KUAC’s annual Spring Fundraiser kicked off Saturday, March 1st, 2014 with a poster-signing event featuring artwork titled “Raven and Ermine” by Fairbanks photo-artist Iris Sutton, on its 31st edition of the annual poster. The poster is a thank-you gift for donors who support KUAC’s public broadcasting mission. Sutton signed posters and chatted with donors at a reception on March 1st from noon to 4 p.m. at Well Street Art Company in Fairbanks, at 1304 Well Street off Phillips Field Road.
The acrylic on canvas piece captures Interior Alaskan imagery of a raven, a wood pile, and an ermine in a whimsical and colorful way. “I cannot think of something I would rather be doing today than painting brightly colored animals and landscapes of Alaska” Sutton said in her artist statement. “Using color to express those differences has infinite possibilities and makes for some beautiful paintings. Color can show personality, mood, experiences, environment, and family connections. I am ever exploring new ways to use color to accentuate an individual’s uniqueness.”
That uniqueness was a major factor in the decision made by KUAC’s volunteer selection committee who chose Sutton’s piece, along with two other distinct submissions to put to public vote. Over 1,100 votes came in through the KUAC website which confirmed Sutton’s “Raven and Ermine” as a solid favorite. Committee members were: watercolor artist MaryAnn Borchert, Newsminer Features Editor Gary Black, Fairbanks Art Association director June Rogers, KUAC Community Advisory Council Member Pamm Zierfuss-Hubbard, UAF Rasmuson Library graphic designer Dixon Jones, and 2013 poster artist Tom Payer.
Like KUAC’s 2013 poster artist Tom Payer, whose winning entry “Ford Dump Truck” was a crowd pleaser, Iris Sutton joins many of Alaska’s renowned artists who have had their work selected for the KUAC poster, including: Ken Whitten, Sue Steinacher, , Madara Hill, Cynthia West Hanson, Barry McWayne, Karen Franzen, Todd Sherman, Alvin Amason, Claire Fejes, Randall Compton, Byron Birdsall, David Mollett, Barbara LaVallee, Jon Van Zyle – and many more.
