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Atmautluak dog team photo.

Some of the participants for the Atmautluak village sled dog race were dressed beautifully, the gentleman standing on the sled wore a gorgeous coat made of fur! Perfect for twenty below zero. I became captivated by this event and shot photos all afternoon. An idea began to formulate for my painting, I could show the racers with dog teams with the entire panorama of the village in the background. I was happy that I had already done my homework and photographed the village with close ups of the houses the day before. Tomorrow I fly home.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Yupic village dog sled photo.

Race day in the village of Atmautluak, Alaska, dawned bright and clear. It was cold, but without wind it was quite pleasant. I began to feel like a native, how could I think minus twenty below zero was pleasant? The frozen river that ran alongside town was alive with people, they seem to come out of nowhere, old and young alike. Their were several dozen sleds with small dog teams milling about getting ready for the start of the race. I snapped photos like crazy.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Homes in Atmautluak, Alaska photo.

With the thought in mind that I could paint an Atmautluak village scene at night showing the northern lights overhead, I began shooting close up photos of all the houses from the same vantage point. These close ups will provide needed detail for the finished painting. I worked at a feverish pace, I had a lot to do, so little time. Tomorrow was the dog race and the next day I fly home.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Oil drum pilings photo.

I walked up and down the boardwalk every evening shooting photographs, my painting might show the village of Atmutluak at sunset, or maybe with northern lights overhead. I would need to photograph the village at dark and that would be tough to do. I packed so light that I didn’t bring a tripod, and their are none in the community that I can borrow.
More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Yupic students photo.

During my stay at the Atmautluak school, I gave art demonstrations during classes. I found a surprising number of very talented artists among the students. Here are two of my young Yupic friends from the school.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Atmautluak village, Alaska photo.

One day I braved the wind and the chill factor and walked to the far end of town to see the full panorama of the village of Atmautluak, Alaska. This view says it all; the countryside is flat, devoid of trees, and the houses sit all in a row along the frozen river bank. How can I incorporate this environment in an interesting way into my painting for the school? I’m hitting a brick wall with my thoughts.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

Yupic eskimo home photo.

I am still drawn to portray the village way of life and the modest homes of these happy Yupic eskimo people. Each day I scour the community for likely subjects for my painting for the Atmautluak school. This dwelling is decorated with a Wein Air sign on the outside.
More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Yupic eskimo children photo.

I am totally crazy about the wonderful, fun-loving Yupic eskimo children who live in the remote village of Atmautluak, Alaska. My research for subject matter for the commissioned painting continues, I only have a few days left, my visit is coming to an end. The school cook and the bi-lingual teacher both suggested that I attend the dog sled race Saturday at 1:00PM held at the far end of the village, and see if this could be a possible subject to paint.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

Outboard motor engine cover sleds photo.

I shot a lot of film of the Atmautluak village Yupic eskimo children using outboard motor covers as sleds.  My subject matter search for the commissioned original painting for the school is leading me toward showing children at play.  The older residents are not outdoors much during the day. They come to the school almost every night for different activities, the most popular is watching basketball games between neighboring villages.  Somehow, I’m not too excited about painting a basketball game.  I want to show more of the total village environment, the homes, the landscape, and the way of life for the community outdoors.  Be patient, I keep telling myself, keep searching.
More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

Outboard motor engine cover sled photo.

I’m still fascinated by the children of Atmautluak, Alaska. They are so happy and have fun with simple “found” objects for toys. Here an eskimo boy uses the engine cover from an outboard motor as a sled. I can’t quit mulling over using the idea of children playing as the subject matter for the painting commissioned for the new shool.
More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Atmautluak village school and playground photo.

The younger Yupic eskimo children spend a lot of time outdoors playing, and could be the subject for the original painting for the school.  But, showing the children at play would only represent a small segment of the community.  Because I’m living in the school I’ve become very aware that it is the center of activity for the entire village, from babies to elders.  Everything happens there.  I’m totally stymied at this point, because I believe the art work should represent the whole populace.  A small thread of panic is beginning, I’m worried that I won’t find the perfect subject before my stay at the village ends.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Yupic children sledding on the frozen river at Atmautluak photo.

The Yupic eskimo children of Atmautluak village were fun loving and playful. The bitter cold and wind did not seem to bother them as they created toys from “found” objects. Here a group of children use outboard motor engine covers as sleds on the frozen river. As I pondered ideas for subject matter for the painting, I thought that it might be nice to show children participating in their very unique play. Ideas churned inside my head. None seemed quite right yet. I still had plenty of time to do my research for the painting for the school, by being patient, watching and observing, I hoped the right subject would emerge.
More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Yupic Eskimo boy, Atmautluak, Alaska, photo.

Before long I became aware that I had a little Yupic eskimo friend who silently shadowed my every move. He never spoke, and always had a sweet smile. I became very attached to my little buddy while I photographed the village of Atmautluak, searching for reference material to use as subject matter for a painting commissioned for the school. My thoughts rambled through many ideas, what about a painting of childrens faces, or a composite of places in the village in a montage, or perhaps an activity? Without a specific direction I continued searching for the perfect subject to paint.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Atmautluak village graveyard photo.
The wind continued to blow for three days in the village of Atmautluak, Alaska, and the chill factor was often minus 50 degrees below zero. Although I wore a parka with a fur ruff on the hood, my glasses iced over and I often shot photos not knowing if the focus was accurate. I am a trained professional artist, but a very amateur photographer. Even so, my photos have always served me well as research for paintings. This project was done before the days of digital cameras, I used 35mm film and had to wait until the film came back from the processor before I knew if the images were exposed correctly.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Russian Orthodox church in Atmautluak.

As soon as I settled my gear into a locker at the Atmautluak school I began to photograph as much of this remote Alaska Yupik eskimo village as possible. My photographs and sketches will serve as subject matter research for the proposed commissioned painting to be installed in the school. I need to know as much about this village and Yupik eskimo life as possible so that I can create an authentic and revelant painting. I will not rely on photographs taken by other people, only my own. The above photo is of an Atmautluak village church.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Artist

Atmautluak airstrip in the wind photo.

It was a short flight from Bethel to the Yupic eskimo village of Atmautluak, the flat white snow covered terrain extended as far as the eye could see. Not a tree in sight. The wind howled, blowing snow sideways across the landing strip, before I knew it I found myself standing alone next to my strange shaped pile of luggage in the middle of a whiteout wondering what on earth I was doing here. The pilots reassurance of “don’t worry, someone will come for you soon” did little to quell my concerns. (more…)

Bethel airport in the fog photo.

In the early 1980’s I was selected to create a piece of art to be installed in a new school in the village of Atmautluak, located in the Lower Kuskowim Delta School District, Bethel, Alaska. This seemed like a great opportunity to learn more about Alaska, but I had some concerns about the logistics.  I lived in the the remote settlement of Copper Center, Alaska, over two hundred miles from Anchorage, and could not find Atmautluak on any map, anywhere. Nevertheless, I approached the project with a spirit of adventure and prepared for a one week visit to the Yupik village during the dark, cold month of February. (more…)