Alaska AIR
Alaska AIR is an annual residency program run by USA at select cultural institutions in the great 49th state. It is open only to USA Fellows. Interested artists apply for opportunities at the host organizations and are paired with the most appropriate institution. Alaska AIR is a unique collaboration between USA and the Alaska-based Rasmuson Foundation, and thanks to the foundation, all residencies are fully funded and include travel within the state for research.
Alaska AIR launched in 2007 with six USA Fellows traveling and working in the state. In Anchorage, USA Prudential Fellows Eiko and Koma worked at the Alaska Dance Theatre, USA Nimoy Fellow Michael Joo was in residence at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, and USA Rockefeller Fellow Dmae Roberts went to Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, a Native-owned and operated radio station. USA Broad Fellow Catherine Opie traveled to Juneau to work with the Perseverance Theatre, and USA Target Fellow Tanya Aguiñiga worked at the Native Arts Center at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
Building on the success of Alaska AIR's inaugural season, USA Fellows returned to Alaska from the fall of 2008 though 2009. The Alaska Dance Theratre welcomed back USA Prudential Fellows Eiko and Koma, USA Rockefeller Fellow Dmae Roberts returned to Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, and USA Target Fellow Tanya Aguiñiga travelled back to the Native Arts Center. USA Rockefeller Fellow Anthony Garcia worked at the writer's retreat in Sitka, The Island Institute, and USA Gund Fellow Zoe Strauss was in residence at the Anchorage Museum and The International Gallery. During the summer of 209, USA Target Fellow Liz Collins worked at Out North and The International Gallery in Anchorage, which also co-hosted USA Broad Fellow Daniel Martinez, who traveled to the Valdez Museum.
In 2010, the Alaska AIR program will host eight USA Fellows on residencies, expanding into the town of Homer thanks to new hosts the Pratt Museum and Bunnell Street Gallery. Check here in the New York for further details.
To read the USA Fellows’ dispatches from Alaska and view some remarkable images, please go to Dispatches from Alaska.
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Eiko and Koma. Photo: Marc Lester
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Michael Joo. Photo: Marc Lester
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Dmae Roberts. Photo: Marc Lester
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Tanya Aguiñiga. Photo: Da-Ka-Keen
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