Somer Hahm – The Painted Quilt
Iris Sutton & Nancy Hausle Johnson –
Two Interpretations
On View in the Wandering Bear Gallery: January 3 – February 1, 2020 (3501 Lathrop Street, Fairbanks AK, 99701)
Opening Reception: Friday, January 3, 5-7pm
Help Fairbanks Arts welcome a new exhibition year with January’s First Friday opening receptions! Somer Hahm’s solo exhibition The Painted Quilt is inspired by the wealth of the American Patchwork, and directly investigates the timeless beauty of quilt block designs. The group exhibition Two Interpretations, featuring Iris Sutton & Nancy Hausle Johnson, celebrate the artists’ experiences and travel, the wildlife of Alaska and the beauty of the arctic in mixed media.
Somer Hahm – The Painted Quilt

Somer Hahm is a visual artist living and making work in Fairbanks, Alaska. She received a BFA from the University of Montana, Missoula in 2005 and an MFA, with an emphasis in Painting and Drawing, from University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 2008. Her past works drew directly from nature, often combining colorful abstraction with flora and fauna. Interested in the plants found locally in the Tanana Valley, she designed and released an annual series of educational botanical posters for children. In 2017 Somer was named Artist of the Year by the Northern Alaska Environmental Center.
With robust involvement in the Fairbanks art community, Somer has spent time teaching painting and drawing workshops for the Folk School of Fairbanks and Well Street Art Company, has created performance art with the Fairbanks Ladies of Wrestling, and enjoys her employment as Fairbanks Arts Associations Exhibition Technician, installing the rotating art exhibits at the Bear Gallery.
Somers recent body of work has been inspired by the wealth of the American Patchwork, and directly investigates the timeless beauty of quilt block designs. Motivated to create community involvement and interest in public art, Somer founded the Far North Quilt Trail Project in July of 2019. With grant support from local non-profit Our Two Cents, Inc. Somer will begin creating Alaska’s first barn quilt trail in Fairbanks with a project called “Art in the Garden” to take place at the Fairbanks Community Garden in the summer of 2020.
Iris Sutton & Nancy Hausle Johnson –
Two Interpretations
Nancy and Iris have many mutual interests including the outdoors, wildlife and the arctic. They created this show after working together on various art projects and doing an artist in residency together at Toolik lake.
Nancy Hausle Johnson has been crafting hand-painted ceramic tiles in Fairbanks, Alaska since 1985. Her custom designed art tiles and murals have been featured in numerous art shows and selected for One Percent for Art commissions in hospitals, libraries, schools, sports arenas and public commissions. Her work is drawn from Alaska images where people, birds, animals, flowers and landscapes have inspired her. Find her work at alaskatileart.com
Iris Sutton has been painting vibrant wildlife and landscapes of Alaska for 10 years. She is inspired by the landscape and animals of Alaska. Her works are large and depict animals of any color of the rainbow. She also works in schools periodically, teaching art techniques to students. Her goal is to have one new show of her work each year.
With Two Interpretations, Iris and Nancy hope to share their experiences and travel, the wildlife of Alaska and the beauty of the arctic.
Fairbanks Arts programs are made possible by individual and corporate contributions, the City of Fairbanks Hotel/Motel Bed Tax, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska State Council on the Arts and Fountainhead Development, Inc.
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