Loud cheers and applause erupted from the audience in the Walter Soboleff Building\u2019s clan house as David R. Boxley was awarded Best of Show, the top prize in Sealaska Heritage Institute\u2019s Northwest Coast Juried Art Show, Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m totally blown away by this,\u201d Boxley said. \u201cI have worked for a very long time to understand formline. I believe that it is the most beautiful thing in the world. I\u2019ve still got paint on my arm from new formline that I was making just last night to get ready to dance today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boxley thanked SHI and complimented all the 22 artists who entered the 36 pieces in the juried art show.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou put your own ego and your passion out there for everyone to see, and it\u2019s not always an easy thing to do. I know there are better things for me to say, but I\u2019m very flustered,\u201d said Boxley, who didn\u2019t linger too long at the award ceremony. As part of Celebration\u2019s lead dance group, Git Hoan, Boxley had to get ready for the grand entrance processional.<\/p>\n
His piece \u201cTxaamsem\u201d \u2014 an acrylic formline painting on a deer hide drum \u2014 also received the Best of Formline, the Painting & Drawing prize in the Two Dimensional Art Division and the Best of Division prize. His awards totaled $3,000.<\/p>\n
This was SHI\u2019s eighth time doing the biennial art show. The jurors were Stephen P. Jackson, Nicholas Galanin and weaving\/sewing consultant Shgen Doo Tan Robyn Kay George.<\/p>\n
[Celebration’s lead dance group has some surprises up its sleeve<\/a>.]<\/p>\n Boxley\u2019s work and all the other juried art pieces can be viewed at the Nathan Jackson Gallery in the Walter Soboleff Building through Sept. 30. The show also includes Exemplary Works by David A. Boxley, Delores Churchill, Robert Davidson, Nathan Jackson and Preston Singletary.<\/p>\n New to Celebration was the Juried Youth Art Exhibit and competition, which is on display at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center through June 30.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I saw them putting it up, I almost started crying. It is just so awesome,\u201d SHI President Rosita Worl said.<\/p>\n At the awards ceremony, she commended the Southeast communities of Metlakatla and Ketchikan for doing an exemplary job teaching kids about Northwest Coast art.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have got to replicate that in all of our communities. That\u2019s one of our goals is to be integrating our art into the schools, so that our children can be learning that art and the non-Native children can also be learning an appreciation for that art,\u201d Worl said.<\/p>\n Lance X\u2019unei Twitchell was the juror for the youth show, and top prizes went to first and second place for work done by middle school students and first through third place for high school.<\/p>\n A piece made by 61 sixth-grade Dzantik\u2019i Heeni Middle School students took first place. \u201cWarrior armor and helmet\u201d was led by art teacher Miah Lager, who was at the award ceremony and accepted on behalf of the students.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a white woman trying to teach Northwest Coast art, I\u2019m always trying to really make sure I\u2019m doing the right thing and doing things respectfully, and I want the kids to have a rich experience,\u201d Lager said after the ceremony.<\/p>\n [Haute couture with a Native voice: Celebration’s first ever Native fashion show<\/a>.]<\/p>\n She said she consulted extensively with Dzantik\u2019i Heeni\u2019s cultural specialist Ruby Hughs, SHI publications on formline and recalled teachings by visiting cultural specialists.<\/p>\n The 61 Dzantik\u2019i Heeni students, as well as all the other students whose work made it into the show, will get a T-shirt, and the winners received a print of the Celebration logo designed by Boxley.<\/p>\n Cash prizes also went to the schools or the organization of the winning pieces. Dzantik\u2019i Heeni will get a $350 stipend, and Lager said she\u2019s \u201cdreaming about teaching cedar bark baskets\u201d with the funds. She took a class with Delores Churchill several years ago.<\/p>\n \u2022 Contact reporter Lisa Phu at 523-2246 or lisa.phu@juneauempire.com<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the complete list of winners for the Northwest Coast Juried Art Show:<\/em><\/p>\n Carving and Sculpture Division<\/strong><\/p>\n Wood: Art (Bugs) Nelson, \u201cRaven Mask\u201d<\/p>\n Metal: Jennifer Younger, \u201cHungry Sea Lion\u201d<\/p>\n Best of Division: Jennifer Younger, \u201cHungry Sea Lion\u201d<\/p>\n Sewing<\/strong><\/p>\n Skin and Fur: Jennie Wheeler, \u201cSea Otter Coat\u201d<\/p>\n Beadwork: Kandi McGilton, \u201cLax\u2019o\u201d<\/p>\n Other: Clarissa Rizal, \u201cNorthwest by Southwest\u201d<\/p>\n Best of Division: Kandi McGilton, \u201cLax\u2019o\u201d<\/p>\n Weaving<\/strong><\/p>\n Chilkat: Clarissa Rizal, \u201cChilkat Child\u201d<\/p>\n Ravenstail: Tiffany Vanderhoop, \u201cRavenstail Apron\u201d<\/p>\n Basketry: Merle Andersen, \u201cClam Basket\u201d<\/p>\n Best of Division: Clarissa Rizal, \u201cChilkat Child\u201d<\/p>\n Two Dimensional Art<\/strong><\/p>\n Painting and Drawing: David R. Boxley, \u201cTxaamsem\u201d<\/p>\n Print: Alison Bremner, \u201cCat Lady\u201d<\/p>\n Best of Division: David R. Boxley, \u201cTxaamsem\u201d<\/p>\n Formline Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n First: David R. Boxley, \u201cTxaamsem\u201d<\/p>\n Second: Alison Bremner, \u201cCat Lady\u201d<\/p>\n Best of Show<\/strong><\/p>\n David R. Boxley, \u201cTxaamsem\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a list of winners for the Juried Youth Art Exhibit:<\/em><\/p>\n Middle School Art<\/strong><\/p>\n First: 61 sixth grade students from Dzantik\u2019i Heeni Middle School in Juneau, \u201cWarrior armor and helmet\u201d<\/p>\n Second: Tessa Williams of Gustavus, \u201cThe Fox\u201d<\/p>\n High School Art<\/strong><\/p>\n First: Jeanette Kaleikau-Buxton of Metlakatla, \u201cTxaamsem and the Steelhead Salmon\u201d<\/p>\n Second: Sky McInturff of Ketchikan, \u201cSnail\u2019s Trail\u201d<\/p>\n Third: Faithe Gray of Metlakatla, \u201cStory of my Family\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n Weaving: ‘A very powerful way of life’<\/a><\/p>\n Celebration’s lead dance group has some surprises up its sleeve<\/a><\/p>\n Celebration: No border between us<\/a><\/p>\n Building bridges for Native LGBTQ: ‘You’re note alone’<\/a><\/p>\n