The art widow appears in spaces where the arts are in jeopardy. She embodies grief and loss, and asks us to imagine a world (in this case the state of Alaska) without art. One of the many things the Alaska State Council on the Arts does really well is provide a platform for diverse voices, whether it's a child participating in a national poetry competition, a Master artist sharing cultural knowledge in a mentorship program, or a military veteran using creative means to work through trauma on a path to healing. Governor Dunleavy's strategy is to eliminate the creative voice along with those in institutions of higher learning and public broadcasting media, all arenas in which we hold our public discourse, grow our knowledge, challenge beliefs and express ourselves.

"Funding to art in the state has been cut not because of its excess but because of its power." - Sheryl Reily

--caption and concepts by @camera_blanca Sheryl Reily
--photo by Kate Salisbury Wool
--Birch tree art at the Fairbanks International Airport by Bettisworth North Architects