Biographies—Visual Arts

Nikki Kinne

Watercolor

Educated in sculpture, but doing watercolor for seven years, she paints wildlife, domestic animals, landscapes, portraits, cityscapes and flowers. She is a “Signature Member” of the Alaska Watercolor Society, does frequent solo and group shows, has numerous awards, and loves to teach. Current work may be viewed at www.nikkinne.com.

Helen Klebesadel

Watercolor

Helen Klebesadel is known for her richly detailed narrative watercolors and her engaging workshops that use art process to guide individual artistic development. She has taught college and adult courses and workshops on creativity, studio art, and the contemporary art movement for two decades. See Helen's work here: http://klebesadel.com

Leslye Korvola

Scrapbooking

Leslye Korvola is a long-time Fairbanks resident, who loves scrapbooking and is enthusiastic about sharing that love. She's written articles that were published, but for personal stories she enjoys scrapbooking. Over the years she has made scores of albums and a few have won Grand Championships at the fair. There are so many ways to assemble and share precious memories. She enjoys learning new ideas and the challenge of developing new skills to inspire others.

Lucy McCarthy

Fiber

Lucy learned to sew on her grandmother's treadle sewing machine. Her passion is creating art quilts, one-of-a-kind wearables and teaching. She continues to explore fabric dyeing and surface design on cotton and silk fabric. Her art quilts are in many private collections, including the Alaska Range at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and her wearables have received many awards, including a cover on Quilting Arts Magazine.

Barry McWayne

Photography

Barry McWayne has been active in art photography for over four decades with more than 150 exhibitions to his credit. Much of his work is in black and white and deals with nature or with man's presence in nature. McWayne has lived in Alaska since 1968 and spent his career at the University of Alaska Museum of the North. He now devotes his time to creative photography, exhibiting, teaching, and enjoying life in the far north.

Kathleen Meckel

Beadwork

Kathleen Hildebrand Meckel learned the art of beadwork at an early age from her grandmother who lived in the village of Nulato, Alaska. She beads jewelry and traditional Athabascan regalia pieces. She enjoys teaching the basic techniques of beadwork to her students and watching what they create. She presently teaches at the Effie Kokrine Charter School in Fairbanks.

Tom Nixon

Drawing

Tom Nixon teaches watercolor and drawing privately in his studio in Hamilton Acres. He and his wife Nelda travel throughout the state with their motorhome in the summer months painting and making new friends. They both are active members of the Fairbanks Watercolor Society where he served for several years as President. Favorite quote: “One form of art feeds another.” author unknown. To see Tom's work go to www.tomnixonart.com.

Ray Pierotti

Mixed Media

Born in Bountiful, Utah, broadly traveled throughout the United States, Europe and the Far East, Ray Pierotti's academic studies were art-centric with an emphasis on classical Western music, dance and poetry. Subsequent informal studies have been in the symbiotic resonances between color, sound and shape.

Judith Warwick

Glass

A resident of Fairbanks, Judy has been working with glass since the early 1990's. Art was her major at San Francisco State University. The focus on glass as her medium led her to study at Pilchuck Glass School, Corning Museum of Glass Studio and Bullseye Glass Studio. Her art is the result of using a combination of disciplines: fusing, glassblowing, and cold working. Warwick Glass Studio, LLC in Fairbanks is a destination for world renowned glass artists and offers state-of-the-art equipment.

Martha Wiedmaier

Fiber

Martha's childhood home was filled with art and artists discussing their creative processes. She has been a fiber artist since her early teens and she possesses numerous strategies to enhance and alter fibers; she is joyful and fearless in her process to create art. Martha's work has been shown in group and single artist shows.

Carol Wilbur

Jewelry

Carol is a lifelong resident of Fairbanks. She holds a teaching degree as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UAF in Painting and Metalsmithing; her jewelry and paintings have appeared in many galleries across the state. She lives in Fairbanks with her husband Jack and children Sara and Aaron, maintaining a personal studio at Well Street Art Company.

Vladimir Zhikhartsev

Watercolor

Vladimir received his fine arts education in Krasnodar, Russia, specializing in watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. He has hosted numerous shows in Russia and seven solo shows in Alaska displaying his talent. He started carving ice in Fairbanks and is a 15 time gold medal winner in international ice art championships. Since moving to Fairbanks, he has been doing ice sculpting in the winter and teaching watercolor painting workshops throughout Alaska during the summer.