Spirit of the tree

My work evolves Tlingit formline through an intentional digital-to-analog workflow. I direct every stage of the wood’s transformation: starting with a 2D design phase rooted in the principles I learned during my apprenticeship, I move into 3D modeling and the creation of custom toolpaths for my own CNC machine. Working in White Pine and Douglas Fir, I use the machine to establish the precise architecture of the carving, then finish the work with a painting technique that simulates studio lighting. By using flat layers of color to create the illusion of light and shadow, I give the formline a metallic, high-contrast presence. This ensures the ancestral stories held within the wood resonate with a vibrant, contemporary energy.

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This piece is called "The Gift Givers," and is based on old Yup'ik snuff (tobacco) boxes. I observed a beautiful one at the Anchorage Museum back in 2019, and this style of box again came across my awareness when I spent some time at Burke Museum this past April. During that visit, I was flipping through a book about Yup'ik art and saw a few more snuff boxes, and then came across the heading "The Gift Givers," which got me thinking about the importance of generosity in Yup'ik culture. I decided to carve this giant-sized box to embody generosity of spirit, and to encourage people to give freely of the gifts they have, whether they be tangible, intellectual, or emotional. I chose to use spalted alder partly because I love how it looks, but also because it is imperfect. It gets soft and mushy in some places, the patterning is unpredictable, and the wood is more likely to crack as it dries. Our gifts don't have to be perfect to be shared, and sometimes it's the imperfections that make them all the more valuable.

Instagram: @yupikjen

I am grateful for the opportunity to carve and create Northwest Coast art. Each piece is a way to honor teachings, stories, and forms passed down through generations, and for me to stay connected to culture, land, and community. Through carving, I give thanks for the knowledge I’ve received and for the chance to continue this living tradition with respect and care.

dylansanidad.myportfolio.com

Art is a way of thinking.  It is also a doing. It is a way of responding to events in life that catch our attention or offer an opportunity.  Every artwork is the consequence of a string of hundreds or even thousands of decisions.  Each artwork has its own story of coming into existence.  It is this process that lends meaning to art, literally giving form to feelings.  These forms become the substance for further thoughts and feelings.   They can also be experienced by the viewer across time and space and contain and reveal the circumstances of their making.  They have the potential to expand human understanding.  The viewer faces the task of experiencing the art and gleaning the meaning.

alannewberg@facebook.com; newbergalan@instagram.com; alannewberg@linkedin.com