2008 Northwest Coast Artist Gathering - Juneau, Alaska ----- Insert L to R: Aldona Jonaitis, Nicholas Galanin, Nathan Jackson, Marianne Nicholson -- sponsored by Artstream Alaska with support from Sealaska Corporation
In 2010 and again this year in 2012, Sealaska Heritage Institute has assumed the role of sponsoring an artists’ gathering held the day before the biennial “Celebration” gathering of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimpshian peoples of the Northwest Coast. The artists’ gathering is scheduled on Wednesday, June 6th, 11am to 3:30pm at the Old Armory (now the Juneau Arts & Culture Center). All artists working in the Northwest Coast Native art traditions are invited to this event.
For clarity purposes, this artists gathering is a spin-off on the original productions created and sponsored by the non-profit organization Artstream Alaska in 2006 and 2008.
Although the original directors and producers, Preston Singletary and Clarissa Rizal are not a part of the coordination of this year’s event, the following is a brief history of the original Northwest Coast Artists’ Gathering…
Northwest Coast Artists’ Gathering 2006 & 2008 – sponsored by Artsream Alaska
The original Northwest Coast Artists’ Gatherings were sponsored by Artstream Alaska with additional financial support from Sealaska Corporation. The mission of the Northwest Coast Artists’ Gathering is to bring together artists and facilitators that work in the indigenous northwest coast style of art: to foster dialog; to develop connections; to explore new materials and techniques; to inspire new work; and to create a community that is inclusive and thoughtful, and that honors tradition while moving into the 21st Century.
In 2004 Alaska Native artists Clarissa Rizal and Donna Beaver were photographing and filming at “Celebration 2004,” for their regalia documentary project. Clarissa spent time with long-time friend and fellow Tlingit artist Preston Singletary. The concept of creating an artists’ gathering began when Clarissa and Preston talked and wished for an opportunity to meet each other’s artist buddies (Clarissa introduces Donna and Preston). They had no idea that they would meet over and over again, even later that year in September 2004, with approximately 20,000 Native Americans from all over the hemisphere at the opening of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). and with assistance from Artstram’s Board of Directors and other volunteers, Preston and Clarissa coordinated the first NWCAG in 2006; four years later in 2008, and again with assistance from Artream’s BOD and volunteers, Chloe French coordinated the Northwest Coast Artist Gathering receiving support from the NMAI.
The Northwest Coast Artist Gathering was a unique opportunity for artists from all backgrounds who work in Northwest Coast inspired art forms to meet and share information about themselves and their work. The event was sponsored by our non-profit Artstream Cultural Resources (now Artstream Alaska) and partially funded by Sealaska Corporation. Artstream Alaska held the first Juneau event in May 2006, one day before Sealaska Heritage Institute’s well-known biennial Celebration. This first Gathering – as it is sometimes referred to – was a one-day event and drew about 125 artists and arts organization representatives.
The second Artist Gathering in June 2008 was a two-day event, again sponsored by Artstream Alaska with partial funding from Sealaska Corporation and NMAI and coordinated by artist Chloe French. The first day featured an artist panel discussion on Native Alaskan art-related issues, sponsored and organized by the NMAI. Several Alaskan Native artists made up the panel — including Marianne Nicolson from Victoria, B.C., Nathan Jackson from Ketchikan, and Nick Galanin from Sitka, along with moderator Aldona Jonaitis, Director of Museum of the North, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Later, all participating artists were given the opportunity to introduce themselves during a Power Point Presentation featuring their work; this is a highlight of the event since many have either seen an artist’s work and not met the artist or have met the artist but was not familiar with their work! During the second day, Gathering participants worked on an interactive collaborative design project based on the issues discussed during the morning’s panel discussion. Keynote speaker Walter Porter from Yakutat gave his lecture,“Box of Daylight” (view Walter’s lecture from event). Both days’ activities were held at the Old Armory in Juneau.
Many events occur during the Sealaska Celebration. Artstream was pleased to be able to provide space at the Old Armory for the HAIL awards ceremony, spearheaded by the late Andy Hope III. HAIL stands for “Honoring Alaskan Indigenous Literature” and that organization’s event presented awards to five outstanding Native Alaskan writers, of which Clarissa Rizal received one of the awards for her “Jennie Weaves An Apprentice: A Chilkat Weaver’s Handbook.” Artstream also agreed to rearrange its Gathering schedule to accommodate Sealaska Heritage Institute’s final set up preparations for the Native Artists’ Market, which was also to be held in the Old Armory following our event.
The Gathering’s volunteer organizing committee included Clarissa Rizal, Preston Singletary, Aldona Jonaitis, Jan Steinbright, Donna Beaver, Chloe French, Doug Waugh that reflected a mix of cultural and professional backgrounds, including teachers, artists, curators and arts activists, both Native and non-Native. A big thanks to all the artists who attended and all our volunteers who made 2006 & 2008 Gatherings a success!
Northwest Coast Artist Gathering 2006 & 2008 coordinators L to R: Doug Waugh, Aldona Jonaitis, Alan Pizzarelli, Donna Beaver Pizzarelli, Clarissa Rizal, Jan Steinbright, NMAI art director Keevin Lewis, and Preston Singletary
The 2012 Native Artists Gathering sponsored by Sealaska Heritage Institute is inviting all Native artists to bring photographs of their work to share and network. There will also be an artist panel discussion and light refreshments. We envision SHI’s gathering of artists is a welcomed event and enjoyed by all!