Annual Iditarod Fine Art Show and Arts and Crafts Fair lends to the Iditarod excitement
As is tradition, this year’s Iditarod events included the 2023 Iditarod Fine Art Show and the Arts & Crafts Fair. Both events were held at Old St. Joe’s Church and lasted from Monday March 13 through Saturday March 18.
Throughout the week, Iditarod visitors and locals alike came to purchase beadwork, furs, jams and more from the Arts & Crafts Fair as well as admire the paintings and 3D creations of artists from Nome and the surrounding region. Spectators were also invited to vote on their favorite piece of artwork.
Art work this year included pieces such as Karen Olanna’s “The Ghost of Susan Butcher”, an oil/acrylic painting which featured the ghostly figure of the famous musher, holding her dog teams harnesses as they sit in the light of a Van Gogh styled sun; David Wortman’s “Summer Daze”, an intricately detailed oil/acrylic close up of a bear; and a rich reindeer parka by an anonymous craftsperson. The photography division included images of marine life and a vivid snapshot of the Northern Lights captured by Dustin Koehler. The student division of the Fine Arts show featured pictures of mountains and animals as popular themes.
At the tables set up for the Arts & Crafts fair, people could buy furs from businesses such as Poorboy Hide and Fur and Howling Wolf Furs, carvings from artists Frank Carruthers and Ben Jack; dolls from artist Rita Hukill; beadwork from artists Kate Osborn, Olivia Smith and Becky Miller, and so much more.
The week at Old St. Joe’s culminated on Friday, March 17 with a reception and announcement of the Fine Art Show winners.
While the public enjoyed smoked salmon, brownies, punch and other refreshments, show coordinator Angela Hansen welcomed everyone, thanked the participants, and thanked the volunteers: Christina Perrigo, Cheryl Thompson, Ben Jack, Marguerite LaRiviere, Alice Bioff, Kari Hahn, Anna Rose MacArthur and Margaret Thomas who made the event possible.
Then Hansen announced the winners while Marguerite LaRiviere, President of the Nome Arts Council, awarded the winners their prize money. In the adult division, first place for Oil/Acrylic went to “Summer Daze” by David Wortman. Second place went to “Desolation”, also by David Wortman. Third place went to “The Ghost of Susan Butcher” by Karen Olanna.
In the Watercolor/Pastel/Prints category, first place went to “Jackie” by Nora Nagaruk. Second place went to “Twisted” by Claudia Ihl. Third place went to “Soul Food” by Katie O’Conner, while Edwin Weyiouanna took home an honorable mention for “Western Arctic Herd.”
In the photography division, Dustin Koehler won first prize for “Banner Creek Lights.” Ken Hughes won second place for “King of the Sandbar.” Shea Oliver won third place for “Forever Winter”, while an honorable mention went to Sara Germain for “Peekaboo.”
In the 3-Dimensional category, first place went to “Longliners Lamp” by Frank Carruthers. Second Place went to “Boro Embroidery Blue Jean Kuspuk” by Kathy Walrath. Third Place went to “Quannah Chasinghorse” by Chloe Mattheis, while Aaron Cooper took an honorable mention for “Iditarod Trail Marker Mountains.”
In the student division, Alyona
Chepurko took first place for the 9years and under category with “Iditarod Sunset.” Second place went to Joetta Hubert for “Berries at Sunrise,” while third place went to “Salmon Lake” by Elizabeth Phan. Courtney Bonham snagged an honorable mention for “The Sky of Calmness.” In the 10-18-years category, Angela Omedelina won first place with “Sleeping Kuzi.” Jamison Erickson-Ford won second place with “Mama’s Whale,” while Rielyn
Bernard won third for “Huskie Love” and Jamison Erickson-Ford took home an honorable mention for “Falcon.”
Other prizes included the Judges Choice Awards, which were won by “Future Flowers” by Angela Omedelina in the Student Division and “Reindeer Parka” stitched by an anonymous craftsperson. The Patrice Shook Best Animal Awards went to Mackenzie Rapp’s “American Widgeon” in the adult division and Silas
Ventress’ “Leopard” in the student division.
There also was an Iditarod theme award that combined the adult and student divisions. The award went to “50th Iditarod Bag” by Kathy Walrath.
The People’s Choice award, which the public voted on all week, went to the “Find Caroline Bag” by Caroline Brown and “Nesting Guardian” by Karen Olanna.