The Meaning of River by Marianne Stolz
And
Awkward Phase by Sarah Dexter

On View: August 1 – 30, 2025

First Friday Opening Reception:Friday, August 1, 5 – 7 p.m.(Gallery opens at noon on First Fridays)

The Bear Gallery is located on the third floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts building in Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska.  Admission to the Bear Gallery is free of charge and open to the public.The Bear Gallery is open Monday – Saturday from 12 – 6 p.m.

This August at The Bear Gallery, two exhibitions invite viewers to explore transformation through deeply personal relationships with nature, memory, and material. Meaning of River, by woodcarver Marianne Stolz, and Awkward Phase, by fashion designer and multimedia artist Sarah Dexter, each offer a distinct yet complementary perspective on growth, change, and the beauty found in transition.

The Meaning of River

by Marianne Stolz

The Meaning of River, by woodcarver Marianne Stolz, features a body of work created over the past two years that explores the multifaceted nature of rivers. Born and raised in Germany, love of the outdoors has always been an integral part of Stolz’s life. It guided decisions from where to live to the themes of her art. Roaming the Black Forest during her childhood contributed to her connection with nature and her curiosity about natural history. She also found herself drawn to any opportunity to make, build, and create. Merging her passions, she applied to the Wood Carving School in Berchtesgaden, Germany. After completing her Journeyman Woodcarver degree, she embarked on a journey around the world. Her travels brought her to Fairbanks, Alaska. She had found a place to raise her family and expand her art. These days, she enjoys sharing her skills with kids and adults as a teacher at the Folk School Fairbanks. Her carvings can be seen throughout the Interior of Alaska in public places and galleries.

Stolz’s deep reverence for nature and the material itself guides her process. Using traditional hand tools, she carves wood in ways that highlight its innate character and story. “Nature fuels my creativity with its incredible diversity and ever-changing interconnectedness,” she says. Her work draws on scientific observation and emotional resonance. “Flowing lines connect elements within each piece and to the present moment. Negative space frames the unknown, while the edges of my art resist confinement, much like nature itself,” Stolz shares.
The Meaning of River considers the multifaceted nature of rivers. Rivers are born, flow through landscapes, and pour into the sea, all while nourishing life in and around them. Stolz’s work invites you to explore their connection to this vital element of nature.

Learn more about Marianne and her work at her website http://www.MarianneStolz.com.

Awkward Phase

by Sarah Dexter

After more than ten years of working as an MRI Technologist in the medical field, Sarah Dexter shifted her focus to pursue a career in fashion design. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 2021 with a BFA in Fashion Design, specializing in knitwear and minoring in art history. Upon returning to her hometown of Fairbanks, she began creating small-batch collections with a strong emphasis on ethically made, slow fashion.

Currently an MFA student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Dexter is expanding her artistic practice to include fiber arts, soft sculpture, and printmaking. Her work explores themes of transformation, particularly the joy and courage it takes to grow and evolve. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including the “Golden Shears Award” from Omaha Fashion Week and “Designer of the Year” from Alaska Fashion Week.

Dexter utilizes knit-based objects to explore the joy and fear that come with endless possibilities. Her constant roving in life has woven a complex identity that these forms speak to. “While there is no expansion without discomfort, I am able to grow with uncertainty and can find joy in the awkward phases of the journey.”
Through looping strands of yarn, she constructs forms that are both thick and strong but also soft, flexible, and at risk of devastating unraveling. Each loop relies on the others to hold its shape—an idea that speaks to both vulnerability and resilience. This idea is seen in the pieces where “the memory of the lost structure can be held in curls of the shape it once took, reminding us of the price paid for necessary growth.”

Fairbanks Arts is pleased to host an artist talk with Sarah Dexter, “404 error: original not found”, on August 7th, from 7 – 8 pm. This talk will provide insight into her background, process, influences, and hopes for the future. 

To follow along with Sarah’s work, check out @sarahdexterdesigns on Instagram and Facebook or visit her website http://www.sarahdexterdesigns.com