Arts and Entertainment

Garry Kaulitz named Rasmuson Distinguished Artist

Anchorage artist Garry Kaulitz was named the 2015 Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist in ceremonies held Tuesday, May 19, in the Sydney Laurence Theatre. The honor includes a prize of $40,000.

Kaulitz taught at the University of Alaska Anchorage from 1993 to 2014, when he retired. He now holds the title of professor emeritus of art.

In addition to the Distinguished Artist award, 10 Fellowship awards of up to $18,000 each were presented to knife maker Mark Knapp of Fairbanks, writer Dawnell Smith of Anchorage, writer John Tetpon of Eagle River, performance artist Allison Akootchook Warden of Anchorage, choreographer Stephanie Wonchala of Anchorage, carver T.J. Young of Hydaburg, now living in Anchorage, poet Nicole Stellon O'Donnell of Fairbanks, weaver Kay Parker of Juneau, poet Anne Coray of Port Alsworth and poet Vivian Prescott of Sitka.

Twenty-five Project Grant awards, worth up to $7,500 each, were given to writer Martha Amore of Anchorage, fly rod maker Chris Carlin of Anchorage, multidisciplinary photographer Michael Conti of Anchorage, artist Sarah Davies of Anchorage, singer Amber Gauthier of Anchorage, songwriter Todd Grebe of Anchorage, songwriter Emma Hill of Anchorage, folk composer Michael Howard of Anchorage, fur seamstress Bobbi Itta of Barrow, now living in Anchorage, pianist Tamara McCoy of Anchorage, musician and writer Maris O'Tierney of Anchorage, author Chantelle Pence of Anchorage, visual artist Jimmy Riordan of Anchorage, photographer Cody Swanson of Anchorage, parka maker Lisa Unin of Chevak, composer Emerson Eads of Fairbanks, printmaker Karinna Gomez of Fairbanks, multimedia artist Robert LaMontagne of Fairbanks, writer Mary Odden of Glennallen, photographer John Hagen of Haines, storyteller Peter Griffin of Juneau, artist Rico Lanaat Worl of Juneau, textile artist Kathryn Russo of Ketchikan, writer Rachel Ford of Skagway and writer Sarah Birdsall of Talkeetna.

The award recipients were chosen by a national panel from a field of more than 300 applicants. Since the program began in 2003, the foundation has presented awards worth $3.1 million to 373 Alaska artists.

Previous recipients of the Distinguished Artist Award have included poet John Haines, artist Rie Munoz, carver Nathan Jackson, composer John Luther Adams and weaver Teri Rofkar.

Mike Dunham

Mike Dunham has been a reporter and editor at the ADN since 1994, mainly writing about culture, arts and Alaska history. He worked in radio for 20 years before switching to print.

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