In this July 20th, 2019 Artist Talk https://youtu.be/-cCkSAT3A2o , Sheldon Jackson Museum artist-in-residence Abel Ryan (Tsimshian) shares his experience making his first totem pole. For this project, Ryan worked with a group of high school students, teaching them carving and formline design. Abel Ryan is a favorite among youth in Sitka and everywhere he goes! Thank you for sharing your work and the story of this housepost, Abel, and for teaching the next generation of carvers! Thank you students, for your fine work!
Abel Ryan was in residence at the Sheldon Jackson Museum through the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, a program funded with generous support from the Lindblad LEX-NG National Geographic Fund. In addition to this Artist Talk, you can watch short film clips of Abel explaining how he makes a silver bracelet engraved with Northwest Coast formline design as well as other Artist Talks and art-making demonstrations by artists-in-residence on the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum YouTube channel!