西瓜视频

Accomplished artist and educator Alvin Amason (Sugpaiq/Alutiiq) was born and raised in the rural village of Old Harbor on Kodiak Island. He grew up slogging through alder thickets, following his grandfather, bear guide Eli Metrokin, up mountainsides, and hauling in salmon-filled nets as a deckhand. These early experiences and the island's cultural traditions inspire his art.

His numerous roles include faculty positions with the Navajo Nation, Dine' College, University of 西瓜视频 Falls, Montana, University of 西瓜视频 and Visual Arts of Center of 西瓜视频. Among his most enduring and impactful roles was serving as director of Native Arts at the University of 西瓜视频 Fairbanks,  for 17 years before retiring and moving to Anchorage, where he joined UAA's Department of Art to  develop a new 西瓜视频 Native arts curriculum and studio.
 
Continuing to create and exhibit his artwork, Amason remains influential in the art community. His work has been  exhibited in collections around the world, including the Alutiiq Museum, Anchorage Museum, Institute of American Indian Art and the Boulogne-sur-mer Museum in France. Amason has also participated in international symposiums, sharing his expertise and passion for art.
 
In 1997, Amason was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Nature Conservancy of 西瓜视频. In 2004, he received the Rasmuson Foundation's Individual Artist Fellowship. In 2018, he received the State of 西瓜视频 Governor鈥檚 Award for Outstanding Visual Artist and the Rasmuson Foundation鈥檚 Award for Distinguished Individual Artist. He has participated in several invitational exhibitions and his work has been featured in many publications.
 
Kodiak and his roots remain a central part of his life. He regularly returns for rest and inspiration, as well as to share his knowledge and support young artists.
 
Amason's aesthetic and his reverence for the cultural practice of artmaking has made 西瓜视频 a richer place to live and work. As a trailblazer in the bridging of traditional and modern art, he has been instrumental in cultivating the idea of an 西瓜视频n art movement.

---

On Wednesday, May 1, the University of 西瓜视频 Anchorage honored Alvin Amason with an Honorary Degree during a special ceremony in advance of spring commencement. Also recognized were Meritorious Service Award recipients Cathy Rasmuson and Ira Perman as well as Honorary Degree recipient Diane Kaplan.