State of the ArtsThe monthly newsletter of Fairbanks Arts Association

August 2006

Fairbanks Arts 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

FAA Invites Dinners in the Homes Hosts for Thank You Dinner September 22

August Gallery Exhibit: XXXI All Alaska Juried

Fairbanks Arts Association Board of Directors

Corlis Taylor, PresidentMarcella Hill, Vice PresidentMryna Colp, SecretaryJohn Kohler, Jr., TreasurerBob DempseyScott SwingleJerrie Graham Leafy McBrideJoan Stack

StaffJune Rogers, Executive Director Sherry Faught, Office Manager /Bookkeeper

Rachael Kvapil, Program DirectorGabriel Lopez-Shaw, Tech Assistant

P.O. Box 72786 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707

Fairbanks

ArtsAssociation

August 2006

Non-ProfitOrganization

U.S. Postage PaidFairbanks, Alaska

Permit No. 17

State of the ArtsA monthly newsletter

of the Fairbanks Arts Association

August Literary Reading

Featured Gift Shop Artist

Art Train USA Comes to Alaska

Fairbanks Arts Association is working with Artrain USA as it conducts its first ever tour to Alaska in September and October this year. Artrain USA, a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor, MI, is an art museum housed in vintage rail cars that travel via the nation’s railroads. More than 3.2 million people have visited Artrain USA during 800 community visits since its founding in 1971. Artrain USA’s Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture a contemporary Native American art exhibition will be on display in five Alaska communities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Nenana, Palmer and Seward.Artrain USA’s facility – five train cars that serve as galleries, artists’ studio, gift shop & crew offices – arrives by barge from Seattle and premiers in Anchorage on

September 17th. Artrain USA will then travel the Alaska Railroad to each of the five selected communities where it will spend three to seven days on display. As the host organization, FAA is preparing for its arrival by recruiting local residents interested in volunteering as Educational/Group Tour Guides for the exhibit. Help is also needed help with the welcoming reception and other activities during the Artrain USA visit. Native Views is a contemporary Native American art exhibition that explores the influence of popular culture and the many commonalties shared by all Americans. Visitors discover the richness, complexity and breadth of contemporary Native American art while examining varying perspectives on society. Select Alaska Native artists will also be on board for demonstrations and displays as part of Artrain USA’s Alaska Native Artist Fellowship program. Native Views is touring America from April 2004 through 2007 and will reach more than 100 communities.

Volunteers Needed for Artrain USA’s First Visit to the “Land of the Midnight Sun”

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Editor’s Note: Betty Robinson is a long-time participant in FAA’s Dinners in th e Homes fundraiser. Through out the year she has transported a great number of guests, helping to co-host and entertain people with her fascinating stories about living and working in Alaska. Betty had the following throughts to share about Dinners in the Homes:

During the summer phone calls frequently come from Fairbanks Arts Association asking me to drive for the

“Dinner in the Homes” fundraising program. Driving is my way of contributing, though other volunteers host dinners for out-of-town guests traveling with Colette Tour Company. This summer, Friday nights are when Fairbanksans open up their homes to some adventuresome visitors. As a driver, I have transported guests to all styles of homes built from logs or framed homes with outhouses and dog kennels to spacious elegant mansions where champagne and several course dinners are served. Visitors are always amazed at the diversity of structures in our Borough and many are envious of the freedoms we still have in Alaska. Guests are also impressed by the variety of local arts displayed in and around the host homes. At one unfinished home in North Pole, the host encouraged his twelve guests to suggest how the builders should proceed with the various steps needed to finish the structure. As they sat in a half-circle around a cold pot-bellied stove, a couple of the gentlemen drew sketches on a pad. Guests were surprised and pleased to be asked

for their advice. They proclaimed their dinner experience as the best part of their Alaskan journey. It’s not uncommon for hosts to serve meals made with produce from their own gardens or with produce from the local farmers market. Many meals also feature handpicked berries, wild Alaska salmon, halibut, or game culled from wild herds. I also enjoy pointing out many of the edible wild flowers, greens, herbs and berries that grow around the homes of hosts. Hosts encourage their guests to ask questions, especially when the host family is from different ethnic backgrounds. The questions are numerous and, sometimes, quite

humorous. Guests also get a chance to learn more about other travelers in their group during these evenings. There is a lot of interaction, teasing and laughter that takes place. Sometimes we have sing-a-longs and there is frequently a lot of joke telling. Admittedly, some of them are really corny. Volunteer hosts and drivers are always needed. Just over a thousand visitors are participating in the “Dinners in the Homes” program. This

important fundraiser allows Fairbanks Arts Association to grow programs in our five disciplines: Visual, Literary, Performing, Community Arts and Arts Education.

For more information about the “Dinnersin the Homes” program contact FairbanksArts Association at 456-6485 ext. 224 or emailfairbanksarts@mosquitonet.com.

Dinners in the Homes:An Example of the True Alaskan Spirit

by Betty Robinson

“I have transported guests to all styles of homes built from logs or framed homes with outhouses and dog kennels to spacious elegant mansions.”

Alaskans take pride in their adventurous spirit and their ability to adapt to all types of situations whether it’s braving the elements, living without modern conviences, or watching the moose in their backyard. Every summer the dinner table becomes its own adventure for one Fairbanks Arts Association volunteer who frequently transports out-of-town guests to dinners at the homes of people she has never met...

On the Cover: Volunteer Host Virginia Damron stands with guests from the 2005 Dinners in the Homes. Her guests sent her this picture after they returned from vacation.

Gallery Volunteers:Martha & Lem GelineauPenny WakefieldCheryl JoensKathy DubbsBarbara PomarJason DahlenJudy WellnitzCora CookMary Lou JorissenLee HarrisLaura FentonShirley PhelpsSherry LewisPenny ClarkMary WorralKathy RichardsonJerrie GrahamKaren JanssenMargaret WiedemanJane ZimmermanC.J. ThomasJeannine SenechalVi RobinsonJulie FischerMike KermesBarbara Short &Nancy Hausle- Johnson

Newsletter:Diane SigfriedMary Lou JorissenBetty RobinsonJason DahlenPhyllis MoviusKathy DubbsIvan Kvapil

Dinners In the Homes:Myrna ColpBarry & Dorli McWayneApril CrosbyMerrit HelferichJeanne DanielsAnne & Randy BakerKeith GianniTom & Bonnie RobertsMary MitchellMargret Van FleinMark & Mimi Chapin

Betty RobinsonSue Cole Phil & Ivan KvapilAndrew & Brian CooperEd WorkmanTom & Tori FooteEileen CummingsWendell & Judy ShifflerMonte & Lynn SlusherMary BurtnessJim & Jinx WhitakerElise & Richard SolieCraig Salsbury&

Barbara PomarKen & Penny WakefieldLinde KienleMartin & Susan MillerMarilyn RichardsonMichelle AmstrupFrancis AdamsEric & Laura BerghMarilyn BiagiKate & Richard FoggiaJohn & Diane SigfriedLee Harris

Jean EricksonSusan HolderDeborah KoonsClint MeyerMissy & John Kohler, Jr.Barney & Diane McClureSusie & Greg ZimmermanLori & Doug LangeMark & Nancy PlanteSvetlana & Keith NussRay & Claudia PiersonLinda Schandelmeir & John Davies

Corey & Diane BorgesonMiriam CooperMary Beth OlsonKevin AlexanderMary MatthewsLibby MartinDavid & Aldean KilbournIngrid TaylorValerie TherrienMercia KallochMargaret WiedemanCurtis & Marcella Hill

Jenifer CameronJason Hodges & Evan HallSusan McGinnish &Joy MorrisonPaul & Ester BermudezPat KnopfCheryl JoensDavid WatsonKathy VaupelSandra BoatwrightYvonne GreerTony Gasparron & Sara MadenHerb & Hilda MelchiorPeggy PollenJackie OwensPeggy BurkenbuelMarvin & Becky HassebroekEd & Mary HustedMarilyn RussellAndy & Sonia SchumacherTheresa ReedDavid MarusekShane HurdTed Sponsel &Linden StaciokasPatty KastelicBetty PixleyJohn & Sheila FellerathColleen Smith-ThomasJudy FarnhamMarvid & Becky HassebroekSig & Arlene StranbergJodi GowensBill RogersJoe EnzweilerSusan & Martin MillerLorraine PetersonKurt DinsmoreSusan DavisChick & Carolyne WallaceJeff MannLee & Betty HigbeRoxanne BuckmeirKathryn WoodRichard GummJudy Divinyi

Thank you To All Our Wonderful Volunteers!

HundredsofVolunteersHelpedToHost,Co-Host,EntertainandTransport

SummerVisitorsforFAA’s2006DinnersintheHomesFundraiser

Now It’s Our Turn to Host and Say Thank You

Everyone Who Helped in Any Way is Invited to Dinner Friday, September 22 -6:30 pm

FAA Bear Gallery Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts

Pioneer Park

Do you have a favorite story, hosting tip, or recipe?

This is the perfect time to share!

RSVP: 456-6485 ext 224 orspecialprojects@acsalaska.net

Deborah Wilkinson traveled to Seattle

this month to recieve an award for her piece “Red Diamonds,” entered into the Pacific Northwest Quiltfest. The quilted jacket was one of 276 quilts and wearable art entries from five northwestern states and four western provinces. The Pacific Northwest Quiltfest is August 11-13 at the Seattle Center’s

Exhibition Hall. The event is sponsored by the Association of Northwest Quilters.

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For additional information about arts-related events, committees, educational activities or opportunities visit the Fairbanks Arts Association website at

www.fairbanksarts.org

Fairbanks Arts Association Brings Summer Entertainment

to Pioneer Park

Dinners In The Homes Guest Sends Thanks to Host

From Marilyn J. Hoffert of Mount Vernon, OH:

My husband and I attended a wonderful dinner Friday evening, July 7 at the home of Dr. Keith Gianni. We were served great homemade food accompanied by beautiful harp music and fabulous, informative talk about art in Fairbanks. Dr. Gianni’s collection was spectacular. We would like to thank the good doctor and the other volunteers who provided us with such a memorable evening. We were at the very beginning of a great 12 day Alaskan adventure that took us over land (Denali & Anchorage) and sea (Haines, Juneau & Ketchekan). Our evening at Dr. Gianni’s home was a high point. The sights that followed were great but that first Friday evening will long be remembered as OUTSTANDING!!!

Thanks to all.

Fairbanks Arts Association provides one-stop entertainment from June through August in Pioneer Park. With a host of activities every single evening, there’s always something to do in Fairbanks!

ArtsintheParkActivitiesforAugust:

Gazebo Nights offers live entertainment seven days a week starting at 7pm. These free performances are near the park’s front entrance. Bring a chair and blanket, bench seating is limited. The August schedule is as follows:

Fairbanks Arts Association Bear Gallery: a contemporary Fine Arts gallery, located on the third floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts. August show: XXXI All Alaska Juried Art Exhibit. Open 11-9 daily.

Fairbanks Arts Association’s Monthly Literary Readings: every third Saturday of the Month. On August 19th, youth winners of the Tanana Valley Fair Junior Creative Writing Division will be invited to read their entries. Readings start at 7pm in the Bear Gallery.

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AUGUSTSundays Eargasm RockMondays Ukulele Users Group Traditional/Non-traditional Tuesdays Martin Miller StorytellingWednesdays Mike Stackhouse Original FolkThursdays Theresa Bauer Country/RockFridays Steve Moore Favorites on Guitar w/ VocalsSaturdays Brookelyn Bellenger (1st 2 weeks) Folk Joan Stack (Last 2 weeks) Vocalist

All Shows at 7pmFree Admission

Featured Artist in the Gift Shop

LaurenPayne is a jewlery maker who was born and raised in Fairbanks where she was exposed to many creative activities during her childhood: painting, drawing, sewing,

knitting, paper making and beading. Her mother sparked additional interest when she began a career in oil painting. Lauren has always had a passion for creative tasks and unique one of a kind designs.

In addition to jewelry making, Lauren has been very involved with athletics throughout her life and has become fervent about traveling. In May 2006 she graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors of Science degree. Her specific area of study was Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Health Promotions. Over the past five years

Lauren has made it a point to travel and live somewhere different every summer including Costa Rica, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Australia where she lived in a van for 2 months traveling the coast and studying in Sydney for 4 months. She has also taken long excursions around England, Ireland, Scotland and Thailand. Many of the stones, shells and gems Lauren uses in her jewelry have been collected while traveling. Now that Lauren has a bit more time on her hands she is trying to integrate both her creative, athletic, and traveling passions into an interesting and unique career. Lauren’s jewlery is currently available in FAA’s Bear Gallery.

Interior Artist Recognized at 2005 Pacific Northwest Quiltfest

Monthly Literary Reading for August: Class Champions of the

Tanana Valley State Fair’s Junior Creative Writing Division

Fairbanks Arts Association is pleased to feature the eight Class Champions of the Tanana Valley State Fair’s (TVSFA) Junior Creative Writing Division Competition. FAA seeks to provide a venue for writers of all ages and by working with the Tanana Valley State Fair has identified young writers who are eager to present their work. Tanana Valley State Fair accepts submissions for poetry: rhyming and non-rhyming; plays, skits, and scripts; anecdotes, nonfiction, short fiction, fiction and desktop publishing. The Junior Creative Writing competition is for youth age 16 and under. FAA’s Monthly Literary Reading is Saturday, August 19 in the Bear Gallery, third floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts in Pioneer Park.

Call for Art The Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) announces a Call for Art for the Fairbanks International Airport Terminal Area Development Project. Artists are invited to submit concept proposals for artwork to be commissioned for the Fairbanks International Airport Terminal. At this time, the public art committee requests proposals for signature exterior and interior art. This call is open to all statewide, national and international artists and/or teams of artists.

Budget for art: $400,000 Submission Deadline: August 31, 2006. Please visit Artist Opportunities on the ASCA website www.eed.state.ak.us/aksca for more information.

Greetings from the Gazebo -Gabriel Lopez Shaw

Fairbanks Arts Association is pleased to introduce Gabriel Lopez-Shaw as the New Technical Assistant for our Performing Arts Program. Gabe is in charge of handling sound and the projector for our film series and sound for our Gazebo Nights programs during June, July, and August (see

schedule on right). His talents have helped featured a list of Interior performing artists, which have drawn crowds continuously throughout the summer:

Greetings from the Gazebo! The series is now entering the final month and it has been as season to remember. FAA has showcased everything from hunting stories to Polynesian dance to steel drums and celtic fiddle in the month of June. In July, audiences enjoyed Middle Eastern dance, world music played on the mandolin, electric piano and slack key guitar. Even the occasional rainy night couldn’t stop Gazebo Nights from displaying a wide range of Fairbanks talent. Be sure to stop in for shows every evening at 7pm until the end of August. The weather is still beautiful! In closing, I would like to express gratitude to all of the participating artists. It has truly been a gift to be a part of these unique performances.

Editors Note: The Anchorage Museum of History and Art featured the XXXI All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition January 15 through March 5, 2006. It is now travelling around the state. The following statement is part of the foreword presented by Anchorage Museum of History and Art Director Patricia Wolf in the exhibition guide, reprinted with the museum’s permission:

This biennial exhibit is always well received by local audiences because of its inclusion of a wide variety

of high quality new works by many Alaska artists. Some artists have been represented for a number of years, and it is good to recognize their most current work. Some artists are new to the exhibit. This is an exciting event for those artists who are pleased to have a venue to display their work and for the museum staff who are always gratified to find new talent within the state. This year’s exhibition includes 80 works of art by 55 artists. A total of 177 artists from 25 Alaska communities entered 576 works for the jurying process, including 36 who are new to the museum’s database. The character of the All Alaska Juried Art Exhibit is based upon the artists who submit entries and the selections of a distinguished juror from outside of Alaska who has

significant credentials in organizing exhibits but is unfamiliar with Alaska’s art and artists. This year’s juror is Matthew Drutt, Chief Curator of the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas. He has organized many prestigious exhibitions and publications for their museum including: Robert Gober: The Meat Wagon; Ellsworth Kelly: Tablet; Olafur Eliasson: Photographs; Tony Smith: Elevens Are Up, Wall and New Piece. A Permanent Installation in Loretto Park; and Dan Flavin:

Monuments for Vladimir Tatlin. Prior to working in Houston, Drutt served as Curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. While there, he organized, among others, Kazimir Malevich: Suprematism; Amazons of Avant-Garde; Six Russian Artists: Alexandra Exter, Natalia Goncharova, Liubov Popova, Olga Rozanova, Varvara Stepanova, and Nadezhda Udaltsova; Bill Fontana: Acoustical Sounds of Venice, from the Venice Biennale; The Art of the Motorcycle: Max Beckmann in Exile; and Josef Albers: Glass, Color and Light. Drutt has taught at Columbia University, School of the Arts in New York; Division of Graduate Studies,

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August Gallery Exhibit: XXXI All Alaska Juried Art ExhibitionExhibit Dates: August 4-August 27, 2006Opening Reception: Friday, August 4, 5-8 pm

Clockwise from top left:Untitled by Jessie Hedden, Stay II by Annie Duffy, Ascent, Fairbanks, AK by Kate Wool. These artworks are among the 80 works featured in the XXXI All Alaska Juried Art Exhibit

Valerie D. Cline, FairbanksMagical ThinkingAcrylic, ink on boardAward

Inari Kylanen, FairbanksMysteries of Cat LanguageAcrylic, hair

Annie Duffy, FairbanksStay IICast paper, hemp twineAward

Jessie Hedden, FairbanksUntitledCollage, acrylic, paper, push pinsAward

Nancy Burnham, EsterBeguilingMixed mediaKarmaMixed Media

Da-Ka-Xeen Mehner, FairbanksReflectionsDigital photo

Kate S. Wool, FairbanksAscent, Fairbanks, AKSilver gelatin print

Elizabeth Eero Irving, FairbanksThree LeavesMixed media on paper

Red CollectionMixed media on paper

Interior Artists Featured in the XXXI All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition

Society of Children’s BookWriters & IllustratorsContact: Chérie Stihler: stihlerunits@mosquitobytes.comSCBWI Alaska’s Editors Day 3September 1010 am - 4 pmFeaturing actively acquiring editors:Lauren Velevis from Harper Collins and Deborah Wayshak of Candlewick PressEditors Day 3 RegistrationSCBWI Members $60/ Non-members $100www.scbwialaska.org/ED3.html

North Star BalletContact: 451-8800Company & Apprentice Company AuditionsAugust 24 @ 5 pmIn-person registration August 25, 26 from 10 am-6 pmJunior Company AuditionsAugust 25 @ 5 pmScholarship AuditionsAugust 26 @ 2 pmOpen Auditions for Nutcracker Children’s RolesSeptember 17 @ 2 pm

Northland Children’s ChoirContact: Melissa Downes,388-0543www.northlandchoir.orgAuditions by AppointmentBeginning August 22 Boys and girls 8 -18 years old.2007 Fundraising for England TourOngoing

Midnight Sun Intertribal PowwowContact: Valerie Jenson, 456-2245vjensen@alaska.netwww.midnightsunpowwow.netGeneral Membership MeetingSunday, August 13Location TBA

Fairbanks Choral Society &Tanana Yukon Historical SocietyContact: Dr. Suzanne Summerville. 456 1144sing@mosquitonet.comThere’s No Place Like Nome:Songs, Piano, and Poetry from Early Gold Rush DaysAugust 25 @ 7 pmThe Chapel, Pioneer ParkNo Charge

Friends of Creamer’s FieldContact:452-5162 creamers@ptialaska.net www.creamersfield.org9th Annual Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane FestivalAugust 25-27Creamer’s FieldCelebration includes walks, semi-nars, workshops, and other events for adults and kids alike.

Dance Theatre FairbanksContact: 452-1113info@dancetheatrefairbanks.comwww.dancetheatrefairbanks.comFall 2006 Semester Registration August 22, 24, 25 @ 6:30-8:30August 26 @ 2:00-4:00Placement Class datesAge 8-11: August 22 @ 4:30-6:30,August 24 @ 4:30-6:30Age 12-up: August 22 @ 5:30-6:30,August 24 @ 5:30-7:30Babes in Toyland Auditions Age 8-11: August 25 @ 5:30-7:30Age 12-up: August 26 @ 10:00-2:00

Submitnewsletterinformationto:rachael.kvapil@acsalaska.netorcall456-6485ext226

CalendarofEvents

Fairbanks Arts Association:Visual Arts Committee:August 9 at 5:30pm

Literary Arts Committee:August 10 at 5:30pm

Cinema Arts Committee:Every other Wednesday at 5:30pm

Community Writer’s Group:Sunday, August 13 from 1-4pmSubmission Deadline:August 4th in Bear Gallery

Community Arts Committee:August 30 at Noon

All Meetings are in the Bear Gallery unless otherwise stated.

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Fashion Institute of Technology; Hart Leadership Program at Duke University; he was a Teaching Fellow, Department of History and Art, Yale University. He received his Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts/Russian from New York University, his Masters from Yale University, and was a PhD Candidate (ABD) at Yale University. In addition to selecting the works to be included in the exhibit, Drutt also selected the pieces that received the awards. The $1,000 Juror’s Choice Award was given to Marianne Elson Grifith, Anchorage for her oil paiting 4th Avenue. Awards of $500 were given to Fredrick Anderson, Naknek, for his drawing Self Portrait in Bush; Valerie Cline, Fairbanks, for her painting Magical Thinking; Don

Decker, Anchorage, for his carved wood sculpture Rain/Sun; Annie Duffy, Fairbanks for her sculpture Stay II; Jessie Hedden, Fairbanks, for her untitled collage; and Will Rindom, Palmer, for his black and white photograph Superstructure. Submissions by four Anchorage artists were given Honorable Mention. They include: Edward Albe, Valdez, Alaska 2004, photographed by Michael Conti; Isaac on the Kenai, an acrylic painting by Lorri Davis; Wellspring III, a work on paper by Ted Herlinger; and Way Too Long in a Yoga Pose, a mixed media on aluminum piece by Ward Hulbert. The All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition is an important vehicle for expressing the Museum’s commitment to collecting and exhibiting works by Alaska artists.