SHI TO OPEN 12TH BIENNIAL JURIED ART SHOW THIS WEEK

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will open its 12th biennial Juried Art Show to the public this week, a few weeks ahead of Celebration 2024, when winners will be announced.

Jurors selected 32 pieces by 24 artists for the exhibit, which will open on Friday, May 17, in the Nathan Jackson Gallery at SHI’s Walter Soboleff Building in downtown Juneau.

The following artists and pieces were accepted into the show:

•   Alison Bremner, Me, You and the Man on the Moon
•   Lee Burkhart, Náaḵw Journey
•   Lee Burkhart, Yéts’ shál (Black Horn Spoon)
•   Saak.adoo Davina (Cole) Drones, Fishbone in the Night Sky
•   Sainteen Dr. Anna Brown Ehlers, Chilkat Eagle Apron
•   Sainteen Dr. Anna Brown Ehlers, Chilkat Eagle Tunic
•   Patrizia (Patty) Fiorella, Woodworm Grease Bowl
•   Gunashaa Lisa Fisher, Lightening Leggings
•   Holtka Xsoo Clifton Guthrie, Legacy of Niishluut
•   Holtka Xsoo Clifton Guthrie, A Message from the Deep
•   Ksm Lx’sg̱a̱n Ruth Hallows, Unmasking – A Chilkat Inspired Self-Portrait
•   Kún Kuyáang Karl Hoffman, Wolf Moon Drum
•   Wooshkindein Da.aat Lily Hope, Seven Generations
•   Wooshkindein Da.aat Lily Hope, Pandemic Babysitter
•   Xixtc’i see Ruby Hughes, Raven Transforms into Marilyn
•   Aanchgwanutk’ Janice Jackson, Gods Beautiful Creation the Mighty Salmon
•   Harold Jacobs, At Gugú (Its Ears) – Bear Ears
•   Jinaa Tlàa Janie Jensen, Earth to Soul
•   onn iss kwah James Johnson, Wolf Headdress
•   onn iss kwah James Johnson, Raven Clan Hat
•   onn iss kwah James Johnson, Cannibal Man Horn Spoon
•   Kaasteen Jill Meserve, Sit’ Eetí G̱eeyi – The Bay in Place of the Glacier
•   Reine Pavlik (designer of Alaska Soles), Lady in Black
•   Yakasei Calvin Morberg, Eagle Mother
•   Kaax̱ Tséen Herb Sheakley Jr., Tsaa Al’óoni
•   Kaax̱ Tséen Herb Sheakley Jr., Yéik yaakw
•   Amy Tessaro, Transformation
•   Aa geitl g’e Carolyn Trebian, Shark
•   Shkáx̱ kawdulaák Andrew Tripp, Raven’s Reflection of Wealth
•   Shkáx̱ kawdulaák Andrew Tripp, Hide and Seek Champions
•   Káakaxaawulga Jennifer Younger and Goosh-shu Haa Jennie Wheeler, Dancing in the Summer Rain
•   Naa k’ool dzaaz eesh William Pfeifer Sr., 4-way Eagle Pendant Set with Wing Earrings

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held from 4-6 pm on Wednesday, June 5, in the Shuká Hít clan house. Awards will be given in the categories of carving and sculpture; two-dimensional and relief carving; sewing; weaving and endangered art, which includes spruce-root weaving and horn spoons. Artists who win best of category will compete for best of division, and the division winners will compete for best of show. SHI will also award a best of formline prize and runner up from among all pieces submitted. Winners will receive the following prizes:

•   Best of show: $1,500
•   Best of formline: $1,000
•   2nd place formline: $700
•   Best of division: $700
•   Best of category: $300

About the Jurors

Northwest Coast artists Evelyn Vanderhoop and Tyson Brown served as jurors for the competition.

Evelyn Vanderhoop, daughter of Delores Churchill and granddaughter of Selina Peratrovich, is a member of a weaving family. From early childhood, she was brought to the forest and beaches to harvest weaving materials, including spruce roots and cedar bark. Weaving was a way of life for all Haida women when her Nonny Selina was born. The fast-paced world changed around Selina, but she continued to weave. Through Selina’s teaching, weaving is progressing into the present day and future cultural traditions by her family members and apprentices. Her granddaughter Evelyn Vanderhoop weaves Ravenstail and Naaxiin (Chilkat), techniques that are used in creating the chiefs’ robes of the Northwest Coast. She is also a painter and researcher.

Iljuuwaas or Tyson Brown is a Haida artist from Skidegate, Haida Gwaii. He is a member of the Kayahl ‘Laanas clan of Ts’aahl. His artistic focus is on creating a relevant body of work, while preserving and perpetuating classical Haida design principles. The grandson of Skidegate artists Billy Stevens and Bill Reid, Tyson grew up surrounded by Haida art. As an adult, he completed a formal apprenticeship with renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson. Tyson draws inspiration from nature, current events and his people’s history, stories and collective values. He works in various mediums including design, paint and sculpture.

Jurors reviewed the pieces blindly, meaning the names of artists who submitted pieces were not disclosed.

About the Juried Art Show & Competition

Sealaska Heritage Institute sponsored its first Juried Art Show & Competition in 2002, and since then it has become a biennial event held during Celebration, a major four-day dance-and-culture festival in Juneau hosted by the institute. SHI sponsors the art show in an effort to reaffirm the greatness of Northwest Coast art and to promote the continued evolution of those traditions in Southeast Alaska. The goals of the show are to:

•         encourage and enhance the creation and production of Southeast Alaska Native objects of artistic value, which are becoming rare;
•         stimulate and enhance the quality of artistic work among Native artisans; and
•         encourage the development of new forms of art of purely Southeast Alaska Native form and design.

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.  

Caption: Woodworm Grease Bowl by artist Patrizia (Patty) Fiorella, whose piece was accepted into SHI’s 2024 Juried Art Show & Competition. Photo by Brian Wallace, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute. Note: news outlets are welcome to use this photo for coverage of this story. For a higher-res version, contact kathy.dye@sealaska.com.