May in the Gift Shop

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!

Gift Shop Artist of the Month: Elizabeth van Lent

For sale in the Gift Shop: Friday, May 4 – Saturday, June 1

In May, Fairbanks Arts is excited to feature Elizabeth van Lent as the Gift Shop Artist of the Month! Elizabeth is an artist from Fairbanks and in her work, she uses themes of nature, magic, and myth to create visual and written narratives from both her physical environment and imagined world. In May 2017, van Lent graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, receiving a Bachelor in Fine Art with an Emphasis in Writing. This is what she says about her creative process:

“Observing the natural world while maintaining an awareness of mythology brings out the magic of everyday life. This is profoundly noticeable in Alaska, my home state. Alaska; where I can study the relationship between humankind and Nature, which in turn helps me to discover, acknowledge, and understand my place in this world.

It is my intention to connect with the community of Alaska through my work by sharing personal representations of the animals and plants that are so integral to this place, lifestyle, and identity. Through these organisms, Alaskans are connected. And it is because Alaska is a place of community, nature, and possibility that work such as mine can be well-received. Here, I am a part of a cycle of giving: giving art, giving thanks, and giving connection.

The microscopic details of all living things reveal themselves through ink. In my work, an extreme amount of detail and texture are represented in the flora and fauna I depict. Through this close examination of my subject, I honor the complexities of life. The simplicity of a single medium, Sumi ink on Bristol paper, and mostly monochromatic images work together to balance the extreme process of observation, study, and rendering that forms my practice and results in scientific illustrations with a touch of mysticism.”

Visit the Bear Gallery Gift Shop in May to see a selection of Elizabeth’s prints, postcards and stickers.

For questions, please contact gallery@fairbanksarts.org or call (907) 456-6485 ext. 224.

Watercolor Corner Artist: Peggy Mantei

On View in the Gift Shop: Friday, May 3 – Saturday, June 1

For the month of May, we are delighted to welcome Peggy Mantei to the Bear Gallery Gift Shop. This is what Peggy says about her work as a watercolor artist:

“I came to Alaska in 1980 form Crookston, Minnesota. I have been involved in Boy Scouts, Girls Scout, and in my church. I was feeling stressed out, so my spiritual director told me it was time for me to do something for myself, something that would help me to relax. I painted my painting in this fall of 1999. I enjoy the outdoors, so painting God’s beautiful nature was relaxing to me. It has even taken pain away at times.

In 1999 Gael Marakami taught me to mix colors. She helped me to look at the world differently. Sue Cole was my true mentor, she taught me to look outside the box. She helped me to go beyond my dreams and expectations. To paint what I saw and what was in my heart. I will never forget the love she had for the ones she taught.

Now I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Fairbanks Watercolor Society, Fairbanks Arts Association, the Summer Arts Festival and, just for fun, the Red Hat Society.