2019 has been an extremely busy year. Here we are, nearly a year since I have shared anything on this platform. If you follow me on any of my social media feeds, you know that the state’s budget uncertainties consumed most of my summer as I advocated fervently for increased funding for state arts programs, the university system, and a variety of social programs that were threatened to be gutted. Over the past 10 months, I have also planned for a major regional photographic conference to come to Fairbanks. Just two weeks ago, we held the Society for Photographic Education‘s Northwest Chapter Conference at UAF. My plate is finally clearing off.

And with that, I have some outstanding news to share: images from “Skookum *” have been selected in three upcoming exhibits across the state! Images from this body of work have also garnered awards – both in and out of state – over the last year. Here’s a brief breakdown of these upcoming exhibits:

Rarefied Light – Alaska’s annual traveling photographic exhibit is organized by the Alaska Photographic Center in Anchorage and is a call for art that I always try to submit work to. I’ve been lucky enough to have work selected only once before – but this year, I received the extra treat of being selected for the top honor of Juror’s Choice by Bob Sacha. I will be heading down to Anchorage’s International Gallery for Contemporary Art this weekend to be on-hand for the show opening this Friday evening, October 4th. Rarefied Light will travel to Fairbanks’ Bear Gallery for December, Kenai Peninsula College for January and the Alaska State Museum in Juneau for March. This exhibit will feature two of my images.

34th Annual 64th Parallel Art Exhibit – Just a couple hours ago, I received the good news that two images had been selected for this local juried exhibition at the Bear Gallery in the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts by juror Jamie Bates Slone. Last year, I received an Honorable Mention in this annual show for work in this series – I’ll unfortunately be missing the opening of this exhibit when I attend Rarefied in Anchorage this weekend. I will have the chance to see the exhibit prior to Friday, as I will be assisting Fairbanks Arts Association tomorrow in the hanging of this exhibit. This exhibit will be open in Fairbanks for the entire month of October.

Juror’s Choice Exhibition for Rarefied Light – separate from the traveling exhibition is the upcoming shared exhibition at Alaska Pacific University. In December, my good friend Tom Turner and I will be featured at a separate exhibition accompanying the annual Alaska Photographic Center member’s show. APC’s show will be in the Leah Peterson Gallery while Tom & I will share the ConocoPhillips Gallery next door. I plan on being on-hand for the opening of this event and especially look forward to showing with Tom Turner!

Juror’s Award in May – at the beginning of summer, I was fortunate to be chosen by juror Kat Kiernan for the top award at Photoplace Gallery’s “Trees: Life in the Slow Lane” exhibit. This is the first time that I’ve ever shown in Vermont! I also had the distinct pleasure of having my portfolio reviewed by Ms. Kiernan via Skype as part of the award.

A lot going on in the next couple months! Hopefully it won’t be another 10 months until I share news again.

* = I am currently investigating my usage of this word due to some recent concerns brought to me. I will be addressing these concerns with local indigenous language professionals to determine if my use of this word is appropriate or if there are alternative words that might be more appropriate.