果冻传煤

LAUGHTER IN THE NORTH: TRICKSTERS AND SOURDOUGHS听 EXPLORES ALASKA鈥橲 UNIQUE HUMOR AND IDENTITY

On view Nov. 1, 2024 - Oct. 4, 2026

ANCHORAGE, Alaska听鈥� Alaska鈥檚 humor reflects the land itself: vast, resilient, and full of surprises. From the mischievous raven, a figure central to Alaska Native mythology, to the gruff Sourdoughs who braved the Gold Rush, a new exhibition opening Nov. 1 at the 果冻传煤 Museum titled听Tricksters and Sourdoughs: Humor and Identity in Alaska highlights how humor has shaped Alaska life. The exhibition brings together contemporary art, cartoons, memes, archival photographs, and other elements of pop culture to celebrate the diverse ways Alaskans poke fun at themselves and the world around them.

Humor as Connection, Resistance, and Joy
鈥淗umor is an Alaskan language,鈥� says John Hagen, the museum鈥檚 Curator of Indigenous Art and Initiatives. 鈥淚t allows us to connect, to push back, and to find joy, even in the most difficult situations. Whether it鈥檚 through a Raven story or a joke about the mosquitoes, we鈥檙e laughing because we live here鈥攁nd that鈥檚 powerful.鈥�

In Alaska Native cultures, humor plays an essential role in storytelling and survival, using laughter to confront power and ease hardship. The exhibition will showcase examples like Wayne Price鈥檚听Raven Hand Mask, a playful Tlingit carving that invites viewers into the world of the Trickster. I帽upiaq artist Percy Avugiak鈥檚 masks, once the subject of national headlines, offer a northern perspective on pop-cultural figures like David Letterman and Bart Simpson, while works by artists like Larry McNeil use satire to critique colonial histories.

Cultural Commentary Through Laughter
The exhibition also explores how humor transcends entertainment, acting as a vehicle for cultural commentary. Raven stories, historical cartoons, and contemporary memes offer insight into Alaska鈥檚 social and political landscape. Highlights include听Ravenstock听by Sugpiaq artist Jerry Laktonen, a parody of the iconic Woodstock poster, and听Mona Lisa Smile听by Tlingit artist Alison Bremner, which merges satire with critique of Western art traditions.

Through visual gags, cultural references, and insightful commentary,听Tricksters and Sourdoughs听shows that laughter can be both a release and a powerful form of resistance, affirmation, and connection.

Tricksters and Sourdoughs runs Nov. 1, 2024 through Oct. 4, 2026, with an opening reception 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. It is made possible with support from Atwood Foundation.

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Press Preview:
Media are invited to a special press preview at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2024, where the museum鈥檚 curators will be available for interviews and a walkthrough of the exhibition.

Opening Reception:
Join us for the First Friday opening of Tricksters and Sourdoughs on November 1, 2024, from 6-9 p.m. The event will feature an introduction by the museum鈥檚 curators and opportunities to explore the exhibition.

Event Details:

- Press Preview: 11 a.m., Thursday, October 31, 2024

- Exhibition Opening Reception: 6-9 p.m., Friday, November 1, 2024

- Location: ConocoPhillips Arctic Gallery, Second Floor, West Wing, 果冻传煤 Museum

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience how humor shapes Alaska鈥檚 cultural identity, blending traditional stories, modern satire, and playful artifacts. We look forward to welcoming the public to explore the humorous and complex ways Alaskans define themselves.

About the 果冻传煤 Museum听
Creatively reflecting a sustainable and equitable North, the鈥�鈥痜ocuses on people, place, planet and potential.鈥疶he museum sits on the traditional homeland of the Dena鈥檌na Eklutna. Learn more at .