Unexpected Alaska

February 2018

Adding company and context to Drew Michael’s February exhibition is “Unexpected Alaska”, a group of contemporary Alaska Native artists who are pushing the boundaries of traditional art-forms. Many are incorporating non-traditional media to realize their art–such as the glass work of Preston Singletary (Tlingit) or Larry Ahvakana (Inupiaq), or the milagros found on Kathleen Carlo’s (Koyukon Athabascan) masks. Others–such as Lena Amason-Berns (Alutiiq) or Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut)–forge new styles that are a meld of designs used for thousands of years with a personal vision. Many of these artists are friends or mentors to Drew Michael, making them welcome companions to his solo exhibition, and widening the horizon on artists who are creating new frontiers for Alaska Native art.

Exhibition Dates: