk 2 weeks) Joan Stack Original Vocalist Thursdays Blazing Bellows Accordians Thursdays Paul Harrell Hunting Stories/Moose Calling Fridays Tundra Caravan Middle Fridays Joan Stack VocalistEastern Dance byMonroe Fairbanks North Star Borough and Alchemy Recreation Saturdays No Compromise Bluegrass GospelParks Saturdays sponsored David Hopelssly Unfocused Acoustic

2007

AUGUST JUNE JULY

Free Admission Free Admission All Showsatat7pm 7pm All Shows

Sundays Martin Miller Storytelling Sundays Jean McDermott Celtic Fiddle Tunes Sundays Steven Moore Guitar w/ Vocals Mondays (1st 2 weeks) Cold Steel Drums Mondays Ron Veliz, Lindy Raines & Friends Jazz, Guitar, Solo & Duo Mondays Kit Carson & the Scouts Steel Acoustic Music that Rocks (Last 2 weeks) South Sea Island Polynesian Dancers Tuesdays Joe Feller Folk/Rock/Country Tuesdays “Hunt-Bayer” World Music w/Mandolin & Piano Tuesdays Karl Monetti Slack KeyFolk & Guitar Variations Wednesdays 2 weeks) Mike Original Wednesdays (1stTheresa BauerStackhouse Country/Rock Wednesdays Mike Stackhouse Folk (Last 2 weeks) Joan Stack Original Vocalist Thursdays Martin Miller Storytelling Thursdays Blazing Bellows Accordians Thursdays Paul Harrell Hunting Fridays Murphy Jones Classic &Stories/Moose Modern Rock Calling Fridays Tundra Caravan Middle Eastern Dance Fridays Joan Stack Vocalist Saturdays El Trio Con Carne Rock Saturdays No Compromise Bluegrass Gospel Acoustic Alchemy Saturdays David Monroe Hopelssly Unfocused

Free Admission At Gazebo near Pioneer Park Entrance, 2300 Airport Way Free Admission AUGUST Showsatat7pm 7pm JULY Bring a chair and blanket, bench seating is All All Shows limited

Sundays Jean McDermott Celtic Fiddle Tunes Sundays Steven Moore Guitar w/ Vocals For more information call 456-6485 227Guitar, Solo & Duo Mondays RonCarson Veliz, Lindy Friendsext. Jazz, Mondays Kit & theRaines Scouts&Acoustic Music that Rocks Tuesdays Joe Feller Folk/Rock/Country Tuesdays “Hunt-Bayer” World Music w/Mandolin & Piano Fairbanks Arts Association is funded by private, corporate, and foundation memberships andOriginal donations - City of Fairbanks, Wednesdays (1st 2 weeks) Mike Stackhouse Folk Wednesdays Theresa Bauer Country/Rock Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. (Last 2 weeks) Joan Stack Storytelling Vocalist Thursdays Martin Miller Thursdays Paul Harrell Hunting Stories/Moose Calling Fridays Murphy Jones Fairbanks Classic Modern Rock Arts&A ssociation • July 2007 Fridays Joan Stack Vocalist Saturdays El Trio Con Carne Rock Saturdays David Monroe Hopelssly Unfocused Acoustic Alchemy

Greg and Susie Zimmerman Laurel McLaughlin Emily Barber Lorraine Mobley Tori and Tom Foote MaryAnn Borchert Libby Martin Ginger Carroll Barbara Anderson Putt Clark Lynn and Monte Slusher Myrna Colp Judy Kreith Sheila and John Fellerath Cora and Don Cook Chris and Rohn Abbot Susan Holder Mary Lou Jorrison Eileen Cummings Valerie Therrien Karl Umsicker Virginia Damron Francine Kazenoff Chris White Robin Mullins

Fairbanks Arts Association Fairbanks Arts Association was established in 1966 to promote and support the arts in the Fairbanks area. The Association is funded by private, corporate, and foundation memberships and donations, City of Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. With assistance from professional staff and charitable volunteers, the Association provides services in five areas: Visual, Literary, Performing, Community Arts and Arts Education. The Association also helps raise funds for other arts groups, provides technical assistance and support for arts programming, encourages and advises individual artists beginning organizations and sponsors workshops and educational meetings. Board of Directors Corlis Taylor, President Marcella Hill, Vice President Leafy McBride, Secretary Myrna Colp, Treasurer Members: Bob Dempsey Jerrie Graham Joan Stack Shane Hurd Lorraine Peterson Staff June Rogers, Executive Director Melissa Hougland, Associate Director Sherry Faught, Office Manager/Bookkeeper Tatiana Piatonova, Program Director Rosalie Stockwell-White, Special Projects Gabriel Lopez-Shaw, Tech Assistant

Charlie Says: ”Check Out These Opportunities for Artists!” CINEMATOG RAPHERS an d MOVIE MA Native Movem KERS: ent is acceptin g submission Annual Native s for the Revolution Film Festival. Film accepted from s will be around the glo be in four cate Dramatic Fea gories: ture; Docume ntary Feature Short; and Do ; Dramatic cumentary Sh ort. Selected feature one o films will r all of the follo wing: Indigen stories, actors ous issues, , writers, direct ors or film cre w. Submission d eadline is Aug ust 30th. The will be held O Festival ctober 26th a n d 27th during Federation of the Alaska Natives Conve ntion in Fairb Alaska. Subm anks, ission applica tions and more can be found information at www.native movement.org filmfest.html /alaska/

Festival aska Book l A l a u n n th at the 1st A ly 13th and 14 Ju n o ce la p include will take ay festival will -d o tw e h T s. u anel UAF Camp Workshops, P s, g in n ig S k o riting Readings, Bo ll genres of w A s. re u ct e L and tion, Discussions, ing Poetry, Fic d u cl in d te n ildren, will represe ry, History, Ch to is H l ra tu a c. For more Nonfiction, N phy, and Musi ra g to o h P , g n r Sessions Cooki ntact Summe co se a le p n du/ informatio or www.uaf.e 1 2 0 -7 4 7 4 ) 7 at UAF (90 bookfestival

Fairbanks Arts As sociation Bear Gallery and Visual Arts Committee invites all Alaskan artists to subm it for review slides or digital images of their work for possible solo or group exhibitions in 2009. Interested artists should submit up to ten images along with your contact informatio n, a corresponding image list, a resume an d bio, as well as a selfaddressed, stamped en velope with postage for the return of your pa cket. All submissions should be received by October 31st, 2007. Fo r more information pleas e contact Tatiana at 456-6485 ext. 227.

ncy Program ion Reside t a d eeks. n u o F s cies for 2-8 w n e d si re The Ucros rs e ff thills d literature o nch in the foo ra le tt ca g in for the arts an rk o n provides 22,000-acre w the Foundatio s, Located on a in ta n u o M rrupted Bighorn dations, uninte o m m o of Wyoming’s cc a g dscape space, livin igh Plains lan H c ri to is h individual work e th g in all experience of posers workin m co time and the d n a , ts is udio riters, art m, board or st o ro r fo to selected w e rg a ry here is no ch is given prima rk o w t’s n disciplines. T a lic p from all uality of an ap ss; individuals space. The q ce ro p w e vi re apply. At in the are invited to rs e consideration re ca l a n ence. professio iduals in resid iv d in 8 stages of their lly a ic poser’s there are typ ss and a com re p g in h tc any one time e t iano. n de an Elepha thesizer and p n sy , rd a o yb Facilities inclu ic ke Artist as an electron : cabin which h Reminder ugust (A n io ss e S ll s a March 1 for F e Fairbanks Art nting ruary-June). re b Th a e s (F e n lin io d a ss e e d Annual be prese 5. for Spring S ont, WY 8283 ssociation will designed to A nd October 1 rm a a r) le e C b , m e n ce a e L D 009 Red ation, 30 Big an exhibit in 2 ternational Ucross Found In e th represent undation.org sted artists www.ucrossfo te lar Year. In re Tatiana o The 22nd Annual P 64th call should please xt. 227 Parallel Juried Ex hibition at 456-6485 e will be accepting subm issions from Interior artists between Septe mber 28th and September 30th. Categ ories of acceptable work include Painting, Watercolor, Drawing, Pastel, Original Prints, Sculpture, Mixed Media and Photography. Entrie s should be submitted by the artist and are limite d to four entries of origi na l artwork only. For more details please contact the Fairbanks Arts Associa tion at 456-6485 ext. 22 7.

July 2007

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Fairbanks Arts Association

The

monthly newsletter of Fairbanks Arts Association

State of the Arts

July 2007

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Fairbanks, Alaska Permit No. 17

P.O. Box 72786 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707

Volunteer of the Month: Judith Kreith The best part of being a volunteer according to Judy Kreith is “the feeling that we are all in it together and that we are dependent on one another.” This feeling of community has been an integral part of Judy’s life ever since she and her husband moved to Fairbanks 11 years ago. Her volunteer activities are as varied as her interests. This is her 5th year as an active participate in the Dinners in the Home program with the Fairbanks Arts Association. Judy says that she enjoys offering “a different slice of Alaska” to the guests that come to her home. She feels that all Alaskan visitors should have a balanced view of Alaska that includes more than the typical “tourist” spots, and Dinners in the

Judy Kreith photo by Ana Richards.

Fairbanks Arts Association

Home allows her to do just that. However Dinners is not her only volunteer activity. She is also a participant in the Life Long Learning program where she is able to integrate her passion for dance by teaching African based dance. She has also done volunteer work with West Valley High School and Dance Omnium. •

July 2007