625 C Street, Anchorage AK 99501
Revised for release
Dec. 17, 2015
Media Contact: Laura Carpenter, (907) 929-9227, lcarpenter@anchoragemuseum.org
SC H ED UL E OF PR OG R AM S A ND E X HI B IT IO N S
JA N U A R Y/ FE B RU A R Y 2 0 1 6
*E DI T O R S P LE ASE N OT E : This release replaces previous schedules. Download related media
images at www.anchoragemuseum.org/media.
Information provided below is subject to change. To confirm details and dates, call the
Marketing and Public Relations Department at (907) 929-9227.
News
January Events
February Events
Planetarium
Classes and Workshops
Upcoming Exhibitions
Current Exhibitions
Partner Programs
Visitor Information
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N EW S
Indigenous artists attend Arctic Frontiers conference in Norway
While the Anchorage Museum curates objects, the museum also creates opportunities for
discussion as a way to bring people together and build community. The museum’s Curated
Conversations program explores issues facing the North that have global impact.
Through a series of curated conversations, the museum brings together individuals from a
variety of perspectives. Part of the series focuses on Indigenous perspectives. Guest-curated by
Sonya Kelliher-Combs, an internationally known artist and Indigenous advocate, these
discussions are multi-platform, inviting artists, leaders and scientists to address common
misperceptions of the North and to foster critical commentary about these issues.
In October 2015, Curated Conversations traveled to the Arctic Circle Assembly in
Reykjavik, Iceland. Museum Director Julie Decker moderated a panel including museum curator
Aaron Leggett and artists Da-ka-xeen Mehner, Joan Kane, Allison Warden, and Sonya KelliherCombs. Panelists discussed issues related to Indigenous culture and perspective in the North.
In addition to traveling to U.S. destinations throughout 2016, Curated Conversations
travels to Tromsø, Norway, in January for a presentation during the Arctic Frontiers Conference,
in collaboration with colleagues from the Art Museum of Northern Norway. In the fall, Curated
Conversations will also travel to Canada, hosted by the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse.
Bank of America renews Museums on Us for 2016
Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders will again enjoy free museum general admission
on the first Saturday of every month in 2016 as part of Bank of America's nationwide Museums on
Us program.
Bank of America cardholders also receive a 10 percent discount on purchases at the
Anchorage Museum Shop on these days. No other discounts apply.
The Anchorage Museum is the first Alaska museum selected by Bank of America for
Museums On Us. The program brings new audiences and attention to participating
organizations, which range from some of the nation’s most celebrated museums to regional
gems, and include art, science and history museums, as well as zoos and aquariums.
Other participants include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; Chabot Space &
Science Center, Oakland, Calif.; and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma
City.
Visitors must show their Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit or debit card along with
photo ID at the front desk upon arrival. Offer is valid for one free admission ticket per cardholder
and is nontransferable.
2016 Bank of America Museums on Us dates at the Anchorage Museum: Saturdays,
Jan. 2, Feb. 6, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 5, and Dec. 3.
OFF - S IT E E VE N T S
Cabin Fever Pop-Up Film Series
7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6
Denali Arts Council's Airplane Hangar in Talkeetna
Experimental filmmakers often explore themes akin to cabin fever, including loneliness,
eccentricity and dark humor. “A Spell to Ward off the Darkness,” a film by Ben Rivers and Ben
Russell, follows an unnamed character through three seemingly disparate moments in his life.
With little explanation, we join him in the midst of a 15-person collective on a small Estonian
island; in isolation in the majestic wilderness of Northern Finland; and during a concert as the
singer and guitarist of a black metal band in Norway. Starring musician Robert AA Lowe (best
known for his intense live performances under the name Lichens) in the lead role, “A Spell” lies
somewhere between fiction and non-fiction – it is at once a document of experience and an
experience itself, an inquiry into transcendence that sees the cinema as a site for transformation.
Part of the Anchorage Museum’s Cabin Fever programs that explore contemporary art, film,
design, history, and the outdoors. $10
Cabin Fever Pop-Up Film Series
7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27
Arctic Valley Chalet
Experimental filmmakers often explore themes akin to cabin fever, including loneliness,
eccentricity and dark humor. The films “The Soniferous Æther of The Land Beyond The Land” by
Charles Stankieveck and “Blue Desert” by Rian Brown and Geoff Pingree will be projected onto
the snowy mountainside at the Arctic Valley Chalet, using the snow as the screen. Part of the
Anchorage Museum’s Cabin Fever programs that explore contemporary art, film, design, history,
and the outdoors. Dress warmly. $10
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JA N U A R Y E VE N TS
Please note: The Anchorage Museum is closed New Year’s Day and will not host Friday-night
programming on Friday, Jan. 1.
Blink
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 2-Feb. 27
Preschoolers and toddlers create, experiment and play with a variety of hands-on activities and
demonstrations. Enjoy new themes and ways to explore the museum each week. Part of the
museum's Blink program, which introduces children 5 and younger to a range of activities,
including open-ended play, hands-on workshops, literacy and storytelling, art, and science.
Included with admission
Discovery Center Science Demonstrations
1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 2-Feb. 28
Meet the Anchorage Museum’s reptiles and marine animals, explore the hidden layers in candy
and learn how to create a static charge. Demonstrations vary. Science demonstrations: 3 p.m.
daily. Animal demonstrations: 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily. Included with admission
ArtLab: Open Studio
2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 5-Feb. 23, and Saturdays, Jan. 9 and Feb. 13
Think, create and compose during this art studio for all ages. Explore new materials and
processes. Visitors are welcome to make their own creation with provided materials in this openended art studio. Included with admission
Conservator's Corner
2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 6-June 29
Learn more about the research and work behind-the-scenes with Anchorage Museum
conservators. Ask questions while the conservator repairs and preserves cultural and historical
objects, and learn how conservation uses a knowledge of materials and scientific methods to
care for the museum's collection. Included with admission
Polar Nights
6 to 9 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 8-Dec. 30
This Friday night series enlivens our nights through activities centering around art, culture, the
environment, and the way Northern urbanites gather and meet. Part of the Anchorage
Museum’s Polar Lab, a series of programs exploring life in the North. Selected galleries and
spaces are open late every Friday, and admission is half the usual price.
Polar Nights: Finding Vivian Maier
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8
Join us for a screening of this critically acclaimed documentary about a mysterious nanny, who
secretly took over 100,000 photographs that were hidden in storage lockers for decades and
discovered at an auction in Chicago in 2007. Maier is now considered by many to be among
the 20th century’s greatest photographers, with snapshots of everyday that life have become
revered examples of street photography. Held in conjunction with the exhibition “100
Snapshots.” Admission is half-price as part of the museum's Polar Nights series each Friday.
Art Out Loud
12:30 to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, Jan. 13 and 16, and Feb. 17 and 20
Explore a work in the Anchorage Museum’s collection through open-ended questions and
participant-driven prompts. This facilitated discussion focuses on conversation, and invites
curiosity and questions around art. Included with admission
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Polar Nights: Beach Front Silent Disco
6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15
We’re celebrating winter in the North with a dance party on our lawn. "Beach Front," an art
installation by local artist Buck Walsky, was first installed at Burning Man and will make its debut in
Anchorage this winter. The disco is “silent” – only people with headphones will hear the music, so
tune into the museum and dance under this light installation. Headphones and museum
admission included. $10
Blind Beer Tasting
5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20
Join us for a special blind taste test hosted by Midnight Sun Brewing Company in Muse
restaurant. Tapas accompany the beer flights. Flavors revealed after tastings. No peeking! Ages
21 and older. Flights are $20.
Monthly Wine Tasting
5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21
Join us for Dancing Coyote Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Petite Syrah. Part of the monthly wine
tastings in Muse restaurant. Ages 21 and older. Flights are $16.
Spark!Lab Educator Family Night
5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22
An evening for local educators and their families to learn about Spark!Lab. See hands-on
activities in action, learn about the facilitation style and tips to help prepare for school field trips
to Spark!Lab. Free
61° Workshop
1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24
Connect with an expert to find out what they do, how they do it, and experience the engaging
aspects of their work through an interactive project. NOAA Marine Scientist Kristin Cieciel shares
what it’s like to dive in Alaska waters, spend weeks on a survey vessel on the Bering Sea, and
research marine wildlife. Learn from a demonstration of how to use scientific instruments to study
sea life and participate in a maker activity inspired by her work. This drop-in gathering has a
maximum capacity of 25 participants. Included with admission
Please note: During free and reduced-admission events, fees still apply for premium exhibitions
and planetarium shows.
FE BR U A R Y E VE N TS
Music in the Museum
12:15 to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
Enjoy a lunchtime classical concert for all ages presented by the Sitka Summer Music Festival.
Cellist Zuill Bailey and the Cypress String Quartet perform highlights from the Alaska Airlines Winter
Classics concert series. Included with admission
Polar Nights: Nicholas Galanin and Michael Conti exhibition openings
6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
Join an opening reception for the solo exhibitions of Nicholas Galanin and Michael Conti. Free
admission to the galleries as part of First Friday. Free
Battle of the Breweries
6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
Sample Alaskan Brewing Company's Imperial Red, Midnight Sun Sockeye Red, and Denali
Brewing Company's Single Engine Red in Muse restaurant. Ages 21 and older. Flights are $5.
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Polar Nights: Elevator Music
6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
We're redefining elevator music: what was once background noise is now a live concert
experience. Board the museum’s oversized elevator and enjoy bluegrass music by Todd Grebe
and Cold Country. Free
Polar Nights: Look Smart and Talk About Art
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
Dive into the "Living Alaska" exhibition eyes first, share your thoughts and engage in conversation
about the art of Alaska. New to talking about art? We've got you covered with a cheat sheet so
you'll always sound smart. Free
Who Owns the Story?
7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
From the National Book Award-winning short story collection “Redeployment” by Marine Corps
veteran Phil Klay, to acclaimed novels written by civilians like Ben Fountain’s “Billy Lynn’s Long
Halftime Walk”; writers are tackling the difficult topic of war and doing it well. But does war as a
topic of literature belong to veterans any more than it does non-veterans? Is there room for
depictions outside of combat? What defines the experience of warfare? Join us, to hear and be
heard for a discussion with writers Sherry Simpson (“The Dominion of Bears”), Benjamin Busch
(“Dust to Dust”), Elliott Ackerman (“Green on Blue”) and Lea Carpenter (“Eleven Days”). These
four distinguished authors from both military and civilian backgrounds will share thoughts and
answer questions in a Crosscurrents event that will kick off “Danger Close: Alaska,” the state’s first
writing workshop aimed at uniting veteran and civilian writers in the production of high-quality
literature. Presented in partnership with 49 Writers. Free
Alaska Brain Bee
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6
Biological Science students from the University of Alaska, Anchorage present hands-on
neuroscience activities for all ages. Learn about brain anatomy and function and how the brain
changes over time. High school students can register to compete in the Brian Bee trivia
competition by Jan. 29 at https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biological-sciences/brainbee/register.cfm. The winner of the Alaska Brain Bee will advance to the national competition.
Competitors can prepare for the Alaska Brain Bee by studying the Brain Facts Book at
http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/brain-facts-book/. Hosted by the Anchorage
Museum in partnership with the UAA. Included with admission
61° Workshop
1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6
Connect with an expert to find out what they do, how they do it, and experience the engaging
aspects of their work through an interactive project. Programs and Planetarium Manager Aaron
Slonecker shares how to curate images and research to create a planetarium show and design
a science demonstration. Families can create their own science demonstrations with materials
provided. This drop-in gathering has a maximum capacity of 25 participants. Included with
admission
Valentine's Day Dinner
4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday Feb. 13, and 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
Spend your Valentine's celebration at Muse. Enjoy the special menu paired with Muse’s
extensive wine list. The Valentines Day dinner is a semi prix fixe menu of four courses. Prices range
from $100 to $130 per couple and include appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert. Book your
reservations through OpenTable.
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Polar Nights: Beer and Ballads
6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
Enjoy the vocal stylings of Kat Moore while you sip on beers from local Alaska breweries.
Admission is half-price as part of the museum's Polar Nights series each Friday.
Monthly Wine Tasting
5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18
Sample the Renwood Zins: Renwood Zinfandel, Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel and Renwood
Fiddletown Zinfandel. Part of the monthly wine tastings in Muse restaurant. Ages 21 and older.
Flights are $16.
Curated Conversations: Talking Translation
6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26
Journalist Kathleen McCoy moderates a cross-disciplinary conversation on the subject of
language and translation. Panelists include historian and translator Alice Rearden, artist and
educator Jimmy Riordan, Eyak language specialist Guillame LeDuey, and the Community
Coordinator for the Eyak Language Project Barb Sappah. This conversation brings together
people from diverse practices — from art to oral history and language preservation — to explore
various interpretations and applications of translation and the fluidity of language. Free
Wells Fargo Free Day: Meet the World
Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27
The Circumpolar North is a meeting place where cultures intersect. Celebrate Anchorage’s
diversity as Bridge Builders hosts its annual cultural festival. Experience different traditions through
dance and musical performances. Admission is free all day thanks to Wells Fargo.
TH OM A S PL A N ET A R IU M
The following schedule is Jan. 2-Feb. 28. Prices vary from $2 to $6 and do not include museum
general admission (unless otherwise noted). Learn more at www.anchoragemuseum.org. Fees
still apply for planetarium shows during free and reduced-admission events.
IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System
4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Join scientists who are investigating the boundary between our Solar System and the rest of our
galaxy. Designed for visitors with an appreciation for the challenges of space science and a
desire to learn more about science research, IBEX follows the creation of NASA’s Interstellar
Boundary Explorer (IBEX). Audiences will experience an in-depth look at the mission and how
IBEX is collecting high-speed atoms to create a map of our Solar System’s boundary.
Supervolcanoes
5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Travel back in time and experience the massive volcanic eruptions that shaped the Earth and
solar system. Journey to Yellowstone National Park, Neptune’s moon Triton, and Jupiter’s moon
Io, to witness historic eruptions.
The Cowboy Astronomer
10:30 a.m. Saturday
Draw close to the campfire and gaze into the starry night sky out on the range. Listen to a
Cowboy Astronomer recount ancient folktales describing how constellations came to be. Learn
the science of a star’s lifecycle, from formation to supernova. Discover how to locate stars and
constellations.
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Cosmic Colors
11:30 a.m. Saturday
Discover why the sky is blue, why Mars is red, and more in this adventure along the cosmic color
spectrum. Tour the interior of a plant leaf, voyage through a human eye and see a roaring fire
from the inside. Learn about recent scientific breakthroughs in determining the actual colors of
dinosaurs.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2015
12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Every year the Royal Observatory Greenwich runs an international competition called the
Astronomy Photographer of the Year (APY). Sit back and enjoy as images from the 2015
competition fill the planetarium dome.
Living in the Age of Airplanes
1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Learn how the airplane has changed the world. Filmed in 18 countries across all seven
continents, “Living in the Age of Airplanes” renews an appreciation for one of the most
extraordinary and awe-inspiring aspects of the modern world. The film is produced and directed
by Brian J. Terwilliger (“One Six Right”), narrated by Harrison Ford, and features an original score
by Academy Award-winning composer James Horner.
Aurora Storm
2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Narrated by two Athabascan Native Alaskans, “Aurora Storm” teaches about the causes of the
aurora and how humans who live in the arctic are inspired by what they see. This show melds
science and technology with literature and a multicultural look at the aurora.
River of Bears
3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Observe Alaska’s iconic brown bears as they nurture cubs, fish for salmon, and play in their
natural environment. This immersive, full-dome planetarium show plants you in the middle of the
McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where more than 100 brown bears congregate each
summer to bulk up for the harsh winter. Learn how the bears’ remarkable intelligence and
instincts help them survive in the Alaska wilderness.
Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8
Lose yourself in Pink Floyd’s classic album “Wish You Were Here.” This new full-dome music and
light show interprets the acclaimed rock album through mesmerizing HD graphics. This is not a
laser show, but the next generation of computer generated imagery. Audience advisory: Adult
subject matter. Tickets are half-price as part of the museum's Friday night series Polar Nights. $5
Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22
Immerse yourself in Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” This new full-dome music and light show
expands on the classic album through captivating HD graphics. Not a typical laser show, but the
next generation of computer generated imagery. Audience advisory: Adult subject matter.
Tickets are half-price as part of the museum's Friday night series Polar Nights. $5
Astronomy Alive
6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
Take a guided tour through space and time in this live show, customized to highlight current
astronomical occurrences.
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Pink Floyd: The Wall
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
Lose yourself in Pink Floyd’s masterpiece “The Wall.” This full-dome music and light show interprets
this classic album through mesmerizing HD graphics. This is not a laser show, but the next
generation of computer generated imagery. Audience advisory: Adult subject matter. Tickets
are half-price as part of the museum's Friday night series Polar Nights. $5
Led Zeppelin's Cosmic Light Show
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26
Be transported by mood-altering art and 3-D graphics choreographed to Led Zeppelin’s biggest
hits, including Whole Lotta Love, Immigrant Song and Ramble On. This immersive experience
plays out on the museum's full-dome planetarium screen in concert with a state-of-the-art sound
system. Audience advisory: Adult subject matter. Tickets are half-price as part of the museum's
Friday night series Polar Nights. $5
CL A S SE S A ND W OR K S HO P S
The Anchorage Museum offers a variety of art classes. Find complete class listings and
registration information at anchoragemuseum.org/learn.
Selfie Expression Workshop: Van Gogh Alive
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 7-10
Working with artist Linda Lyons, explore Van Gogh's use of color and painting techniques,
examine self-portraiture in a post-Impressionism context, and create your own self-portrait using
a variety of materials. The workshop is held in conjunction with “Van Gogh Alive – The
Experience” with grant support from the Atwood Foundation. $60
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
All exhibitions are included with museum admission unless otherwise noted.
Portraits of Place: The Arctic in Photographs
On view Jan. 22 through April 24
The predominant stereotype of the Arctic is that it is a place untouched. “Portraits of Place”
breaks open the idea of a pristine landscape and replaces it with a North that is both inhabited
and complex. Within this context, the artists in this exhibition examine the Arctic through
contemporary photography that conveys a sense of place through human impact and lifeways.
These portraits explore the Arctic in Alaska, Greenland, Norway, Canada and Russia in the work
of Olaf Otto Becker, Brian Adams, Tiina Itkonen, Evgenia Arbugaeva and Acacia Johnson.
Your Inane Perspective: Haa Aaní Haa Kusteeyíx Sitee (Our Land is Our Life)
Nicholas Galanin Solo Exhibition
On view Feb. 5 through April 10
Adaptation and resistance, exaggeration and lies, dreams and memories are recurring themes
in Nicholas Galanin’s work. He draws upon a wide range of Indigenous technologies and global
materials when exploring ideas through his art. Born in Sitka, Alaska, Galanin has trained in
traditional as well as contemporary approaches to art. His body of work simultaneously preserves
his culture and explores new perceptual territory. He studied at the London Guildhall University
where he received a bachelor of fine arts degree with honors in jewelry design and
silversmithing. He earned a master’s degree in Indigenous visual arts at Massey University in New
Zealand. Galanin is also an accomplished musician who performs under the name Silver
Jackson. He finds new expression in fashion design. His many artistic influences merge in this
multimedia exhibition of large sculptures, video and live performance. Galanin says in his artist
statement that culture cannot be contained as it unfolds: “My art enters this stream at many
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different points, looking backwards, looking forwards, generating its own sound and motion. I am
inspired by generations of Tlingit and Unangax creativity and contribute to this wealthy
conversation through active curiosity. There is no room in this exploration for the tired
prescriptions of the ‘Indian art world’ and its institutions. Through creating I assert my freedom.”
This exhibition is part of the Patricia B. Wolf Solo Exhibition Series, presented with generous support
from the Alaska State Council on the Arts; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal
agency; the Municipality of Anchorage; and the Anchorage Museum Foundation’s Alaska
Airlines Silver Anniversary Fund.
Stick and Puck
Michael Conti Solo Exhibition
On view Feb. 5 through April 10
Michael Conti is a photographer and video artist based in Anchorage, Alaska. Conti’s solo
exhibition at the Anchorage Museum will focus on hockey from social, cultural and gender
perspectives. Approaching the world of hockey not through the lens of a fan, but rather as a
cultural critic, Conti sees many of society's "norms" and expectations played out on rinks around
the North and the U.S. “In my short videos the masculine myths of the Sports Hero and the
Wilderness Man are subverted as the player slams against the boards of the rational,” Conti says.
“Like Don Quixote on skates he body checks the improbable to sad and comic results. An
exercise in obsession, the determined and solitary hockey player shoots at a goal that is never
revealed, never attained in the harsh and remote landscape of Alaska.” Conti earned a BFA
from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and an MFA from the Art Institute of Boston. He has
received numerous awards for his photography and his video work has been shown at the Nam
June Paik Art Center in Seoul, South Korea and at ContainR at the Winter Olympics in
Vancouver, Canada. The Patricia B. Wolf Solo Exhibition Series is presented with generous
support from the Alaska State Council on the Arts; the National Endowment for the Arts, a
federal agency; the Municipality of Anchorage; and the Anchorage Museum Foundation’s
Alaska Airlines Silver Anniversary Fund.
All Alaska Biennial
On view Feb. 5 through April 10
This exhibition celebrates the contemporary work of Alaska artists. The museum’s juried
exhibitions (“All Alaska Juried Exhibition” and “Earth, Fire & Fibre”) began more than 30 years
ago to encourage the creation of new works by Alaska artists in all media. With the “All Alaska
Biennial,” artists explore the authentic North, its people, materials and landscapes, through a
variety of interpretations. Guest juror is Jen Budney, an independent writer and curator who has
held positions with the Mendel Art Gallery, Kamloops Art Gallery, Canada Council for the Arts,
Gallery 101, and Flash Art International. All Alaska Biennial is funded in part by a grant from the
Alaska State Council on the Arts; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the
Anchorage Museum Association; and the Municipality of Anchorage.
Near the Bear: An All-Ages Arctic Adventure
On view March 4 through July 31
The name “Arctic” comes from a Greek word meaning “near the bear.” The Arctic region is in
the northernmost part of Earth. This family-friendly exhibition explores the Arctic environment
through art and science, with exploration into the Arctic for all ages. Featuring the animals that
make their home in the Arctic and the tools used to travel and thrive in an extreme environment,
“Near the Bear” features artwork from the Anchorage Museum’s collection and hands-on art
activities and experiences. Film and a reading provide additional ways to investigate.
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CU RR E NT E X HI B IT IO N S
Exhibitions are included with museum admission unless otherwise noted.
Van Gogh Alive – The Experience
On view through Jan. 10
Vincent Van Gogh’s works have been displayed and enjoyed around the world for more than a
century — but never like this. Created by Grande Exhibitions, “Van Gogh Alive — The
Experience” gives visitors the opportunity to not only view Van Gogh’s paintings, but to truly
venture into his world. From the moment you enter, a powerful and vibrant symphony of light,
color and sound compels you to leave your world behind and immerse yourself in his paintings —
an experience that is simultaneously enchanting, entertaining and educational. Adults and
children alike will forge their own paths and find their own meaning as they wander through the
galleries, exploring hidden nooks, viewing artworks from new angles and discovering different
perspectives. $12-$20
100 Snapshots
On view through Jan. 10
“100 Snapshots” offers a glimpse into the daily lives of residents of Alaska’s largest city, beginning
with the arrival of railroad workers and their families in 1915 and continuing through the 1980s oil
boom. The proliferation of snapshot photography throughout the 20th century gave people the
ability to chronicle their lives through pictures. The stories these photographs tell are personal.
From a railroad brakeman celebrating the Fourth of July at Lake Spenard in 1923 to a
serviceman’s impromptu self-portrait with friends in the reflection of a mirror, these images
capture individual lives, which when seen together, imbue a shared sense of place.
Held in conjunction with the Anchorage Centennial Celebration.
Living Alaska: A Decade of Collecting Contemporary Art for Alaska Museums
On view through Feb. 7
This exhibition of art from museum collections around Alaska hints at the breadth and depth of
the contemporary art being collected in Alaska museums. In 2003, Alaska’s Rasmuson
Foundation launched its Art Acquisition Fund to provide grants to museums that collect current
work by Alaska artists. In its first decade, the fund helped 33 museums purchase nearly 1,100
works by 436 artists. This exhibition presents a retrospective of these works, which include 25 works
from 12 Alaska museums, along with 48 additional works from the Anchorage Museum’s
contemporary art collection. Thematically, the exhibition focuses on the natural environment,
Alaska Native experience, and life in 21st century Alaska. “Living Alaska” is curated by Sven
Haakanson Jr. Following its debut at the Anchorage Museum, the 25 pieces of the retrospective
will travel to five museums around Alaska and be supplemented with their own Art Acquisition
Fund-sponsored works.
Recent Acquisitions
On view through Feb. 21
The Anchorage Museum's collections help fulfill its mission to connect people, expand
perspectives, and encourage global dialogue about the North and its distinct environment. The
museum has important collections of Alaska Native objects, historical and contemporary
artwork, and objects that illustrate Alaska's history. Works by Alaska artists have been at the heart
of the museum’s collections. The museum has a fine collection of art that provides a wide survey
of what has been done in this state from the late 18th century to the most recent artistic
endeavors. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to view some of the newest additions to
the museum’s extensive collection. It includes more than 100 of the acquisitions ranging from art,
objects and archival materials.
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Our Story
On view through Sept. 11
Alaska Native artists’ perspectives are featured in this exhibition curated by Drew Michael. “Until
recently, Indigenous art was defined and described by non-Indigenous people in museums,
books, and galleries,” explains Alaska Native artist Drew Michael, curator of “Our Story.” This
exhibition features perspectives of Alaska Native artists, whose works often knit together past
and present generations. Tlingit artist Ricky Tagaban does this metaphorically and literally with his
work Pouch, an iPhone bag made out of wool, cedar bark, and suede. Photographer Brian
Adams looks at environmental change in his work Children in Newtok, Alaska Playing on Land
Erosion. Presented from multiple voices and showcasing a blending of techniques, “Our Story”
explores place and culture through contemporary art.
P A RT N ER P ROG R AM S
Alaska Design Forum Lecture: Mary Mattingly
7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4
Mary Mattingly is a visual artist, creating sculptural ecosystems in urban spaces. She is currently
working on a floating food forest for New York called “Swale” and recently completed a twopart sculpture “Pull” for the International Havana Biennial with the Museo National de Belles
Artes de la Habana and the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Mary Mattingly’s work has been exhibited
at the International Center of Photography, the Seoul Art Center, the Brooklyn Museum, the New
York Public Library, deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, and the Palais de Tokyo. In 2009
Mattingly founded the Waterpod Project, a barge-based public space and self-sufficient habitat
that hosted over 200,000 visitors in New York. Mattingly is part of the Anchorage Museum Polar
Lab artist residency that sent artists to Nome, Kotzebue, and Barrow, Alaska, as part of the Week
of the Arctic. This program is presented by the Alaska Design Forum. Tickets available only at the
door: $5-$15
Cook Inlet Historical Society
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21
Maria Downey, assistant news director and anchor with KTTU Channel 2 presents “Reporting the
Anchorage Centennial.” This event is presented by the Cook Inlet Historical Society. Free.
Alaska Design Forum Lecture: Iwan Baan
7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25
With his combined passion for documentary and space, Iwan Baan’s photographs reveal our
innate ability to re-appropriate available objects and materials in order to find a place we can
call our own. Baan’s work focuses on informal communities where vernacular architecture and
peacemaking serve as examples of human ingenuitysuch as his images of the Torre David in
Caracas – a series that won Baan the Golden Lion for Best Installation at the 2012 Venice
Architecture Biennale. With no formal training in architecture, his perspective mirrors the
questions and perspectives of everyday individuals who give meaning and context to the
architecture and spaces that surround us, giving matters of architecture an approachable and
accessible voice. This program is presented by the Alaska Design Forum. Tickets available only at
the door: $5-$15
Alaska Design Forum Lecture: Lava (Hans Wolbers)
7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1
Hans Wolbers is the Founder and Creative Director of Lava Design, a leading international
design agency based in The Netherlands. A true inspirer with incredible creative energy, Wolbers
has contributed significantly to brand innovation, developing a unique design vision that
combines continuity and change with dynamic identities. This program is presented by the
Alaska Design Forum. Tickets available only at the door: $5-$15
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Cook Inlet Historical Society
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18
Dermot Cole with Fairbanks Daily News-Miner presents “Reflections on 40 Years in Alaska
Journalism: What has changed and what has not.” This event is presented by the Cook Inlet
Historical Society. Free
VI S ITO R I N FO RM AT IO N A ND M U SE UM HO U RS
The Anchorage Museum’s mission is to connect people, expand perspectives, and encourage
global dialogue about the North and its distinct environment.
WINTER HOURS
Museum
Oct. 1 through April 30
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Closed Monday
Muse Restaurant
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday
Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Closed Monday
Polar Nights
Special programming from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays
Free or discounted museum admission
Museum Shop and Atrium Cafe
Open during museum hours
Closed Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1).
GENERAL ADMISSION
Free for museum members, $15 adults (18-64), $12 Alaska resident adults (18-64), $10
military/senior citizens/students, $7 ages 3 to 12, free ages 2 and younger. Visitors can find
general museum information at (907) 929-9200 or www.anchoragemuseum.org.
Visitors with disabilities who need special assistance may call (907) 929-9254.
Parking is available for $1 per hour in the underground garage on evenings and weekends.
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