February in the Bear Gallery

Published on by fairbanksartsassociation

Opening Day: February 4, 2022, 12–7 pm
Exhibition on view: February 4–26, 2022
Gallery hours: Monday–Saturday, 12–6 pm

Bear Gallery visitors please note:

COVID-19 mitigation measures: Fairbanks Arts’ board of directors has approved COVID-19 mitigation measures that include (but are not limited to):

  • Visitors to the Bear Gallery must wear a mask. We ask that visitors bring their own masks, but should a visitor be without one, we have a limited supply we can give out. 
  • Social distancing of no less than 6 ft apart must be observed within the Bear Gallery.  
  • The current limit of visitors in the gallery at one time is 15 individuals.
  • Our COVID-19 mitigation plan involves the frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces to ensure the safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this effort to stay open while supporting artists and arts supporters safely and responsibly.

The Art of Rug Hooking
by Kate Lamal

Kate Lamal found rug hooking to fill the creative gap left after a career in a technology field. It allowed her to use the images stored in her memory and in her pictures of life in Alaska to create useful art for the home—rugs, upholstery, seat covers, and wall hangings. It is a medium that asks to be touched because of the tactile richness of the wool used to create these pieces. Hooking allows experimentation, and easy correction of wrong decisions. Kate not only designs her work, she also hand dyes all of the fabric used in the pieces.

Kate’s work has been selected for every 64th Parallel show she has entered, as well as the Interior Artisans a Fairbanks Arts Association juried show in 2016 and the Patterns of Influence another Fairbanks Arts Association juried show in 2016. She was also selected as a guest artist at the NAMI fundraiser in the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. This summer, her piece Incongruous was selected for Celebrations, the premier rug show in North America; it was also a featured piece in the annual Celebrations publication.

Kate has taught the Art of Rug Hooking several times through the Fairbanks Weavers and Spinners Guild.

Kate came to Alaska in the early 1980s as an exploration geologist looking for gold. Along with some gold, she found her husband. She has lived in Fairbanks since then in a home filled with south facing windows, a view of the Alaska Range and Denali, and golden retrievers.

Rug Hooking demo with Kate Lamal and Friends

Saturday, February 12 from 1–3 pm in the Bear Gallery

Kate Lamal, along with several friends, will be giving a hands-on demonstration of the technique of rug hooking. Attendees will see the equipment and materials used and be able to pull a few loops themselves. Visitors may drop in at any time from 1–3 pm in the gallery to participate in this event. Masks are required.

Alaska Love Through Art, Life, and Adventure
by Raeann the Artist 

Raeann drove to Alaska from Pennsylvania in 1994 when she was 18. Since then, she has created a body of work that portrays her love for Alaska developed through 27 years of hiking, backcountry snowboarding, commercial fishing, mountain biking, and remote cabin living. Raeann started creating art at an early age and has been dabbling throughout her life with a limited educational background in the arts. She was, however, lucky to have a wonderful and talented high school art teacher who gave her a bag of tricks and  sent her on her way. Raeann spent a year in art school while she was healing from knee surgery; there, she met another fabulous teacher who inspired her to learn oil painting. 

After traveling and snowboarding in various places for 11 years, Raeann moved back to Alaska in 2007—this move inspired her to again pick her brushes and pencils. She is grateful to share her work and hopes to encourage people to get outside and appreciate nature. Painting and drawing Alaska’s beauty is a way she can express her love for this amazing place in which we live.