- Alaska Made
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Apparel & Footwear
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Home & Pets
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The FTT team embarked on a six-hour whale-watching tour with Major Marine Tours for our first Staff Adventure Day of the summer! We spotted a lot of wildlife, including Orcas, a Humpback Whale, Dall's Porpoises, Sea Otters, Harbor Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, Puffins, a Mountain Goat, Bald Eagles, and a Black Bear. We have some photographers on the team, so we captured many great shots!
We began our trek at the Seward Boat Harbor, navigated through Resurrection Bay, and then arrived at Kenai Fjords National Park. Along with abundant wildlife, we checked out a few glaciers: Holgate and Bear Glacier. We could hear and see the Holgate Glacier calving and even captured a video. We also tasted the glacier ice and checked that off our bucket list!
On our way back to the boat harbor, we spotted a Black Bear along a cliff's edge and a Mountain Goat grazing on some grass. We learned that pregnant female Mountain Goats will come down the cliff face to the sea to have their babies. So cool!
Some team members had the bonding experience of seasickness, huddled up in the back of the boat, staring into the horizon. Despite it all, they still saw so many cool things and had fun—we have strong women on our team!
Shout out to Major Marine staff members Jordan, Ricardo, and Alisha for taking care of our team! We highly recommend Major Marine Tours for your visit to Seward. They have an awesome team dedicated to providing a memorable and comfortable experience. Throughout the tour, they educated us on this beautiful landscape's wildlife and geographical history.
Below are a few of the shots we captured:
Our team is excited to live, work, and play in Seward this summer!
A handful of our staff jumped in some kayaks and paddled around Resurrection Bay with our friends over at Sunny Cove Kayaking for our May staff adventure day. In true Seward form it was a chilly rainy day, but that didn’t stop us from having a great time out in the water and creating memories to last a lifetime.
Bundled up from head to toe we began our kayaking adventure in the rain. The water was actually quite calm as we made our way out into the bay, staying close to the shoreline to see what we could spot in the tidal pools. Bright purple starfish clung tightly to the rocks and we learned from our guides that a group of starfish is called a constellation, how cool?!
Further out from shore a cute sea otter made an appearance as it swam by on its back, we all squealed with joy. On the lookout for more sea life we continued into the waves. Next thing we know a group of sea lions bobbed up from below the surface! They swam all around us and even under us. Two of them popped up for air right behind our kayak making for an up close and personal encounter.
When our time in the water came to an end we were all grateful to warm up in the van and share our favorite moments from our excursion. We definitely recommend booking a tour with our friends over at Sunny Cove Kayaking the next time you’re in Seward for an unforgettable experience. We want to especially thank our guides, Jen and Maggie, for showing us such a great time and educating us on all of the local wildlife. We can’t wait to get back out on the water again!
Meet the Team Tuesday: Deanna Ochs
Today we’re introducing you to year-round retail team member Deanna Ochs! Deanna has called Seward home for the past seven years, and we’re so pleased to call her part of the FTT Family.
Deanna grew up in Maryland and has lived all over the US, but finds that the lure of the western mountain landscape always draws her back – she knows it’s the place for her! She a big fan of outdoor pursuits, including birdwatching, hiking, kayaking, and cross-country. While many Alaskans head for warmer climates in the winter, Deanna finds that it’s her favorite season in the Last Frontier, “A cold, crisp day of cross-country skiing on a lake surrounded by mountains comes pretty close to Nirvana for me!”
At FTT, Deanna’s favorite brand that we carry is Kühl due to their commitment to creating durable, practical, and long-lasting products at a great price. With all of Deanna’s outdoor activities, she uses Kühl products regularly and would recommend them to someone looking for outdoor apparel.
Outside of work, Deanna loves being outside and spending time with friends. She also has a passion for travel and recently spent time in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Deanna is also a keen artist and attends classes in town – her art is great! Next time you see Deanna at FTT, ask her to show you some pictures of her work!
Meet the Team Tuesday: Mary Coster
Today we’re shining the spotlight on behind-the-scenes powerhouse, Mary Coster! Mary is the Admin Manager here at FTT and has been in Seward for the past two years, along with her Sheltie, Denali.
Before she called Seward home, Mary traveled all around the United States, living and working around various National Parks, including Grand Teton and Glacier Bay. Mary says that moving to a new place, even if it’s for just a season, is the best way to get to know new areas. We’ll definitely take her word for it because Mary has been to 48 out of 50 US states and nearly half of all US National Parks! Most people might guess that the two states Mary hasn’t visited would maybe be Alaska and Hawaii, but it’s actually South Carolina and Arkansas – both of which are on her bucket list.
When she’s not traveling the country, Mary enjoys taking Denali on walks, which she thinks is an especially good way to start the day. Mary is also a talented photographer and loves to capture the beauty of the landscape around her. She takes every opportunity to hop on a nature boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park through Kenai Fjord Tours, and always takes her camera along too. When she’s back on land, Mary loves reading and crafting.
At Forests, Tides & Treasures, Mary’s favorite spot is the gallery, and she’s especially fond of the artwork of Marisa Phasomsap (Flower and Roots) and Meg Smith. Their artwork really speaks to Mary, and she notes that any of their artwork would make the perfect addition to a home or office – and we’re inclined to agree!
Get to know the Mount Marathon race
Every 4th of July, people from near and far flock to our town of Seward, Alaska for the famous Mount Marathon race, one of the oldest of its kind in America. Often referred to as “the toughest 5k on the planet,” the Mount Marathon race sees competitors start in downtown Seward, race 2,974 feet up Mount Marathon, and return to town. The average uphill speed for competitors is 2mph, while the average downhill speed is a whopping 12mph. This is an event that shouldn’t be missed!
The origin story of the Mount Marathon race says that it started as a bet made in a bar between two “sourdoughs” – people who have spent several winters in Alaska, making them long-term residents – about whether it was possible to make it up Mount Marathon and back down again in under an hour. One sourdough said it would be possible, the other bet against him, and so the Mount Marathon race was born! In case you’re wondering how that bet played out, the optimistic sourdough lost, with a there-and-back time of 1 hour and 2 minutes.
It’s unclear what year that original bet took place, but the race became officially recognized back in 1915 and has been held nearly every year since then, only being missed in years with groundbreaking or catastrophic events, such as the construction of the Alaska Railroad, WW2, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the years, the race itself has grown and changed – the race now has a clearly defined course; men, women, and juniors all have their own races held throughout the day; and that 1 hour and 2-minute original time has been blown out of the water. The current overall course record was set in 2016 by Anchorage-based competitor, David Norris, with a time of 41 minutes and 26 seconds.
The original bet may have been between just two men, but today’s race sees up to 350 competitors in both the men's and women’s races, and up to 300 juniors (split between boys and girls). Qualifying for the Mount Marathon race is a feat in itself, with more people wanting to run the race each year than there are spots available. As a result, an entry mechanic had to be devised specifically for the race and includes a combination of qualifying times, sponsored spots, lottery winners, and even a raffle.
This year marks the 95th Mount Marathon race, and it’s bound to be another one for the books, with a record number of first-time racers and lottery winners – we can’t wait to see how it’s going to play out!
If you want to learn more about this year’s race, the Mount Marathon Race Committee’s annual race guide is available now, which you can find HERE.
Local Spotlight: Seward Pride Alliance
Today marks the start of Pride Month, and to celebrate, we caught up with Seward Pride Alliance (SPA) President, Anthony Baclaan (he/him) to learn a little more about the organization. We also learned about how SPA has benefitted from past donations to the Seward Community Foundation, and how YOU can get involved!
What is your name & pronouns and your position within the Seward Pride Alliance (SPA)?
Anthony Baclaan (He/Him), President Seward Pride Alliance
How long have you been involved with SPA?
I have been a founding member since the group's inception in 2019 and President since 2021.
Can you tell us a little about the mission of SPA?
Our mission is to provide Seward with inclusive resources, education, and outreach that fosters a strong, engaged community of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. We do this through community events like our most recent trivia night, or our alphabet soup panel discussion, also through community meetings, and our awesome fundraising events like our Santa Ball and Mermaid Festival Booth. But most importantly it’s about visibility. Being an out-and-proud member of our group or wearing one of our shirts has the biggest impact in this community.
When someone knows they are loved and they know who they can trust, they know they are not alone and they are safe. It is those who suffer in silence that need us the most. It is showing the next generation that it is ok to embrace diversity and inclusion. And even the visitors to our town know that everyone is loved in Seward.
How do/have donations from the Seward Community Foundation impacted SPA?
Most of our donations go towards executing our annual Pride Weekend in June. We have numerous events and try to make them low-cost or free of charge. We hand out a lot of resources, stickers, and buttons and we have in the past supported some events for the Seward High School Pride Club. We also have a BIG surprise hopefully coming this spring!
What events do you have coming up and how can people get involved?
Pride weekend is coming up from June 8th to the 11th. You can find info for all the amazing events on our social media or website.
Where can we find you online?
Or Facebook, Instagram, and Venmo @sewardpride
For apparel, visit bonfire.com and search “Seward Pride”
Anything else you’d like to add?
With Pride Week coming up we are giving out free Progress Pride flags to any business who would like to put one up for Pride Weekend. If you are interested please contact us at
Sewardpride.info@gmail.com and we can bring one by.
Round-up donations that you make online or in-store at FTT help to fund the Seward Community Foundation and the local organizations they support, such as the Seward Pride Alliance – from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your continued support! Happy Pride Month!
Last time you stopped by Forests, Tides & Treasures in the Seward Small Boat Harbor, you probably couldn't help but notice the colorful displays of bags, coats, and fleece jackets from one of our favorite vendor partners, Cotopaxi.
We love Cotopaxi and especially admire their commitment to making their communities a better place to live. Cotopaxi founder, Davis Smith, grew up in Latin America where he saw first-hand the hardships that resulted from unequal access to opportunity. Smith looked to create a business model that was geared towards community support but also had a low impact on the planet. From this idea, and his passion, Cotopaxi was born. Today, Cotopaxi prides itself on being active in communities across Latin America with a special focus on those that are under-served and under-represented.
Today, Cotopaxi is all about GEAR FOR GOOD® – they’re B Corp certified, carbon neutral, sustainably made & repaired, and people-minded, which means there’s even more to love about their stand-out products.
The most popular Cotopaxi line, Del Día, are bags made using only repurposed fabric, meaning each pack is totally unique. The Del Día line includes everything from 42L travel packs to fanny packs, so you’re bound to find your perfect color combination in a size that speaks to you.
We are also big fans of the Teca Fleece Jackets, which come in both women’s and men’s sizes. These are made from recycled and repurposed materials and feature pops of Cotopaxi signature colors. The Teca Fleece Jacket is an every-season essential in Alaska, no doubt!
We’re proud to carry Cotopaxi both in-store and online here at Forests, Tides & Treasures, and we’d be thrilled to help you find the Cotopaxi product that best suits your lifestyle. Stop in to talk to us about the full Cotopaxi line or feel free to shop our collections available online. We can’t wait to see what you choose!
Seward First Fridays- Women in Wellness!
We are so excited to kick off the 2022 First Friday Art Walk series here in Seward AK on May 6th from 6p to 8pm at our Forests Tides & Treasures Shop. We will be featuring Seward local Wellness providers Carly Locke and Lavina Dickinson. These two women literally changed our lives for the better over these last 18 months helping us overcome some very challenging physical conditions. We believe in our hearts that they can help just about anyone live a more comfortable and complete life through their wellness techniques of acupuncture and massage therapy. We invite you to come listen to what they have to share, participate in actual demonstrations of their crafts, sample some of their wares and maybe even take something home with you at the end of the night.
Women in Wellness
Carly Locke is a board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist specializing in pain management, functional movement, and holistic facial and skincare services. She serves our community through her business Alchemy Wellness.
Lavina Dickinson is a Coast Guard veteran, second generation LMT massage therapist, and wellness educator. She is passionate about taking a holistic approach to bodywork. She loves utilizing her knowledge of anatomy, energetics, and mindfulness to affect positive outcomes for her clientele.
Starting at 6:15pm and 7:15pm, each will talk about their craft, demonstrate their techniques, and introducing you to some of their go-to products while answering any questions you might have about everything wellness.
What will they cover?
Carly: her goal is to help you understand what acupuncture is and how it can improve your life and wellbeing.
Carly will also be making a variety of natural wellness products used in her practice Alchemy Wellness shop available for purchase:
Lavina Dickinson, LMT
Lavina: her goal is help you understand how Bodywork can enhance your life and affect positive outcomes through a holistic wellness approach.
Lavina will also be making a variety of products and packages available for purchase:
We look forward to seeing this Friday- May 6th- from 6p-8p.
Our store is located in the Seward Harbor at 1317 4th Ave
You can reach us my phone wirth any questions- 907-831-1995
Please feel free to contact us via email as well at info@fttreasures.com
Thanks to all and be well!
The FTT Family
Tom was born and raised in Seward. He and four brothers grew up playing in the woods and exploring the mountains. Many years ago Tom was driving to Long Beach to attend a course in underwater diving for construction. Cathy was heading Outside to visit family, and a mutual friend suggested they make the drive together down the Alcan…. So they headed down the highway together and reconnected that spring - the rest became history!
Tom and Cathy Gillespie have lived decades in their home in Bear Creek, raising their two now-adult sons, Dylan and Austin, to whom they passed on their passion for the outdoors. Free time was commonly spent hiking, kayaking, cross country skiing and camping.
Tom worked as a heavy equipment operator for Metco in Seward for close to three decades. During this career, he spent countless hours working in raging creeks and under the waterfall on Lowell Point Rd during floods. In the winters, he would be up at 3 a.m. clearing borough roads during blizzards. He was an amazing operator, no matter which equipment he was on. “People would often tell me how they enjoyed watching him work - with his concentration and finesse,” Cathy recalled proudly.
Cathy had retired from Seaview Community Services not long before Tom got sick. He was still working for Metco when she retired, but Tom’s retirement and travel was in their plans.
Tom, who had always been tireless, began experiencing fatigue a couple years ago, but kept on going. He had a variety of tests but none of them were conclusive. Last January, he was at work and had a difficult time holding his pen. When this didn’t get better he went to the ER in Seward, where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was shocking and rocked our worlds. "We had been thinking it might be a pinched nerve but it never occurred to us that it would be a tumor," Cathy explained.
So began the trips to Anchorage. After his initial MRI, we went up for the brain biopsy. It was supposed to be an overnight stay but he had a stroke that night in the hospital, leaving him with paralysis on his right side and inability to speak - needing 24/7 care. So began almost four months in the hospital. He was diagnosed with lymphoma and began chemotherapy by way of a port in his chest.
Originally, Cathy wasn’t able to visit him at all due to covid restrictions but later was able to have limited visitation. Cathy spent the winter hotel hopping and coming home on weekends to check on the house, mail, etc. While in Providence, his oncologist ordered a bone marrow scan, which showed that Tom also has a rare lymphoma called waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. Tom had radiation treatments five days a week during the month of April.
Before Tom was finally released in June, friends and neighbors jumped in and built a wheelchair ramp, installed a stair chair and remodeled our bathroom to accommodate his disability. Friends, to this day, bring food and help in any way they can.
“We have gotten so much support from family and friends near and far, but the community of Seward has been incredible. We’ve always loved Seward [and being able] to call it home, but the people here are truly a special breed.”
The eldest Gillespie son, Austin, works for an engineering firm in Anchorage during the construction in spring, summer and fall. In winter he commercial fishes in the Bering Sea. When Tom was diagnosed they were able to get a call out to him, but decided it was best for him to stay on the boat. He was back in Anchorage in the spring, spending much time in Seward working on ADA projects for his dad. He will be leaving for fishing this month.
Dylan had been working at Resurrect Art Coffee House and was saving up to continue on his love for world travels. But when his dad got sick, Dylan and his girlfriend Ally changed their plans and stayed in Seward. Tom and Cathy own a vacation rental next door to their home, so they canceled all reservations, where Dylan and Ally currently live.
“[I am] so thankful to have them close by. The love both boys have for Tom is heartwarming.”
Currently, Tom is on a daily chemo pill at home; he’s very fatigued but fortunately hasn’t experienced many nasty side effects. He still needs around the clock care, of which Cathy takes on the majority. Tom has an MRI every three months–his last being early December–where results showed some decrease in his tumor and no new growth; the family and community are all hoping and praying for the best.
Friends in the Seward community continue to help in many ways, from bringing food, picking up groceries, splitting and bringing in firewood, helping Cathy organize and navigate massive piles of paperwork, and financial support. The help is extensive, and the list goes on.
“Tom and I wish we could thank each and every one but there are so many who have touched our lives through this. We just want everyone to know what it means to us.
That said, I almost felt like I was writing an obituary, writing about things he can no longer do. But he still keeps his sense of humor and positive outlook through all this. Our family has always been very close but this has brought us and the boys so much closer.”
Tom loves creating, and was known to have a knack for building with logs. Cathy claims Tom’s “biggest accomplishment is our log home on Bear Lake where we raised our family and still live.”
Cathy continues:
“Each winter when the lake froze over, he would put up a tree offshore and string it with lights. Tradition. This winter, our oldest son followed that tradition.”
As a nod to this tradition, and in honor of one of Seward’s finest, we’ve named our Polar Bear Jump Team “Tom’s TREEsures”. We plan to dress as trees to pay homage to his very own frozen tree on Bear Lake - with Tom’s son, Dylan Gillespie, and his girlfriend Ally, also on our team!
“He is very kind and would do anything for anyone. He has an incredible sense of humor and wit. Even through all this darkness, he continues to make us laugh.”
It is our hope and goal to raise funds and celebrate in a tradition that is very unique to Seward, all in the name of finding an end to cancer and to spread awareness of the good people whose lives are touched by its relentless hands.
We are grateful to know people like Tom, who for decades have built the wonderful community that we live in today. We are invigorated to fight against cancer, foster unity with our neighbors, and find even more ways to support the Gillespie family, and more.
We extend special gratitude for Cathy and family for their willingness to open up with us about Tom's story and allowing us to elevate cancer awareness (and its complications) on these platforms. Your strength and vulnerability is something to be admired and not taken for granted. Thank you.
To begin, we hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season with you and yours.
We began the year not sure what a post-covid year would look like in Seward, Alaska. There were so many different strategies being implemented around the US and world. It was hard to decipher what the most responsible way to navigate it all as responsible community members and a small buisness. To our surprise, however, the momentum of 2020 continued from the 1st days of 2022 and we were able to continue serving our community and visitors safely, responsibly and without disruption.
On the flip side, staffing was extremely challenging all year long for us. Having wound up with only half of the team we normally have for the summer, we were forced to close 2 days a week and open 3 hours less a day. But because of the mix of Team have and their perseverance, we still had a record season.
Familial surgeries at the beginning and end of year created additional challenges for us. Linda wound up having to shoulder most of the day-to-day duties during the height of the season. Luckily, there were lots of silver linings in all of this though; one being that we were able to stay on top of ordering and avoid a lot of the logistical challenges that so many experienced.
This year, it was especially exciting to watch one of our local staff members, Marisa Phasomsap, blossom into one of our top 10 selling artists. It's incredible to think just a year ago she started out selling hand-painted rocks in our shop. We are so proud of her. And she continues to stock our shelves with her work even now after after leaving for college in the Lower 48.
Great job, Marisa! We celebrate you and all that lays ahead for you.
Expanded Offerings & Top Hits
We were also fortunate to be able to continue to expand our reach across Alaska as a result of our expanded selections this year. Guests literally came from all over Southcentral Alaska to shop with us throughout the year. Some of the biggest hits were the addition of Salomon Shoes, Cotopaxi and Kavu clothing. We were also able to expand our selections of Salmon Sisters, Kuhl and Patagonia mercahndise with success. It tickled us to no end that Alaskiwear hats became our biggest hat line, hands-down this year.
Meg Smith and Annie Brace continued to lead the way in the Gallery, along with His Design metal wall art and Todd Salat’s Aurora Hunter photo prints. We started carrying Ivory Jacks jewelry and knives from Juneau, with their single and double Damascus axes becoming the biggest conversation pieces. We added coffee this year and enjoyed all the smells of Uncle Leroys out of Anchorage and Harborside Coffee out of Kodiak all year long..Ruffwear continued to be one of our anchor lines, so it was not surprising that adding dog treats Alaskins from Soldotna and Drool Central from Anchorage were such hits.
It’s really satisfying curating such an assortment. We are blessed to be able to work with all of these people, building relationships with each artist, artisan and vendor along the way.
We were especially lucky to grow our Team this year with a few even working remotely with us.
To say the least, 2022 is really looking good with this Team. We look forward to continuing to build it throughout the year. (We are still looking for a Warehouse manager and Retail clerks for the summer season. Send anyone interested to our Coolworks job posts: here!)
Giving back is a huge priority for us. Seward has a wide range of incredible organizations, nonprofits and businesses who put their hearts and souls back into this beautiful town, and in 2021 we strived to do our part as well.
We had the privilege of working with a range of organizations, including:
We have the groundwork laid to begin working with even more organizations in 2022 and will be unveiling a new 'Round-up" program in the Spring! It really does take all of us working together to address the serious challenges faced those living in our communities.
After a slew of cancellations in 2020, Seward was able to bring back the First Friday Art Walk Summer Series in 2021. It was so wonderful to participate in First Friday events throughout the summer, with both dear old friends and new artists alike.
One of the most unique First Fridays happened in July when we had Annie Brace (Corso Graphics) and all 3 of her kids participate together on that cold windy day. It was a mini art festival right under our awning! (You can read more about Annie, Eliza & Cooper in their Heart of Art entry: here!)
Only the 2 deliveries by Meg Smith (Meg Smith Design) made via her own bush plane could have topped the Brace Family Art-A-Palooza. Meg never ceases to amaze us with her jetsetting bada**ery in both her personal and professional endeavors, though. (In fact, you can learn more about her history with Art, Design & Airplanes in our Heart of Art blog entry: here!)
We must confess, though, that our top highlight of 2021 was when we streamed the Olympic heats of our local swimmer Lydia Jacoby live for you in the wee hours of the morning this summer. Our whole community came out and screamed oursleves hoarse crying together, hugging everyone around us as she went on to win both gold and silver medals in the Tokyo Olympics! Welcome to Seward Alaska - where we have more Olympic Medals than stoplights.
In 2022, we will be growing soon and can't wait to share all the news once we finalize everything and have signed on the dotted line. We are over the moon and deep into plans, designs and new collaborations to make it all happen.
In 2021, we were so proud to make our first foray into sponsoring local events, by being one of the co-sponsors of the 2021 New Years Eve fireworks last year. We decided to make it a tradition going forward and are also co-sponosring the Firewroks again this year. We will be streaming the fireworks live on our Facebook Page 12/31 at Midnight if you want to see!
We will also be ringing in the New Year by jumping in the frigid waters of Seward’s Boat Harbor for the Alaska Polar Bear Plunge, benefiting the American Cancer Society on January 15th. We are jumping in honour of a local dear to our hearts who is fighting cancer and also to raise awareness and funds for cancer survivors. Please keep your eye out for upcoming emails/posts on social media about how you can donate to support the cause!
As we wrap things up, it is not an exaggeration to say that none of this would be possible without you. Your patronage, support and participation make all this possible. You are our inspiration and the force that drives our FTT family. We would be less without each of you and all that you share with us. You make us better. We are forever grateful to each of you.
We always say that our store reflects all of you and 2022 will be no exception. Fun things are coming. Stay tuned… And keep on sharing!
We are better together. Always.
Thank you for being you and taking the time to share your lives with us.
All the best in 2022 for you and yours,
The FTT Family
Linda, Cliff, Deb, Mary, Cassie, Travis, Carol, Morgan, Smokey
Woof! Smokey Here!
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the belly rubs, ‘good boy’s, and daily treats this year.
And while many-a-canine will joke and say, “Life is Ruff”, and even though I strongly believe that the shop iRoomba is secretly run by an evil feline, it’s been wonderful to share this year with you all. If you stop in, know that my resolution for 2022 is to go through 32 moosey chews - so if you want to give a dog a bone… (*wink*)
Hope your next seven (dog) years bring you lots of belly rubs, and warm couches to stretch out on. Woof!
Seward Artist in Schools Exhibit
We are so proud to present this Exhibit at FTT from March 4th- 28th. Each week, we will present new works from Seward School students ages 7-11 created while working with four local artists during Artists in Schools Residencies. These artists include Jenny Nakao (pottery), Justine Pechuzal (mix-media), Libby Ferrara (leather works) and Sea Ulman (literature). This program was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Seward Community Foundation and Seward PTA. A big thanks to J. Leslie and Tara Swanson for organizing this Residency program.
What is the Seward Artists in Schools Program?
This Program was created to foster education, understanding, and appreciation of the arts and humanities by promoting development of cultural opportunities, performances, instruction, and exhibits.
What is its mission?
The Mission of the Program is to introduce principles of art techniques and foster independent student practice through a combination of instruction and workshop sessions with professional artists. In addition, through these Residency Programs, they seek to create income opportunities for skilled, local artists. Finally, the Program seeks to inspire residents of all ages through the subsequent exhibits and performances of student art created during these Residency programs.
Come be inspired!
Join us as we celebrate the arts and nurture the possibilities created when local artist work with our students. Not only does this make them better students but it makes our schools better. And this makes us better not only as individuals but as a community too. Together, we are always better.
Want to help?
FTT will be collecting donations through the month of March to purchase much needed art supplies, equipment, and resources for Seward Schools. 100% of all collected donations will be used to bolster the Arts & Humanities programs at Seward Schools.
Wish List items: stockpiles of lino cutters (linoleum cutters for block printing), block printing pads, high-quality paintbrushes and paints (watercolor and acrylic), sketch books/drawing journals, soft drawing pencils, and T-squares. If you wish to arrange to donate these specific materials, please email at info@fttreasures.com.
From the Artist:
Justine Pechuzal:
"My art program with Mrs. Pfeiffenberger and Mrs. Mullaly's second grade students sampled different art history movements with a slideshow and art project. We started with Impressionism, painting lily pads and water in the style of French artist Claude Monet, then looked at the stained-glass masterpieces of American artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, and made our own 'stained glass' collages with painted paper. Next, students learned about the French abstract painter Sonia Delauny and used oil pastels to draw circular geometric designs. We ended with a lesson on African American painter Jacob Lawrence, famous for his vibrant street scenes of Harlem, recreated by students in mixed media. I wasn't sure how teaching art to a large group over zoom would go but was impressed by the students' focus and enthusiasm. Their bright smiles, waves, and expressive art made my day."
Libby Ferrara:
“My project with students was an introduction to working with vegetable tanned cowhide. Students each completed one of four functional projects: a wallet, card case, pencil bag or small shoulder bag.
It was a little challenging especially given the zoom aspect, but I think it was very rewarding in the end! My goal was for students to get to make something they could use in their daily lives and I think that was accomplished. “
Sean Ulman:
“I taught creative writing workshops to both 5th grade classes in December and January.
Students wrote a creative project - a story, essay, or poetry - that reflected on the special nature of Seward.
They implemented writing techniques such as: sentence variety, sensory details, metaphors and dialogue.
I was extremely impressed with the students' engaged levels of imagination, descriptive writing, work ethic and focus. Their ability to generate interesting material with smart instincts was a joy to be a part of. Many truly poetic moments were achieved through dedication to improve their manuscripts.
These original pieces of writing were collected in a class book.
I knew the key to this workshop reaching great heights would be the kids wanting to write. As an instructor I can motivate and introduce fun things, but in the end each student has to decide to write. And then decide to keep working on the art, to take pride in it. I believe that their hunger to write is evident in the dynamic range of these finished products. “
Jenny Nakao:
Stay Tuned- Class is in progress right now!
Program info:
If you would like to get more information about the program please feel free to contact Seward Artist in Schools Program organizers Jason Leslie at jklstudios@gmail.com or Tara Swanson at tara.swanson21@gmail.com.
