New at Sacred Circle Gallery: 'Yup'ik Jen' The Art of Jennifer Angaiak Wood
We are pleased to showcase the extraordinary work of Yup'ik artist, Jennifer Angaiak Wood. Jen is of Yup'ik, Irish, and Italian descent, and was born and raised in Fairbanks, AK. The Yup'ik side of her family comes from Tununak, AK, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Jennifer started carving masks when she took an Alaska Native Art class in high school, and has been mostly self-taught after the unexpected passing of her teacher, Ron Manook. Since moving to the Seattle area in 2015, she has met and worked with other artists, who are helping her learn to use more traditional tools such as bent knives and adzes. Jennifer's inspirations include historic masks, stories, and her time spent in Tununak growing up. She usually adds modern materials and concepts to her work, and she uses her art as a way to connect with her Yup'ik heritage and bring a little bit of Yup'ik history into the modern world. She has recently expanded her art practice to include printmaking and painting, though masks are her primary means of artistic expression.
Jen's solo exhibit will be at the Sacred Circle Gallery from July through September. Her limited edition lino prints are for sale now at our new Ballard Art Gallery, 5337 Ballard Avenue NW.