SITKA, Alaska, April 19, 2013 – The University of Alaska Southeast Sitka Campus has rescheduled a silver engraving Northwest Coast art class to May 28-June 1 at the UAS Sitka Campus. The one-credit class will be taught by award-winning metalsmith Nicholas Galanin of Sitka.

This is one of several Northwest Coast art classes offered during the summer, but it is the first time silver engraving has been offered at the campus in several years. There will be beginning, intermediate and advanced levels offered at the same time.

“Students will get an introduction to hand engraving, Tlingit design, tool making and metalsmithing,” said Galanin, a Tlingit/Aleut multidisciplinary artist who also carves wood and paper, plays music and shoots video. In December, Galanin received a $50,000 United States Artists Rasmuson Fellowship award in the crafts and traditional arts category.

The class serves as an introduction to silver and copper engraving techniques as practiced by Northwest Coast Indians in Alaska. It includes application of design, tools, making of engravers, methods of carving, and designing and carving a copper project. A history of carving in Northwest Coast Native art also will be included.

Among the other Northwest Coast art classes offered this summer is a half-credit class June 14-15 on the harvesting and preparation of basketry materials taught by Delores Churchill (this class includes an all-day trip to Kruzof Island to gather material). There also is a two-credit basketry class (for beginning, intermediate and advanced students) on June 17-28 taught by Delores Churchill, and a one-credit raven’s tail weaving class (for beginning, intermediate and advanced students) taught by Cheryl Samuel.

To learn more about this class and other UAS Sitka Campus programs, stop by the campus, call 747-7700, or go online at www.uas.alaska.edu/sitka.