Blog Post 1

Hello! My name is Kate and I’m from Seattle, Washington. I moved to Fairbanks a little over two years ago for school. Last fall I completed classes for my Associates in Fire Science. I’m taking this class as a prerequisite for Nursing School, which I hope to attend at University of Alaska Anchorage. Outside of school, I enjoy the outdoors, reading, cooking, and I enjoy my job at the fire department.  

In this post I have attached an image of a work of art I enjoy. It’s a wood carving by Alaskan Artist Kathleen Carlo-Kendall called “Self-Portrait.” A Link is also included, which gives background on the artist and her lifelong commitment to passing down art as tradition.

“Self-Portrait” Image from Alaska Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.

I’ve always had an appreciation for art. I’ve never been great at it, but occasionally I’ll draw or paint. I like art museums - the Anchorage Museum has some beautiful artwork. Next time I’m in Washington I plan on going to the Seattle Art Museum. Last semester I took Alaska Native Art History. I really enjoyed the class. It was interesting to learn about how Alaska Native art evolved and see the differences and similarities between artists who consider themselves traditional versus contemporary. My favorite art form is music. While this may not be the focus of this class, this is where most of my appreciation for creating something beautiful comes from. I’ve been a musician since I was in second grade. I’ve played in jazz bands, concert bands, combos, and full orchestras. I find performing in a band or listening to live music very immersive and engaging. On the other hand, I enjoy the peace of being able to observe something beautiful from art forms such as painting or sculpting. I own a few pieces art that I bought on the streets while traveling. They are all paintings of the nature of that region.

Thank you for your time!