Native Art Center hosting artist-in-residence
Native Art Center hosting artist-in-residence
Submitted by Jean Flanagan Carlo
Phone: 907-474-6972
10/05/07
The Native Art Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will host nationally recognized designer Tanya Aguiniga this month as part of the United States Artists Alaska artist-in-residence program.
Aguiniga, one of 54 inaugural recipients of USA’s 2006 fellowships, will spend the month working alongside students in the Native Art Center, part of the UAF art department and Native studies program. She is also expected to participate in Native art gatherings at the university during the Alaska Federation of Natives convention, which takes place Oct. 22-27 in Fairbanks, and will give community lectures and presentations throughout the month. She has been invited to include her work in the UAF art department faculty exhibit Oct. 1-12.
The USA Alaska artists-in-residence program is a collaboration between United States Artists and the Rasmuson Foundation, one of Alaska’s largest philanthropic organizations. The program will bring artists in residence, selected from the 2006 USA fellows, to cultural institutions throughout the state.
"I am please to see this ambitious new program taking root within the state of Alaska," said Rasmuson Foundation president Diane Kaplan in a USA news release. "Alaska AIR continues Rasmuson’s commitment to supporting arts and culture throughout Alaska and, at the same time, brings great artists from around the country into our state to enrich our institutions and communities."
Internationally known Inupiaq artist Ronald Senungetuk founded the Native Art Center more than four decades ago. Today, the center, directed by Alvin Amason, offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Native art, in addition to hosting residencies, symposia, workshops, exhibitions and other Alaska Native art programs.
"This project promises to provide great benefit to the Native Art Center, art department and Native studies students and faculty, and the community of Fairbanks," said center liaison Jean Flanagan Carlo. "Tanya’s work in media, including fiber, wood, and design arts, will expand opportunities and offerings in the arts. We look forward to sharing with Tanya the diversity of Alaska Native art and Alaskan art media throughout the residency period."
Opportunities for monthlong visits from artists-in-residence are rare, Flanagan Carlo added. The funding provided by USA and the Rasmuson Foundation to sponsor this program will expand opportunities for the Native Art Center to develop similar programs involving more visiting artists for longer residencies in the future, she said.
About United States Artists
United States Artists (USA) is a new organization dedicated to providing direct support
for America’s finest artists. With $20 million in seed funding from The Ford Foundation,
the Rockefeller Foundation, the Prudential Foundation and the Rasmuson Foundation,
USA was established in 2005 to support individual artists working in all disciplines.
As an investment in the nation’s creativity, USA annually recognizes outstanding artists
by awarding 50 USA Fellowships of $50,000.
CONTACT: Jean Flanagan Carlo at 907-474-6972 or via e-mail at ffjpc@uaf.edu. Carla Browning, public information officer, at 907-474-7778 or via e-mail at carla.browning@uaf.edu.
ON THE WEB:
www.uaf.edu/art/native_art.html
www.unitedstatesartists.org