State of the Arts

VOLUNTEER NEEDS P8 VOLUNTEER THANKS P10

WATERCOLOR SOCIETY CORNER P10COMMITTEE MEETINGS P10

OLDIE BUT GOLDIE FILM SERIES P11VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT P12

P2 & 3 BACK TO ALASKAP4 READING SERIESP4 GIFT SHOP AUTHORP5 GIFT SHOP ARTISTP5 ARTS DOWN THE ROADP6 & 7 GALLERY EXHIBITP8 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

“PROMOTING CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL ARTS IN ALASKA’S INTERIOR.”

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION

I N T H I S I S S U E

MAY 2008

Ron Veliz and North

concert seriessponsored by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation.

MAINSTAGEFairbanks

Photo: James Barker

FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION • May 2008GGzzG2G

There are a few urban legends circulating through the Interior. One in particular states, “You cannot stay away from Alaska. If you leave, you will return within few years.” Most of us know that there is more than just a grain of truth in that statement. Our state seems to have a quality akin to “love at fi rst sight”. We have all had seen many visitors and exchange students leaving, only to return “for good.” It is especially wonderful to see people with leadership potential in the arts making Alaska their home.

Recently a number of art organizations around the state have been faced with searching for candidates to fi ll vacant positions of upper management. For some, like the University of Alaska Museum of the North, the search has just begun. But for others, like Fairbanks Concert Association, Anchorage Concert Association, Perseverance

Theater and Fairbanks Native Association the search has ended revealing a preference for “Alaskan-grown” as the end result.

Jason Hodges, who recently resigned as Executive Director of the Fairbanks Concert Association (FCA) after taking over three years ago from veteran administrator Herta Prechtel, accepted the position of Executive Director of the Anchorage Concert Association (ACA). ACA has a similar role to that of FCA in the community -- it brings musicians, lecturers and other entertainers to

perform in Alaska. Hodges said, “I’ve been honored to work in the performing arts in Fairbanks. It’s really wonderful that the people in Fairbanks support the arts as much as they do, which adds to what makes Fairbanks a special place to live.” However, he suggested that on a professional level he would like to become an advocate for the performing arts statewide. Fairbanks Concert Association Board President Edie Husby credited Hodges with bringing larger audiences and renewed excitement to the organization during his tenure. Hodges initiated a crowd-pleasing program where audience surveys determined which performers would come to Fairbanks. Husby said he also changed the marketing approach for FCA including the use of season brochures and e-mail to promote events.

After a national search, the FCA board announced that Anne Biberman, formerly a corporate support manager for KUAC, will assume the directorship. Husby, who chaired the search committee, said of Biberman: “We are excited about Anne. She was attractive as a candidate because of her passion for the performing arts. She grew up in New York City and has a background in dance and theater and she has proven success with KUAC, both as a fundraiser and

an administrator. She brings all her energy and excitement about sharing the arts with the community. We really value her contacts and we know they will strengthen our abilities to collaborate on a statewide level.”

Art Rotch was named as the new Artistic Director of Perseverance Theatre in Juneau. The Juneau-based professional theatre company was founded in 1979 with the mission of “tapping the potential of Alaska through the passionate creation and presentation of theatre.” In order to make theatre that is by, for and about Alaskans, the Board of Directors searched for an Artistic Director whose philosophy meshed with their own. “Rotch was the Board’s top choice from more than 60 applicants,” said Maria Gladziszewski, chairwoman of the search committee.

“It’s important to me that (Perseverance) have a really strong Alaska fl avor,” Rotch said. His predecessor, PJ Paparelli, held the position for four years. Since Rotch’s arrival in Juneau in 1989, he has worked with the company as technical director, designer, and board member. Six years ago he moved to New York to study for his MFA at New York University, but still found the time to return to Juneau to design four shows during this period. Artistic directors usually have a background as stage directors, but Rotch’s background in set and lighting design makes him uniquely qualifi ed for the position.

Fairbanks Native Association recently hired Ray Atwood as their new Executive Director. He grew up in Fairbanks and received his B.A. in Justice and his A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies from UAF. He then went to work for as a paralegal for Doyon, Limited in Seattle and eventually branched out to start his own consulting company. He returns to his home in Alaska with the knowledge and experience to lead this organization.

After 15 years as director of the University of Alaska Museum of the North, Aldona Jonaitis plans to retire in November. Her tenure as the museum director was marked by dramatic growth, both in facilities and in programs. Jonaitis plans to remain in Fairbanks when

For me, personally and

professionally, it’s about taking the next step as a performing arts administrator.-Jason Hodges

BACK TO ALASKA

University of Alaska Museum of the North Director Aldona Jonaitis

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More than ever, the recent

events have shown that not only it is possible to pursue an arts administration career right here at home, but that Alaskans are willing to stay and continue the legacy of the arts in our beautiful state.

she retires, starting a dessert catering business and working as a museum consultant. A national search for her replacement is currently underway.

More than ever, the recent events have shown that not only it is possible to pursue an arts administration career right here at home, but that Alaskans are willing to stay and continue the legacy of the arts in our beautiful state.

Fairbanks Arts Association was established in 1966 to promote and support the arts in the Fairbanks area. The Association is funded by private, corporate, and foundation memberships and donations, City of Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. With assistance from professional sta� and charitable volunteers, the Association provides services in � ve areas: Visual, Literary, Performing, Community Arts and Arts Education. The Association also helps raise funds for other arts groups, provides technical assistance and support for arts programming, encourages and advises individual artists beginning organizations and sponsors workshops and educational meetings.

Sta� June Rogers, Executive Director , ex 225 Melissa Hougland, Associate Director, ex 226Sherry Faught, O� ce Manager/Bookkeeper, ex 223Tatiana Piatanova, Program Director, ex 227Carey Seward, Special Projects, ex 224Jessica Reh� eld, Education Coordinator, ex 222

Board of DirectorsCorlis Taylor, PresidentMarcella Hill, Vice PresidentLeafy McBride, SecretaryMyrna Colp, Treasurer

Members:Bob DempseyJerrie GrahamJoan StackShane HurdLorraine Peterson

F A I R B A N K S A R T S A S S O C I A T I O N

Tougher in Alaska

Local artist Craig Buchanan will be featured on the History Channel Series “Tougher in Alaska.” Buchanan, a resident of Ester has had a prolifi c artistic career. His work features various scale structures assembled from found natural and industrial materials and has been included in numerous exhibitions around the state and the Lower 48. Moreover, the artist has been profi led in a variety of publications which include two books: “Outhouses of Alaska” by Harry Walker and “Found and Assembled in Alaska” by Julie Decker. “Tougher in Alaska,” a 13 part series about the challenges of living and working in America’s legendary last frontier will premiere on the History Channel in May 2008.

For more information about the series please visit www.moorehuntley.com.

Perseverence Theater Artistic Director Art Rotch

Craig Buchanan

FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION • May 2008GGzzG4G

Gift Shop Author of the Month: Lisa D. ChávezLisa D. Chávez is now an Associate Professor at the University of New

Mexico. Chávez was born in Los Angeles and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska.

She has published two books of poetry: Destruction Bay and In an Angry

Season, and has been included in such anthologies as Floricanto Si! A

Collection of Latina Poetry , The Floating Borderlands: 25 Years of U.S.

Hispanic Literature, and American Poetry: The Next Generation. Her creative

nonfi ction has been published in Fourth Genre, The Clackamas Literary

Review and other places. Before going to UNM, she taught at the University

of Alaska, in Poland with the Peace Corps, in Japan and in Rochester, NY.

In addition to creative writing, she is interested in multicultural American

literature. She now lives in the mountains with her dogs, a German Shepherd

and a Shiba Inu. She has just fi nished a third book of poetry called An Atlas

of Desire.

May Reading is Saturday, May 3rd at 7pm • Bear Gallery

Leah Aronow-Brown is originally from Boston, but she has been in Fairbanks since 1976. Leah has a BA in Psychology and

Metaphysics from Harvard University and an MFA in Creative Writing from University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her poetry, articles and stories have been published around the country and have won state and international literary prizes. A musician since age three, she composes and performs on voice, guitar, harp, recorder, keyboard, Appalachian dulcimer and Native American fl ute. She also crafts in beads, clay and fi bers.

f a i r b a n k s a r t s a s s o c i a t i o n

.:: Reading Series ‘08 Leah Aronow-Brown and Melina Draper

Melina Draper has a book of poetry forthcoming from Oyster River Press titled Place of Origin ~ Lugar de Origen, co-authored and translated (Spanish and English) with

Elena Lafert. Her poetry has appeared in Salamander, Antietam Review, Elixir, Potpourri, and other journals. She has also published fi ction in The Evansville Review. Her chapbook What Better Place than This? was published in 2003 by Pudding House Publications. Melina recently moved to Fairbanks with her husband, fi ction writer David Crouse, and son, Dylan, and is pursuing an MFA in poetry at UAF. Melina has an MA the University of New Hampshire and a BA in Russian and Comparative Literature from Colorado College. She was born and raised mostly in Santa Fe, NM, where she grew up bilingual and bicultural, with an American father and Argentinean mother.

May 2008 • FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION zzG G 5G5G G GG G G G

Gift Shop Artist of the Month: Denise Bates

ARTDOW

N

theROAD

Patrick and Peggy Bookey, both retired teachers, have combined their talents of woodturning and egg carving to make attractive art pieces for their home and the public. Working under the business name of Artistic Creations, they spend many hours selecting just the right wood, form and design to meet any price range. Finding time to work in their studio takes some planning because both have busy schedules. Their activities include watching grandchildren, 5 dogs, 4 cats, operating a summer fi shing charter and attending shows. Every other available moment is then directed at planning and executing a new piece. Pat selects his wood from a variety of imported exotic species, but prefers to use the local birch, spruce, choke cherry and aspen. He uses burls whenever possible because they offer such creative potential. In order to have a design pierced into a turning, Pat must turn a very thin walled vessel, approx. 2 mm in thickness. Then Peggy selects a design that compliments the wooden form and

uses a high speed drill to remove wood, leaving behind a shape held in place with small wooden connections. This entire process takes about two years from when the wood is selected, rough turned, returned, carved and fi nished. Artistic Creations offers many different styles to select from: bowls, vases, segmented, pierced and embellished turnings. Hopefully, each piece fi nds a new owner and place to compliment any décor. For more information e-mail bookey@gci.net.

Fairbanks has been my home since 1992. I have been an avid gardener most of my life, starting in early childhood. Indoors or out I have a hard time killing anything that grows.

I have only become serious about photography since moving here. I have never seen a picture of myself that I liked so I � gured if I was taking them there would be fewer pictures of me. Eight years ago when I started winning ribbons in the fair, and other � ower shows, I started photographing the � owers and found I had a knack for it. This is when I started to combine my two hobbies and now it has become my passion.

I strive to catch the glorious and � eeting beauty of a � ower and then to share it with others. Many of my photos are from my own garden but you will � nd me all over Fairbanks in search of the perfect � ower to capture. From the University’s gardens to downtown Fairbanks, even walking my dog, there is no lack of opportunity. As our winters are long, I even started growing orchids so I would have something to photograph in our dark long winters.

It may take days to capture a � ower at it’s peak and lighting is also a main concern. You add the weather to the mix and � ower photography can be very challenging. This is where the passion comes in. All the conditions have to be just right and the end product speaks for itself.

Patrick and Peggy Bookey

FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION • May 2008GGzz66G6GG6G6 z6 zz6 z Exhibit Dates: May 2-31 • Opening Reception: Friday, May 2, 5-8pm

MAY Gallery Exhibits

The Fairbanks Potters Guild is a non-profi t organization formed in 1996 to promote the ceramic arts and support the work of area potters. The Guild is committed to education and awards scholarships each year to high school and college students pursuing education in the ceramics fi eld. The Guild sponsors workshops and classes and has hosted world class visiting artists.

The Guild is also involved in community service and each year, in conjunction with the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, sponsors the Empty Bowls Project. In 2007 more than $18,000 was raised by selling over 1000 handmade bowls created by local potters and ceramics students.

Some Guild members are full time professional potters, selling and exhibiting at galleries locally and throughout Alaska. Some members, who have other vocations, are only

able to be part time potters, but most of these potters also sell and exhibit their work.

The educational background of Guild members varies considerably. Several members have degrees in art or design related fi elds. Some have taught ceramics at the post secondary level, others at the elementary and secondary levels. Some members have taught at the post secondary level in other art/design disciplines. The one educational commonality is that almost every member has been associated to some degree with the UAF Ceramics program, from taking classes in Ceramics, to teaching ceramics classes, to being the department head.

The Fairbanks Potters Guild currently has about 40 members, meets monthly and welcomes anyone interested in the art and craft of ceramics.

Food for ThoughtFood for

Fairbanks Potters Guild

May 2008 • FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION zzG G 7G7G G GG G G

MAY Gallery Exhibits

Inspired by Water, Camera Sees Beyond its Defi cites Artist Statement by Douglas Yates

Water braids channels on the landscape and fuels our imagination. It sweeps the old before it as the tide of breakup rolls across Alaska. From a perch on Ester Dome, my camera documents its passage and what remains in its wake. Literal and metaphoric, the images offer windows from which to measure water’s infl uence in our lives.

For many living on Ester Dome, water’s integral value to human communities is limited by previous industry. One hundred years of gold mining has liberated arsenic in such quantities as to produce ground water unfi t for consumption.

Though the concentration varies from well to well, there’s little doubt that water’s diminished quality is the result of years of blasting, drilling and excavating. In order to offset the degradation, residents haul treated city water or pay to have it delivered. While not generally recognized, its quality is dubious as fl uoride is added to it. See: fl uoridealert.org.

People value water’s tangible and intangible qualities. Sacrifi cing some for economic reasons heightens the loss of those who come later, sharpening an awareness for restoration and protection.

Streams and rivers are among the most generative features of my childhood geography. Wading, swimming, fl oating with the current, mesmerized by the shifting light. I drank from these streams, dipping water to make tea or cook a meal. On

Ester Dome few drink from the wells or creeks today; we know about the arsenic.

Water’s aesthetic capacity is enlarged by its relationship to temperature. Whether illustrating a liquid or a solid, my work refl ects water’s ability to manifest chaos and order. The images offer a vantage from which to consider its infl uence in our lives and dreams.

Though winter’s ice may seem enduring, it too has an ebb and fl ow. Daily fl uctuations in temperature and humidity can soften or sharpen ice crystals, altering shape, texture and transparency.

As a liquid, water is a medium for plant and insect growth. Drawn by gravity, it moves nutrients downhill, providing food for salmon and grayling and a route to the sea. In the ice-free season, change occurs at rates that blurs winter’s temporal distinctions.

Sunlight invests even a trickle of water with grace and power. Arrested, as if frozen, the liquid views invite an examination of fl ow, water’s essential characteristic. They resonate with the fact that our blood is 85 percent water and that capillaries and dendritic watersheds bear remarkable similarities.

Photographs featuring these comparisons present new ways to consider water’s practical and spiritual dimensions. They offer a context for reordering priorities. They bring sunlight to one of the planet’s most neglected values, fresh water, and the intangible assets it supports.

Ester Dome few drink from the wells or creeks today; we know about the arsenic.

Photographs by Douglas Yates

Evidence of Water:: Mining Ester Dome’s Intangible Values. Exploring the Convergence of soil, ice and water.

FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION • May 2008GGzzG8G

EXHIBITSUniversity of Alaska Museum of the North presents “Hunting & Trapping”, opening Saturday, May 17 This exhibit highlights the traditions and values passed down through generations of Interior Alaskans, both Native and non-Native. The exhibit includes 33 historic fi rearms, clothing, tools and other material from the museum’s collections, presented with contemporary and historic photographs, oral history recordings, and objects on loan from the community.

MUSICAL THEATER/OPERAOPERA FAIRBANKS announces AUDITIONS for chorus roles in our August production of Rossini’s comic masterpiece La Centerentola . Performances will be August 22 and 24, 2008 with some rehearsals starting around Aug.1. Auditions will be held in Fairbanks Friday May 2 from 7 to 10 pm. Those auditioning will be asked to sing one memorized selection. You must bring music for the accompanist provided by Opera Fairbanks. Call 456-7573 (Theresa Reed) or email <tmreed@gci.net> to schedule an audition time or for more information.

DANCENorth Star Ballet’s 20th annual Spring Gala, featuring Cinderella and the repertory works Holberg Suite and Betwixt and Between. Saturday, April 26 at 2 pm and 8 pm, Sunday, April 27 at 2 pm. Hering Auditorium. Tickets at Hoitts, Artworks, Bentley Mall Safeway, North Star Ballet and the door. General admission adults $18, under 13 $8, student/senior $16. Half price for active military. Reserved seats $24. Call 451-8800 for information or reservations.

Dance Theatre Fairbanks THUMBELINA May 23,24,30,31 and June 1st at The Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts at Pioneer Park. $15 adults, $12 senior/military/student, $6 children ages 12 and under. Tickets available at Dance Theatre Fairbanks, Beaver Sports, and Bruegger’s Bagels. More information available at www.dancetheatrefairbanks.com or by calling 452-1113.

MUSICFairbanks Concert Association presents Shidara Taiko on Thursday, May 1 at 8pm Hering Auditorium $36 adults, $32 students/seniors/military Tickets available at www.alaskatix.com, by calling 490-2858, or visiting Grass Roots Guitar on College Road. More information available at www.fairbanksconcert.org

CLASSES/WORKSHOPSTuesday, 13 May. 7:00 pm, Salisbury Theatre, UAF. North Star Ballet School Annual Class Demonstration. Entry by free-will donation. Call 451-8800 for information.

May Registration begins for summer DRAMA PROJECT - a professional training program for children ages 5 - 18 years. Call 456-PLAY to request a registration brochure.

OPPORTUNITIESYOUTH FOR UNDERSTANDING IS LOOKING FOR HOST FAMILIES FOR FALL 2008!Youth for Understanding USA is a non-profit organization that partners with over 50 countries around the world. We provide orientations and ongoing support to host families, volunteers and exchange students to ensure student success while on program. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact me at blizzard@yfu.org or by phone at 907.561.2918 or toll free 800.872.0200 ext 281. Also, please refer to our website www.yfu-usa.org for more information.

OPPORTUNITIES 4Culture is seeking to acquire wall-mounted landscape works that use color for the Harborview Medical Center Collection, part of the King County Public Art Collection. The subject matter for this call must be the essence of landscape, whether represented realistically or abstractly. Artists who would like their work considered for purchase must submit images of existing available artwork for the panel’s review. For a complete prospectus, visit the website below. Deadline: May 5, 2008 For more information: Greg Bell greg.bell@4culture.org or www.4culture.org

OPPORTUNITIES

ANTARCTIC ARTISTS AND WRITERS PROGRAM

The purpose of the Antarctic Artists and Writers Program is to enable serious writings and works of art that exemplify the Antarctic heritage of humankind. In particular, the program seeks to increase public understanding of the Antarctic region, including the continent and the surrounding oceans, as well as the associated research and education endeavors. For more information please visit<http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08552/nsf08552.htm?govDel=USNSF_25>

Community Calendar!

Acheivment in the Arts

GzzTo submit calendar

information please email melissa@fairbanksarts.org or

zmelissa@fairbanksarts.org or

zcall 456-6485 ext.226call 456-6485 ext.226

zcall 456-6485 ext.226

zzcall 456-6485 ext.226

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The Lathrop High School Ballroom Dance Team earned third place in a national dance competition held last weekend in Utah.

The 14 dancers, coached by Stefani Brown, had been practicing their rhumba, samba, cha cha and jive routines since October. The hard work paid o� when the team took third in the Division Two Youth Latin Formation Ballroom Dance Championships at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

This was the team’s second time to enter a national competition but it had been two years since they competed at this level.

The community is invited to see the dance routines May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at a show at Hering Auditorium. For details, contact Brown at Ryan Middle School, 452-4751 ext. 9349 or sbrown@northstar.k12.ak.us.

We need volunteers in the Bear Gallery & gift shop for the summer season! This is a great opportunity to support the arts in Fairbanks while meeting visitors and sharing about life in the north. Our volunteer docents fi ll a four-hour shift once a week and are a vital part of our program.

Find out more about how you can be part of the team at Fairbanks Arts Association by calling 456-6485 ext. 223 or 226.

VOLUNTEERS!

May 2008 • FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION zzG G 9G9G G GG G G

Carol Harris has generously donated "Bear House Posts" by Robert Jones to the Fairbanks Arts Association Bear Gallery and Gift Shop. Thank you Carol!

Dinners in the Homes

This summer we are pleased to host over 1000 guests! In order for Fairbanks Arts Association to make this happen, we need you! All dinners are scheduled on Thursday night from mid-May to mid-September with pick-up scheduled at 6:45pm. Available dates include May 22nd, 29th, June 5th, 12th, 26th, July 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, August 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, September 4th and 11th. Please give us a call at 456-6485 ext. 224 if you would like to volunteer or have any questions about Dinners in the Homes.

Historical Materials

Wanted!

Do you have any old newspaper clippings, show programs, photos or other information from the beginnings of the Fairbanks Arts Association? We are collecting all historical documents, no matter how insignifi cant. So clean out your garage and bring them by!

Fairbanks Arts Association Offi ce,

Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts

in Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way

Phone: 456-6485 ext 226.

Gazebo Nights

Are coming!

Every night at 7pm in June, July and August Fairbanks Arts Association will offer free local entertainment in the gazebo in Pioneer Park at 2300 Airport Way. This annual summer program will feature numerous entertainers including: Mike Stackhouse, Theresa Bauer, Blazing Bellows, and Solstice Complex. Please come out and support your local performers!

FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION • May 2008GGzzG10GG10GGGzzG10G

Tammy PhillipsTammy Phillips is a self taught artist who

works mainly in water media, with some collage

work and glass art. She loves the way water based

paints fl ow onto the paper and the diversity in

which the paint enables creativity. Tammy prefers

studio painting and works mainly from photos she

takes in her garden or where ever that “perfect”

fl ower happens to be. She has studied water media

for 8 years,and is a master gardener, which pairs

naturally with her fl oral paintings. A member of

Fairbanks Arts Association, Fairbanks Watercolor

Society, North Pole Art League and Tanana

Valley Master Gardeners; she is also a founding

member of the North Pole Art Society (Watercolor

Wednesday artist).

MAY Committee Meetings: Community Writers Group May 11 from 1-4pm

Long Prose Writers Group May 15 at 6:00pm

Literary Arts Committee May 19 at 5:30pm

Cinema Arts Committee May 20 at 5:30pm Visual Arts Committee May 21 at 5:30pm

Community Arts Meeting May 28 at Noon

All meetings in the Bear Gallery, 3rd Floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the

Arts, Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way.

For more information call 456-6485 ext. 227.

VSA Arts:

Northern Speedy Glass

Hoff er Glass

Pioneer Glass

Marcella Hill

Katie Sandstrom-Pride

Doreen Fish and Family

Shane Hurd and Family

Hilda Melchior

Randy Smith Middle

School and Chris Pastro

Interior Artisans

Intake:

Phyllis Tate

Dawn Crass

Gallery

Docents:

Deb McQueen

Margret Van Flein

Jane Gregory

Pat MackCheryl Joens

Lee HarrisBetsy Bear

Frances Shultz

Doreen Fish

Special Thanks:

Jane Haigh and

Patricia Peirsol for

their generous help

with Poetry at the

dredge.

THANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOU to our Volunteers: to our Volunteers: to our Volunteers:

Society Corner

Wa

terco

lor

The Fairbanks Arts Association relies on donations each year from community members just like you. Our needs vary from time to time, however right now we need:

Thank you for your generosity in contiuing to support FAA!

Offi ce SuppliesStep LadderFlash Drive

ScannerDigital Camera

Hammers

Desk ChairsLegal-size 3 ring

bindersHouse

paintbrushes

May 2008 • FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION zzG G 11G11G G GG G 11G11G11G11

concert seriessponsored by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation.

MAINSTAGEFairbanksRon Veliz and North • Wednesday, May 14th, 7pm

CONCERTS take place at the theater in Alaska Centenial Center for Arts at 7 pm

Tickets available at the door for $5

For more information please call 456-6485, ext 227or go to www.fairbanksarts.org Photo: James Barker

Ron Veliz and North features Ron Veliz on guitar, Jim Vogt on drums, John Keech on bass, and Jason Slats on saxophone playing funky jazz fusion. Ron said that he tends to avoid the word quartet because his group almost always has special guest musicians. Ron said that this group has played together for six or seven years, but not much for the past year or two. “The saxophone player moved to his home village of Cheevak, and now he’s going to be in town for a couple of months. In certain respects, it’s kind of like a reunion…”

Ron moved to Fairbanks in 2000. He performs, records, teaches and promotes jazz and the Arts both in Alaska and around the world. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he studied music at the University of Santa Clara, De Anza College and privately with jazz guitar greats Joe Pass, Howard Roberts and Warren Nunes. His professional career as a performer, educator, producer and recording artist has included projects with Don Grusin, Dave Valentin, Jay Leno, Smith Dobson, The Ink Spots, Bloodstone, Buddy Miles and The Ron Veliz Quintet which includes members of Santana, Tower of Power, The Doobie Brothers, and the Miles Davis Band. He also co-owns the Alaska House Gallery with Yolande Fejes and says the gallery is his summer priority where he regularly performs.

Ron’s educational experiences include teaching at public and private schools throughout California and a 15 year association with SMI in San Jose, California. Recent clinics and performances include the Birmingham Jazz Festival in England, the Galway Arts Festival in Ireland, University of Belfast, the San Jose Jazz Festival, San Diego Street Scene, the University

of Alaska Jazz Festival and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. Ron is a member of the Fairbanks Arts Association and was one

of the very fi rst performers at Gazebo Nights in Pioneer Park. This year he will perform Mondays in July at the Gazebo in Pioneer Park. Ron said: “Fairbanks has been really wonderful to me. The audiences are amazing.”

P.O. Box 72786 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707

State of the ArtsTHE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION MAY 2008

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT - Joyce ClarkTHA

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My name is Joyce (Freeman) Clark, I was born in Ashland, Oregon several years ago on New Years! I came to Soldotna, Alaska in 1981, managed the laundry/dry cleaners/trailer court for about 3 years. After that I attended Kenai Peninsula College for about 2 years and decided to fi nish my education by going to Southern Oregon State College. I graduated in 1989 with a BA in Education and a BA in History. I returned to Soldotna in 1989 and did some substitue teaching and in 1991 came to Fairbanks for a job fair and decided to stay. I went to work for Women In Crisis as a receptionist, and became involved with Fairbanks Arts Association. I was Secretary of the FAA Literary Arts Committee for awhile and involved with the Literary Jam Session. Along with Janet Baird and Don Elbert, I was one of the Community Writer’s Group fi rst members. I have worked with the FAA and The Community Writer’s Group for several years and have enjoyed every minute!! The CWG is now working on their second anthology!! I am happy to say that I am part of that as I was the fi rst one!