6 Alaska Native Artists
To Work at SJ Museum
The Sheldon Jackson Museum has selected six Alaska Native artists to participate in its upcoming Alaska Native Artist Residency Program.
They are: Koyukon and Dena’ina Athabascan beader, fish skin sewer, and mixed media artist Danielle Stickman (May 14-30); Tlingit ravenstail and Chilkat weaver Laine Rinehart (June 4-20); Tlingit carver and painter Robert Hoffmann (June 21-July 10); Tlingit and Athabascan computer-aided designer and sculptor Rico Worl (July 11-26); Cup’ik doll, grass basket and dance fan maker Neva Mathias (July 27-Aug. 12); and Tlingit textile artist, Chilkat weaver and beader Chloe French (Aug. 21-Sept. 5).
Artists were selected from a pool of applicants, and are from all over the state. Between May and September, they will work in the museum gallery, provide free hands-on classes teaching their art forms, give lectures, and provide the museum with material culture consultations on artifacts.
They will receive a stipend for their work, be provided with lodging, travel to and from Sitka, study the museum’s permanent collection and educate staff through “cultural consultations.” As part of their residency, they have scheduled time to study artifacts on exhibit and in collections storage. Through the study of artifacts at the museum, artists can examine material culture created by their ancestors. This study time extends to the museum staff who gain insight into artifacts as the artists share their knowledge and observations.
In addition, this year’s residency program will include a variety of artist-led lectures and hands-on-classes. The talks and classes will likely be held in-person at the museum, but may also be on Zoom. Contact the museum for information about each class.
Special artist-residency events include: a six-part ravenstail pendant-making class with Laine Rinehart June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 and an artist talk by Rinehart titled “Time Warp: an Exploration of Time in Chilkat Weaving” on June 20; a five-part block print- making class with Robert Hoffmann on June 24, 25, 26, 27 and 30 and an artist talk by Hoffmann titled “Where We Meet: How Cultural and Historical Context Helps Us Appreciate Objects More Fully”; a five-part Adobe for Formline class with Rico Worl and an artist talk by Worl on July 24 titled “Forming Lines: From Star Wars to Formline”; a five-part grass basket-making class with Neva Mathias on July 31, Aug. 1, 4, 5, 6 and an Artist Residency Recap talk with Mathias on Aug. 7; a six-part applique octopus bag making class with Chloe French on Aug. 25, 26, 27, 29, Sept. 1, 2 and 3 and an artist talk by French on Aug. 28 titled, “Growing Tradition: Working Traditionally and Using Tradition in New Ways.’’
Classes require advance registration and for students to obtain materials or purchase a pre-made class pack of materials. Some classes have age and space limitations. For information on the classes, materials required, or to sign up for a class, call the museum at 747-8981. For information on artist talks or for further details days and times artists are working in the museum, people may call 747-8981.
To view events related to the Native Artist Residency Program, visit the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum Facebook page or the Alaska State Museum website at http://museums.alaska.gov/sheldon_jackson/sjnativedemos.html .
The Native Artist Residency Program is made possible through the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Friends of the Sheldon Jackson Museum, and private donations.
Summer hours at the Sheldon Jackson Museum 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday except holidays. Summer admission is $9 for adults and $8 for seniors. Visitors 18 and under are admitted free of charge. Assistance is available for visitors with special needs. The museum is an official “Sitka COVID Conscious Business” through the City & Borough of Sitka and follows state of Alaska guidelines for COVID mitigation. For information on operations or details on COVID-mitigation practices, contact the museum by calling (907) 747-8981.
Fish and Chips
Fundraiser Sat.
The American Legion Auxiliary will have a fish and chips sale noon until sold out on Saturday, April 17, at the American Legion Club.
The meal will cost $15. Clam chowder will be available for $5 a bowl.
Call 747-8629 with questions.
Garbage Pickup
Delays Announced
The city has received notice from its contractor Alaska Waste that its trucks are having mechanical issues.
Alaska Waste is working to repair them as quickly as possible. Alaska Waste can be reached at 747-5669.
Earth Day
Celebration
Set April 22
The 51st Earth Day celebration will be held 5 p.m. Thursday, April 22, on the SJ Campus.
The theme is ‘‘Restore Our Earth.’’ Community group tables and activities will open at 4:30 p.m. The event will be 5-6 p.m. and attendees are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
The event is supported by Youth for Sustainable Futures, Sitka Conservation Society, Mt. Edgecumbe Environmental Club, Citizen’s Climate Lobby-Sitka Chapter, Sitka Counseling/the HOPE Coalition, Sitka Rotary Club, Sitka350, Sitka Carbon Offset Fund, and the Sitka Health Summit Coalition.
