Programs for Adults
Check the calendar for a list of all upcoming events.
Visit the Virtual Museum page to explore the museum from home.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Courses
(for adults 50+)
The museum partners with OLLI to offer a variety of courses, including Museum Graduate Student Research Sampler, The Science of Museum Collections, Introduction to Genetic Engineering, and Building a Bowhead Whale.
Spring 2024 Offering: UA Museum of the North Research Sampler
Collections staff at the University of Alaska Museum of the North care for diverse collections and study a wide variety of topics. Every week, staff will share about their work in the museum. Discover the work of the bird lab, explore how and why genetic material is kept at the museum, investigate the insects of Alaska, learn about traditional ecological knowledge and sociocultural change in Alaska and Chukotka, and visit behind-the-scenes at the museum's art collection facility.
Mondays, March 18-April 19. See the for more info or to register.
Art Workshops
Explore the theme of your choice and experiment with color, texture and materials. Enjoy dessert and hot drinks, and create your own works of art with professional instruction. No previous experience necessary!
Past Art Workshops:
Sustained Observation and Mindfulness (September 2021)
Instructor: Jonathan VanDyke
Join artist Jonathan VanDyke for a series of dynamic guided reflections on collection
objects that span centuries and cultures. Each participant will meditate upon a work
of art or specimen from the natural world, sparking curiosity and wonder as they utilize
techniques that build mindfulness and foster self-realization. The program offers
a one-of-a-kind opportunity to get to know a collection object with great depth.
Image courtesy of Lauren Fleming.
Botanical Illustration (October 2019)
Instructor: Karen Stomberg, local artist and educator
All skill levels are invited to draw from freshly dried local plant specimens. Participants
will use professional materials to create a richly colored and detailed botanical
illustration.
This workshop will take place over two sessions.
Image courtesy of Karen Stomberg.
Look Closer: Using a Microscope to Inspire Art (May 2019)
Instructor: Jennifer Moss, local artist
Use the elements and principles of art to inform contemporary compositions. Get inspired
by looking at nature through the microscope and create your own work of art on wood
panels.
Image: Lightness of Being 7, courtesy of Jennifer Moss.
Painting from Observation: Still Life Panels (April 2019)
Instructor: Gail Priday, local artist and educator
Discover the value of observational painting. We will cover the basics of color, composition, light, and more. No experience is needed for this hands-on workshop. Painters of all levels are welcome.
Image courtesy of Gail Priday.
Mixed-Media Panels (April 2018)
Instructor: Madara Mason, local artist
No experience is needed for this hands-on workshop. Learn to layer paint, paper, wood, found objects, and a careful selection of colors to create dynamic mixed media pieces. Instructions and materials will be provided.
Image courtesy of Madara Mason.
Fused Glass (December 2016)
Instructor: Margaret Donat, local artist and art educator
No experience is needed for this hands-on glass fusing workshop. You will learn the basics of creating glass objects in a kiln, and create a fused glass plate and a small pendant or ornament.
Image courtesy of Margaret Donat.
Encaustic Painting (September 2016)
Instructor: Katlian Stark, Artist and Gallery Assistant at Well Street
This hands-on encaustics workshop will examine approaches to using photographs, drawings, papers, and other objects that can be embedded into wax. We will address heating, fusing, and manipulating wax, as well as discuss colors, brushes, and where to find materials. Be inspired by museum objects as you experiment and create.