OUR STORY
First Light Alaska is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and education organization providing artists with a platform to connect cultures, share ideas, and to develop proficiencies and professional competencies across the spectrum of fine arts.
From the first Dillingham gathering in the spring of 2012, participants have gathered for the First Light Workshops at venues across Alaska enjoying community, instruction, and the practice of art.
Working artists from across the country and internationally have journeyed to Alaska to instruct, share culture, and develop community. Course topics have included Documentary Film, Drum-Making, Mask Carving, Printmaking, Birchbark-Working, Storytelling – and many more.
OUR LOGO ORGIN STORY
The First Light Alaska logo is based on a Sun Mask by renowned Unangax (Aleut) painter and woodcarver John Hoover (1919-2011).
Hoover was raised in Cordova, Alaska; fished Alaskan waters most his life, and derived inspiration from his Native culture and his interactions with the natural world.
This Sun mask is from a pair of Sun and Moon masks. Human figures radiate out from the center face as though they are the rays of the Sun reaching to spread their light.
EDUCATION
We serve as an educational resource to help people learn more about Indigenous arts and culture. You can find us hosting workshops, classes, and sharing online resources to teach people about traditional arts, music, dance, and cultural practices. We work with schools and educational entities to ensure that Indigenous history and culture is portrayed accurately and accessibly. We seek to honor the knowledge and practices of those who came before us and pass down this knowledge to the future artists of tomorrow.
Mural painted by Apayu'q Moore
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We support economic development by promoting art and culture. We focus on increasing awareness of Indigenous entrepreneurs and fine artists. Providing opportunities for artists and makers to develop their businesses and reach a broader market helps keep their practices sustainable for a lifetime. Our intent with awareness initiatives is to create long lived economic opportunities for Indigenous makers and communities.
At First Light Alaska we go out of our way to ensure the preservation and protection of Indigenous cultural heritage. Our organization makes efforts to document traditional knowledge, art, and practices. The artists are our greatest resource in this endeavor - their dedication to traditional mediums and techniques passed down from generations offers a living looking glass into the past. We stay connected with Indigenous communities across the globe to help keep cultural traditions alive for generations to come.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION
We make it our business to provide opportunities for Indigenous artists to share their work and techniques. Connecting with audiences through our events and workshops allows us to make space for and celebrate the artists and their work. The artists speaking their true life stories and their history through creative methods is a practice we wish to protect and elevate. We continuously work to foster a community of Indigenous artists and creatives, providing resources and support for their work, whatever the medium.