For those of you who live outside of Alaska, I think of the Rasmuson family as our state’s Rockfellers. The Rasmuson Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to improving the lives of all Alaskans by supporting Alaska non-profits in arts, culture, health, and social services.
Ten years ago, the Rasmuson Foundation began to fund artists directly with project awards and fellowships.
In 2009, I received a project award to go to Ohio and study for three weeks with one of the godmothers of the art quilt movement Nancy Crow. I am not sure I will ever be able to adequately describe what a life transforming experience that was. I wrote about my first week of study with Nancy, and I hope to eventually write about all of my weeks of study with her. Receiving that project award completely changed my life and my art for the better. I am eternally grateful for the Rasmuson Foundation’s continued generosity to artists of all media.
Me and the work I completed after three weeks of study with Nancy Crow in the fall of 2009.
This year, the Rasmuson Foundation received 366 grant applications and awarded 36 artists. I was one of 10 Alaskans who received a fellowship to continue to pursue my craft.
Jayson Smart of the Rasmuson Foundation called me on April 22nd to let me know I had received this recognition. Of course, I started crying.
Receiving a check from the Rasmuson Foundation to fund a year of exploring new ideas in fiber is a truly amazing thing.
But what is equally good, and maybe even better, is knowing that my art has been recognized, is thinking for just the briefest of moments that I am not totally crazy for spending all my time stitching, is feeling that my work has value for the larger community of Alaska.
For all of these things I thank the Rasmuson Foundation. I could not be doing the work I do without their generous support.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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- Walt and I gettting ready to attend the artist reception on Tuesday evening.
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- At the reception, there were two screens displaying a slide show of the work from the artists selected this year. The image on the screen is of a piece made by North Pole artist Kathie Cook.
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- The artist reception was held at the Anchorage Museum. There were lots of festive people in attendance.
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- And beautiful people too. Here is my friend Beth Nordlund with Rasmuson Project Award recepient Charlie Renfor and his wife Brett.
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- Here I am with my friends Beth Norlund, Petra Wilms, and Sarah Leonard. These ladies have been my supporters for a very long time. Thank you ladies.
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- The next morning, we gathered at the Anchorage Performing Arts Center for the awards ceremony. Little did I know I was sitting across the aisle from the Distinguished Artist for the year!
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- Diane Kaplan The Rasmuson Foundation’s President and Jayson Smart announced the awards.
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- As each artist made their way to the stage, their work was shown on the two big screens next to the podium. It the artists were musicians their music was played as they left the poduim.
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- Beautiful bowls made by George Overpeck.
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- That’s me getting my award with Dance Party at Tamara’s House in the background.
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- The Distinguished Artist for 2013 is Teri Rofkar. They introduced her with a brilliant mini-documentary about Teri and her work. Who would ever guess Terri weaves to the sounds of heavy metal?
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- It was really wonderful to hear Terri speak. She radiates creativity. Seriously, she does.
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- I photographed the awards program. Here is the first page of project award winners.
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- Here is the second page of project award winners.
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- This is the thrid and final page of project award winners. Congrats to all!
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- These are the artist images for the fellowship awards.
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- Here is the list of fellows to go with the images. And last, but certainly not least, the amazing work of Teri Rofkar.
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- At both events we had name tags with stars to identify us as artists. I have never been so happy to get a gold star in my life!
If you want to view the complete list of Rasmuson Award recepients and see what they are going to do in the upcoming year, you can by going here. I hope to write many posts about these artists and the works they are doing here in Alaska.
And if you are wondering what I’ll be doing with my fellowship, I will tell you.
I’ve spent the last decade moving my craft from the bed to the wall. Now, I will be spending the next year focused on moving it from the wall to the body. I will be learning how to adapt patchwork techniques to repurposed fibers with the goal of creating three dimensional canvases. Which is a fancy way to say that I will be making some seriously wild sweaters.
Congratulations Maria. Very exciting!
Congratulations! It will be fun to follow the movement of those fibers!
Maria, how exciting! Will continue to watch your journey through your posts. Maybe some day I’ll see your work in person.
Thank you Trudy, Donna, and Stitchinggrandma for your kind words. It is a very exciting moment for me. I must say I am a bit nevous about what is going to happen next–that knowning that there will be some failure involved always makes the first steps hard to make.
Wow! What an honor and opportunity! Way to go! Enjoy your year of new directions and creativity.
very proud of you, dear friend.
Thank you dear sweet Marla.
Just learning about your gold star. Better late then never–congrats. Carole