Here are a few images of my solo exhibition at the Bunnell Arts Center in Homer, Alaska last August 2017. This show featured a new body of work, Russian Orthodox icon inspired portraits of Alaska Native women. A quote from the artist statement: " Rediscovering culture and recovering lost religious traditions are first steps in decolonization. I replace the symbolic elements of the symbolic elements of the Christian icon with those of the Alutiiq/Sugpiak people. My ancestors are of Russian and Alutiiq heritage. Colonization by Russian and the US greatly impacted the language and culture of my Alutiiq ancestors. In these paintings I acknowledge the assimilated symbols of the colonizer and elevate, as equals, the spiritual symbols of my native ancestors."
Many thanks to Asia Freeman, director of the Bunnell Street Art Center in Homer and her wonderful staff. Also, a big hug to owners of the Bistro Wild Honey, originally from Kodiak, who catered the reception with traditional salmon pie, "Pirok," a favorite dish of my Alutiiq grandmother.
Follow the brush- L