Permanent Exhibit Community ForumsWhile demolition of the main floor of the Centennial Building transitions into construction, staff continues to shape plans for how to share Ketchikan’s unique history and heritage in the new exhibition spaces. In anticipation of a May 2018 opening for the permanent exhibit, Curator of Exhibits Steven Villano has been actively interviewing community members and seeking input and stories to create a museum experience that reflects what “Ketchikan is.”

These are exciting times of great growth and change for Ketchikan Museums. Renovation of the Centennial Building’s main floor is underway, expanded galleries to house new changing and permanent exhibits are taking form, and returning the collection to safe, permanent storage is on the horizon. As the new Ketchikan Museums takes shape, we welcome new leadership to spearhead our efforts and complete our team. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Lee Gray to Ketchikan as the new Museum Director!

Lee brings a tremendous wealth of experience in museums and galleries, working in facets ranging from collections to exhibitions, management to programs, fundraising to curating. Her list of career achievements, contributions to the field of museums, teaching experience and community service all attest to her commitment and dedication. Ketchikan will benefit greatly from her diverse knowledge and abilities as well as her understanding of the many functions and roles of a community museum.

“I’ve actually done everything in a museum. I was a coat check. I was a security guard. I’ve hung installations and I’ve

Welcome Museum Director, Lee GrayWinter 2017 Newsletter

done conservation work, mostly in textiles. I’ve conducted inventories and handled duties related to shipping and receiving art work. I’ve judged shows and I’ve swept the

floor,” she said. “I’ve pretty much done the whole gamut.”

Lee comes to us most recently from a position as Assistant Director of Exhibitions and Outreach for the Ruth Davis Design Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For eight years previous, she was the Curator of Exhibitions and Collections at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette, Louisiana. During her career, she has worked at a variety of museums in the Midwest and both Alabama and Louisiana.

Lee’s education centered on art, design and art history first at St. Cloud State Univeristy in Minnesota, followed by earning a Masters

degree from the University of Minnesota. She attained a doctorate in American Cultural Studies from Ohio University with a Certificate in Women’s Studies.

Lee Gray introduces herself to Ketchikan on page 2.

Tearing Down, Building Up! To continue the conversation, we invite the commmunity-at-large to help us find the common threads of our identity and culture to help us accurately reflect

the true story and character of Ketchikan.

Please join us at the Ketchikan Public Library for either Community Forum:Wednesday, January 25th, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 28th, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Thank you to everyone who has liked the “Ketchikan Is” Facebook page! All are welcome to share stories, moments, sights, scenes and experiences that could only be Ketchikan.

Native Arts Studies Program2016 Fall Season

I am honored to be the next Museum Director for the City of Ketchikan. My background is based in the visual arts as an educator and curator, though it is my love of history and culture that brings me to Ketchikan. Born and raised in Minnesota, I have lived in some unique parts of the world, including an 11th century castle in Alnwick, England. I have also lived in Aalborg, Denmark, Tlaxiaco, Mexico, and most recently in the heart of Cajun culture, Lafayette, Louisiana.

I enjoy learning about diverse lifestyles and cultures and am eager to begin this new adventure in an area so rich in culture and history. Once the renovation of the main floor of the Centennial Building is complete, I hope to welcome each of you into our new space where your stories of life in Southeast Alaska will come alive.

Your stories matter; they are what forms identity and links us to our past so that our present has substance and context. The Totem Heritage Center is an excellent example of this link. I would like to see the Center filled with activity and be celebrated for the vibrant community resource that it is. With your knowledge and help, we can make Ketchikan Museums the go-to venues for connections with the community. I look forward to the journey, especially because Ketchikan is now part of my own personal history. What a great new adventure this will be.

A Greeting from Museum Director Lee Gray

Top row, left to right: Keith Chase in Introduction to Power Tools; Kayla Williams and Jebidiah Knutsen in Introduction to Power Tools; Everett Athorp’s Introduction to Northwest Coast Carving class. Lower row, left to right: Holly Churchill and Christy Johnson in Introduction to Cedar Bark Weaving; Holly Churchill’s Introduction to Cedar Bark Weaving class; David R. Boxley teaching Introduction to Northwest Coast Design; Dorian Dundas in Introduction to Northwest Coast Design.

Thank you to all students and instructors for helping perpetuate and strengthen Northwest Coast art.

To find out about spring classes at the Totem Heritage Center, visit www.KetchikanMuseums.org, or call 225-5900. Sign up two weeks before the class start date to receive a discount on your registration fee!

Please join us in thanking the Ketchikan Indian Community for generously supporting Native Arts Studies Program students through the Esther Shea Cultural Studies Scholarship Program.

In 2016 Ketchikan Museums added two new baskets created by Kathryn Rousso to the collection through the support of the Rasmuson Foundation. Kathryn Rousso is a world-renowned local fiber artist whose work fuses traditional Northwest Coast styles with techniques learned through her international travels. Both pieces were purchased from Kathryn’s recent solo show, “A Sense of Place” at the Main Street Gallery. “Trick or Treat” exemplifies the artist’s mastery of synthesizing weaving styles, combining Ravenstail and Taaniko textile weaving patterns with the form of Panamanian chacaras, or net bags, and traditional Northwest Coast basketry. “Back and Forth” shows Kathryn’s spirit of experimentation and presents the full breadth of weaving techniques from across the globe that inform her work, each section showing a different pattern and technique. Both baskets set up a global conversation between Ravenstail weaving and cedar bark basketry of the Northwest Coast and the worldwide community of weavers. Together, they also tell the story of Rousso’s philosophy and experience as an artist. Kathryn’s role in the revitalization of Ravenstail weaving as well as contextualizing local weaving techniques makes her work an important part of Ketchikan history. We look forward to displaying these stunning pieces in future exhibits!

The Tongass Historical Society is proud to announce the selection of the first recipient of the THS Patricia Roppel Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2016 with the Alaska Community Foundation thanks to generous donations from the Roppel Family, the Eichner family, the Tongass Historical Society, and other generous donors. It was established to honor the memory of Pat Roppel; author, historian, researcher, and two-time recipient of the Alaska Historian of the Year award. Pat served the public for over thirty years on boards and commissions of state and nonprofit organizations. She also served on the THS Board of Directors, and made significant donations of objects, information, time and funding. She was a supportive member and friend for over 50 years.

2016’s scholarship recipient is Anne Rittgers, a graduate student at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Anne is in the interdisciplinary Arctic and Northern Studies Program and is specializing in Northern History.

The THS Patricia Roppel Scholarship gives a $5,000 award annually to an undergraduate or graduate student attending an accredited college and majoring in history, especially pursuing the study of Alaska and the North. Special consideration is given to an applicant specializing in Southeast Alaska History, or the history of mining, fisheries, or timber in Alaska. If you would like to apply for next year’s scholarship, or you wish to make a donation to the fund, please go to the Alaska Community Foundation website at https://alaskacf.org/blog/funds/ths-patricia-roppel-scholarship/. You can also find a link on the Tongass Historical Society website at www.tongasshistory.org.

Established in 1995, the Alaska Community Foundation is a statewide platform for philanthropy that connects people who care with causes that matter. Holding approximately $75 million in more than 360 funds for the benefit of Alaskans, ACF grants $3 to $4 million each year to charitable projects and nonprofit organizations across the state. Their mission is to transform gifts from Alaskans into an extraordinary contribution for our state’s future. For more information, visit www.alaskacf.org or call (907)334-6700.

Anne Rittgers Awarded First Annual Patricia Roppel Scholarship

Rasmuson Art Acquisition Fund GrantAwarded for Kathryn Rousso Baskets

Above: “Back and Forth” Left: “Trick or Treat”Purchased with the support of the Rasmuson Foundation with assistance from Museums Alaska.

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDKetchikan, Alaska

Permit No. 95

Totem Heritage CenterTongass Historical Museum

Ketchikan Museums Calendar

Tongass Historical Museum629 Dock Street

Ketchikan, Alaska 99901(907) 225-5600

Totem Heritage Center601 Deermount Street

Mailing Address: 629 Dock StreetKetchikan, Alaska 99901

(907) 225-5900

Winter HoursOctober – April

1:00 – 5:00 P.M. Monday – Friday

u u u

City of KetchikanMuseum Department Staff

www.KetchikanMuseums.org

Ketchikan Museums collect, preserve, interpret and creatively share the history and culture of our region to serve, educate, engage and enrich our community.

Museum Director . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Lee GrayAdministrative Secretary . . . . . . Tara HofmannSr. Curator of Collections . . . . .Hayley ChambersRegistrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erika Brown Sr. Curator of Programs . . . . . . Anita Maxwell Curator of Exhibits . . . . . . . . . Steven VillanoProgram Coordinator . . . . . . . . . Ann FroeschleProgram Assistant. . . . . . . . . . Stacey Williams Museum Attendant . . . . . . . . . . . . Lance Bifoss

Admission is FREE for locals and their visitors!

Native Arts Studies Program 2017 Spring Classes

Introduction to Cedar Bark Weaving Holly Churchill, January 14–21

Mixed Level Cedar Bark Weaving Diane Douglas-Willard, January 30–February 10

Family Moccasin Making Class Debbie McLavey, February 13 - 25

Intermediate and Advanced Northwest Coast Carving: Feast Bowl Tommy Joseph, February 13–25

Intermediate and Advanced Chilkat Weaving Dorica Jackson, February 27–March 11

629 Dock StreetKetchikan, Alaska 99901

Closed for renovations through April 2017.

Staff is available by appointment.

OPEN CRAFT NIGHTBack after the Holidays on January 12th!

Thursdays, 6 - 9 P.M. at the Totem Heritage Center

Spring Break Youth ClassesMarch 13 –17

Cedar Bark Weaving with Holly Churchill8 AM – 12 PM

Northwest Coast Design with Kelly White1 – 5 PM

Christina Weber weaving at Open Craft Night, 2016.

Permanent Exhibit Community Forums:Wednesday, January 25th,

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.Saturday, January 28th

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.at the Ketchikan Public Library