Alvin Eli Amason facts for kids

Alvin Eli Amason (born 1948) is a famous Sugpiaq Alaskan artist. He creates amazing paintings and sculptures. Alvin grew up in Kodiak and is from the Alutiiq people. He studied art at Arizona State University and later taught art at different colleges. For many years, he led the Alaska Native Art studies program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After he retired, he was asked to help create a new Alaska Native Art program at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Alvin Amason's Early Life and Education

Alvin Amason was raised by his grandfather, who was a guide for bears. Before becoming an artist, Alvin thought about other jobs, like engineering. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts, from Central Washington University in 1973. Later, in 1976, he received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University.

Teaching and Art Career

After finishing his studies, Alvin Amason taught art and created his own artwork in the American Southwest. From 1976 to 1978, he was in charge of the Art Department at Navajo Community College. In 1978, he became a teacher at the University of Great Falls in Montana.

Alvin returned to Alaska in 1984, taking a job at the University of Alaska. He also worked at the Visual Arts Center of Alaska in 1989. In 1992, he became the director of the Native Art Center at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska. He retired from this role in 2009. After retiring, he joined the Art Department at the University of Alaska Anchorage. There, he helped create a new program and studio for Alaska Native Arts.

Awards and Public Art

Alvin Amason has been an important part of the art community in Alaska. He has served on the Alaska State Council on the Arts. He also worked on the boards of the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Alaska Native Arts Foundation. In 2018, Alvin Amason received a special award from the Governor. This award recognized his amazing contributions to arts and humanities.

Alvin Amason has created many paintings and multi-media artworks for public places. You can see his art at the Anchorage International Airport. His work is also in the U.S. Federal Courthouse Building in Anchorage. He has also created art for public schools across Alaska.

Where to See Alvin Amason's Art

Alvin Amason's artwork has been shown in special exhibitions in many places. These include Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC. His art is also part of important collections around the world.

You can find his work in museums like:

• The Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum in Denmark
• The University of Alaska Museum of the North
• The Alaska State Museum
• The Smithsonian American Art Museum
• The Heard Museum

Exhibitions

Alvin Amason has had many art shows over the years. Here are some of them:

• 2019 "Place of Origin" Rovaniemi Museum, Finland
• 2019 Aiviq and Nanuq exhibition, Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, AK
• 2019 "The Inspirations" Alaska State Museum, Juneau, AK
• 2016 "UAA Faculty Exhibition" Kimura Gallery, Anchorage, AK
• 2013 "Re/Marks, works from the collection of the Anchorage Museum" Rasmusen Center, Anchorage, AK
• 2012 "Open House" Magpie Artworks, Anchorage, AK
• 2012 "Amason and Eaton" Magpie Artworks, Anchorage, AK
• 2011 "The Alaskans, Masks" Stonington Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 2009 "Brothers on the Water" Alaska House, New York, NY
• 2009 "United Nation's Permanent Forum on Indigenous" New York, NY
• 2007 "Alvin and Lena Amason" Artique Gallery, Anchorage, AK
• 2005 "N.Y.C Alaska" New York, NY
• 2005 "Native Arts Now" Kenai Culture Center, Kenai, AK
• 2004 "Alvin Amason & Kesler Woodward" Well Street Art Gallery, Fairbanks, AK
• 2004 "Native Art Invitational" Well Street Art Gallery, Fairbanks, AK
• 2003 "Heart of My Home" Decker Morris Gallery, Anchorage, AK
• 2003 "Gallery Artist" Well Street Art Company, Fairbanks, AK
• 2003 "Shaped by Design" Anchorage Museum at Rasmusen Center, Anchorage, AK
• 2001 "Alaska Native Contemporary Art" Anchorage Museum at Rasmusen Center, Anchorage, AK
• 2001 "Gallery Artist Show" Decker/Morris Gallery, Anchorage, AK
• 2000 "Art in Two Worlds" Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
• 1990 "New Art of the West" Eitelijorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN
• 1989 "Multi-Media Work" Carnegie Art Center, Walla Walla, WA
• 1985-87 "Alaska Native Heritage Festival" Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage AK
• 1985 "Western States Prints Invitational" Portland Art Museum, Portland OR
• 1984 "50 States, 50 Artists" Fuller Goldeen Gallery, San Francisco
• 1984 "Innovations" Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
• 1984 "Uniquely American: The West Coast" Art Train, Detroit, Michigan
• 1981 "Magic Images" Philbrook Art Center, Tulsa, OK
• 1981 "Art of the States: Nine Alaskans" Alaska State Museum, AK
• 1980 "Across the Nation: Fine Art for Federal Buildings 1972-1979" Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga, TN
• 1980 "Spirit of the Earth" Native American Center of Living Arts, Niagara Falls, NY

Collections

Alvin Amason's art is part of many important collections. These include:

• Institute of American Indian Art, Santa Fe, NM
• National Collection of France at Chatau-Muse'e, Boulogne-sur-mer, France
• Know Your Birds series, Clark Middle School, Anchorage, AK
• Fish Mama, William Tyson Elementary School, Anchorage, AK
• Looking Around, Para Transit Center, Anchorage, AK
• Alyeska Pipeline Company, Corporate Collection, Anchorage, AK
• Koniag Native Corporation, Anchorage, AK
• Doyon Corporation, Anchorage, AK
• I Grew Up with Them Birds; One of a Kind, University of Alaska Museum of the North, Fairbanks, AK
• Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN
• His Holiness, Patriarch Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia
• Bull, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
• Raven, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
• Every day I'm loving you so much more, Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum, Aalborg, Denmark
• Chignik Rose, Federal Bldg., Anchorage, AK
• Indian Arts and Craft Board, Department of Interior, Washington D.C.
• Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
• So Tall, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO
• Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
• State of Alaska Art Bank, Anchorage, AK
• Alaska State Museum, Juneau, AK
• Welcome to My World, Ted Stevens Anchorage Int'l Airport, Anchorage, AK
• Pretty Close, Big Sum Bich #2, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK
• Everything I Love is Here; Grandma said the eyes are good medicine; Papa said seals are one bump, otters are two. There goes Steve Harvey; Good to See You; Oh My Heart; Humpy Catcher; Happy Humpy Catcher at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, Anchorage, AK