Northern Lights Landscape Painting Class with Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik), in-person and on Zoom, simultanously, Sheldon Jackson Museum
Two 4-hour sessions held on Fri., Aug. 26th from 9-1pm and Sat., August 27th from 9-1pm.
As part of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, artist Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik) will offer a landscape painting class to teach students to paint the northern lights. The painting class will take place over the course of two 4-hour sessions held on Fri., Aug. 26th from 9-1pm and Sat., August 27th from 9-1pm. Students should plan to attend both 4-hour sessions. If time permits, students will also stain the wooden frames for framing their finished northern lights painting using a traditional dye-making method using blueberries and crowberries.
The class is free, but students must sign up to attend the class by July 15th and will need to pay a materials fee at the time of sign up and may need to pay a shipping cost if having the artist mail materials. The materials will include 11×14 inch or 15×20 inch canvas, unfinished frames, and specific acrylic paint colors. If attending via zoom, students will have to obtain materials on their own or order the kit directly from the instructor. To obtain the materials list and instructor’s contact information and to sign up, students can call (907) 747-8981 or stop by the museum. A zoom link will be provided to students who sign up to attend via zoom.
(Photo: Percy Avugiak in front of UAF Mural he painted, photo provided by Percy Avugiak)
Northern Lights Landscape Painting Class with Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik), in-person and on Zoom, simultanously, Sheldon Jackson Museum
Two 4-hour sessions held on Fri., Aug. 26th from 9-1pm and Sat., August 27th from 9-1pm.
As part of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, artist Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik) will offer a landscape painting class to teach students to paint the northern lights. The painting class will take place over the course of two 4-hour sessions held on Fri., Aug. 26th from 9-1pm and Sat., August 27th from 9-1pm. Students should plan to attend both 4-hour sessions. If time permits, students will also stain the wooden frames for framing their finished northern lights painting using a traditional dye-making method using blueberries and crowberries.
The class is free, but students must sign up to attend the class by July 15th and will need to pay a materials fee at the time of sign up and may need to pay a shipping cost if having the artist mail materials. The materials will include 11×14 inch or 15×20 inch canvas, unfinished frames, and specific acrylic paint colors. If attending via zoom, students will have to obtain materials on their own or order the kit directly from the instructor. To obtain the materials list and instructor’s contact information and to sign up, students can call (907) 747-8981 or stop by the museum. A zoom link will be provided to students who sign up to attend via zoom.
(Photo: Percy Avugiak in front of UAF Mural he painted, photo provided by Percy Avugiak)
Artist Talk with Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik), in-person and on Zoom, simultaneously, Sheldon Jackson Museum
Sat., Aug. 27th from 3-4pm
- ZOOM:
- Meeting ID: 816 2742 4848
- Passcode: 880165
As part of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, artist Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik) will give a talk on Yup’ik masks on Sat., Aug. 27th from 3-4pm. The talk will be held in-person at the museum and on Zoom. Avugiak’s talk will focus on traditional Yup’ik masks and their different styles and uses, including “teasing masks” and the “teasing masks” he has made. People wishing to reserve their spot to attend in-person or who wish to be emailed a zoom link should call (907) 747-8981.
Percy Avugiak is an Inupiaq and Yup’ik painter and carver with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He will be the Sheldon Jackson Museum’s artist-in-residence and working most days at the museum from August 19th-Sept. 10th. His Inupiaq roots are from the village of White Mountain and was raised in the Yup’ik village of Chefornak, Alaska. He lives and create art in Eagle River with his Inupiaq wife who is originally from the village of Shishmaref. His early painting are whimsical Alaska animals enjoying different scenes. He considers his best examples of artwork to be his abstract Alaskan Native dancing and singing paintings. He is also specializes in traditional mask making, wood and ivory carvings, acrylic landscape and portrait paintings, drawings and ivory/baleen jewelry making.
(Photo: Percy Avugiak in front of UAF Mural he painted, photo provided by Percy Avugiak)
Artist Talk with Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik), in-person and on Zoom, simultaneously, Sheldon Jackson Museum
Sat., Sept. 10th from 3-4pm.
- ZOOM:
- Meeting ID: 811 7128 3722
- Passcode: 885117
As part of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, artist Percy Avugiak (Inupiaq/Yup’ik) will give a talk on a selection of artifacts from the Sheldon Jackson Museum’s permanent collection on Sat., Sept. 10th from 3-4pm. The talk will be held in-person at the museum and simultaneously on zoom. People wishing to reserve a spot to attend in-person or who wish to be emailed a zoom link should call (907) 747-8981.
(Photo: Percy Avugiak in front of UAF Mural he painted, photo provided by Percy Avugiak)
Artist Talk with Debra Dzijúksuk O’Gara (Tlingit, Yupik, Irish), in-person and on Zoom, simultaneously, Sheldon Jackson Museum
Sept. 17th from 3-4pm
- ZOOM:
- Meeting ID: 839 0863 3969
- Passcode: 422241
As part of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, Debra Dzijuksuk O’Gara (Tlingit, Yup’ik Irish) will give a talk entitled “Tillie Paul Tamaree: Educator and Tribal Historian.” The talk will be held in-person at the Sheldon Jackson Museum and simultaneously on zoom on Sat., Sept. 17th from 3-4pm. People wishing to reserve a spot to attend in-person or who wish to be emailed a zoom link should call (907) 747-8981.
O’Gara describes the subject of her talk as follows:
“Matilda (Tillie) Kinnon Paul Tamaree, was raven from the Teeyhittaan clan of Wrangell. Tillie was my Great Grandmother. She was born in 1864 and died in 1955. Though I never met her in person, her spirit and life accomplishments have and continue to provide me with inspiration and guidance in my life. In her 91 years, Tillie was a teacher, translator, historian, and activist for native and civil rights.
Tillie spent many years in Sitka as well as a translator for the Reverend Sheldon Jackson, an early leader in the Presbyterian church, and created a Tlingit dictionary. Tillie is the mother to the Paul brothers — William, Sr., Louis and Samuel in her first marriage, and to Gladys, Frances (Skip), and Florence in her second marriage to William Tamaree of Wrangell. “
Debra Dzijúksuk O’Gara is Tlingit, Yup’ik, Irish and raven from the Teey hit taan clan of Wrangell. She is a ravenstail and Chilkat weaver and will be the artist-in-residence and working most days at the museum between Sept. 16th and Oct. 9th. She currently lives in Petersburg, Alaska. Her mom was born and raised in Mountain Village, Alaska and now lives in Juneau. Her grandmother, Frances Tamaree Sheppard was born in Wrangell and died young. Her great grandmother was Tillie Paul Tamaree, a civil rights activist and mother to William and Louis Paul. Tillie’s second husband and Dzijúksuk great grandfather, William Tamaree, was a community leader and carver.
Debra Dzijúksuk’s Chilkat and ravenstail teachers have been the late Clarissa Rizal, whose teacher was Jennie Thlunaut; Lily Hope, who is Clarissa’s daughter; and Kay Parker. It is through this weaving and the art of her ancestors that she has found sobriety and an ever-growing circle of strong women and other two-spirit weavers. They share stories, lessons, mistakes and victories. They connect with each other and reconnect with our ancestors. Debra and these weavers are rediscovering and reviving the knowledge and stories of our clans that are embedded in the fibers of our weavings.
(Photo provided by Debra Dzijúksuk O’Gara)
Artist Talk with Debra Dzijúksuk O’Gara (Tlingit, Yupik, Irish), in-person and on Zoom, simultaneously, Sheldon Jackson Museum
Sat., Sept. 24th 3-4pm
- ZOOM:
- Meeting ID: 872 9505 0342
- Passcode: 123602
As part of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, Debra Dzijuksuk O’Gara (Tlingit, Yup’ik Irish) will give a talk entitled “Cultural Significance of Ravenstail and Chilkat Weaving.” The talk will be held in-person at the Sheldon Jackson Museum and simultaneously on zoom on Sat, Sept. 24th from 3-4pm. People wishing to attend in-person or who wish to be emailed a zoom link should call (907) 747-8981.
O’Gara describes the subject of her talk as follows:
“These two art forms [Chilkat and ravenstail weaving] nearly died out completely. Why and how did this happen? Focus will be on the strong resurgence today for both Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving which has provided medicine for many in their efforts in cultural and spiritual healing.
Just as Chilkat weaving is gaining new weavers, some of the traditional materials are becoming scarce due to climate change, loss of accessible lands, and unsustainable logging practices. What are some of the innovative solutions emerging to stave off this crisis?”
(Photo provided by Debra Dzijúksuk O’Gara)
Ravenstail Pouch or Wall Hanging Class with Debra (Dzijuksuk) O’Gara (Tlingit, Yup’ik, Irish), in-person and on Zoom, simultaneously, Sheldon Jackson Museum
Two 4-hour classes Tues., Sept. 27th., and Sat., Oct. 1st from 9am-1pm. Students will have an ability to attend an optional third 4-hour class on Tues., Oct. 4th from 9am-1pm.
As part of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program, artist Debra Dzijuksuk O’Gara will offer a two-part ravenstail weaving class in which students will make either a ravenstail pouch or wall hanging. The two-part class will be held on Tues., Sept. 27th., and Sat., Oct. 1st from 9am-1pm. Students should attend both four-hour sessions. The sessions will be held in-person at the museum and simultaneously on zoom. There will be an option to attend a third 4-hour class on Tues., Oct. 4th from 9am-1pm. The class is best for ages 15-adult and space is limited. To sign up, students should call (907) 747-8981 or stop by the museum.
The ravenstail weaving class is free, but students must pay a $25 materials fee at the time of sign-up. To pay, students may bring a check made out to Debra O’Gara for $25 to the museum. Students should register no later than Sept. 9th. People participating in-person should pick up their packet from the museum after Sept. 26th; zoom participants will have their packets mailed to them by the artist and will need to pay the costs of shipping. Students will need some additional items, not included in the kit such as small scissors, a tapestry needle, etc. A list of these few items may be obtained from the museum at the time of sign up. A zoom link will be sent to those who register to attend via zoom.
(Photo: Debra Dzijúksuk O’Gara with one of her weavings, photo provided by Debra Dzijúksuk O’Gara)