photo credit UAA began its 50th anniversary celebration with an exhibit at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art titled “Educating Imaginations.” The show features works created over the last 50 years by faculty from UAA and ACC.   50th anniversary calendar of events Year-round celebrations! February 06 - Golden Anniversary Kickoff with guest speaker Frank McCourt. This very special 50th Anniversary event includes an afternoon book signing at the Campus Bookstore that will be open to the public. A public lecture by Mr. McCourt at about 7:30 in the evening in the Wendy Williamson. April Arts Fair & opening of Environmental and Biomedical Laboratory building May 02 - Commencement Graduation will include a full orchestra to play at the ceremony. June 19 - Opening of 50th Anniversary Garden August 27 - Induction of a new chancellor October 08 - Grand opening of new Consortium Library

Anchorage museum helps UAA celebrate

Story and photos by Spencer Shroyer
Northern Light

The University of Alaska Anchorage started its 50th anniversary celebration last week with a showing of faculty art at the Anchorage Museum of History & Art titled “Educating Imaginations.” The gallery show contains works created by art faculty from both the Anchorage Community College and UAA.

Chancellor Edward Lee Gorsuch spoke at the event.

“The mission of a university is to inspire learning. Nothing captures that sense like the visual arts,” Gorsuch said. “The idea of learning is it’s something that requires creativity as well as discovery.”

In an interview with the Northern Light, Gorsuch talked about the progress UAA has made in its first 50 years and the developments it will make in the next 50. He said he believes at UAA’s centennial anniversary the school will be twice its current size and will contain a medical school as well as a law school. Gorsuch said art plays a large role in that transformation.

“Art is a part of the past and future of the university,” Gorsuch said.

He talked about the highs and lows the university’s art program has had, including the creation of the arts building and the Board of Regents’ removal of the One Percent for Art Program. Gorsuch said he would like to see the program, which dedicates 1 percent of building costs to art, renewed sometime in the future.

A true representative of UAA’s past, Francis P. Ray, the university’s third full-time employee, was on hand at the event. Ray worked as ACC’s secretary registrar and also taught.

“I thought the show was delightful,” Ray said.

Sean Licka, one of the show curators, was happy with the diversity of the works assembled. The show included; paintings, photography, drawings, sculptures, assemblages, mixed media and fiber arts from artists who were at one point adjunct or full-time faculty of either ACC or UAA. The styles of the work ranged from hard-edged to expressionist, and encompassed conceptual and installation work.

“Something this massive at this level can be difficult. I think it’s a nice cross section of what has happened from the late ‘50s up to today,” Licka said.

The works used in the event were selected from museum holdings and private collections. Participating artists include Saradell Ard, Joan Kimura, Sam Kimura, Alex Combs, Bill Sabo, Ken Gray, Mariano Gonzales, Kat Tomka, Deborah Tharp, Hugh McPeck, Jeff Patrick, Don Decker, Gary Mealor, Garry Kaulitz and David Edlefson.

The show will run from Jan. 18 through March 7. The gallery show was the first event in UAA’s 50th anniversary celebration. Later, the celebration officially begins Feb. 6, with a Golden Anniversary Kickoff event at the Campus Bookstore featuring guest speaker Frank McCourt, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir.” There will also be a public lecture by McCourt at about 7:30 in the evening in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium.

‘Art is a part of the past and
future of the university.’

Chancellor E. Lee Gorsuch