SHI ANNOUNCES WINNER OF CELEBRATION 2024 ART CONTEST
Feb. 22, 2024
An artist from Seattle has won Sealaska Heritage Institute’s (SHI) competition to visually represent this year’s Celebration, a huge, dance-and-culture festival held every even year in Juneau since 1982.
The artist, G̱at X̱wéech (Nick Alan Foote), won with his piece “Sacred Embrace,” which was inspired by the Celebration 2024 theme, Together We Live in Balance, which incorporates multiple significant concepts.
“Southeast Alaska Native cultural values define social and spiritual ‘balance’ as essential to maintaining a healthy society and our relationships to past and future generations,” said SHI President Rosita Worl. “We also recognize that this same concept of ‘balance’ applies to living in our environment and to maintaining balance among the animals and fish populations on which we depend.
“The reference to ‘together’ is an acknowledgement of the importance of unity among our peoples and communities to ensure that the strength of our society is maintained,” Worl said.
To capture the essence of the theme, Foote used a blend of elements that represent unity and harmony within the diverse aspects of life shared among Alaska Native cultures. The composition is framed by the figures of a spirit and a human positioned across from each other with arms extended in a connecting embrace, signifying the deep connection between Alaska Natives and spirituality, Foote wrote in his artist statement.
Central to this embrace are a Raven and an Eagle, positioned on opposite sides to form an inseparable and harmonious bond. This powerful imagery serves as a tribute to the cultural heritage and vital relationships within our communities, underscoring the importance of interdependence for strength and unity, he wrote.
At the very core of the design rests a salmon, a potent symbol of the intrinsic bond and interdependence Alaska Natives have with nature and its crucial role in maintaining life’s balance.
“Together, these elements weave a dynamic and cohesive narrative that celebrates the enduring bonds Alaska Native people have to spirituality, cultural heritage, the natural world and one another,” he wrote.
Honorable mentions were given to pieces by Kalila Arreola, Katelynn Drake, Odin Lonning, Andrew Tripp and Lance Twitchell.
In all, 18 Native artists from Alaska and the Lower 48 submitted 21 pieces for consideration. Entrants submitted rough sketches of their ideas, which were then assessed by the selection committee. The winning pieces were chosen through a blind process in which the committee, which was kept anonymous, did not know the names of the artists who made the pieces they reviewed. Foote’s design will be the main visual SHI will use to depict Celebration 2024.
About the Artist
Nick Alan Foote, also known by his Tlingit name, G̱at X̱wéech, is a renowned artist of the Raven moiety and the Dog Salmon clan. He has earned distinction through his extensive body of work, which encompasses traditional formline designs alongside his work as a children’s book illustrator and graphic designer.
His upbringing in Ketchikan and across Southeast Alaska nurtured a profound connection to the land and an earnest appreciation for his cultural heritage and traditions. These connections were significantly shaped by his family’s influence and culturally responsive educational opportunities such as the Johnson O’Malley Program and the Sitka Native Education Program.
Foote’s artwork is a deep-seated homage to his heritage, crafted with the intent to inspire, instill pride and strengthen Indigenous communities. Through his art, he seeks to heighten awareness of the contemporary challenges and events that impact Native communities, using his creations as a conduit for education and enlightenment. He aims to acquaint both younger generations and the wider public with the rich traditions of Alaska Native culture.
Now residing in Seattle, Washington, Foote continues to manifest his passion through Nick Alan Art, his own business venture, where his artistic endeavors continue to flourish and impact.
Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. SHI also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.
CONTACT: Kathy Dye, SHI Communications and Publications Deputy Director, 907.321.4636, kathy.dye@sealaska.com; Nick Alan Foote, Celebration 2024 art contest winner, nickalanart@gmail.com.