Christina Barlow has worked in various art media, and particularly pottery, metal clay, and photography. Along the way in her teaching career, she has experimented with a variety of art forms to help our art students explore different mediums.
Teresa Swanson (formerly Hunt, newly hitched!) has lived in Alaska most of her life, and the outdoor experiences gained through life have shaped her recreational, biological and artistic points of view. After growing up in Anchorage, she completed her education in Arizona, and worked on exciting projects in the Grand Canyon before returning to Alaska to live in Yakutat and work for the Forest Service. She enjoys all things adventurous and outdoors, with an interest in art as it relates to our natural environment. She likes to create things of beauty from products found on the beach and in the woods and likes to share her enjoyment of the beauty found in Yakutat.
Anne Luetkemeyer- I have been teaching in Wrangell for nine years- the last two in the Art Department. I love working with creative people and fabricating art. My background is welding which I did for 20 years before finishing my degree and heading for Southeast hoping to land a teaching job.
Rhonda Coston was born in the South, raised in Oregon, and reached Alaska by way of many less desirable locations (Philadelphia, PA and Groveton, TX tied for the worst of the bunch). She has lived in Yakutat since 1995, where she works for the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game. She loves color, in all its forms, and enjoys the beauty of the water, forests and mountains. She believes art enriches our lives and can be a part of our homes, our clothing and our daily life in a variety of ways. Art can be found in wood, stone, fibers and gems, and Rhonda likes to create furniture, accessories, and jewelry from found items that tie nature to our everyday lives.
Shaadoo’tlaa Gunaaxoo’Kwáan
L’uknax.ádi, Raven Coho Clan
Xíxch’ Hít, Frog House
Wooshkeetaan Yádi tsu Dachxán, Grandchild of the Eagle Shark
In developing her repertoire to include weaving of Chilkat, Raven’s Tail and cedar, skin sewing of seal, otter and moose hide of mukluks, moccasins, vests and jackets. Designing and sewing of regalia of button robes, octopus bags and dresses. Jeweler of silver, copper, abalone and trade beads of potlatch designed earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Shaadoo’tlaa brings performing arts of oratory storytelling, collaboration of traditional Tlingit legends to her written stories of today’s concerns. Shaadoo’tlaa has become well versed in a wide variety of Native arts. Shaadoo’tlaa holds a degree with Northwest Indian College with Native American Arts & Cultural Studies, today she works with Sealaska Heritage Institute as their Arts Specialist and is attending college at University of Alaska Southeast.
Sealaska Heritage Institute partnership with Artfest 2014, Yakutat Alaska
Teaching and showcasing our Northwest Coast Art Kits, developed by our Teacher/Artist teams during our Jinéit Art Academy 2014.
L’uknax.ádi, Raven Coho Clan
Xíxch’ Hít, Frog House
Wooshkeetaan Yádi tsu Dachxán, Grandchild of the Eagle Shark
In developing her repertoire to include weaving of Chilkat, Raven’s Tail and cedar, skin sewing of seal, otter and moose hide of mukluks, moccasins, vests and jackets. Designing and sewing of regalia of button robes, octopus bags and dresses. Jeweler of silver, copper, abalone and trade beads of potlatch designed earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Shaadoo’tlaa brings performing arts of oratory storytelling, collaboration of traditional Tlingit legends to her written stories of today’s concerns. Shaadoo’tlaa has become well versed in a wide variety of Native arts. Shaadoo’tlaa holds a degree with Northwest Indian College with Native American Arts & Cultural Studies, today she works with Sealaska Heritage Institute as their Arts Specialist and is attending college at University of Alaska Southeast.
Sealaska Heritage Institute partnership with Artfest 2014, Yakutat Alaska
Teaching and showcasing our Northwest Coast Art Kits, developed by our Teacher/Artist teams during our Jinéit Art Academy 2014.
Jonathan O. Rowan Jr., tlingit name is Too'Yeek of the Shank'weidi clan in Klawock Ak. Native Arts Instructor since 1992. My job as the Instructor is to teach K-12 grades-1. basic design 2. Jewelry engraving 3. Beading 4. Sewing regalia 5. Basic carving 6. Language and oral history. From this postion at the Klawock Schools, another opened up with the City of Klawock as the carver of our Totem Park, I have been honored and recognized for the raising and restoring of 20 totem poles along with many apprentices that have worked with me. I have been a part of Arts Festival pretty much since it's inception and have been involved in it since I've been in attending. I am the dance group leader of our local dance group-Heinyaa Kwaan since 1999, we have about 30-50 dance group members.
Kat Palmer was born and raised in Southeast Alaska. One of her greatest passions is the creative process. It has lead her to study art in Hawaii, Anchorage, Juneau--and soon, Fairbanks, where she will receive her B.F.A. She has spent the last year teaching art classes at Juneau-Douglas High School with her mentor, Tom Manning. When she's not doing things like teaching, reading, or working on designs for Juneau's Aurora Projekt, she dances.
Penney James-I began pottery courses in 7th grade and continued through my sophomore year of college. If you could have majors in high school, mine would have been pottery. I recently taught a Women's Wellness group and enjoyed bringing this useful and artist form to them. I look forward to Art Fest and sharing my "love for mud" with you. Penney James
Ashley DuRoss has been an art teacher at Petersburg High School since 2008. She is originally from New Jersey, with a lot of family in Philadelphia. She has two sisters who, as of Artfest 2014, will be living and working in Petersburg (which is very exciting). Ashley is currently attending a low-residency program to receive her masters in Painting and Drawing from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD. The low-residency program works well, since it's set for 7 weeks in the summers and she'll complete the program in August 2015.
Ashley teaches 9th grade health and 6th grade P.E. along with the variety of art classes she enjoys teaching.
Ashley teaches 9th grade health and 6th grade P.E. along with the variety of art classes she enjoys teaching.
Eli Hanlon III is a lifelong resident of Yakutat. Eli first became interested in metal work after visiting the Burke Museum in Seattle over 15 years ago. While attending UAS he explored that passion by taking classes with Silversmith Michael Hunter. Eli now specializes in making Tlingit daggers using traditional methods.
Fred Bemis has been carving since 1973 when he participated in Upward Bound on the Sheldon Jackson College campus. There he took a class offered by Ray Nelson and he was hooked. Fred specializes in traditional Tlingit carvings and has done everything from large murals and canoes to smaller barrettes and carvings. His art is well loved in his home town of Yakutat and is displayed throughout the village.
Bert Adams, Sr., whose real name is Kadashan, began his art career as a young boy. When he was nine years old he started coloring with cranes, and eventually began to draw his own pictures to color. He pestered his parents for a real set of oil paints, but they told him when he got older they would consider it. He became acquainted with an elderly man, who taught himself how to use oils and began to learn how to paint from him. They bought from the general store the primary colors, some white lead, turpentine and linseed oil. They made their own brushes from their hair and used paint brushes and old tooth brushes. They painted on ply wood they had collected from the beach; that summer Kadashan splashed more paint on himself than his painting surface. He took water color and oil painting classes in high school, and has recently been working with acrylics. He did take classes in college in all mediums. He is now retired and is spending more time with his hobbies.
Kadashan lives in Yakutat where he writes stories, essays and does more paintings.
One of his books, Yaakwdaat Aya, a short story collection, is illustrated with his water color paintings
Kadashan lives in Yakutat where he writes stories, essays and does more paintings.
One of his books, Yaakwdaat Aya, a short story collection, is illustrated with his water color paintings
Carol Pate is a lifelong resident of Yakutat and now teaches in the high school. Carol has an interest in a variety of crafts, including: beading, quilting, knitting, and embroidery. As Carol came into contact with Raven's Tail she became enthralled by the art form. In the pursuit of learning that art Carol worked with organizations in Yakutat to bring Kay Parker, Master Weaver, in for community classes. Eventually Carol did an apprenticeship with Kay through a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and now shares her knowledge and experience with students and others in the Yakutat community.
Gaylen Needham has taught art in the Sitka High School for 12 years.
Jennie Wheeler is a Tlingit artist that specializes in the arts of Spruce Root basket weaving, swing traditional and non-traditional moccasins, trapper hats, button blankets, octopus bags, Raven's Tail weaving, regalia, dance boots, and other Tlingit sewing and artwork.
Carolyn Donohue
Heather K Ridgway grew up in Anchorage where she worked decades backstage painting, and building sets & props for UAA theater, Anchorage Community Theater, and the Anchorage Opera. It was a Design internship with Perseverance Theatre that originally brought her to Juneau in 1994. She holds a certificate in Architectural Restoration & Decorative Painting from the London City & Guild with recognition in trompe-l'oeil. Ms. Ridgway enjoyed a year as an English teacher in Inami-matchi Japan, where she learned about traditional Japanese wood-block printing. Before marrying into Juneau in 2003, she taught French and Art with the Anchorage School District as Ms. Kemp.
Andrew Larsen grew up in Pacific Northwest. Andrew grew to love watercolor after taking a class as a senior in high school. Andrew followed that up by studying watercolor while in college and earning a minor in art.
Ronnie Fairbanks- When you think of a Native artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico, the last thing that comes to mind is a Tlingit/Tsimpshian/Chippewa. My mother comes Ketchikan and Craig, Alaska and my father from White Earth, Minnesota. I graduated with a Bachelors of Arts with a focus on Fine Art from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. I teach Native Arts Carving at the Craig Middle and Craig High School in Craig, Alaska. I have three beautiful children, two boys (8&5), a 1 1/2 year old daughter, and very loving and supportive Wife. My medium of art is Northwest Coastal Form-line Design which branches into 2-D and 3-D carving and painting.
Sarah Spencer- I graduated from Florida State University in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. My passion was always teaching, but creating art always stirred my soul. After moving to Nashville, I discovered the field of graphic design and decided to go and experience art school. How much fun it was! I graduated in 2009 from the International Academy of Design & Technology in Graphic Design. That same summer I moved to Yakutat, AK as an AmeriCorps volunteer and soon found a place for both of my degrees. In the past 5 years, I have designed many different editions of school newspapers, dozens of flyers for school events, banners, logos, t-shirts, and yearbooks. I also co-taught a graphic design class for high school students. In the community, I have been the main designer for the Yakutat Tern Festival since it began. I designed the logo, pamphlets and banners for the Yakutat Energy Fair and I continue to have opportunities to design flyers and logos for locals.