Bear Gallery Gift Certificates!

Support Fairbanks Arts by treating your loved ones to a Bear Gallery gift certificate! These great gifts are redeemable in the gallery and gift shop, for our artist workshops and for entry fees to one of our exhibitions!

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Gift Shop Artist of the Month: Carol Wilbur

For sale in the Gift Shop: Friday, April 5 – Saturday, April 27

 

Carol’s family moved to Alaska in 1965.  After attending area schools, she attended Michigan State University, graduating in 1985 with a degree in Education.  In 1986, she married Jack Wilbur, another lifelong Alaskan. In 1998, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Metalsmithing and Painting from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, then went on to teach metalsmithing there from 2001-2006.
Carol maintains a private studio at Well Street Art Company.  Her work has appeared in galleries across the state, and she holds several awards for her work in both painting and jewelry.  

 

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Watercolor Corner Artist: Bett Schaffhauser

On View in the Gift Shop: Friday, April 5 – Saturday, April 27

 

Bett Schaffhauser attended a high school in Connecticut with an outstanding art program that exposed her to many mediums.  Her interest in Art took a back seat as she went off to college, moved to Alaska, pursued a professional career, married and raised a family.  As her two sons grew towards independence and she anticipated retirement, she rekindled her interest in Art through Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival offerings.  She pursued additional instruction in watercolors, her main interest, from local and visiting artists. She built on this solid foundation by self-study and maintains a fun attitude with the helpful inspiration of painting friends.

She was drawn to watercolor painting because she loves color, but now knows that color is nothing without value and shape.  She thought she would stick with landscapes and flowers, but surprised herself to find painting portraits fascinating and fun.  She also found the better she gets at drawing, the better she paints!

After calling Fairbanks home for 37 years and being married to a guy who loves winter, Bett knows she is here to stay.  But with the supportive artist network here, she is very content to do just that.