On View: August 2-August 31, 2024

First Friday Opening Reception: Friday, August 2, 5–7 p.m.

(Gallery opens at noon on First Fridays)

The Bear Gallery is located on the third floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts building in Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Join Fairbanks Arts Association in the Bear Gallery this August for two stunning exhibitions featuring Sami Ali and Vladimir Zhikhartsev. Both exhibitions capture the beauty of nature in all its forms. From landscapes to bouquets, these shows will invite you to step into a world of color, flora, and Alaskan environments. 

Bouquet All Day by Sami Ali:

Flowers hold both inherent beauty and symbolic significance for Sami, who cherishes Fairbanks deeply as her first Alaskan home since 2003. Discovering life beyond the rat race and embracing nature's splendor there, she finds that bouquets of flowers express a range of emotions, from appreciation to love. Sami's paintings, crafted like unique bouquets, pay homage to Fairbanks by capturing its distinctive essence and the transformative impact it had on her worldview. This theme is vividly reflected in her current exhibition, Bouquet All Day.

Sami Ali, born in Vietnam during the fall of Saigon in 1975, discovered her passion for painting after her family's move to America. Settling in Alaska, she embraced oil painting as her primary medium, and is known for her bold, whimsical style and narratives rich in color and texture. Alongside her career in Emergency Medicine, Sami finds inspiration in the ocean and enjoys cooking homemade egg rolls and salmon fishing in her spare time.
 

ALASKA EXPERIENCES by Vladimir Zhikhartsev:

Vladimir Zhikhartsev's upcoming watercolor show, "ALASKA EXPERIENCES," is a visual journey through Alaska's diverse landscapes, from icy fjords to towering mountains. Using fluid watercolor techniques, he captures the ethereal essence of these scenes, blending delicate washes with bold strokes to evoke the region's natural wonders like the northern lights and serene tundra. Beyond showcasing beauty, the exhibition reflects Vladimir's deep emotional connection to Alaska's wilderness, inviting viewers to experience its solitude and peace. Join him on August 2nd, 2024, for the opening, where his paintings promise to inspire a profound appreciation for nature's splendor.

Vladimir Zhikhartsev, originally from Provideniya, Russia, has lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for 28 years. His artistic journey started with formal training in sculpture and painting, and he now shares his passion through workshops and exhibitions statewide. Vladimir is celebrated as both a decorated painter, honored with the Rasmuson Foundation Fellowship Award, and a renowned ice sculptor with numerous international awards. As a watercolor artist, he conducts workshops across Alaska and has made significant contributions to the art community through his teaching at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Inspired by Alaska's landscapes, he particularly focuses on capturing the essence of its mountains and natural beauty in his artwork.