Freeman receives award for All Alaska Juried Art work
Homer artist Asia Freeman received a $250 award for her paintings selected for the All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition XXXIV at the Anchorage Museum. The exhibit shows through Feb. 3. The highly competitive exhibition drew 479 submissions by 140 Alaska artists. Massachusetts-based juror Susan Cross selected 40 artworks by 27 different artists. Her selections focus on artwork that reflects a powerful sense of place, the museum said in a press release.
“Alaska boasts a distinguished landscape tradition, both past and present, which is evident in the stunning paintings in the Anchorage Museum collection,” Cross said. “Many of the artists selected seem to be responding to this history. … The result is an exciting and fertile dialogue about the Alaska wilderness and how it is represented.”
Three of Freeman’s paintings were selected, all landscapes. Homer ceramic artist and teacher Maygen Janetta also had two pieces selected.
Cross awarded the $1,000 Juror’s Choice Award to Anchorage artist James Behlke for three charcoal on canvas works. The $500 recognition award was given to Klara Maisch of Fairbanks, and the $250 award was given to Freeman.
After the exhibition closes in Anchorage, it will travel to the Alaska State Museum, Juneau from March 18-April 23, 2013, and the Bear Gallery, Fairbanks, from May 4-31, 2013.
‘Calling All Polar Bears’ shows Oct. 26 and 27
Allison Atkootchkoot Warden, also known as Aku-Matu, presents a one-woman show, “Calling All Polar Bears,” at 8 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27 at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center auditorium. Tickets are $15 general, $10 youth at Bunnell Street Arts Center and the Homer Bookstore. Warden visits Homer that week and does free outreach activities at West Homer Elementary School and Homer Middle School on Oct. 24.
An Inupiaq Alaska Native, Warden lives in Anchorage and has ties to her home community of Kaktovik. “Calling All Polar Bears” is a revised version of her earlier “Ode to the Polar Bear,” and examines from an indigenous perspective the issues of climate change, oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the fate of the polar bear. Warden raps under the name of Aku-Matu, creating rhymes that sample traditional sounds and use her Inupiaq language.
Artist Gaye Wolfe in Anchorage hospital
Homer artist Gaye Wolfe is in the Critical Care Unit of Alaska Regional Hospital with a serious bacterial infection. Her husband Sam Smith asked that people send cards instead of flowers to her with her name c/o Alaska Regional Hospital, 2801 DeBarr Road, Anchorage AK 99508. He also asks that cards of gratitude be sent to the Critical Care Unit nurses at the same address. Cards also can be sent locally to Sam Smith and Gaye Wolfe at
P.O. Box 3335, Homer AK 99603.
A book also is at Bunnell Street Arts Center where people can write messages of love and prayers for Wolfe. A Caring Bridge web page with updates on her medical condition is at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gayewolfe/mystory.
