Haines-based Alaska Arts Confluence hosts Women’s Art Journal Retrospective
Alaska Arts Confluence has opened a new exhibit, the Women’s Art Journal Retrospective, curated by Donna Catotti, at the Art on Main Street storefront in Haines. The Retrospective will be on display through Feb. 3.
Several years ago, women in the Chilkat Valley and Washington State initiated the Women’s Art Journal Project, to celebrate the artistic talents of a diverse community in the form of handmade books. Each woman chose a theme and created her own book, which was to contain something autobiographical. Each woman kept her book for a month, and then passed it on to another in the group for her contribution, sometimes mailing books back and forth between Alaska and Washington. In the end, the women created a collection of handmade books that represented different aspects of each woman, assimilated in a theme, such as “the Wonders of the Seasons,” put together by Lani Hotch.
The exhibit, which opened on New Year’s Day, was curated by Haines artist Donna Catotti, who also participated in the project. The display includes the books of Haines artists including Sharon Svenson, Joanie Wagner, Lani Hotch, Jane Weagant, and Ali Dyvig, representing themes such as “The Ocean”, “The ‘60s” and “Forever Green”.
Other artists who participated are Melina Shields, Becky Nash, Andrea Nelson, Kerry Cohen, Sarah Cohen Bishop, Debi Knight Kennedy, Heather deSaillon, Jill Risley, and Julie Rae.
Haines began celebrating First Friday in February 2015, with local businesses and organizations holding arts and cultural events on the first Friday of each month, creating an Art Walk in downtown Haines that now extends from Jones Point to Historic Fort William H. Seward.
AAC continues to accept proposals for both rotating and semi-permanent art installations in Art on Main Street storefront, to adorn the windows, wall space, and some floor space. The request for proposal application is available to download at www.alaskaartsconfluence.org.
Alaska Arts Confluence is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit dedicated to promoting participation in the arts by providing art education and cultural enrichment opportunities for artists, residents and visitors of the Chilkat Valley.
For more information, contact Carol Tuynman at the Alaska Arts Confluence at 303-0222.
