State of the Arts

I N T H I S I S S U E

G a l l E r y E x H I b I T p 5

V o l U N T E E r c o N N E c T I o N p 6

G a z E b o S c H E d U l E p 6

o p p o r T U N I T I E S f o r a r T I S T S p 7

V o l U N T E E r S o f T H E m o N T H p 8

p 2 I N T E r N aT I o N a l p o l a r y E a r

p 3 r E a d I N G S E r I E S

p 3 G a l l E r y a r T I S T

p 4 a r T I S T I c a c H I E V E m E N T S

p 4 a f f I l I aT E S p o T l I G H T

“Promoting contemPorary and traditional arts in alaska’s interior.”

the monthly newsletter of fairbanks arts association June 2007

� Fairbanks arts association•June�007

FAA Community Arts BrAinstorm internAtionAl PolAr yeAr ACtivities

By Rachael Kvapil

AttheAprilFairbanksArtsAssociationCommunity Arts Committee meeting,Mike Sfraga, University of Alaska IPYSteering Committee member, beganexplaining the various scientific focusesgiven to previous International PolarYears. In the past, says Sfraga IPY hascentereditsactivitiesonspecificscientifichottopicslikegeophysicalphenomenon,thejetstreamorpolaricecapexploration.However, as the committees met todiscuss this IPY, someone suggested asimple,yetnovelfocus:people.

IPYinherentlyisscientificinitsmission,asthereareconcurringstudiesonclimatechange, ocean circulations, satellitesystems,spaceweather,etc.Yet,asSfragepoints out, all these topics affect thesustainabilityofcircumpolarcultures.Tobringgreaterattentiontothecircumpolarcultures, an IPY subcommittee forcommunity engagement is encouraging

totheevent.FAAstarteditsseriesofIPYactivitiesattheendofAprilwhenreaderspresented poems at the Annual PoetryDredge. Inearly2007,FAA’sLiteraryArtsCommitteechosetopresentpoemsthatfit the ‘International Polar Year’ theme.The next IPY themed activity takesplace in February 2008 with its ‘Patternof Influence’ juried exhibit, its theme‘International Polar Year: Celebration ofLifeintheNorth.’

Both the Literary and Visual ArtsCommittees are working on additionalshowcases for circumpolar artists. Forinstance, the Visual Arts Committee asscheduledaninvitationalexhibitin2009where selected Fairbanks artists inviteother circumpolar artists to presentartwork in FAA’s Bear Gallery. Interiorartists who wish to participate in thisinvitationalexhibitshouldsubmitaletterof intent along with ten digitals (5” X 7”,150dpi)onCDbySeptember1,2007.

Anyone interested in serving on anyprogram committee: Visual, Literary,Cinema,Performing,orCommunityArts,canfindafulllistofmeetingsonpage6.

InteriororganizationstoholdIPYthemedactivitiesduring2007-2009.

“GiventhatweareinAlaskaandpartofthecircumpolarregionitwillbefairlyeasyforustocreatewaystohighlightpeoplethroughthearts,”saidSfragatoameetingthatincludedovertenartsorganizations.

FAA invited Sfraga to their monthlyCommunity Arts Meeting to discusshow arts organizations can contribute

“...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.”

June�007•Fairbanks arts association �

JuneGiftShopArtistoftheMonth:AmyMacKinaw

Moreinfoontheway

GiFt shoP Artist For June: AmyMacKinaw

.:: Reading Series ‘07f a i r b a n k s a r t s a s s o c i a t i o n

C a r o l D i g o u 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

Saturday, June 3 at 7pm in the FAA Bear Gallery

� Fairbanks arts association•June�007

• Promote interest in our weaving and spinning heritage among members of the community

For more information aboutmembership and meetings visit www.fairbanksweavers.orgorcall452-7737.

AFFiliAte sPotliGht: SpinnersandWeaver’sGuildThe Fairbanks Weavers’ and Spinners’

Guildwasfoundedby11weaversin1952and received 501-c-3 status in 1985. In1991 the guild rented studio space inthe Lathrop Building, an old building indowntown Fairbanks. The Guild securedtheUAFlooms,whichhadbeeninstoragesince 1987 and began the UAFWeavingprogramagaininthefallof1991.WeavinghasbeenpartoftheUAFcurriculumsince1927, in Home Economics and crossreferencedwiththeArtDepartment.

The Fairbanks Weavers’ and Spinners’Guild is a nonprofit educationalorganizationformedto:

• 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 through comparison and sharing of techniques.

ArtistiC AChievements

Northland Children’s Choir willparticipate in the 10th AnniversaryPacific International Children’s ChoirFestivalinEugene,OR.PICCFestisheldinconjunctionwiththeOregonBachFestivaleach summer. To be selected for thefestival, choirs must submit a recordingofthemselves,demonstratingavarietyofmusic styles and choral skills. NorthlandChildren’sChoirisoneofonlyeightchoirsselectedtoperform.WhileatthefestivaltheywillperformfortheotherchoirsontheSharingOurSongsconcerts,providemusic for a Sunday church service, andperform in the Festival Choir under thedirectionofconductorSandraSnow.

Fairbanks Weavers’ & Spinners’ Guild are offering the following classes as part of its annual Youth Summer Fiber Arts Program:

June 4 - 8 6 - 9 Art IV: Zoo/Aquatic Creations 8 - 15 Creative Basketry8 - 15 Bead: Animal World 8 - 15 Paper Design/Sculpture NEW8 - 15 Embroidery Designs NEW 6 – 9 Art II: Draw & Watercolor

June 11 - 15 8 - 15 Mystery of Masks NEW 9 - 15 Books, Boxes & Folio’s9 - 15 Digital Photo 9 - 15 Drawing & Watercolor June 18 - 22 9 - 15 Pop Up, Pop Out 9 – 15 Drawing & Watercolor9 - 15 Machine Sewing I 8 - 15 Sewing & Quilting June 25 - 29 8 - 15 Weaving I 8 - 15 Bead: Bead Loom Design8 - 15 Bags for all Seasons NEW 9 - 15 Knitting

June�007•Fairbanks arts association �

June GAllery Artists: DelandAnderson&MargoKlass

DelAnD AnDerson

Deland is a unique landscape painter.Raised in rural Montana, he learned topaint in Australia, and now makes hishome in Alaska. He travels extensively,especiallyonfoot,anddrawsonhissenseofthelandscapeandlocalstoriestocreatestrikingtemperacompositionscomposedofbandsofdots. An“aerial”perspectiveinhisworkallowsonetoseeplacesfromabove,yetasubtleuseofmoretraditionalone-point perspective encourages theviewerto“inhabit”thelandscape.“Myroleas an artist,” says Anderson,“is to inspirepeoplenottolook,buttolookagain.”

Since beginning painting in 1991,Deland has shown in numerous solo orgroup exhibits in Alaska and Outside.Recently he traveled to New York Citytoattendtheopeningofanexhibit that

mArGo KlAss

Margo Klass officially made FairbanksherhomeononeofthemostfrigiddaysofJanuary2005.Formorethan25yearsshe

June Gallery exhibit - Deland Anderson & Margo Kass Exhibit Dates: June 1-26 • Opening Reception: Friday, June 1, 5-8pm

had lived outside of Washington,DCwheresheworkedasartist,artsadministrator, and educator. Shenow has an established studio inFairbanks where she creates hermixed-media box constructions,shrine-like compositions of foundobjectsthatstriveforintimacyandcontemplation.

In her studio bookbinders’board, display board, and woodare hand cut, glued, spackled,andsanded inaseriesofsteps tocreatethearchitecturalspacesthatcontain the object-compositions.Skylightsandwindows,mostoftenmadeofmica,piercetheboxestoallowcontrolledlighttopenetratetheir inner spaces. HandmadeJapanese papers cover the boxes;pieces are torn and glued on so

that“gluelines”emphasizethebox’sbasicstructure and leave an imprint of how itwasassembled.Theobjectswithinoftenhavetheappearanceof“floating”sothat

their world is one without gravity andpreconceptions about their original useorderivation.Theyexistprimarilyasform,color,andtexturethatrelatetoeachotherandtheirdefinedspace.

For the past five years, artist MargoKlass and her writer husband FrankSoos haveenjoyed a collaborativeexploration of space, form, and words.The process begins with a completedbox construction by Margo. Frank thentalks back to these structures with hisown images and metaphors.The resultis an interplay between the art and textdesigned to provoke viewers to enterinto the dialogue. Frank and Margo’scollaborations have been exhibited inWashington,DC,Anchorage,Homer,andnow,again, inFairbanksattheFairbanksArtsAssociation’sBearGallery.

Whennot inherstudioMargocanbefoundinUAF’sArtDepartmentwheresheis an adjunct instructor in ceramics andbookarts.

featured three of his paintings. GaleriaGalou in Williamsburg, Brooklyn andcuratorEsperanzaLeonhostedanexhibitofworksbysevenartistsfromNorthand South America. Topologiescentered around the theme ofnaturalandurbanplace.Deland’sworks Beluga, Homestead andAugustine Ashfall were featured.Since then he has focused hisattentiononcreatingnewimages.Averylargepiece,TerraIncognita,received an honorable mentionat the Pratt Museum’s Juried ArtShowin2006. Itwastwoyearsinthemaking.Numerousothernewpieceshavebeencompletedinthepastyear.

Deland’s paintings have beenpurchased by collectors fromKansasCity,LosAngeles,Houston,

Philadelphia, San Francisco, Hawaii, andAlaska. He plans to remain in the areaexploringandpainting.

� Fairbanks arts association•June�007

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 DirectorsCorlis Taylor, PresidentMarcella Hill, Vice PresidentLeafy McBride, SecretaryMyrna Colp, Treasurer

Members:Bob DempseyJerrie GrahamJoan StackShane HurdLorraine Peterson

StaffJune Rogers, Executive Director Sherry Faught, Office Manager/Bookkeeper Rachael Kvapil, Program DirectorGabriel Lopez-Shaw, Tech AssistantIgor Pasternak, Gallery AssistantRosalie Stockwell-White, Special Projects

JuneCommittee sCheDule:

CommunityWritersGroupJune10,1-4pm

*MtgattheSquareDanceShelter

VisualArtsCommitteeJune13at5:30pm

LiteraryArtsCommitteeJune14at5:30pm

CinemaArtsCommitteeJune20at5:30pm

LongProseWriting/CritiqueGroupJune21at6:30pm

CommunityArtsMeetingJune27atNoon

AllmeetingsintheBearGallery,3rdFloorofthe

AlaskaCentennialCenterfortheArts,PioneerPark,2300AirportWay

IN JUNESundays Martin Miller StorytellingMondays Cold Steel Steel DrumsTuesdays Karl Monetti Slack Key & Guitar VariationsWednesdays Mike Stackhouse Original FolkThursdays Blazing Bellows AccordiansFridays Tundra Caravan Middle Eastern DanceSaturdays No Compromise Bluegrass Gospel

GAZEBONIGHTS 2007

Sponsored by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation

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

All Shows at 7pmFree Admission

presents

Gallery DocentsLaura ChristosFrances SchulzBetsy BearMary Lou JorissenDoreen FishEdie BarbourKathy DubbsLauren PottsCora CookGinny Kawasaki

First Friday CrewMargaret WiedemanDoreen Fish

Literary ReadingFrank & Linda McKirgen

School PerformanceDiana ClaytonBetty RobinsonLauren PottsFred, Lisa, Forrest, and Quinn Freer

to our WonDerFul volunteers!Thankyou

June�007•Fairbanks arts association 7

CINEMATOGRAPHERS and MOVIE MAKERS:

Fairbanks Arts Association has extended its

entry deadline for the 2nd Annual Fairbanks

Film Festival. FAA will now accept entries

from June 1 – June 22, 2007. Choose from four

categories: Feature, Documentary, Animation

and K-12 Division. Entry Fees are $15 for

works under 25 minutes; $15 for works over 25

minutes; and $10 for the K-12 Division. Works

selected will be shown on September 3, 2007

in the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts

Theatre in Pioneer Park.

For complete submission guidelines and

an entry form email: fairbanksarts@

mosquitonet.com or call 456-6485 ext. 226.

ChArlie sAys: ”CheckOutTheseOpportunitiesforArtists!”

CINEMATOGRAPHERS and MOVIE MAKERS: Native Movement is accepting submissions for the Annual Native Revolution Film Festival. Films will be accepted from around the globe in four categories: Dramatic Feature; Documentary Feature; Dramatic Short; and Documentary Short. Selected films will feature one or all of the following: Indigenous issues, stories, actors, writers, directors or film crew. Submission deadline is August 30th. The Festival will be held October 26th and 27th during the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Fairbanks, Alaska. Submission applications and more information can be found at www.nativemovement.org/alaska/filmfest.html

THE UCROSS FOUNdATION RESIdENCy PROGRAM

for the arts and literature offers residencies for 2-8 weeks.

Located on a 22,000-acre working cattle ranch in the foothills

of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, the Foundation provides

individual workspace, living accommodations, uninterrupted

time and the experience of the historic High Plains landscape

to selected writers, artists, and composers working

in all disciplines. There is no charge for room, board,

or studio space. The quality of an applicant’s work is

given primary consideration in the review process;

individuals from all stages of their professional

careers are invited to apply. At any one time

there are typically 8 individuals in residence.

Facilities include an Elephant etching press and

a composer’s cabin which has an electronic

keyboard, synthesizer, and piano.

Annual deadlines are March 1 for Fall Session

(August-December) and October 1 for Spring

Session (February-June). Ucross Foundation,

30 Big Red Lane, Clearmont, WY 82835. www.

ucrossfoundation.org

RESIdENCy FEllOwSHIPS FOR lOw-INCOME ARTISTS ANd wRITERS: Vermont Studio Center’s (VSC) Residency Fellowships for Low-Income Artists and Writers of Outstanding Talent provide two outstanding low-income artists and writers with month-long VSC Residencies in 2007, including studio space, comfortable housing, three meals daily, as well as access to six distinguished Visiting Artists and Writers who are in residence each month. . All United States artists and writers are eligible. Six runners up will receive partial fellowships. The award, valued at $5,000, includes the residency fellowship fee ($3,750) as well as travel, materials, shipping, and living expenses. Deadline: June 15, 2007. Please call Kate Westcott, VSC Receptionist, for more information 802.635.2727, or visit www.vermontstudiocenter.org for detailed application procedures.

� Fairbanks arts association•June�007

P.O. Box 72786 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707

Non-ProfitOrganization

U.S. Postage PaidFairbanks, Alaska

Permit No. 17

volunteers oF the month: DondiHart,KelseyBaker&KellyDonavan

State of the Artsthe monthly newsletter of fairbanks arts association June 2007

Dondi HartThis month Fairbanks Arts Association wants to recognize

three employees from Mt. McKinley bank who volunteeredduringtheVerySpecialArtsFestivalinApril.FormanyyearsMt.McKinleyhasencourageditsemployeestohelpFairbanksNorth Star Borough School District Special Needs studentscreateworksataspinartbooth.ThisyearFAAwouldliketorecognize Dondi Hart, Kelsey Baker and Kelly Donavan forvolunteeringforthisevent.

Dondi Hart is a Loan Service Specialist who enjoysvolunteeringforeventssuchastheVerySpecialArtsFestival.Shedescribesworkingwithstudentsasadelight.“One littlegirlwantedtokeepmakingspinartpictures.Shewouldshowupanytimetherewasanopeningatoneofthebuckets.”

KelseyBakerisaPersonalBankingSpecialistwhovolunteeredafter receiving an email about the event. Prior to workingwithMt.McKinleybank,KelsyspentasummerworkingwithSpecialNeedschildren.“IlovedhelpingthekidsmakespinartattheVerySpecialArtsFestival.Itwasgreattoseethemallsohappy.”

Kelly Donavan is a Personal Banking Specialist (NewAccounts) who volunteered after hearing about the VerySpecialArtsFestivalfromKelsey.Shesaysshelovedwatchingstudents really getting into designing their spin art. “Kidswouldseethepaintwhirlinthebucketandwanttodoitagainandagain.”

Kelly Donovan

Kelsey Baker