Art Blog - Phillip Charette

Reminder - the Santa Fe Indian Art Market is coming! August 22 & 23. As a 2009 Fellowship recipient I'll be located on the green in the Plaza this year. Please stop by and see my new work and say "hi." Remember: there's something for all budgets in my booth! And, don't forget about our art rental and leasing program. If you've been waiting to get a large piece, now's the perfect time. If this piece is approved by the committee, it's what I'll be donating this year for the gala… Continue reading… 0 comments

I've not done nearly enough small pieces over the past few years, which has been unfortunate because it has left out those who want to own art in the $500 price range, or who simply do not have the room for the larger pieces. So, now I'm building a series of these smaller sizes, in the area of 10 _ 11 inches, and I'm loving it! There are so many things I get to do with them, and it gives me the chance to be creative in different ways. And, I love that more people will get the opportunity to enjoy my work in their homes and workplaces! Look for more... I've added three of these smaller pieces to my "Other" gallery, and I hope you enjoy them… Continue reading… 0 comments

This piece is a smaller and less complex version of the large Poisoned piece, although the meaning remains the same. The large mask was installed at the Burke Museum in Seattle, WA for their "Indigenous Voices Reply" exhibit. This exhibit is in coordination with the 100 year commemorative of the Alaskan-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition in 1909. The large piece has just been purchased by the Museum and will remain on permanent display there. I will be speaking on a panel of native artists at the museum May 30. You can find out more about the exhibit and see an image by visiting the Burke Museum website as http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/ayp/index.php MEANING : Poisoned was inspired by pre-contact Yup'ik masks I handled at the Smithsonian that were seriously damaged… Continue reading… 0 comments

The Burke Museum is supporting the efforts of the 100 year anniversary of the Alaskan Yukon Pacific Exposition that took place in 1909, but they are doing so from the perspective of indigenous peoples of Alaska, and the impact on their culture and lives. They invited me to participate at the beginning, and part of what they asked for was a mask that they could hang during the exhibit. I supplied the piece titled "Poisoned" because it felt to me like the right piece. I built this piece of art as a statement about how white collectors and curators (including large museum, and you know who you are) inflicted serious and lasting damage on the artifacts of indigenous peoples… Continue reading… 0 comments

PRESS RELEASE Phillip John "Aarnaquq" Charette, Alaskan Native Yup'ik artist, has been awarded the 2009 Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Fellowship. SWAIA, a non-profit organization, is an advocate for Native American arts and cultures (particularly those in the Southwest). SWAIA creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists in part by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market each August. The Fellowship program is a highly competitive application process with over a thousand applications received each year. Phillip is one of only five artists to receive the 2009 Fellowship… Continue reading… 0 comments

To all the art lovers out there, I make art so that people can buy and enjoy the cultural and spiritual aspects of my pieces. When someone is touched by my work, my greatest thrill is when they take it home. As artists everywhere can attest, art sales are down dramatically. What good is art that hangs on my studio walls? To help art lovers continue to make their purchases in these tough economic times, I've made the decision to reduce the price of all my work. Once the recession has ended and the nation knows more balance, my prices will once again be at the standard for the quality, level and style. However, for now, and until further notice, you'll see my art prices lowered to help you love the art in your home, and not just through visits to a gallery (online or otherwise)… Continue reading… 0 comments