Apr 5, 2011 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, To Market To Market |
Day 2: 1st People's Fund Business Seminar
In my previous recent blog entries regarding the First People’s Fund Business Seminar for their Artists in Business Leadership grant program, I forgot to tell you about who the heck FPF is anyway! Here’s some info on the folks at First People’s Fund out of Rapid City, South Dakota:
(Unidentified), Carol , Alaina Buffalo Spirit, , Alfred "Twilly" Gosuk,
Founded in 1995, First Peoples Fund’s mission is to honor and support the creative community-centered First Peoples artists; and nurture the collective spirit® that allows them to sustain their peoples.
“Our vision is to communicate to the world the roots and philosophy of Indigenous artistic expression and its relationship to the collective spirit of First Peoples. We will strive to provide support and voice to the creative Indigenous artists who share their inspiration, wisdom, knowledge and gifts with their communities.”
Local Minneapolis photographer, Joseph Allen from Ogema, Minnesota was an invited artist sharing a recent triptych
The main drive behind First People’s Fund is the their hard-working, compassionate, visionary President, Lori Pourier. “Her philanthropy work began at First Nations Development Institute based in Virginia where she served as the Associate Marketing Director. Following her tenure at First Nations, she operated her own marketing consultant business specializing in developing marketing strategies for nonprofit American Indian organizations, multicultural arts organizations and tribal communities. Ms. Pourier served on the Board of Directors of the Western States Arts Federation, the Honor the Earth Fund, the Chinook Fund and the National Indian Business Association. She currently serves on the board of directors for Grantmakers in the Arts and is the co-chair of the Indigenous Resource Network. She also is a board member of the Native Americans in Philanthropy and Red Cloud Indian School. In 1993, she participated in AIO’s American Indian Ambassadors Leadership Program funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She holds a Masters of Science from Southern New Hampshire University, Graduate School of Business. Nominated by the Ford Foundation, Ms. Pourier was selected for the Center for Social Innovation fellowship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, a partnership between Stanford University and National Arts Strategies. The Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders-Arts (EPNL-Arts) honors fifty outstanding arts and culture leaders by selecting them to receive a CSI fellowship for the program.”
Lillian Pitt presents her marketing materials including her portfolio, brochures and resume's
I received one of the Artist in Business Leadership grants from FPF. The purpose of this grant is “to cultivate entrepreneurial artists to a small business level (consistent and reliable income) where business concepts are understood and applied.”
It’s Strategy: “First Peoples Fund selects artists based on demonstrated artistic talent, evidence of possessing the qualities of an entrepreneur, and indication of embodying the values of First Peoples Fund.
This self-directed, independent business arts fellowship is a one-year self-directed program is supported by individualized professional development training, and working capital funds to strengthen their marketing strategies. The fellowship also provides a focus on new work to stimulate creativity and a renewal of energy in Native art expression.”
For more information and eligibility for this grant or the other two they have to offer to Native American artists, visit First Peoples Fund’s website.
Ceramist Shirley Brauker from Coldwater, Michigan demonstrates the using her new iPad which displays her gallery housing all 4000+ images of her life's work
Once you have obtained a First People’s Fund grant, you are automatically eligible to apply for the other two grants they have to offer. I encourage any and all Native American artists to apply for their grants. Once you receive a grant from FPF, you become one of their “family members.” This grant organization is like none other.
Beadwork artist Douglas Limon from White Bear Lake, Minneapolis was another invited, local artist sharing his most recent work
Break out session - notice FPF new publication in the foreground
Theresa, Lillian, Ben and Wade share good laughs with the group
Lunch is served!
Between all three grant categories, there were a total of 13 FPF grant awardees and invited local artists in attendance for this business seminar
Apr 4, 2011 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Showing Off, To Market To Market |
The "All My Relations" gallery where the First People's Fund business seminar is held
Like I mentioned in my last blog about “Museums: I thought they were like haunted houses”, during the weekend of March 24th through the 26th. I was one of the grant awardees to receive the First People’s Fund “Artist in Business Leadership” program. For three days, several Native American artists from around the country met for a marketing seminar in Minneapolis at the new “All Our Relations” gallery/coffee shop facility.
Justin Huenemann, Director of the Native American Community Development Institute (nacdi.org) explains the American Indian Cultural Corridor in Minneapolis - one of the largest blocks of land owned by Native Americans in the nation; no, not reservations, but actual land-owners for self-governance
I was impressed with the information from the presentations by FPF with our hosts, the Native American Community Development Institute. Visit their wesbite to find out more information about the NACDI.
First People's Fund Program Coordinator Miranne Walker explains FPF's goals and objectives to Stephanie, wife to artist Paul Peterson
The following are images of this year’s FPF artists.
Ivory & whalebone Yupik carver Alfred "Tillie" Gosuk from Togiak, Alaska
All the artists were asked to prepare a 10-minute presentation on where we were from, what kind of work we do, and how we were going to use the funds from our First People’s Fund grant. Since I was sitting at the very end of the table, I was the first to do my presentation. I am fortunate to have taken a Marketing class and an Introduction to Digital Media class at the Institute of American Indian Arts during the Spring Semester 2010. I took pride in presenting some of my marketing tools that I created in my classes: my first brochure, my business cards, and my power point presentation which kind of tells it all.
Basket-weaver Carol Emarthle-Douglas from Bothell, Washington explains her basketweaving technique and materials used to create the exquisite basket in the Power Point
My favorite part about the entire seminar was watching my fellow artists introduce themselves and their work. I am always interested in meeting other artists and seeing their work. (This was one of the main motivators as to why Preston Singletary and I started the biennial “Northwest Coast Artists’ Gathering” in Juneau, Alaska back in 2006.) I was thoroughly impressed with the quality and artistry of each individual’s work. I am proud of my fellow artists. It was an honor to be rubbing shoulders with some of the most influential artists of their communities. I introduce them here:
Cheyenne ledger painter and jeweler Alaina Buffalo Spirit from Billings, Montana
Northwest Coast artist Paul Peterson, Sr. from Hoodsport, Washington specializes in making bentwood boxes
Beadwork and parfleche artist Lauren Good Day Frank from Bismarck, North Dakota
From Hays, Montana, Roni Stiffarm presented the ancient art of drummaking
One of the few Ash bark basket weavers, Kelly Church from Hopkins, Michigan
Wasco Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt from Portland, Oregon
Birch bark basket maker Sandy Peterson from Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin
Menominee singer-songwriter Wade Fernandez from Keshena, Wisconsin
To find out information about First People’s Fund there is a part two to this blog entry entitled with the same name, but includes “Part II” to the title…AND there are additional photographs…check it out in next week’s blog entry…
Apr 3, 2011 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Showing Off |
In Minneapolis' 8:00 Morning rush hour; what's that?
Was I really in Minneapolis? Yep, but just for the weekend of March 24th through the 26th. I was one of the grant awardees to receive the First People’s Fund “Artist in Business Leadership” program. For three days, several Native American artists from around the country met for a marketing seminar in Minneapolis at the new “All Our Relations” gallery/coffee shop facility.
"Twilly", Roni and Lauren were crammed in the back seat of our escort's cushy van!
During the afternoon of the first day, we visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I am not one who enjoys visiting museums. I have this ingrown pattern of thought that I think stemmed from our own local Alaska State Museum in Juneau, where as a child, the museum was dark, grungy, lifeless with stale air and I saw no purpose in looking at these dark mysterious objects, let alone hang out in spooky “haunted house” of sorts. Like the only thing to do in a museum was to tell ghost stories and play boogie man! – Thank goodness I have grown out of that mode!
The entry to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Our tour guide was the Associate Curator of Native American art, Joe Horse Capture originally from Montana. Joe’s father was the first Native American curator. Joe is presently the only Native American curator of a significantly large museum in the nation.
Joe Horse Capture introduced the drift-wood mosaic created by Annishnabe artist George Morrison
A close-up of the wood mosaic by George Morrison - I liked this piece immediately even before Joe Horse Capture pointed it out to us
I’ve kept the text to a minimum in this blog entry; I want to show images of a few pieces of work collected for this museum.
At the introduction of the tour, Joe Horse Capture explains how he curated the entire display of Native American art at this museum organized by region and not by the political state or national boundaries. The map has no reference to geographical borders, no division of lands, nor reference to Canada, Mexico and the U.S. - The map is laid out with reference to the location of tribes
A carved ceremonial headdress by George Hunt in the foreground; a reproduction of a carved and painted house screen by Gordon Locksley in the background - the museum is hoping that George will eventually donate the house screen..
1st People's Fund Executive Director Lori Pourier, Program Coordinator Miranne Walker, and Montana Cheyenne artist Alaina Buffalo Spirit take a rest
Joe Horse Capture says he has collected 42 pair of Plains Indian tribe moccasins - there are approximately 22 pair displayed in the glass case
A close-up of some of the moccasins - notice the child moccasins in the center
A beaded, leather Plains Indian "war shirt" stood in the center of the round of moccasins
Two cradle boards from the late 1800's; the one on the left is quillwork, the one on the right is beaded - the beaded bonnet is modern day
A beaded, leather travel satchel from the 1930's
Lauren, Miranne, Carol and Stephanie prepare for the group photo shoot
Group shot
Jan 14, 2011 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Latest Art Projects |
Navajo artist and IAIA student, Shawn Nelson painting an "Uncle Sam"
Have you thought about going to an art school? Want to attend one that only has less than 300 students? Want to go to school with a variety of Native Americans from all over this continent? Want to learn about film-making? Painting? Traditional pottery? Print-making? Computer graphics? The Art of Business? During the 2009-2010 school year, I attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Although lots of hard work, it was a blast! I intend to return.
Melissa painting an entry from a B&W photograph
Even though I am presently living in Juneau, Alaska, I am still working towards obtaining my BFA at IAIA. How can I still be working towards my BFA even though I’m living in Juneau? I am taking online courses via the University of Alaska Southeast! My very first online class was last night in our “Art Appreciation.” Taking these online classes works for me because I am doing a lot of business travel this Winter into Spring. Have laptop, will travel. You may visit UAS’s website at: http://www.online.uas.alaska.edu
You may want to visit IAIA’s website at: http://www.iaia.edu/ after checking out some of these photos…
My "Marketing Plan" presentation during finals week - I had my classmates gather around my monitor to check out the Power Point Presentation that I learned in my "Intro to Digital Media" class taught by Carlos Peinado
Surprisingly, my most favorite classes at IAIA were not necessarily the art classes (although I thoroughly enjoyed my art classes), but my Marketing/Business Classes (that are a part of the Business Certificate Program), and to my utmost surprise, the Introduction to Digital Media class, where I learned how to do Power Point Presentations, create and print a brochure, lay out a book and get it printed, and podcasting. Professor Jennifer Coots brings the Art of Business to IAIA – and she is one heck of an excellent instructor. The enthusiasm in our classes is at the base of our beloved teacher. You would not necessarily think that doing business classes would be exciting; yet, Jenn addresses many issues that arise such as the conflict of the Native and Western values in regards to the marketing and sales of Native art – she made us think about these things that were not at the forefront of our minds yet were outward struggles that many of us had been dealing with.
Beadwork artist Tammy Rahr's Marketing Plan presentation was an actual art booth set up as if she were at an art market, selling her beadwork, packages of beads, display of products, her brochure and business cards, etc. We loved it!
Taos Pueblo artist, Sharon Vargas, painted on cardboard, brown paper bags and discarded computer boxes - I'm going to do that some day too!
Of course, one of the best things about attending art school is the inspiration from all the other artists doing their thing the way they do their thing; I’ve included a few of my favorite classmates in this blog entry, alongside a photo of my Intermediate Painting instructor, Jeff Kahm. I had other students and faculty who also inspired my work, but I didn’t get very good shots of them and their work so I didn’t include them on this blog entry. You see? I have to return to IAIA just for this reason!
Latifa and her mixed-media painting on canvas
World artist Vigalie paints a hand while Professor Jeff Kahm models his hand
Artist Shawn Nelson begins another monumental painting
Poets Al Pizzarelli and Donna Beaver Pizzarelli stand with Creative Writing Professor after giving a guest lecture to the Creative Writing class on Haiku poetry
Shawn is modestly flanked by two beautiful women artists Latifa and Sharon
Nov 30, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
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Where's the real reality - water or sky?
- You would think I would tire of Mendenhall Glacier and icebergs – I guess I am making up for lost time where I hadn’t been visiting this Wonder of the World most of my life until this past Summer/Fall
It could be all about the icebergs!
With Climate Change and all, who knows how much longer we'll have big chunks of ancient ice - you ever think about this? In our lifetime, the ice may be completely gone...and then what?
Alaska is an enormously beautiful country. We are very fortunate in many ways to be blessed with such wonder.
Mendenhall Glacier
Just in case you missed it the first time...
Nov 29, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
High Tide Near Walmart - a VERY unusual site to see the tide this high unless of course, it's November!
As you will notice, I did not include photos taken during our storms sometimes with 100-mile-an-hour winds – of course I didn’t include any here because I wasn’t out in the storms. During November, I was too busy preparing for the Public Market to run around in our Fall storms.
Lemon Glacier in unusually sunny weather during November in Juneau, Alaska
5 Swans in our first snow of the season
Winged Mt. Jumbo on Douglas Island
Nov 10, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Health and Wellness, Honoring Others |
The 3-wheel "Bob" Stroller - for babes; what about the elderly?
The sporty strollers like the “Bob” above, are not quite big enough for elderly folk. I suggest somebody invent a stroller that is specifically designed for elderly folk if it ain’t invented yet OR the stroller is adaptable to accommodate babes, handicapped and the elderly; like, has the “baby boomer” generation forgotten about our parents? Is it age segregation? Is it denial of the fact that we’re aging, or what? I know my mother would love to go on a hike, like out to the Boy’s Cub Scout area out Eagle River beach – it’s a beautiful walk any time of year in just about any weather (even a blizzard!).
My mother is 85 years old. When she retired at the age of 65, she began to walk at least 6 miles every day; she walked steady and strong – even faster than her own kids – until 2 years ago when my father passed away, and shortly thereafter she cracked 3 vertebrae. She still gets out every day because she wants to but she cannot walk very far anymore.
Wouldn’t you like to take your grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, or anyone you know who is “handicapped” out for a stroll in the country – especially if the person would like that too? Of course, and why not?
I did a little research on line to see if strollers for elders have been invented yet; I didn’t find any – the closest thing were the sporty wheelchairs and that won’t do on our graveled Juneau trails. If you know of any strollers out there for elders, please drop me a line – I want to take my mother out with us, and I’d like to post the info on this blog, thank you!
Nov 9, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Latest Art Projects, Showing Off |
High-tech video camera visits organic soaking cedar bark
Last month, a team of five professionals came up to Alaska from various places in the Lower 48; one member came from San Francisco, another from Albuqerque, another from Philadelphia, another from New York, and another from Seattle(?). I forgot to post this blip on my blog back in mid-October; so before I forget even further, I’m doing it now.
Let's see now...there was a Lucy, a Tom, a Dan, a Judy?, an Alice?
This team is working on a documentary film to coincide with an exhibit that I have been invited to be a part of is opening in 2010 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum in Philadelphia. They interviewed several other native artists in Southeast Alaska who were also invited to be a part of the exhibit. I wrote the team member’s names down somewhere but cannot remember but Lucy Fowler-Williams from UPM and the first name of some of them. Pardon me for not remembering their names but I have a very good excuse: I was starting to pack up my belongings and make another move the day after this interview. So like every time I move, thing get lost in the shuffle.
I’ll keep you posted about the documentary (i.e. what it’s about, who the other artists are, etc.). In the meantime, let it be known that there were 5 total strangers in my home for a few hours; how often does that happen to you?
Nov 8, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide |
Hadn't seen this sign in a good 15-20 years!--Hmm...did we even have trail signs back then?
go at your own risk: sounds like life, don't it?
The first part of the trail is nice and wide...seems quite easy for strollers...
The cliff; can you tell we're rising higher into elevation by the level of that cloud in the distance?
View North...as we stand at the Corner...
Standing on that same corner...view West...
Hmmm....the first road in Alaska? That's what this sign said...
Strolling families....
54 years later...and I have yet to give Mt. Juneau a climb!
Mudslides and avalanches happen...
Baby ride - sleeps through it all...
Oct 19, 2010 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Egan Drive looking South from the highway near Walmart - check out the high tide - truly awesome!
During the last new moon over a week ago, the Fall tides were up – I hadn’t seen the tidal flats full of this much ocean since who knows when!? (Of course, I haven’t been living here full time since 1993!) Driving up the rise heading into downtown Juneau passing Walmart, I was struck by the illuminating beauty of a very full high tide – the tide reached the base of the highway, which rarely happens at any other time throughout the year. This full tide was just a couple of days directly before the big storm of 60-100mph winds and sideways rain blasted through for 24 hours!
Always look forward to the Fall tides, as they are generally the fullest! Watch for another New moon high tide the first week in November.
Facing Southwest/West from Egan Drive
My Tlingit bloodline is strong in me. The name “Tlingit” translates as the “Tides People”. It’s only obvious why we called ourselves this. Our lives have depended upon the sea from time immemorial. I grew up with the ocean outside my window, out on the boat fishing with my father, playing down at the docks and building huge bonfires on the beaches out Thane Road.
Looking West across the bar
Northwesterly towards the Chilkat Range in the far distance
For those of you who may be wondering how I took these photos if I were on Egan Drive passing Walmart: I slowed down to 55mph and whipped out my trusty Nikon Coolpix point and shoot that generally sits in the cup holder between the driver’s and passenger seat.
