FISH: FISH ON June 4, 2020 Fish In reflecting on my art, I realized several years ago that my family’s subsistence lifestyle of hunting, fishing, and gathering during my childhood has a significant impact on my art. Fish, in particular, are important to me. I spent much of my childhood in my family’s fish camp along the Yukon River. Some years we stayed at camp through the winter trapping and training sled dogs for the winter races. We ate fish. We sold fish commercially. We fed our sled dogs cooked fish we had collected and dried. Fish were our entire revenue source, and most of our energy and resources went to the procurement of those fish. For much of my adult life, I refused to eat salmon, saying that I had eaten my quota, and it would be greedy to consume more. Honestly, I did not want to eat it because I resented the years of hard work and isolation that I experienced during my childhood. I have since come to terms with the experiences and now look forward to time at our fish camp on the Yukon River. Fish represent the life cycles of the universe to me; they are symbolic of the importance my Native culture has in the person I am today. Fish On Fish On will be the theme for my First Friday show and the gallery feature at Well Street Art Company, www.wellstreetart.com, in Fairbanks. The First Friday show will be held on June 5, 2020, at 5 PM. However, my artwork will be featured in the gallery throughout June. If you are not comfortable coming to First Friday or you can’t make it that night, I
would really like to encourage you to come by the gallery and view the art on your own time during June. I promise it is worth the time because the photographs just cannot bring multidimensional art to life, like a visit to the gallery can. Check the Well Street Art Company Facebook page or call them at (907) 452-6169 for current hours. The studio is located at 1304 Well St. Fairbanks, Alaska 99701.
I will have a wide variety of art available, featuring diverse mix-media pieces and one-of-a-kind tables.
I guess you can say that I have plenty of fish on the line at the gallery, but I hope you will come by, catch some of the artwork, and take it home with you!
For those not in Fairbanks, remember to check out the pieces on our website at www.TammyHollandStudios.com. I have also posted pictures of pieces on my Facebook page.
Share 2 Likes Intensity December 5, 2019 “Always work hard. Intensity clarifies. It creates not only momentum, but also the pressure you need to feel either friction, or fulfillment.” – Marcus Buckingham
I have been in a painting frenzy! I am playing a bit of catch up having taken some time off when my grandpa passed on (see Laughter Through Tears blog post). The time off created a need to work hard and a new intensity due to the tight timeline for my First Friday event and holiday bazaars. Although I would not want to work under this pressure indefinitely, the intensity has produced some beautiful evolutions in my work. As I have walked through the heartache of losing someone so important to me, I found myself altering the subject of some of my work and falling in love with it. If you are in the Fairbanks area, please stop by the First Friday event being hosted by Black Spruce Brewing Company on December 6, 2019. They will be displaying and selling my work in their tasting room throughout the month of December.
FIRST FRIDAY WITH TAMMY HOLLAND
DECEMBER 6, 2019 BLACK SPRUCE BREWING COMPANY 3 P.M. – 8 P.M. 3290 PEGER ROAD, SUITE B, FAIRBANKS, AK 99709 I have also been busy working with my niece, Abby Brooks, with Dreamcatcher Photography, to create an inventory system for our online store. If you have not checked the new online store, please do, as we are adding more one-of-a-kind pieces regularly. I hope to the store while letting you know about events and new growing social media sites. If you have not liked our Studios Facebook page, you might want to check it out offering some exciting giveaways throughout December! continue to build artwork through our Tammy Holland soon. We are This upcoming weekend has multiple activities happening, so my mom will be assisting me at some of the booths. I hope to see you at the events and supporting the small, local businesses! December 5 & 6 – Doyon Holiday Bazaar from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Doyon Plaza, Fairbanks, Alaska December 7 – Tanana Valley Farmer’s Market Holiday Bazaar 2019 from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Carlson Center, 2010 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks
December 6 & 7 – Handmade Holiday Art Bazaar from 5 PM to 8 PM on December 6 and 10 AM to 5 PM on December 7 at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, 101 Dunkel Street, Fairbanks, Alaska December 14 – Lily and Mae Winter Market from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Carlson Center December 15 – Procrastinators Bazaar from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Finish Line Restaurant and Lounge, Fairbanks, Alaska December 21 – Naughty and Ice from 10 AM to 4 PM at the West Valley High School, Fairbanks, Alaska Deck the Hall of Fame November 14, 2019 ‘Tis the season of November and December holiday bazaars. I appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with returning collectors and friends as I attend the numerous bazaars throughout the Interior of Alaska. If you are still looking for holiday gift items or an item for yourself, I wanted to be sure to let you know where you can find me over the next few weeks, so I have included a list below. If you haven’t already done so, you can like my Tammy Holland Studios Facebook page and follow my posts there. Share 1 Likes
· November 16 - North Pole High School Holiday Bazaar from 10 AM to 4 PM at the North Pole High School, 601 NPHS Blvd., North Pole, Alaska 99705
· November 23 – The Watershed School Local Holiday Market from 10 AM to 4 PM at 4975 Decathlon, Fairbanks, Alaska
· November 30 – FNSB Bazaar being held at the Pioneer Park Civic Center
· December 5 & 6 – Doyon Holiday Bazaar from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Doyon Plaza, Fairbanks, Alaska
· December 7 – Tanana Valley Farmer’s Market Holiday Bazaar 2019 from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Carlson Center, 2010 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks · December 6 & 7 – Handmade Holiday Art Bazaar from 5 PM to 8 PM on December 6 and 10 AM to 5 PM on December 7 at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, 101 Dunkel Street, Fairbanks, Alaska · December 14 – Lily and Mae Winter Market from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Carlson Center · December 15 – Procrastinators Bazaar from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Finish Line Restaurant and Lounge, Fairbanks, Alaska · December 21 – Naughty and Ice from 10 AM to 4 PM at the West Valley High School, Fairbanks, Alaska
I also wanted to ask my community of family, friends, and supporters to please take a few minutes out of your November schedule to vote my mom, Roxy Wright, into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame has several categories for awards. Mom has been nominated in the people category. I am still amazed that she is not already in the Hall of Fame. She is more than deserving, and this honor is long overdue. I know it would mean the world to her and I would like to help make it happen for her. We need everyone to vote! We only get one vote each. To vote for her, you need to please take the time to go to the website:https://alaskasportshall.org/2019/11/help-select-the-class-of-2020/. You enter your email, and they send you a ballot. The website tells you to use a laptop or desktop to do the voting because of the drag and drop process they use. When you receive the link for your ballot in your email, you click on it, and the ballot will open. You will need to scroll down to the picture of Roxy Wright and click on her picture and “drag” the picture up to one of the five boxes at the top and then continue with your other selections. The voting will close the end of November, so please don’t wait because the end of the month will be here before you know it. Thank you for your help in making this happen! Hope to see you along the holiday bazaar trail!
Number 1 Mom, Grammy, and Great-Grammy.......and dog musher! The Alaska Travel Show and Upcoming Events October 31, 2019 Share 1 Likes
If you remember in August, I wrote about the Denali Artist in Residency Program that I was a part of this summer. I had a wonderful time and spent hours creating art as well as visiting with the guests and experiencing a beautiful part of the state. (For details, please see Reflections from Denali blog post.) My time at the McKinley Chalet resulted in an invitation from Holland America to represent the Artist in Residency Program at the Alaska Travel Show. The event was presented by Holland America Line and held at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Bellevue in Bellevue, Washington, on October 26, 2019.
Attendees were invited to the event to learn why travelers go to Alaska, and I was a part of a select group of people that were there to help bring Alaska to life. I met performers and other vendors that help create the “Alaska experience” for many of the tourists that visit our beautiful
state. I not only had an opportunity to display my art but to learn about successful businesses tied to the tourism industry. Tourism plays an important economic role in our state and is one that we should not take for granted. I sincerely enjoyed my time at the Alaska Travel Show and do hope that my future holds a return trip next year! UPCOMING EVENTS If you have missed me, you can find me this Friday, November 1, 2019, at TRAX Outdoor Center, 310 Birch Hill Road, in Fairbanks for a First Friday event from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. The title of the show is Seascapes, and it features members of the Potter Guild and me. The event will also have live music by Them Folkers as well as HooDoo Kolsch on tap and Friar Tucks Hoagie House food. You can also find my work at the Raven Art Show being hosted by Alaska Songbird Institute and held at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center from 5:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, November 1, 2019. If you miss me on Friday, you can still catch me in action at the 51st Annual University Women’s Association Holiday Bazaar on Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3rd from 10 AM to 4 PM at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks. Hope to see you this weekend!
Share 2 Likes Laughter Through Tears October 30, 2019 On October 14, 2019, my grandfather, Gareth Wright, walked on into the next life. Grandpa was known by many as a mushing legend and a successful businessman, but to us, he was Grandpa, full of adventure, lover of music, great listener, and most of all, the giver of the most wonderful hugs. He saw me and valued me when I needed it most as a child. He treated me with respect, and left a lasting impression on my life. He had an impact on my art as well as my life. His vibrant personality and zest for life was contagious, and he encouraged all of us to follow our dreams. As I find my way through this time of grief and change with my family, I am once again reminded of the therapy art offers the soul as I create, and I reflect on a man that forever impacted who I am. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsminer/obituary.aspx?n=gareth-t- wright&pid=194205390
UAF has some interviews that my Grandfather completed that can be found in Project Jukebox: http://jukebox.uaf.edu/site/intervieweesinterviewers/gareth-wright.
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Ladies Night Out September 13, 2019
It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to..... The feeling for the things themselves, for reality, is more important than the feeling for pictures. - Vincent Van Gogh The leaves are falling fast, and I am busy shifting from summer to fall activities. We have experienced some unseasonably warm and beautiful weather here in interior Alaska. Like most Alaskans I am finding myself busy mixing work, play, and last-minute projects before winter. Nature can roar and cause us to respect it. Nature can also provide enjoyment and a sense of well-being. As I watch my grandbabies and great-niece play in the leaves on a beautiful fall Alaska day, I find myself reflecting on that childhood joy of living in the moment. As children, their sense of time is wrapped up in the activities. As women we can struggle to find balance in our lives and let our to-do list override the experiences life has given us. Pausing and enjoying the moment can be powerful; doing that with other women can be even more fun. If you are in Fairbanks, please join me from 5-9 PM on Saturday, September 14, 2019, for Ladies Night Out being hosted by the Alaska Canter for
Natural Medicine, 3039 Davis Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709. The event will have shopping, art, food, and wine. Ladies Night Out is an event designed by women for women. Please join me for a little while out of your busy fall schedule to pause and enjoy the moment. Come Visit Me This Weekend at the Alaska State Fair August 30, 2019 Share 0 Likes
Over the years, I have been slowly building my art business while simultaneously building friendships. I have a series of three events that I generally attend every year in the Anchorage/Mat-Su area. The consistency has help to develop a base of loyal collectors that search me out for my newest works. I like to attend the Charlette Jensen Native Arts Marketplace held at the Dimond Mall in Anchorage every March as a part of the Fur Rondy events. The fourth of July weekend usually has me sitting at a booth at the Girdwood Forest Fair, and at the end of August I attend one of my favorites, the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska. Because several of the other artist in Alaska travel the same circuit, I jokingly call my art fair friends, my carny family. I look forward to the events that we attend together, anxious to hear how the seasons have been treating the art friends that have become like family. The Alaska State Fair location is inspirational with the Chugiak and Talkeetna mountain ranges surrounding the fairgrounds in regal fashion. The Fair created a wonderful area called the Gathering Place. You can locate the Gathering Place on the yellow gate path near the equestrian facilities, so it is a little removed from the noise and chaos of the
midway. The Gathering place is a dedicated Native performance area that only allows Native arts, crafts, and performance artists. Performances include a variety of art from storytelling to singing and dance groups. I believe it is the first state fairgrounds in the nation to have a dedicated Native performance area. Being in the Gathering Place allows me to view the performances and listen to the stories the celebrities share with the audiences. This year we had several celebrities including: Irene Bedard, the voice of Pocahontas; Sovereign Bill, who is the voice of the animated children’s show Molly of Denali; Rico Dewilde, a star from the National Geographic series, Life Below Zero; Eskimo Ninja, Nick Hansen, of the American Ninja Warrior competition and the musical group Pamyua. If you have a chance, please stop by for a visit. You will be inspired, not just by the scenery but by the art, the sounds, and the friendships that make the Gathering Place a special place to visit during your time at the Fair. Where to Find Me August 17, 2019 Share 1 Likes
Summer 2019 One sure mark of summer coming to an end is the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska. I will be joining thousands of others attending this annual event that began in 1936. During the Fair, you can find me and my artwork at the Gathering Place. I plan to be there August 22 through September 2, 2019, so be sure to stop by to check out the new artwork and unique jewelry pieces recently completed.
In Fairbanks, you can join me at a First Friday event at the Venue on September 6, 2019. You can find the Venue at 514 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701. Their website is www.Fairbanksalaska.com/venue. October brings the 53rd Annual Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) convention to Fairbanks on October 17-19, 2019. This event serves as a gathering for thousands of Alaska Natives to meet and discuss important policy and governance issues. The Convention features keynote speakers, reports, and presentations on critical issues. Along with the meeting, the Convention features a Customary Native Arts Show and evening cultural performances. You can find me there among the artists and learn more about the event and the schedule at www.afnfairbanks.com. On November 1st, I will be at another First Friday event at Trax Outdoor Center located at 314 Birch Hill Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99712. Their website is www.traxoutdoorcenter.com. I would love for you to visit me. I will also be attending several weekend Christmas shows and bazaars in November. I will try to update you as I lock those dates down. Black Spruce Brewing Company will host a First Friday event on December 6, 2019, where I will be featured. I hope you can join me at 3290 Peger Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709. You can find out more about them at www.blacksprucebeer.com. I am excited about the changes that are coming to my website, but as in many things in life, changes take time. I promise it will be worth the wait! In the meantime, please plan on joining me at one or more of these events. I would love to see you! Share 2 Likes
Reflections from Denali August 11, 2019 I recently returned from participating in the Denali Artist in Residency program hosted by the McKinley Chalet. I feel privileged to have spent a second season as an artist in resident. During the week-long event, the scheduled artist explores Denali National Park during the day and spends the evenings sharing their art and visiting with the guests. The beautiful setting allows for conversations gathered around fire pits while enjoying live music and beautiful views. The week offers me some respite during my busy Alaskan summer. My summer brings adventures to fish camp, berry picking, and numerous art shows and fairs. With the short summer season, it often feels like the dust rarely settles in between activities. I experienced refreshment and inspiration during the week in the cozy artist cabin with a beautiful studio space set at the outskirts of Denali National Park. I had interesting and engaging conversations with people from all over the world. The environment was conducive to revitalizing my creative energy. I spent most of this visit in the studio painting and taking short walks along the Nenana River where nature provides solace and inspiration. I found myself collecting interesting stones to inspire Denali rock-themed jewelry and multimedia pieces to be crafted in Fairbanks. The late evenings gave me time for significance of the inspiration behind my art. schedule was appreciated, and I am already looking forward to my experience next year. my home studio in reflecting on the The pause from my hectic
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1 Likes Inspiration for the Blueberries in My Art August 4, 2019 Blueberries I have a love of blueberries that has been passed down for generations. We grew up in the interior of Alaska, where wild blueberries are abundant, delicious, and nutritious in late summer. My childhood included an annual trip to the berry patch with my maternal grandmother, Vera Strack. She would give each child a small coffee can and say we had to fill it before we could play. I was an impatient child and would pick berries until the can was about half full. I would then start stuffing leaves and branches in the can to fill it faster, topping it with berries. Once the can was full, Grandma would say, “You can go play now, and if you are hungry, eat your berries.” I remember repeating this process for several visits to the berry patch. I guess you could say I was
a little slow at learning the lesson Grandma was trying to teach me; because really, who wants to eat dirty berries? My adult years have included blueberry picking as well. Several years ago, my mom and brother joined with Grandma and some of my aunties to start the annual family reunion we call blueberry safari. We meet at a mutual camping spot and spend the day picking berries together and the evenings enjoying each others company. Some years we have had more than sixty of us gathered in various designs of tents, campers, and RVs. We gather to share food, laughter, past years events, play games, and of course, pick berries. My grandson and niece inspired a sculpture a few years ago while I was in the berry patch diligently picking. The kids sat on my lap and began to eat the berries I was picking from my bucket. When a parent asked them, “What are you doing?” They responded, “Picking!” The response warmed my heart and still makes me smile today when I remember. Older Posts → Powered by Squarespace