Twelve woodblock prints, by Juneau artist Dale DeArmond, based on legends from the small Athabaskan village of Nondalton, which is near Lake Clark at the head of the Alaska Peninsula.

These prints were created in 1970-80 as part of an agreement with the village to put artworks into their new school under the Percent for Art program of the State of Alaska. Dale DeArmond traveled to Nondalton with fellow artist Rie Munos and both artists created pieces for the village’s school using the same legends for inspiration.

These prints were also used to illustrate a book of traditional Athabaskan stories, compiled by Joan M. Tenenbaum. The book Dena’ina Sukdu’a: Traditional Stories of the Tanana Athabaskans, was the basis for the condensed legends described in this exhibit.

Also exhibited here are six of DeArmond’s original wood blocks for The Sunshine Man and Raven’s Wife. They clearly show how the colored areas in these prints come from smooth pieces of wood which must be carved separately.

Dale DeArmond began working with woodblock printing in 1960, and has also explored silkscreen and lithography. Since about 1980, she has devoted much of her time to wood engraving. DeArmond is also the author and illustrator of several books for children and adults.

The DeArmond prints were a bequest to the Alaska State Museum by Stephen Rausch. This exhibit is being toured by the Alaska State Museum.