What's Happening

May 2010

Hi folks... as usual, I'm as busy as ever.  I'm very excited about my new CD that's in the works, and my new line of jewelry that I just released. 

New Music CD in the Works

Exciting News. I am working with Alex Ellison, AKA Mr. E. from Hood River, Oregon, on the next CD. We are doing a collaborative body of work which is being recorded in Alex's own recording studio. This next CD will feature Alex on the acoustic guitar and Phillip on the Native Flute.

We are going to bring in some other unique instruments in the making of this CD and are working towards a new and unique sound. We've already recorded the first song and will be recording throughout the summer. We plan on having this CD released some time around August / September. We will keep you posted on the release.

New Line of Jewelry Launched:  "Threads"

I just launched my new line of jewelry, and already sales are going very well. Bracelets are the first items I've released.  I'm calling the series "Threads," because it was inspired by my play "Tas," which means "Threads" in the Tlingit language. The bracelets reprsent the threads of life that bind us together.

Copper was used as one of the elements in all of of the bracelets in this series, because it fits historically into the context of the "Tas" play and the metal used in Southeastern Alaska during that time period.

Check it out:  Threads Bracelet Series

 

April 2010

Hi folks... lot's of things going on since I last updated you in February.

New Website

I just launched my new website... hope you like it!

New Line of Jewelry

I'm close to launching a new line of jewelry.  Stay tuned!

TheArtlist.com: Artist Call Service

I recently signed up for a service called The Artlist.com, where I will be able to submit my art for consideration by juried art shows throughout the county. Some of you artist friends of mine or galleries where I already show my works might want to check it out.

Here's the link: The Artlist.com - The Art World's Source for Art Contests, Art Competitions, and Opportunities For Visual Artists and Photographers. Search The Largest Listing Of Art & Photo Calls Online!

Oh ... and here's the link to my webpage on that site:  Phillip Charette

February 2010

So far in 2010 I've been extremely busy working on new projects and getting ready for some great upcoming shows.  But I wanted to take a minute to update you on how things went in 2009, as well as give you a glimpse into where I'm headed with my new work.

Received Two Fellowships

It was a very busy year with many wonderful things happening in 2009. It was great to see so many friends and collectors at the Indian Markets, and last year, I was honored to have won two fellowships.

• One was through SWAIA (Southwestern Association for Indian Art in Santa Fe, NM), which I used to purchase metal-working equipment so I can integrate metal sculptural elements into my work.
• The second was through The Longhouse Education and Cultural Center at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. I used the funds to purchase equipment and resources that will allow me to expand upon the glass work I currently do. My goal is to eventually work through the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, WA, to push my work to the next level.

Two Museums Purchased Two Major Pieces

I am also happy to report that the two "Poisoned" pieces I produced last year were used in a museum exhibition and are both in permanent collections.

The larger Poisoned piece was used for publicity of the Burke Museum's AYP Exposition: Indigenous Voices Reply, and was purchased by the Burke Museum for their collection. The smaller Poisoned piece was purchased through the Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) and the Ford Foundation and is now in the ANHC collection.

Click to see where else my "public" works of art can be found.

Award for Best Native American Song

On the music scene, I was totally honored to have my song, Cherokee Love Song, win the Best Native American Song for the 2009. Just Plain Folks (JPF) music awards are out of Nashville, Tennessee. The JPF Awards is the largest music award program in the world for musicians on independent labels. JPF set records in the 2009 awards having over 10,000 judges who looked over 42,000 albums and 560,00 songs. I am VERY excited to have the trophy in my home.

Alaska Native Playwright Project

One last bit of exciting news. I was one of ten people selected to participate in the Alaska Native Playwright Project sponsored by the Alaska Native Heritage Center, and funded through a grant from the Ford Foundation. The ten of us participated in an intensive week long Playwright Program in Anchorage, which was designed to prepare us to write plays from a Native perspective. I am really looking forward to being in Anchorage again in 2010, when our plays will be read on stage by actors at Cyrano's Theatre Company on November 1,2,3.

Upcoming Year Highlights

Highlights for this upcoming year includes work I will be doing on a large-scale mixed media sculpture. It will be a 12' tall salmon sculpture for the Baker County Library, in Baker County, Oregon, where I live.  This is a very exciting project that I look forward to working on this summer, which will utilize recycled metals from Baker County's past. 

I'm also expanding my work this year to include jewelry, and will be transforming many of my sculptural elements into silver. I had the opportunity to take a jewelry class in '09, and will continue to work with a silversmith in 2010 to develop my own silversmith style.

Right now, I'm getting prepared for my next show at the Heard Museum the first week of March, so I've got to get going!

Check out my schedule of upcoming shows ... I hope to see you at one of them!

 

Thanks for your interest!

— Phillip