In Appreciation
Dear Editor: The Sitka Fine Arts Camp wishes to express profound gratitude to Mary Goddard for her service on the board of directors from 2012 to 2020.
Mary Goddard is a Tlingit artist of the Eagle Kaagwaantaan Clan. She was raised in Yakutat and has lived in Sitka with her family since 2010. Mary’s contributions to the Fine Arts Camp include a stunning art installation that features Alaska Native artists. It is in the stairwell of Odess Theatre going up to the Del Shirley room.
Mary also served as secretary, member of the finance committee, and member of the executive committee during her time on the board. Mary leads from her heart and demonstrates respect for everyone. Her steady hand was instrumental in helping us make such profound progress for the camp and campus during her tenure. We will miss her.
Mary reports that during her time on the board, she “gained more than she gave,” and learned many skills that strengthened her professionally and that positively impacted her ability to share her art. Her most rewarding work with the camp was working with the community and students; teaching jewelry making and community cultural classes to multiple age groups.
Gunal’ ch’eesh, Mary!
Sitka Fine Arts Board of Directors
In Response
Dear Editor: I want to thank Karen Lucas for her thoughtful letter to the editor yesterday. Somehow I feel it is time to think new thoughts about our shared community. How can the good, rich, diverse stuff of o ur histories and continuity be acknowledged, validated, strengthened? Rather than take down statues, might we design and add new ones that capture contemporary issues and new understandings of our shared humanity? How might the former Presbyterian buildings be repositioned for a new era, one that is forward-looking with multiple uses, connecting and celebrating our many places of origin, and engage all generations.
Thank you Karen for nudging us toward new thinking. And gunalcheesh, salamat, gracias, merci, arigato, chamai, and cheers to the remarkable community we share.
Nancy Yaw Davis, Sitka
