State of the Arts The
monthly newsletter of Fairbanks Arts Association
June 2007
I N THIS ISSUE p2
I nte r n ati o n a l p o l a r y e a r
G a l l e r y e x hi b it
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Re a d ing S e r ies
V o l untee r c o nne c ti o n
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G a l l e r y A r tist
g a z e b o s c he d u l e
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o p p o r tunities f o r a r tists
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V o l untee r s o f the m o nth
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A r tisti c a c hieve m ents
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a f f i l i ate s p o t l ight
“Promoting contemporary and traditional arts in Alaska’s Interior.”
FAA Community Arts Brainstorm International Polar Year Activities By Rachael Kvapil At the April Fairbanks Arts Association Community Arts Committee meeting, Mike Sfraga, University of Alaska IPY Steering Committee member, began explaining the various scientific focuses given to previous International Polar Years. In the past, says Sfraga IPY has centered its activities on specific scientific hot topics like geophysical phenomenon, the jet stream or polar icecap exploration. However, as the committees met to discuss this IPY, someone suggested a simple, yet novel focus: people. “...the Visual Arts Committee as scheduled an invitational exhibit in 2009 where selected Fairbanks artists invite other circumpolar artists to present artwork in FAA’s Bear Gallery. Interior artists who wish to participate in this invitational exhibit should submit a letter of intent along with ten digitals (5” X 7”, 150 dpi) on CD by September 1, 2007.” IPY inherently is scientific in its mission, as there are concurring studies on climate change, ocean circulations, satellite systems, space weather, etc. Yet, as Sfrage points out, all these topics affect the sustainability of circumpolar cultures. To bring greater attention to the circumpolar cultures, an IPY subcommittee for community engagement is encouraging
Interior organizations to hold IPY themed activities during 2007-2009. “Given that we are in Alaska and part of the circumpolar region it will be fairly easy for us to create ways to highlight people through the arts,” said Sfraga to a meeting that included over ten arts organizations. FAA invited Sfraga to their monthly Community Arts Meeting to discuss how arts organizations can contribute
to the event. FAA started its series of IPY activities at the end of April when readers presented poems at the Annual Poetry Dredge. In early 2007, FAA’s Literary Arts Committee chose to present poems that fit the ‘International Polar Year’ theme. The next IPY themed activity takes place in February 2008 with its ‘Pattern of Influence’ juried exhibit, its theme ‘International Polar Year: Celebration of Life in the North.’ Both the Literary and Visual Arts Committees are working on additional showcases for circumpolar artists. For instance, the Visual Arts Committee as scheduled an invitational exhibit in 2009 where selected Fairbanks artists invite other circumpolar artists to present artwork in FAA’s Bear Gallery. Interior artists who wish to participate in this invitational exhibit should submit a letter of intent along with ten digitals (5” X 7”, 150 dpi) on CD by September 1, 2007. Anyone interested in serving on any program committee: Visual, Literary, Cinema, Performing, or Community Arts, can find a full list of meetings on page 6.
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June 2007
Gift Shop Artist for June: Amy MacKinaw June Gift Shop Artist of the Month: Amy MacKinaw More info on the way
f a i r b a n k s
a r t s
a s s o c i a t i o n
.:: Reading Series ‘07
Carol Digou
Carol Digou has lived in Alaska for 35 years and in Fairbanks for 25. She has a grown son and daughter. She is now principal of Ryan Middle School, where she taught for over 20 years before accepting her present position. Carol has a vast array of life experiences, all of which contribute to her writing. Her mother and grandmother were both poets, and Carol sees poetry as an excellent means of emotional expression. Her hobbies include writing, rappelling and other outdoor activities. In response to the encouragement of friends who like her poetry, Carol decided to compile her first book of poems. Elemental Expression is a collection of poems that represent the gamut of human emotions. The book is divided into four sections: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. The poems in each section vary as much as the elements themselves. They range from soft and tender to harsh and angry. A second book is in the works. Carol believes that we must embrace the whole of our existence and learn to live in harmony with all aspects. Carol is the president of the Black Rose Poets Society, a small group of poets from around the world who challenge each other to stretch and grow in their art and as individuals by writing about all subject matter and varying styles. Collectively, they believe that all artistic endeavors are a powerful tool that can be used to enlighten and expand the consciousness.
Saturday, June 3 at 7pm in the FAA Bear Gallery
June 2007
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Fairbanks Arts Association
Affiliate Spotlight: Spinners and Weaver’s Guild The Fairbanks Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild was founded by 11 weavers in 1952 and received 501-c-3 status in 1985. In 1991 the guild rented studio space in the Lathrop Building, an old building in downtown Fairbanks. The Guild secured the UAF looms, which had been in storage since 1987 and began the UAF Weaving program again in the fall of 1991. Weaving has been part of the UAF curriculum since 1927, in Home Economics and cross referenced with the Art Department.
• Promote interest in our weaving and spinning heritage among members of the community For more information about membership and meetings visit www. fairbanksweavers.org or call 452-7737.
June 4 - 8 6 - 9 Art IV: Zoo/Aquatic Creations 8 - 15 Creative Basketry 8 - 15 Bead: Animal World 8 - 15 Paper Design/Sculpture NEW 8 - 15 Embroidery Designs NEW 6 – 9 Art II: Draw & Watercolor June 11 - 15 8 - 15 Mystery of Masks NEW 9 - 15 Books, Boxes & Folio’s 9 - 15 Digital Photo 9 - 15 Drawing & Watercolor June 18 - 22 9 - 15 Pop Up, Pop Out 9 – 15 Drawing & Watercolor 9 - 15 Machine Sewing I 8 - 15 Sewing & Quilting June 25 - 29 8 - 15 Weaving I 8 - 15 Bead: Bead Loom Design 8 - 15 Bags for all Seasons NEW 9 - 15 Knitting
The Fairbanks Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild is a nonprofit educational organization formed to: • Act as a conduit for information that contributes to the growth of knowledge in our heritage of weaving, spinning, textiles and fiber arts through meetings, fellowship and related activities. • Sponsor and support educational events such as workshops, lectures, exhibits, demonstrations and the like that promote weaving, spinning, and fiber arts. • Encourage improvement of our work throughcomparisonand sharing of techniques.
Artistic Achievements Northland Children’s Choir will participate in the 10th Anniversary Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival in Eugene, OR. PICCFest is held in conjunction with the Oregon Bach Festival each summer. To be selected for the festival, choirs must submit a recording of themselves, demonstrating a variety of music styles and choral skills. Northland Children’s Choir is one of only eight choirs selected to perform. While at the festival they will perform for the other choirs on the Sharing Our Songs concerts, provide music for a Sunday church service, and perform in the Festival Choir under the direction of conductor Sandra Snow.
Fairbanks Weavers’ & Spinners’ Guild are offering the following classes as part of its annual Youth Summer Fiber Arts Program:
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June 2007
June Gallery Artists: Deland Anderson & Margo Klass had lived outside of Washington, DC where she worked as artist, arts administrator, and educator. She now has an established studio in Fairbanks where she creates her mixed-media box constructions, shrine-like compositions of found objects that strive for intimacy and contemplation.
Margo Klass Margo Klass officially made Fairbanks her home on one of the most frigid days of January 2005. For more than 25 years she
In her studio bookbinders’ board, display board, and wood are hand cut, glued, spackled, and sanded in a series of steps to create the architectural spaces that contain the object-compositions. Skylights and windows, most often made of mica, pierce the boxes to allow controlled light to penetrate their inner spaces. Handmade Japanese papers cover the boxes; pieces are torn and glued on so that “glue lines” emphasize the box’s basic structure and leave an imprint of how it was assembled. The objects within often have the appearance of “floating” so that
their world is one without gravity and preconceptions about their original use or derivation. They exist primarily as form, color, and texture that relate to each other and their defined space. For the past five years, artist Margo Klass and her writer husband Frank Soos have enjoyed a collaborative exploration of space, form, and words. The process begins with a completed box construction by Margo. Frank then talks back to these structures with his own images and metaphors. The result is an interplay between the art and text designed to provoke viewers to enter into the dialogue. Frank and Margo’s collaborations have been exhibited in Washington, DC, Anchorage, Homer, and now, again, in Fairbanks at the Fairbanks Arts Association’s Bear Gallery. When not in her studio Margo can be found in UAF’s Art Department where she is an adjunct instructor in ceramics and book arts.
June Gallery Exhibit - Deland Anderson & Margo Kass Exhibit Dates: June 1-26 • Opening Reception: Friday, June 1, 5-8pm featured three of his paintings. Galeria Galou in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Deland is a unique landscape painter. curator Esperanza Leon hosted an exhibit Raised in rural Montana, he learned to of works by seven artists from North paint in Australia, and now makes his and South America. Topologies home in Alaska. He travels extensively, centered around the theme of especially on foot, and draws on his sense natural and urban place. Deland’s of the landscape and local stories to create works Beluga, Homestead and striking tempera compositions composed Augustine Ashfall were featured. of bands of dots. An “aerial” perspective Since then he has focused his in his work allows one to see places from attention on creating new images. above, yet a subtle use of more traditional A very large piece, Terra Incognita, one-point perspective encourages the received an honorable mention viewer to “inhabit” the landscape. “My role at the Pratt Museum’s Juried Art as an artist,” says Anderson, “is to inspire Show in 2006. It was two years in people not to look, but to look again.” the making. Numerous other new pieces have been completed in the Since beginning painting in 1991, past year. Deland has shown in numerous solo or group exhibits in Alaska and Outside. Deland’s paintings have been Recently he traveled to New York City purchased by collectors from to attend the opening of an exhibit that Kansas City, Los Angeles, Houston,
Deland Anderson
June 2007
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Philadelphia, San Francisco, Hawaii, and Alaska. He plans to remain in the area exploring and painting.
Fairbanks Arts Association
To Our Wonderful Volunteers! Thank you Gallery Docents
First Friday Crew
Laura Christos Frances Schulz Betsy Bear Mary Lou Jorissen Doreen Fish Edie Barbour Kathy Dubbs Lauren Potts Cora Cook Ginny Kawasaki
Margaret Wiedeman Doreen Fish
Literary Reading Frank & Linda McKirgen
School Performance
Diana Clayton Betty Robinson Lauren Potts Fred, Lisa, Forrest, and Quinn Freer
June Committee Schedule: Community Writers Group June 10, 1-4 pm * Mtg at the Square Dance Shelter Visual Arts Committee June 13 at 5:30pm Literary Arts Committee June 14 at 5:30pm Cinema Arts Committee June 20 at 5:30pm Long Prose Writing/Critique Group June 21 at 6:30pm Community Arts Meeting June 27 at Noon All meetings in the Bear Gallery, 3rd Floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way
Fairbanks Arts Association
presents
GAZEBO NIGHTS 2007
IN JUNE Sundays Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays
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.
Free Admission All Shows at 7pm Martin Miller Cold Steel Karl Monetti Mike Stackhouse Blazing Bellows Tundra Caravan No Compromise
Storytelling Steel Drums Slack Key & Guitar Variations Original Folk Accordians Middle Eastern Dance Bluegrass Gospel
At Gazebo near Pioneer Park Entrance, 2300 Airport Way Bring a chair and blanket, bench seating is limited For more information call 456-6485 ext. 226
Sponsored by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation
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June 2007
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 Sherry Faught, Office Manager/Bookkeeper Rachael Kvapil, Program Director Gabriel Lopez-Shaw, Tech Assistant Igor Pasternak, Gallery Assistant Rosalie Stockwell-White, Special Projects
Charlie Says: ”Check Out These Opportunities for Artists!” AKERS: and MOVIE M S R E H P A R tended its CINEMATOG ciation has ex o ss A s rt A nks ks Fairban nd Annual Fairba 2 e th r fo e n ept entries entry deadli will now acc A A F l. a v ti s from four CINEMATOG Film Fe , 2007. Choose RAPHERS an 2 2 e n u J – 1 n e tio d MOVIE MA n a u J N im ative Moveme n m A , fro ry ta n KERS: e m nt is acceptin , Docu re tu a e F g s: e r su A ri fo n b n 5 m u 1 a is $ l si catego N re o a a n tive Revolutio s for the ees n Film Festiva ision. Entry F accepted from s over 25 rk l. o F w and K-12 Div ilm r fo s will be 5 a 1 ro $ und the globe 5 minutes; Dramatic Fea in four catego orks W . n io is works under 2 iv tu D ries: re; Documenta 2 ry Feature; D $10 for the K-1 Short; and Do 3, 2007 r e b ra minutes; and m cu m te m atic p e e n S ta ry Short. Sele feature one o e shown on s ct rt e A d e fil th m r r s a selected will b fo ll w r o ill f the following ente stories, actors : Indigenous is Centennial C a sk la A e , th w sues, in riters, directo rs or film crew neer Park. . Theatre in Pio Submission d eadline is Aug nd a s e lin e id u g ust 30th. The will be held O mission b su Festival te le ct p o m b e r 2 6 For co s@ th rt a a nd 27th durin Federation of irbanks fa il: a g m e th e Alaska rm N atives Conve 26. an entry fo ntion in Fairb 6-6485 ext. 2 Alaska. Subm 5 4 ll ca r o a m nks, ission applica mosquitonet.co tions and more can be found information at www.native movement.org filmfest.html /alaska/ Program Residency ks. ation d oun F s for 2-8 wee e ci n e d si re The Ucross rs e thills d literature off nch in the foo ra le tt ca g in for the arts an ork provides 22,000-acre w e Foundation th s, Located on a in ta n u o upted Bighorn M tions, uninterr a d o m m o of Wyoming’s cc a ape space, living h Plains landsc ig H c ri to is h individual work the experience of working time and the nd composers a , ts is rt a , rs Residency Fellow te ri m, board, ships for Low-Income to selected w charge for roo o n is re e is h rk T o Artists and Writers es. ant’s w lic p p a n in all disciplin a : Vermont Studio Cente f o r’s . The quality (VSC) Residency Fello process; w e vi re e ws or studio space th hips for Low-Income n in tio ra e d si n l Ar co a tis n ts and Writers of Outstan professio given primary ding Talent provide stages of their ll a tw m o o ou e fr tst anding low-income artis ls tim a e u n o y n individ a t A . ts and writers with month-long VSC Resid vited to apply encies in 2007, includ in residence. careers are in ls a u id iv d in ing studio space, comfortab ally 8 ss and le housing, three meals there are typic ant etching pre h p le E n a e da d ily, as well as access to electronic Facilities inclu six distinguished Visiting which has an in b Ar ca tis s ts and Writers who are r’ se o . o a comp n ia in residence each month p . All United States artis thesizer, and . ts and writers are eligib keyboard, syn le. n Si x io ru nners up will receive pa for Fall Sess rtial fellowships. The are March 1 s e aw g lin ar n d d, ri a p valued at $5,000, includ e S d r l a fo 1 r e Annu b to es the residency fellowship fee ($3,750 mber) and Oc Foundation, ) as well as travel, ma (August-Dece ss o cr U ). e n u terials, shipping, and living ex ruary-J . www. penses. Deadline: June Session (Feb nt, WY 82835 o rm a le C , 15, e n 20 a 07. Please call Kate W 30 Big Red L estcott, VSC Reception rg .o ist, for more information 80 tion ucrossfounda 2.635.2727, or visit ww w. vermontstudiocenter.or g for detailed applicatio n procedures.
June 2007
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Fairbanks Arts Association
The
monthly newsletter of Fairbanks Arts Association
State of the Arts
June 2007
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Fairbanks, Alaska Permit No. 17
P.O. Box 72786 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
Volunteers of the Month: Dondi Hart, Kelsey Baker & Kelly Donavan Dondi Hart
Kelsey Baker
This month Fairbanks Arts Association wants to recognize three employees from Mt. McKinley bank who volunteered during the Very Special Arts Festival in April. For many years Mt. McKinley has encouraged its employees to help Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Special Needs students create works at a spin art booth. This year FAA would like to recognize Dondi Hart, Kelsey Baker and Kelly Donavan for volunteering for this event. Dondi Hart is a Loan Service Specialist who enjoys volunteering for events such as the Very Special Arts Festival. She describes working with students as a delight. “One little girl wanted to keep making spin art pictures. She would show up anytime there was an opening at one of the buckets.”
Kelly Donovan
Kelsey Baker is a Personal Banking Specialist who volunteered after receiving an email about the event. Prior to working with Mt. McKinley bank, Kelsy spent a summer working with Special Needs children. “I loved helping the kids make spin art at the Very Special Arts Festival. It was great to see them all so happy.” Kelly Donavan is a Personal Banking Specialist (New Accounts) who volunteered after hearing about the Very Special Arts Festival from Kelsey. She says she loved watching students really getting into designing their spin art. “Kids would see the paint whirl in the bucket and want to do it again and again.”
Fairbanks Arts Association
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June 2007