Marie Alfred is a local artist who has been working in partnership with TWC over the past month. Since October 27, 2009, Alfred has been leading workshops with T.A.A.V every Tuesday on creating “story knives” by instructing them on wood working skills. Alfred’s efforts to work with the teens helps TWC achieve its goal of providing culturally relevant activities to its participants. Below is the interview active T.A.A.V member Maya Morris did with Alfred.
Maya Morris (MM): How long have you been doing wood carving professionally?
Marie Alfred (MA): Since May 2009
MM: Who taught you to do wood carving?
MA: My grandpa Adam Fisher. He passed in 1973. He had a business called Grandfathers Teaching.
MM: Are there other crafts you make?
MA: I do water colors, drawings, and work with ivory.
MM: If someone wanted to see your work, where could they go to look at it?
MA: At the art gallery at the the Yup’iit Piciryarait Cultural Center.
MM: Is any of your stuff for sale?
MA: Some water color paintings and wooden spoons. The water color paintings are around $100 and the wooden spoons are $250- $300.
MM: Do you have any current projects in the works?
MA: I’m making ivory earrings.
If you would like more information about Marie Alfred and her art work please contact T.A.A.V coordinator Abby Smith at TWC or the art gallery at the Yup’iit Piciryarait Cultural Center.
A.A.V) members Kisha Lee, Maya Morris, and Cynthia Andrew attended and served as presenters at the 2nd Annual Lead On! For Peace and Equality conference. Lead On! is a conference that unites youth leaders with community partners to develop projects to promote peace and equality in each of their home communities. At the conference T.A.A.V members participated in numerous workshops involving theatre, art and media to improve their leadership skills. Nationally acclaimed speakers like Courtney Macavinta, Gene Tagaban, Oscar Degruy and Ellen Frankenstein also served as inspiration to create positive change in the world.
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