Today was my first day back at work at the
Sheldon Jackson Museum, here in Sitka, Alaska. I really love my job. Not only am I in the midst of all the precious cultural art, but at some point in the season, our staff has the opportunity to get "up close and personal" with the artifacts during artifact cleaning.
That's just one fringe benefit. Another is feeling the spirits. Each one of the objects here has a unique story. Each object once was held in the hands of its creator now long gone. The Sheldon Jackson Museum itself has an intriguing history. It is the oldest in the state, the first concrete structure. The collector, Dr. Sheldon Jackson is renowned for establishing the museum collection, for his work as a Presbyterian missionary in Alaska, and for establishing a number of schools in Alaska a General Agent of Education in 1885.
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| Sheldon Jackson on U.S.S. Bear* |
I get to meet and learn about other Alaska Native artists who demonstrate their art in the museum gallery as part of the
Native Alaskan Demonstrator Program sponsored by the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum. This week Peter Williams, Yup'ik, is demonstrating his skills in sewing fur items, much of which is made out of the sea otter fur. Visit Peter's site while you're at it:
Ata "let me see"
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