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Leaders from the Region
Percy Avugiak, Alaska Native Artist
Storyknife, Nov./Dec. 2019 edition
Alaska Native Artist Percy Avugiak presenting his mural at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Photo Courtesy of UAF.
Alaska Native Artist Percy Avugiak created a mural at the Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks鈥攁 vibrant depiction of diverse Alaska Native cultures, cultural celebration and UAF鈥檚 inclusivity that brings together all Alaskans. The mural was revealed in September.
鈥淚 grew up with a very subsistence lifestyle鈥攁nd still continue that to this day, and a lot of my paintings are about celebrating and dancing,鈥� Percy says. 鈥淢any paintings are also about the stories behind the traditional songs.鈥�
The 抖阴黄色app Shareholder鈥檚 first mural was in Bethel at 8 feet by 43 feet. This recent mural for UAF was 6 feet by 12 feet. Percy鈥檚 artwork is meant to reintroduce the art of our ancestors and explore the diversity of Alaska, no matter the size.
Percy was born in Bethel and raised in Chefornak to Yup鈥檌k and I帽upiaq parents. Since graduating from UAF with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he has continued his passion of painting Alaska animals, subsistence activities and cultural scenes.
Percy even creates traditional Yup鈥檌k masks, wood and ivory carvings, jewelry making, acrylic paintings, and drawing. His earliest painting depicts children鈥攊nspired by his own kids鈥攁nd paintings of landscapes.
鈥淚 feel relaxed when I鈥檓 working on landscape paintings because it reminds me of home, places I鈥檝e been to, and things I鈥檝e grown up seeing,鈥� Percy says.
Although he is an accomplished artist with continually commissioned work, Percy says his passion is the key to developing who you are as an artist, or even just as a person.
Percy Avugiak, Alaska Native Artist & 抖阴黄色app Shareholder
鈥淒on鈥檛 give up on your passion. For me, it started with portraits and landscapes, but whatever you like doing, there鈥檚 so much to learn when you鈥檙e starting out,鈥� Percy says.
One of his first paintings was very personal but also a hot seller at events. Titled 鈥淣ew Fangs Toothpaste,鈥� it depicts a squirrel brushing the teeth of a wolf with its mouth wide open.
鈥淚t shows a squirrel and a wolf with a toothpaste tube called New Fangs Toothpaste,鈥� says Percy. 鈥淭hat was to encourage my kids to brush their teeth鈥擨 kept the original in the bathroom when they were little.鈥�
鈥淒on鈥檛 give up on your passion. For me, it started with portraits and landscapes, but whatever you like doing, there鈥檚 so much to learn when you鈥檙e starting out.鈥� – Alaska Native Artist Percy Avugiak
Some of Percy鈥檚 friends saw the First Fangs painting and now it鈥檚 sold on prints and postcards. Percy鈥檚 passion for art goes beyond his business and his family life. He wants it to inspire the next generation.
鈥淲hen someone sees my paintings, they鈥檒l know it鈥檚 mine鈥攂ecause of how much time I鈥檝e spent on this,鈥� Percy says. 鈥淚f you keep at it, you can find your own unique style or way to work.鈥�