‘IN the CIRI Family’
Thank you to our Shareholders and Descendants who submitted original works of art for the 2023 CIRI Art Contest interpreting the theme “IN the CIRI Family”! All winners received cash prizes and had their art displayed at our fall Friendship Potlatches.
ADULTS (18+)
First place
Artist: Jessie Rice
Yup’ik — Anchorage, Alaska
Medium: digital
“The Alaskan animals represent our CIRI family; all beautiful, different, living together in this beautiful state. We love our land and sky, which provides for us. The mama and baby polar bear represent me and my baby, admiring Alaska’s beautiful northern lights, reminding us of our ancestors watching over us.”
Second place
Artist: Karen Garcia
Inupiaq — Anchorage, Alaska
Medium: painting
“A Day at Grandmas: Our Native traditions strongly depend on subsistence. We are taught to cherish our culture while respecting the animals that God has brought to our table. I am forever proud and thankful to be Alaska Native.”
GRADES 9-12
First place
Artist: Alexandra Cloutier
Aleut — Corvallis, Ore.
Medium: drawing, colored
“This is a colored pencil piece of my great-grandmother, Laura. I added a cut-out photo of the view from her home on Kodiak Island where I have stayed during my many visits. I also glued on a cut-out of her necklace that I wear nearly every day, taken from my own senior photo. Laura was the daughter of Dora Ursin, who was an original Shareholder of CIRI. I never had the privilege of meeting her, but I have heard many stories through my grandmother Laura.”
Second place
Artist: Dylan Hill
Athabascan — Marquette, Mich.
Medium: painting, watercolor
“My artwork is a watercolor portrait of my great-grandmother, Marina Tepp (Miller). As an original Shareholder, she conveys ‘IN the CIRI Family’ and my connection to being ‘IN the CIRI Family.’”
GRADES 6-8
First place
Artist: Mason Miller
Dena’ina Athabascan — Chugiak, Alaska
Medium: drawing, colored
“I have drawn an eagle totem, representing family, with many cultural references, including feathered hats, birch baskets, and beading. I have surrounded the totem with Dena’ina words and phrases, with their translations. I also drew shapes and lines to represent trees, oceans and the northern lights.”
Second place
Artist: Pearl Sethi
Alutiiq — Homer, Alaska
Medium: sculpture
“I sculpted these ceramic birds to represent my family and then glazed and fired them in a kiln. Birds remind me of family because we watch the birds that come to our house every year. I like thinking about how birds migrate across our region.”
GRADES K-5
First place
Artist: Sibylle Sethi
Alutiiq — Homer, Alaska
Medium: drawing, colored
“Every year a sandhill crane family comes to our house. They stay during the summer and lay their eggs. Sandhill cranes always stay with their family, and they remind me of mine. I drew a baby sandhill crane with a sunset behind it.”
Second place
Artist: Nevaeh Cagungun
Alutiiq — Anchorage, Alaska
Medium: drawing, colored
“My artwork is of the northern lights and nature in Alaska. There are two moose and berry bushes and a stream and there are mountains and lots of stars in the sky.”
