Current Exhibits
Liyuan Zhang Solo Artist Exhibition: Alaska Wilderness Whispers, November 1st - 30th
Exhibit runs through 2024-12-01
Liyuan (Sunny) Zhang, Alaska Wilderness Whispers
November 1-30, 2024 | Leslie Murray Gallery
Opening Reception: November 1, 2024 | 4:30–7pm
Alaska Wilderness Whispers showcases Alaska's stunning landscapes and the lifestyles of its residents. Featuring Liyuan Zhang's latest collection created over recent years, this exhibition includes acrylic paintings and pyrography. Some pieces utilize innovative artistic techniques to depict animals in human-like ways leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
Liyuan’s work captures Alaska's unique landscapes and reflects the harmonious relationship between people and nature, including wild animals. Her art conveys that peaceful coexistence is possible. By respecting all life and showing reverence for the natural world, rather than over-exploiting resources or encroaching on wildlife habitats, the conflicts between humans, nature, and animals can be resolved, allowing for a vision of a beautiful and peaceful life.
In early 2020, Liyuan left the sun-drenched landscapes of California to come to Alaska for the first time. She was deeply captivated by the stunning natural scenery of the Last Frontier. The beauty and magic of Alaska’s landscapes reignited her childhood dream of becoming an artist and so she decided to abandon her graphic design career to embark on this new artistic journey.
Olivia Raster Solo Artist Exhibition: Scientific Illustrations, Alaska Wildlife & Landscapes, November 2nd - December 21st
Exhibit runs through 2024-12-21
Olivia Raster
Scientific Illustrations: Alaskan Wildlife & Landscapes
November 2 - December 21 , 2024
Community Room Gallery
Opening Reception: November 2, 2024 | 1–3:30pm
Olivia Raster’s new exhibition, Scientific Illustrations: Alaskan Wildlife & Landscapes combines elements of traditional and digital media. Her artwork primarily focuses on themes of Alaskan wildlife and landscapes and is heavily influenced by her time in school learning how to become a scientific illustrator.
Born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, Olivia has drawn endless inspiration from local landscape and wildlife. Growing up immersed in such wilderness fueled her intense passion for learning about nature, specifically marine environments. It was only after she left Juneau for college that she became fully aware of the uniqueness of growing up in Alaska. While living in other cities, Olivia realized that it is not common to be able to walk out your front door and into a remote wilderness, or to participate in school programs that teach children how to ski, how to shoot a gun and a bow and arrow, and how to put on a survival suit. Olivia is thankful to have grown up exploring Juneau’s wilderness by kayaking and camping along the coast and ice climbing on the Mendenhall Glacier.
Switch and Exchange: A Brief History of Telephones in 20th Century Juneau
Exhibit runs through 2024-12-01
Opening Reception: January, 5th, 4-7pm
Telephones, switchboards, and the lines that connected them were once signifiers of a thriving modern community in the 20th Century. Juneau, as the first city in Alaska to have an established telephone system, exemplified a modern community in this way. This mini exhibition explores the history of landline telephones, Juneau’s early telephone company, and why Juneau has a community named Telephone Hill through interactives, phones, photographs, and art.
Yéil Koowú Átx'i Khaa Sháade Nákhx'i Yán Sákw Jeeyís: Ravenstail Regalia for Future Leaders May 3rd-October 19th, 2024
Exhibit runs through 2024-10-20
Yéil Koowú Átx'i Khaa Sháade Nákhx'i Yán Sákw Jeeyís: Ravenstail Regalia for Future Leaders | May 3rd-October 19th, 2024
Opening Reception: May 3rd | 4-7pm
Ravenstail weaving known in Tlingit language as Yéil Koowú originates on the Northwest Coast of Alaska & Canada. The oldest known robe dates back to the 1700’s. Historic pieces have been preserved in museums across the world. This artform fell out of practice for 100 years until researcher Cheryl Samuel “woke” it up. It has largely been carried by Cheryl and one of her students, Kay Parker, who have both taught with historical pattern integrity intact.
For this exhibition, weaver and Artist Lily Hope led a cohort of weavers to create child size robes with the intent that every student is training toward creating adult size ceremonial Yéil Koowú regalia.