ArtNight: A Community

Currently, one of the more exciting aspect of my life is raising my daughters in the culturally and artistically rich Fairbanks, AK. No, that was not sarcasm. In this small community an unexpected number of professional and emerging artists gather routinely to create and share techniques in visual art, music, dance, theater arts, and creative writing.

While it is informal in its organization, ArtNight includes opportunities to try-out canvas painting, film-making, poetry, hip hop dance, and photography as well as a number of other creative pursuits during weekly gatherings. Last night alone there were half a dozen artists creating mixed media small works, another engaged in jewelry making, dance, costume design (which eveloved into an intial fitting), and story telling.

ArtNight was established in 2009 to provide open studio time, it has grown into a community. People come tired or inspired, to get lost in their own creative process, or to discover and dabble in the art of living, defined by ArtNighters as: Fall down six times, stand up seven.

Pictures are a small sampling. There are over 50 artisits and makers who regularly take part in ArtNight. Please contact me if you want more information about a specific piece or the work of a particular artist. More pictures can be seen on my facebook page.

94 Days of Summer: Alaskan Style

June 21st marks solstice for all of us living in the northern hemisphere and it is filled with sunlight and the promise of summer. A promise I took pretty lightly growing up in Virginia, where an Indian Summer might take you halfway through October before the air became crisp.

Life has carried me pretty far from those climes and these days I am prepared to use everyday that summer has to offer. I am often asked what life is like here. Well, living in Alaska, summer or winter, is a lot like going to camp. You mean to write, but you are on the move and writing letters home is often competing with sleep, but this year is going to be different! No for real – this summer I will send poorly edited letters, slightly sticky postcards, and maybe even some almost-in-focus photos back to document this odd life I am carving out up here. No promises about winter, but this summer is a sure thing!

I know, I know, I am already a week late and a couple of photos short, but you watch your in-box. You will get 94 days of Alaska summer in fun-size installments for your personal enjoyment!

More Soon,
Jennifer