For Courtney Tatellgaq Rose Griechen, art has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
“One of my earliest memories was in the village [in Pilot Point,] Orville Lind came to our school to teach us how to draw geese — I had to be around 7 or 8. And when I saw that it was something that was a possibility to make a career, I knew instantly it was what I was meant to do,” Griechen said.
Griechen is a multidisciplinary artist heavily inspired by Bristol Bay and stories from her culture. She recently designed part of the theme logo artwork this year for the Alaska State Fair, featuring a Sugpiaq mask representing the sun.
“Since masks are incredibly important in my culture, I reached out to other Sugpiaq scholars who were experts on Sugpiaq cultural design,” she said. “I wanted to make sure what I made was a good representation of our culture, because the sun is a very important figure in our mythology. It was an overall good experience, I would say more Indigenous artists should be involved in the poster and logo design in the future — especially for one of the biggest events in the state.”
Griechen has worked on her art full-time on and off since the pandemic. She began selling pieces online to supplement her income while she was in college at the University of Alaska Anchorage, on top of two part-time jobs. When she left her job at the start of the pandemic, she took it as an opportunity to take the jump and work on art full-time.
“I only took a break from being a full-time artist when I had experienced burnout, about two-ish years later, and tribal job opportunities were available to me,” Griechen said. “Now I’m back to doing it full-time.”
As for new projects, Griechen says she is working on a series of oil paintings focusing on “contemporary Indigenous joy, with a commentary about the tourism industry, and technology.” In addition, she is a beader, and an animator — and currently working on a short film that she is hoping to share sometime next year.
“I’m actually going to be moving in a new direction in art soon,” Griechen said. “I will never not be an illustrator, but I’m really excited about some new projects I’ll be working on, including becoming more focused on my music, and my band, Murmur.”
Griechen’s advice to other artists is to take a break when you need it, and notes that the recovery from artistic burnout can take a while.
“I think it has its ups and downs,” she said. “I think to make it work, you have to be willing to spend a lot of time on social media, at home, and in your studio, constantly creating and coming up with new ideas, not being afraid if some ideas don’t work out, spending as much of the summer months at boothing events, fairs, and festivals. It can be taxing, but pushing yourself to create can lead to some pretty interesting ideas or opportunities for growth.”
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.
