The visual arts are what most people think of when they picture art. The visual arts include many types of creations, including paint, mixed media, textiles, sculptures, and so much more. For visual artists, taking their vision and turning it into something that others can enjoy is the highlight of their craft. Across Ketchikan, local artists display their visual artworks, making the city an even more beautiful place to enjoy.
Rich Stage
Using metal, raw materials, and reclaimed objects, Rich Stage creates incredible pieces. The beauty in his artwork is that in using these cold, heavy materials he can create something beautiful that invites onlookers to marvel at its intricacies.
Beth Antonsen
She has called Ketchikan home for her entire life, so it’s no wonder Beth Antonsen wants to celebrate the gorgeous land with her artwork. Among the pieces she has created are many wood carvings using local wood, a 17-foot Whitehall Pulling boat, and various oil paintings of the landscape.
Jeff Fitzwater
This amazing photographer uses his desire to help people heal not only in his job as a massage therapist, but also in his photography. He brings important issues, such as mental health, into the spotlight by conveying his feelings through deep and meaningful photographs.
Deb Turnbull
This artist turns fabric into unbelievable artwork with her incredible quilting skills. From different textiles, Deb Turnbull creates many different designs and patterns which can be used as wall art or to keep warm during the cold Alaskan days.
Starting at a very young age, Ketchikan residents are introduced to the thrill of performing in front of an audience. This joy is not reserved only for the children, though. Kids and adults alike can participate in many different performing arts such as musicals, variety shows, and musical performances in bands or singing groups. The performing arts combine singing, dancing, acting, and movement to convey deep emotions which make audiences laugh, cry, and cheer.
Leslie Swada
Forest Educator by day, belly dancer by night, this performance artist has a very interesting life. Leslie Swada is trained in ballet and belly dance but prefers Bhangra, an East Indian Harvest Dance. Her precise movements and amazing energy make her one of Ketchikan’s most intriguing performance artists.
Ketchikan Theatre Ballet
Whether performing their annual show of The Nutcracker or teaching kids an array of different dance styles, the Ketchikan Theatre Ballet is the best place in Ketchikan to learn incredible moves and meet likeminded dancers. The styles they teach include ballet, tap, and jazz to children as young as four years old.
First City Players
This very active community theatre has been around since 1964. That’s over fifty years of breathtaking performances. The theatre puts on many shows throughout the year, including Cinderella, Anything Goes, Amadeus, and The Fish Pirate’s Daughter. No matter the performance, the First City Players are sure to amaze.
The city’s art history dates many years back to Alaska’s native groups, like the Tlingit people. Every facet of the native’s lives was surrounded by art represented by totem poles, storage boxes, baskets, dances, music, and even body art. Local artists base many pieces off the rich history of these native people. Whether combining traditional and modern art for a new experience or doing traditional weaving, carving, or instrument making, Ketchikan artists pay homage to the exquisite native people who called the land home many years ago.
Nathan Jackson
This master carver Tlingit artist is helping to keep the culture alive. His wood carvings, which he carves many of throughout the summer, are unbelievably detailed. He works on commissioned pieces and mentors budding carvers, ensuring that the beautiful Tlingit artwork will be around for years to come.
Matthew Helgesen
Inspired by 18th and 19th-century carvers, Matthew Helgesen’s art transports onlookers back in time. His traditional-style carvings are as close to perfection as one can imagine.
Stephen Jackson
Though he uses more modern techniques, this artist got his start watching his father, Nathan Jackson, perfect his craft. Jackson uses things like resin, casting, and digital photography to create beautiful pieces that bring older cultures into the present day.
Donald Varnell
There is no denying that Donald Varnell’s modern take on the totem pole is a gorgeous piece of art. This commissioned work may have raised some traditionalist's eyebrows, but most onlookers appreciate the emotion and personality of this towering piece.
Artists who specialize in found art are masters at repurposing materials that others may regard as useless trash. Using everyday items and a lot of imagination, these artists create breathtaking pieces that can be displayed or even worn. The found art makers of Ketchikan are the epitome of ingenuity and creativity.
Diane Palmer
Using materials like porcupine quills and her admiration for the Tlingit culture, Diane Palmer created the wearable art, Spirit Transformation, which conveyed the deep connection with nature held by natives. In 2002, this unique work of art placed third in the hugely popular “World of WearableArt Show” in New Zealand.
Christal Rose
Using Crown Royal bags and a lot of talent, Christal Rose created the beautiful wearable piece she called Queen C. She topped her model with a large, lighted ice cube headpiece, which fit in perfectly with the “On the Rocks” theme for the 2010 Wearable Art Show. This velvety soft ball gown truly is fit for a queen.
Jan Jorgensen and Kelly Thynes
Using newspapers, Jan Jorgensen and Kelly Thynes created two separate pieces for the 2011 Wearable Art Show. Their works included a stunning, runway-ready ball gown and a paparazzo, outfitted in a newspaper ensemble, as well.
While these artists and their craft are impressive on their own, what comes from their collaborations can only be described as magical. These artists come together for the love of art and community to create something special, memorable, and awe-inspiring. Their inspirational collaborations are a prime example of how embracing art leads to a happier community.
Kim Klineschmidt
Working with many other Ketchikan locals, Klineschmidt went rummaging through the old pulp mill to find materials to make the Ketchikan Community Concert Band a new set of orchestral chimes. The ingenuity and dedication showed by Klineschmidt and the others is an incredible show of collaboration that can be expected within the Ketchikan community.
Chris Rose
By collaborating with nature and the community, Chris Rose creates stunning paintings of daily life in Ketchikan. Each painting is a snapshot of how Alaska makes Chris feel, and his incredible feelings of love for the area shine through in every piece.
Seth Krasnow
Before moving to Ketchikan, Seth Krasnow had never even considered acting. Now, he frequently performs alongside other actors to present works such as Escanaba in da Moonlight.
Archie Inoncillo
By collaborating with the youth of Ketchikan, Archie Inoncillo shares his love of hip-hop, R&B, and breakdance with the next generation. By teaching them these moves and giving them a platform to express themselves through movement, Inoncillo has brought an entirely new dance scene to Ketchikan.
When living in or visiting Ketchikan, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the exciting world of the arts. The community is so accepting of every type of art imaginable and the landscape lends itself to creative inspiration. With its thriving gallery scene and large concentration of emerging and established artists, Ketchikan is the perfect place to go to experience the arts like never before.