March Director's Journal

Please join me in welcoming Gillian Freney to the Sitka team as she steps into the role of Exhibits Coordinator and begins organizing our 31st annual Sitka Art Invitational. While Gillian may be new to this role, she’s no stranger to Sitka—or to the Invitational itself:

“Having my work in the Invitational over the years has been humbling. I pinched myself to see my art hanging alongside some of my favorite Northwest artists,” Gillian reflects. Her work has been featured in the Invitational ten times, and she’s seen firsthand the show’s powerful role in uplifting and supporting regional artists. “The Invitational is a heartening reminder that artists are hard at work in good times and bad (we can’t help ourselves) and that there is an enduring appetite for the fruits of our creative labors.”

Listening to Gillian frame the Invitational as a source of community solidarity, I’m reminded of her own artwork, which often explores nests, branches and the intricate, interwoven structures of the natural world. Like the carefully crafted homes that birds build—and that Gillian paints—the professional artists Sitka serves come together to form something resilient, supportive and alive with possibility: 100 artists sharing their creations at the Invitational, more than 80 instructors guiding students through summer workshops and over 50 practitioners developing new work during their residencies.

Gillian is already bringing new energy and insights to her role, particularly in how she envisions the Invitational as more than just a stand-alone event—it’s an extension of Sitka’s broader mission and year-round impact:

“I first saw Sitka’s campus last summer when I took a writing workshop with Erica Berry. The workshop was a pleasure, both for the quality of the teaching and the joy of connecting with the other learners. I was moved by the magical beauty of the place. The sense of connecting art and nature was evident. As if I needed it, the experience fueled my admiration for the breadth and depth of Sitka Center’s work.”

This kind of deep, intentional connection—to place, to learning and to each other—is what makes Sitka feel so vital. There’s something powerful about gathering in the name of creativity and curiosity and inviting new friends into the nest.

If you’re thinking about taking a Sitka workshop for the first time this summer, we hope you’ll join us. And for those who return year after year to make Sitka workshops part of your creative life, we can’t wait for your annual summer migration hometo our studios.

Whether you come to spark your creativity, connect with the natural world or simply recharge, Sitka is here to welcome you. Visit our online catalog early for the best summer workshop selection. If a workshop you want is full, join the waitlist—we’ll let you know if a spot opens, and sometimes we’re even able to add second sessions.

Grateful for the connections we share—through art, nature and each other,

Alison