Artists of Ketchikan Invitational Exhibit 2026

Jean Bartos

I learned to sew, knit, and crotchet as a child. I began weaving in 1975, when we moved to Ketchikan. It had been my dream for years and when I discovered how much it rains here, I told Louie, my husband, I needed a new hobby and I wanted to learn to weave and we HAD to buy a loom prior to the move as otherwise we would say shipping would be too much and I would never learn to weave.

Although some years I’ve woven more than others, I have consistently been involved in fiber arts. This past three years have been a real ‘dry spell’ for me as I redefined my life after Louie’s death. The assistance of friends has supported me, and I now have a LONG warp on the loom to get me back into my favorite thing to do – weave cloth! I have 7 grandchildren and my goal is to weave an 80” x 80” blanket for each of them. Four are complete. I’m working on the design for the 5^th.

My work is in museum collections including the Tongass Historical Museum and the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum in Roundup, Montana. I have participated in most of the Ketchikan Wearable Art Shows as an artist and in many as a model. I also participated in both Art to Wear shows that Jackie Keizer and I organized.

Find more of my fiber art at Fabulous Fiber Arts and More.

*Image by Jean Bartos

Scarf, 2000
small scarf, wool
5.5” x 40”
SOLD

*Image by KAAHC

PURCHASE
Mosaic, 2026
pillow, wool woven pieces
18” x 18” x 4"
$125
 

*Image by KAAHC

PURCHASE
Which Path?, 2026
pillow, wool woven pieces 
18" x 18" x 4"
$125

*Image by KAAHC

Callie Bellon

Lately, I’ve been interested in suspended narratives; cryptic snaps shots of occurrences that cannot be defined. Moments of happenstance that would quiet the questions if only there were answers. I invite all viewers to create their own narratives, built from the emotions they’re experiencing through my work; fairy tale Rorschach tests, in a sense.
Instagram: @wild.exile

*Image by Callie Bellon

PURCHASE
A Monument to Our Sins, 2026
watercolor
11" x 14"
$865

* Image by KAAHC

PURCHASE
The Night is Imperial, 2026
watercolor
11" x 14" 
$850

*Image by KAAHC

Barbara Bigelow

Barbara Bigelow creates unique mixed media sculptures, crosses, cut tin art, and photography. Each piece is an intense personal moment masterfully created, luring the viewer into a new story. Barbara realized creative interest as a young child; introduced to Haiku and Japanese form drawing by her maternal Grandmother. These early beginnings and written words inspired a muse that became a lifelong passion for creative expression.

Barbara’s works have included poetry, film darkroom/digital photography, traditional sculpture, cross-forms, and mixed media. Passions include landscaping, interior art-display design, original, sacred, and iconic art. More recent expressions include cut-tin art, copper collage and mixed media creations.

Barbara’s work has been shown in various Alaska communities: the Homer Council on the Arts, the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council. Galleries include Scanlon Gallery, the International Gallery of Contemporary Art (IGCA), USFS Discovery Center, and the Wild Holly Gallery in Carefree, Arizona.

*Image by Barbara Bigelow

PURCHASE
Renewal, 2026
bone, copper, glass beads, acrylic paint, glass, wire
14" x 17' x 6”
$500

*Image by Barbara Bigelow

Susan Copeland

As an artist working primarily in watercolor, I have tried to portray scenes that reflect the rich maritime history of our Southeastern community. My favorite subjects have been old wooden work boats, lighthouses and old buildings, many of which are now decayed or gone.

I currently have work displayed at Parnassus Books and Gifts and the Cedar Chest. I also have a line of Alaska-themed cards as well as a Southeastern Christmas card line.

* Image by Susan Copeland

The Cannery Sisters, 2026
watercolor
14" x 11" 
SOLD

*Image by KAAHC

PURCHASE
The Sentinel, 2026
watercolor
14" x 11"
$275

*Image by KAAHC

Jeff Fitzwater

Jeff has lived in Ketchikan almost 40 years and has captured countless images in that time. Although he has been awed by the grandeur of SE Alaska and Ketchikan in particular, what has caught his attention most has been people and their stories. He loves to collaborate and create images that tell a person’s story…or a portion of their story. In nature or in the studio, His images create questions and let you the viewer provide the answer.

*Image by Jeff Fitzwater

PURCHASE
Unguarded, 2026
photographic print on Premium Luster paper
12” x 18”
$200

*Image by Jeff Fitzwater

PURCHASE
On the Path to Avalon, 2026
photographic print on Premium Luster paper
12” x 18”
$200

*Image by Jeff Fitzwater

Grace Freeman

Grace Freeman was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska and has been creating art ever since she could hold a crayon. These days her medium of choice has moved away from crayons is often digital. She uses Adobe Photoshop and a Wacom Cintiq to create her digital paintings, and also uses digital artwork in her process for screen printing and original drawings. Grace is mainly self-taught and enjoys experimenting in different creative mediums to find new ways of approaching her artwork. Her biggest inspiration comes from nature. She uses the bold colors, shadows, and shapes of the natural world to fuel her creative choices, even when the subject matter may not obviously be inspired by nature. Another element that is often woven throughout Grace’s artwork is a sense of humor. In some pieces the humor is more apparent, while in others it shows up as a surreal twist on reality or a sly challenge to social expectations of beauty and gender.

Find more of Grace’s artwork online and in person:

• gracemakesart.com
• @gracemakesart (Instagram)
• Star Gallery (5 Creek Street, Ketchikan, AK)

*Image by Grace Freeman

PURCHASE
Smug Golden Egg, 2026
colored pencil and watercolor marker on polyester film, glass beads, metallic thread, paper backing
14.5" x 25" 
$1,200

*Image by Grace Freeman

PURCHASE
Shady Jade Garlic, 2026
colored pencil and watercolor marker on polyester film, glass beads, metallic thread, paper backing
14.5" x 25"
$1,200

*Image by Grace Freeman

Rhonda Green

With metal in hand I will spend hours drawing and engineering a new sculpture. The materials I use include stainless steel, steel plate, recycled metal, found objects and wood.

After my design is cultivated, I hand draw the pieces onto the metal using chalk. I cut out each piece by hand using a plasma cutter. After parts are cut out, they are hand finished using a hammer and chisel, grinders, files and sandpaper, a very lengthy process. Once the metal is prepared I can begin to weld the pieces together. 

My newest completed project, "Canoe Drifting in the Wind." This sculpture is located on the Schoenbar Trail in Ketchikan and features hand-cut designs inspired by my Tlingit culture.I am an annual contributor to the KAAHC Annual Wearable Art Show.

Each piece of art I create is a piece of me. I put a great deal of thought into my sculptures and try to reflect how I see things; my thoughts, feelings and my love of what I do. I try to make people stop and think about what the art signifies but at the same time leaving it open for interpretation. Creating conversation is one of my main goals. I enjoy when people try to figure out the meaning of my work. Perhaps they wonder what in the world goes on in my mind.

*Image by Rhonda Green

PURCHASE
Protector of the Sea, 2026
stainless steel
6' x 3'
$3,500

*Image by KAAHC

Patricia Hayden

I’m a self-taught artist that started making pottery in 2020. I’m inspired by my beautiful Ketchikan surroundings, from the ocean coast to hiking trails and the spectacular northern lights. All of my work is individually hand crafted and hand painted with specialty glazes, so every piece is a one of a kind.

My work can be found at Scanlon Galley & Custom Framing at 318 Mission St. Ketchikan, Alaska 99901.

You can also order items or contact me with questions at PhaydenStudio@outlook.com.

*Image by Patricia Hayden

PURCHASE
Artemis, 2026
ceramic
6” x 12”
$300

*Image by Patricia Hayden

PURCHASE
The Storm, 2026
ceramic
6” x 7”
$220

*Image by Patricia Hayden

Norman Jackson

My art is Tlingit style, bold and round, based in the tradition of the Tongass Tlingit. I was born in Ketchikan, Alaska the eighth son of Esther Shea of Tlingit Kaats Hit Bear House of Southeast Alaska and my father, Milton Jackson Sr., Kaagwaantaan Tlingit of Klukwan, Alaska.

Being able to do my art has always been a great privilege and even greater privilege to have it be part of my ancestral Tlingit Culture. Creating art makes me feel culturally connected to my past and who I am today.

I have worked with many great Northwest Coast artists, but two were of special influence. I apprenticed with Dempsey Bob, a Tlingit carver, for five years. I also studied jewelry techniques with Phil Jan’ze who is Git’san from Hazleton B.C. 

I hand craft my carved art pieces from various wood indigenous to Southeast Alaska. I create my jewelry from silver and gold.

My art is truly who I am.

*Image by Norman Jackson

PURCHASE
Kaat's Children
yellow cedar
6" x 6" x 15" 
$14,000

*Image by KAAHC

PURCHASE
Beaver Mask
alder, abalone, acrylic
9" x 12" 
$10,000

*Image by KAAHC

Raven / Worm
halibut hook, yellow cedar, yew, spruce root, bone
2" x 12" 
SOLD

*Image by KAAHC

Malia King

I am a painter and printmaker born and raised in Ketchikan! I am currently attending Washington University in St. Louis to attain a Bachelors of Fine Art. My first inspirations often come from natural subjects. In my current work I explore memory through the abstraction of color and light, inspired by the beauty of stained glass. Thinking of this medium through its history in religious iconography, I place memory in the realm of reverence.

*Image by Malia King

PURCHASE
Bounce, 2026
acrylic
13”x 24”
$550

*Image by Malia King

Laurel Kvale

I often describe time in my art room as therapy. When I’m not longing to be outdoors, it is the studio that calls me. I feel a need to create, explore, and experiment and hope this is visible in my work.

In January 2025, I moved back to Ketchikan, the place that has always felt like home, even after being away for many years. My husband, our two dogs and I returned from the Columbia Gorge in Washington.  After paring down most of what we owned, we lived out of suitcases in my childhood home as we searched for a place of our own. Once we found our new home and I was able to set up my studio again, it felt like a reclamation.

This move has been big, challenging, and deeply rewarding, but it also meant a long year without my art supplies. That distance only made me more eager to create. Coupled with daily inspiration from the sounds of whales, waves, eagles and ravens at my front door to the kindness and quirkiness of this community,  I feel constantly fueled by where I am.

I work primarily in encaustic mixed media. Encaustic is a blend of beeswax and damar resin, activated by fire and heat. Its luminous, translucent, and layered qualities continue to surprise and delight me. I often incorporate my own photographs along with drawings, inks, and paint. Lately I have been exploring imprints and textures.

My current work is about remembering place and rediscovering belonging—and celebrating the joy of coming home.

*Image by Laurel Kvale

In the Woods, 2026
encaustic
48” x 12”
SOLD

*Image by Laurel Kvale

Wetbird, 2026
encaustic
6” x 12”
SOLD

*Image by Laurel Kvale

Marilyn Lee

For over forty years, I have lived and painted in Ketchikan, Alaska — a small, rain washed town located in the midst of  the vast wild and beautiful Tongass National Forest. From the beginning, watercolor has been my primary medium.  I have found it uniquely suited to this place: its transparency captures the layered mists that drift between the mountains, and its unpredictability mirrors the ever-shifting drama of Southeast Alaska’s skies. 

In recent years, I have expanded into oils and acrylics. Oil painting in particular opened new possibilities when I turned my attention to the old-growth cedars that define this landscape — ancient, gnarled, and full of quiet authority. My 2019 solo exhibition “In the Company of Trees” was devoted entirely to these remarkable trees, rendered in oil to honor their weight and presence. One of those paintings is now included in the Tongass Historical Museum’s current exhibit, “Cedar, the Tree of Life.”

My work is rooted in my conviction that Southeast Alaska is unlike anywhere else on earth — a place where the light is liquid, the forests are cathedral, and the weather arrives with the force of a personality. My paintings can be found at the Star Gallery on Creek Street in Ketchikan.

I hope my work invites others to slow down and see this corner of the world as I do, with eyes wide open to its ever-changing beauty.

*Image by Marilyn Lee

View from Three Bears #1, 2026
watercolor
12” x 12”
SOLD

*Image by Marilyn Lee

PURCHASE
View from Three Bears #2, 2026
watercolor
16” x 12”
$425

*Image by Marilyn Lee

Lori Orlowski

Human faces consistently present a unique challenge to paint because they are so complex: no two faces are exactly alike. I strive to create portraits with technical precision as well as to capture specific emotions or personalities in one two-dimensional image. Sometimes I focus on capturing a mood or trying to elicit certain emotions from the viewer. Whatever the purpose, each piece helps me grow as an artist and work towards my goal of constantly improving.

Watercolor is a very approachable medium as a beginner, but the possibilities are endless and so as a medium, it is also very challenging. I find watercolor to be very addictive as the final product can vary wildly depending on the quality and texture of the paints and paper. I enjoy trying new techniques or using new tools to help explore all of the possibilities that come from using watercolor. I also enjoy mixing other media with watercolor, like adding a touch of gold leaf, defining contours with pen, or building layers with colored pencil.

*Image by Lori Orlowski

PURCHASE
Indigo Blooms, 2026
watercolor
16” x 20”
$600
 

*Image by Lori Orlowski

Dawn Ritchie Rauwolf

My name is Dawn Ritchie Rauwolf, and I’ve loved mosaics ever since I was a kid in San Diego, CA.  I remember being surrounded by vibrant and meaningful art such as murals, papier-mâché, graffiti and mosaics.  Bright colors and bold statements surrounded us in the busy city, and I've never forgotten it. 

I enjoy working with glass pieces, smalti, tiles, mirrors, shells, millefiori, marbles, odds & ends, and other found objects. I enjoy the process of creating mosaics; I listen to TV shows and then I spend a lot of time cutting and placing all the individual pieces. I feel very fortunate that I get to make art that can bring joy to others. Every mosaic that I make is infused with hope, ocean vibes, and gratitude for every bit of life. 

*Image by Dawn Rauwolf

Joyful Home, 2026
mosaic
6" x 8" 
SOLD

*Image by KAAHC

Northern Heart, 2026
mosaic, fish tin
3" x 4"
SOLD

*Image by KAAHC

Three Cohos, 2026
mosaic, wooden fbox 
6.25" x 10.25" 
SOLD

*Image by KAAHC

Elizabeth Rose Chambers

Born and raised in Ketchikan, Elizabeth grew up with an appreciation for the beauty of Southeast Alaska. She is known for her realistic portrayals of various subjects from landscapes and flowers to boats and animals.
Elizabeth received a scholarship in art and attended Seattle University where she worked in a variety of media. When she began painting with watercolor it became the medium she enjoyed and continues to enjoy the most.
Elizabeth has had a number of solo shows and participated in group shows and workshops. Her work is featured in many private collections and is included in the Alaska State Museum’s permanent collection in Fairbanks, Alaska.

*Image by Elizabeth Rose Chambers

PURCHASE
Little Red Logger, 2026
watercolor
16.5” x 13”
$400

*Image by Elizabeth Rose Chambers

Silhouette, 2026
watercolor
18” x 15”
SOLD

*Image by Elizabeth Rose Chambers

Zach Stewart

I still remember the exact moment that sparked my love for photography. It was a cold, sunny February morning, and I was walking to the bus stop. The sun had just started to rise, casting this incredible pink light over the snow-capped mountains. It was quiet, calm, and completely breathtaking. I pulled out my phone to try and capture it, but it didn’t even come close to what I was seeing. That moment stuck with me, the feeling of wanting to hold on to a piece of beauty, but not quite being able to. That’s when I knew I needed something more. That’s what started it all. My photography is my way of freezing those fleeting moments and sharing a piece of this place with the world. Over the years, my work has been featured in various print and digital magazines and shown in galleries such as PH21 in Budapest, Agora in New York, and FotoZA in Johannesburg, and Scanlon Gallery here in Ketchikan. But what means the most to me is knowing that each photo tells a story, not just of a place, but of a moment that moved me enough to capture it.

Places to find other more work: Scanlon Gallery and website:www.zsphotogallery.com

*Image by Zach Stewart

PURCHASE
January Light, 2026
photograph on Chromalux aluminum
12” x 18”
$300
 

*Image by Zach Stewart

PURCHASE
Aurora Glow, 2026
photograph on Chromalux aluminum
18” x 12”
$300
 

*Image by Zach Stewart

Nancy Tietje

Over 30 years ago a friend taught me how to make a basic beaded earring. I’ve explored with bead stitches and bead sizes to discover what can be accomplished. My passion is using and creating anything with seed beads. I love making bowls and baskets out of beaded ropes; edging, covering or adding beads to an object, and other dimensional pieces.

Often my inspiration comes from nature. Fish should at least be shaped like cold-water fish, hummingbirds small enough to wear as earrings, jewelry is endless when made from shells. Alternatively I like detail and freestyle.

Beading creates energy in me by the repetition of the work, awed by the colors that beads come in, and fascinated by what can be created from beads. All pieces are unique, whether it is color or enhancements.

Currently my artwork is at Scanlon Gallery and Crazy Wolf Studios in Ketchikan, AK

*Image by Nancy Tietje

PURCHASE
The Turtles Below Basket, 2026
crocheted beaded rope
4" x 3" 
$400

*Image by KAAHC

Freestyle Bracelet, 2026
beads
7" long
SOLD

*Image by KAAHC

Deborah Turnbull

I don’t remember when I first picked up a needle and thread to sew something but I imagine I was pretty young. My mother and grandmother both darned socks and hemmed clothes so it was common activity in our home. It wasn’t until I arrived in Ketchikan that I began quilting. The art of it was always my interest and that continues.

I have exhibited my work in Ketchikan at many Rainy Day Quilt Guild shows, exhibits at the Main Street Gallery, and in the Anchorage Museum. My work is included in the public art piece “The Library Tree - Ketchikan Branch” located in the Ketchikan Public Library.

*Image by Deborah Turnbull

PURCHASE
Beaver Moon, 2020-2026
rusted muslin, teabags, tulle, and a beaver-chewed stick
30” x 21”
$350

*Image by KAAHC

PURCHASE
Conversations Overheard Along the Shores of Revillagigedo, 2020-2026
hand and machine sewing, machine quilting, fish pattern is from “An Alaskan Silhouette Sampler Quilt Pattern” by Brenda Hennings
42” x 48”
$875

*Image by Deborah Turnbull

Donald Edwin Westlund

Donald Westlund, a retired Fisherman, started experimenting with his lathe using repurposed oak pallets and driftwood from his beach. The primary woods he works with now are native to SE Alaska such as red and yellow cedar, hemlock, spruce, and alder. He continues to find his wood from beachcombing, fallen trees, firewood piles, and anywhere he sees a piece of wood that interests him…. He has even been known to flag down pickup trucks full of “wood for sale” for that one special piece he saw that would fit his purpose. He fell in love with his newfound artistic outlet and welcomes the opportunity be creative. Don created Alaska Rain Country Creations to share his collection of hand-turned wooden bowls of various sizes and types.

*Image by Donald Edwin Westlund

PURCHASE
Basket Weave Pattern Bowl, 2026
180-piece turned bowl
10” x 3.5”
$400

*Image by Donald Edwin Westlund

PURCHASE
Lidded Bowl, 2026
yellow cedar and African ironwood turned bowl
8” x 6.5”
$500

*Image by Donald Edwin Westlund

Evon Zerbetz

Relief printmaking has been Evon’s passion for over 30 years. She relishes the physicality of mark making as she carve into linoleum and other matrices with knives to make her printing plates. She prints her blocks one at a time by hand on a small etching press in her Ketchikan studio.

Evon’s linocuts are the starting point for her other projects: ranging from a 65-foot wall of architectural art glass for the Alaska State Library; suspended sculptures in busy public buildings; to linocuts for state health department posters push-pinned to the school nurse’s office wall.

Her linocuts have illustrated an armload of books for children and adults; rolled down the highway on a mobile science exhibit for the Connecticut River Watershed on Wheels; they have played a part in twelve public art commissions built with materials ranging from steel, wood, fabrimache, and glass; and formed the basis for a multimedia traveling museum exhibit she built about the common raven—Raucous: Everything Raven!

My work is an expression of sheer wonderment for other species on the planet. It lets me share delight, and exclaim “WOW, look-at-how-cool-this-creature-is and check-out its-superpowers.”

You can find more of Evon Zerbetz’s work at the Star Gallery on the Creek in Ketchikan and at www.evonzerbetz.com

*Image by Evon Zerbetz

We are Written in the Layers of the Earth, 2026
hand painted linocut
35” x 29”
POR

Shown here is one of the five linocuts carved for a 65-foot wall of architectural glass installed the State Library in Juneau, Alaska. 

*Image by KAAHC

We are Written in the Layers of the Earth, 2026
hand painted linocut
35” x 29”
POR

Shown here is one of the five linocuts carved for a 65-foot wall of architectural glass installed the State Library in Juneau, Alaska. 

*Image by KAAHC