VOL 07 ISSUE 9 ArtSceneAK: Alaska Art & Artists Periodical Report.  September 15, 2008  

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HEROES OF STATEHOOD: DEROUX FACES FACTS
Daniel DeRoux  Focus on Statehood Focus on Statehood  is the official name of the 1% for Art commission by Juneau's Dan DeRoux recently installed on the south wall of the new parking facility downtown.   More than 500 images of Alaska were assembled into the composite image on 32 five foot square aluminum panels shown at right.   Software  handled the pictorial problems and DeRoux did the painting on  Focus on Statehood,   which features Bob Atwood, bill Egan,  "Bob" Bartlett, and Ernest Gruening, all of whom are much celebrated as the combined force behind Alaska joining the Union as a state.  Painted with acrylics on epoxy primer over the 1/4" aluminum and finished with several coats of UV resistant varnish, the mural was commissioned directly from DeRoux on the state's behalf by the art selection panel for the Linny Pacillo garage, next to City Hall, the State Government offices, and the new Anchorage Convention Center.
  Dan DeRoux Focus on Statehood detail

Barbara Yawit and Andy Daoust

SOFT FOCUS: STORY IN PICTURES Located high above the street, the details of DeRoux's tour-de-force are difficult to comprehend in their complexity, and viewers are better served focusing on what is actually present in any particular quarter/quarter panel than believing what their eyes tell them they are seeing.  In the detail at left, Elizabeth Peratrovitch, a champion of human rights, may be seen in the bottom left of the upper right panel, next to Bartlett's cheek.  Look for Wally Hickel on his forehead, Roy Peratrovich on his chin, and Lynn Paccillo in his ear for starters. 

DeRoux rented an airplane hanger and a scissors lift to preview the partially completed 20 foot by 40 foot construction.  He laid the panels out on the floor and lifted himself up to where he could view the work as a whole, making decisions and executing final burnishings of images and color matches.  DeRoux is happy to note that a collection donated to the Smithsonian included work of his, and he was recently named the Governor's Awards in the Arts and Humanities Individual Artist of the Year.  His paintings are featured at Jens' Restaurant year around in Anchorage, and his latest, The Robes Guild, can be seen as a frontispiece to his website.

PARKING FAIRY: YAWIT DAOUST Also in the same building, a fused glass drawing commissioned from Barbara Yawit and Andy Daoust tells the story of Lynne Pacillo, a gas station owner and activist who bought a parking meter truck and dressed up in a tutu to roam the streets of Anchorage inserting coins in expired meters in the face of a greedy Anchorage Parking Authority.  The APA deemed such practices illegal, finally even impounding the old meter cart in an attempt to secure their predatory behavior, which included fines of up to 600 times the offense ($30 fine for being a nickle short on a meter).  The irony of tying Pacillo's name to this cash machine for city government was conceived of by former governor Tony Knowles, and the children's book approach by Yawit and Daoust puts icing on a buffalo chip.   Disappointed semi-finalists Jim Dault and Shala Dobson had proposed a far less insipid sculpture showing Pacillo doing battle with a beast with many heads the shape of parking meters. 

The graphic art signs which were mentioned in the prospectus and assigned semi-finalists do not appear to have been installed, if they were ultimately commissioned.  Fair warning --- there is only one exit from a parking garage, and early adopters report a twenty dollar minimum fee. How's that make Linny's nickle feel? 

Helmet -Schechter Anchorage Convention Center 

Helmet-Schecter Animal Constellation detail

CONSTELLATION:BOSTON MOBILATES Meanwhile, over at the newly completed Anchorage Convention Center, the macabre looking translucent mammals on strings shown at left are a partial detail of the Constellation of Alaskan Animals, by the artist team of Helmet and Schechter.  Hung from the four story ceiling adjacent to the staircase, various creatures of the North are represented, beginning with underwater denizens up through land based beings to those that can fly in the air.  Part of the appeal of this piece relies on the viewer climbing the stairs,  moving to advantageous viewpoints to experience the piece.  This photo through the windows from the sidewalk outside the building shows a less appealing view of the bellies and bottoms of a bunch of poor dead stuffed critters. 

In the lower photo at left, upper reaches of the installation can be seen.  Here as in nature the birds and raptors seem more independent of their strings.  Helmet and Schechter announce the dissolution of their long-term artistic collaboration at their website without giving credit to the largest commission ever awarded in Alaska --- USD 350,000.

Ray Peratrovich Jr Flight of the Raven RAVENS FLIGHT: PERATROVICH GIFT  The Raven knew an ancient chief who kept a mysterious box in which he confined the sun.  Outwitting him one day, he snatched the shining jewel and shot out through the smoke hole of the chief's lodge.  He was able to present the people with his gift of the sun and yet his feathers were charred black for eternity as a revenge by the old sachem.  Roy A Peratrovich Jr created the sculpture Flight of the Raven shown at left to keep this story alive, and as a tribute to his parents.  

Through the tireless efforts of Tlingit natives Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich with the support of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Sisterhood,   Alaska enacted one of the first anti-discrimination laws in the USA on February 16, 1945.  In recognition, the State of Alaska designated February 16th as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, and the Municipality of Anchorage created the Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich Park in their memory.

Roy was a member of the Eagle Clan and Elizabeth was of the Raven Clan. The flying bird carries a glass ball in his beak.

James Belcher trio at Charlies Club 25 James Belcher Bog CHARLIES CLUB 25: COFFEE GALLERY  When Charlie McAlpine was younger he married into the Rasmuson family and helped Elmer assemble his collection of Alaskan art and antiquities, now partially on view at the main Wells Fargo branch in Anchorage.  His eye for exquisitely lit landscapes has been relied on over the years among those wealthy enough to afford a canvas by Sydney Laurence, and when he had the opportunity to reposition his Fireweed Lane Far North Gallery to the old Club 25 at 4th Avenue and E Street downtown, he jumped on it.

The Eustace Zeiglers and Laurences mostly went away in his last auction held at the AMRC, and the best among the artists whose work he deals in   is Big Lake's James Belcher, whose Mt McKinley portrait is top right in the photo at left.  McAlpine narrows his eyes in thought when asked who might be coming up behind Belcher as a highly marketable painter. 

He points to the painting shown at left, James Belcher's Bog and shakes his head.  "Not many artists can do that," he says, calling it a masterpiece.  Certainly it is a subject much taken up by artists, the technical challenge is daunting and the ability to see and portray light in oil is mandatory.   Others like Steve Gordon or Susan Pennewell Ellis have painted convincing passages including reflections on still waters with a much looser brushwork.  Belcher's touches incorporate smooth blends and jaunty knife slashes of reeds that embody the life and serenity encountered in nature.  The largest of his paintings is being offered at $38,000 to collectors interested in art as an asset.

Technical note: Charlies Club 25 Coffee Gallery is open daily, participating in First Fridays, and has the hottest roasted coffee and "I hire the prettiest barristas in town," says McAlpine, who is never one to boast much.  He also mentioned that he is in no way connected to the previous art gallery in the same space, whose dealer is being sought by indignant owners and consigners of important art work.  


- ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES- 



9/22/08 deadline CREATIVE CAPITAL arts writer grants application online, contact Nichole Walleen, in Bend, OR

11/7/08 deadline MTS GALLERY at the TRAILER ART CENTER call for exhibitions and 'performance art' proposals for the 2009-10 season.

11/11/08 VETERAN AFFAIRS CLINIC requests quotes on a total of 18 areas varying in size and structure which will be the target of the art pieces, which can be statues, paintings, prints, photographs, Sewn, Woven etc. Electronic solicitation online only. Search for Anchorage VA Clinic Art to see solicitations. Contact Virginia.WatersATva.gov

This column is a core part of ArtSceneAK raison d'etre and administrators are encouraged to use it to spread the word.  Opportunities are posted to current issues as they arrive.

For students of the process, the Municipality of Anchorage has posted a Public Art Policy Manual online.  The relevant Muni Code regarding Public Art are available online (choose Title 7), and further regulations

record capital budgets and no increase in staff

ASCA Art In Public Places with over $19 million dollars in commissions required by AK Statute 35.27 from the 2004, 2005, and 2006 capital projects budgets alone. Record appropriations exceeding these amounts were made by the AK legislature for FY 2007 and 2008 as well. 

 

 

  TREASURE CHESTS: LEGACY OF EXTRAORDINARY BOXES by Lon Schleining A history and dissertation on the human need to slap six sides together.  Among the most interesting are the writing kits, precursor of today's laptops. ArtsceneAK recommends reading this to see why boxes worth owning are worth commissioning.

NEXT:  OCT OUT

  CONTACT ArtSceneAK: Aggravated again?! Ecstatic?! Let us know you love us or hate us. Help correct attribution errors that you suspect. Tell us about your upcoming event or artist opportunity. Let us know about your website.  


Alaska current cloud cover

cf also ART IN ALASKA alaska art and connections , a partial listing of links to Museums, Galleries, and individual Artists around the state. Note to same: If you find your site listed, please consider adding a link to ArtSceneAK.net to help both of our search engine ratings. If you do not find your site listed, please let us know!

 



 

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ADIEU: REED CELEBRATEDFran Reed Halibut Lamp Fran Reed has been an eclectic artist whose enthusiasm and professionalism   inspired many.Her stretched and dried fishskin pieces like Halibut Skin Lamp shown at right at the KVCC invitational this summer were instantly recognizable as her work because of their uniqueness.  Reed was known around the world by fabric artists and others concerned with her tissues; people knew her at the Florence Biennale Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea.   She participated in the efforts to have artists represented on the Anchorage Museum board during the recent transition.  She seemed to become stronger when given her final prognosis and her husband and daughter and her many friends can take comfort from her resolute dignity until the end, which came September 11, 2008.   Pax vobiscum.

Shave your head and dry your tears with the BACK ISSUE Index .


START SKUL

Thank you and Welcome Back to a renewing subscriber in Juneau. ArtSceneAK is no longer soliciting or accepting new subscriptions or renewals.

From NYC: "In 2003, Washington began destroying a country they knew posed no threat, and five years later, that country is still the most dangerous place on earth." --- the Yes Men.  They invite you to party arty involving simple public performances about the war in Iraq. Logical inconsistencies are welcomed.

From NYC: "As strange and unique as it sounds APEXART is a reputable gallery here. Obviously you would have to knock whoever is reading your 250 word proposal out of the water to win this prize assignment. Good luck!" --- Fast Eddy. 

from Anchorage: "the gallery committee does not have a persona non grata list and you are not on it." --- okeydokey

from Fairbanks: "I have recently been included with over 70 other international artists in a book, Freedom & Art,   published to support Amnesty International and the Myanmar situation of Aung San Suu Kyi.  The project was born out of artmesh.  Thought you might be interested in a book in which I have a page right next to a beautiful oriental girl." --- Don (Irish Prince) Murphy

Congratulations to a long list of local semi-finalists chosen to develop their concepts for the SuValley Middle High School including the following: Bill Brody, Dan DeRoux, Rachelle Dowdy, Peter Keenan, Pat Walsh and Judy Warwick, Karen Mannix and Kristin Gerde,   Tony Crocetto, Bill Brody, Holly Gittlein, Rob Holt, Dorinda Skains, Sarah Tabbert, Cammie Walker, Dan DeRoux and Gina Hollomon.

 Donald R Ricker Susitna Drainage

The Art Selection Panel also deserves compliments for keeping the money in state on this project.  Of course, they did decline the services of the painter of Susitna Drainage, shown above and returned unsold after a summer long exhibition in Kenai.

from Anchorage: "I am not using your services and don't know how to get in it anyway.  Please take me off your list." --- ron

Congratulations also are in order to Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Cristine Crooks in Juneau, Gertrude Svarny in Unalaska, and Arthur and Eleanor Braendel in Eagle River, for the recognition they will receive October 3rd in Anchorage at the 2008 Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities banquet.   They were selected for arts organization, arts educator, native artist, and lifetime achievement awards respectively.  The Braendels founded and continue to operate a Fine Arts Academy in Eagle River.  As stated elsewhere, the Individual Artist award recognized Dan DeRoux of Juneau.

A statewide Arts and Culture Conference will be held at the hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage January 29 through February 1, 2009.

from Anchorage:"Thanks Don, I appreciate your efforts on the behalf of all of us artists." --- Keith

from Spenard: "My husband the computer genius could not make it work either. Any suggestions?" --- Lynn

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text & photos © 2008 Donald R Ricker ; artist's works pictured ©2008 to artists credited.

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