Art, history and Mat-Su College

MAT-SU — Mat-Su College received a valuable gift May 31 during the Machetanz Art Festival Reception from Palmer High School class of 1976 graduate and nationally recognized artist Dean Larson.

He presented the college with the original oil painting “Fresh Snowfall” in honor of the late Al Okeson, a former director of Mat-Su College. Professor Larson has deep roots in Palmer and the college. His father, former Rep. Ron Larson, was an adjunct history instructor at the college for many years.

Larson took his first college class at the Mat-Su campus in 1975. He went on to attend Willamette University in Oregon. As an artist, Larson is associated with the resurgent American Realist Movement. He is a nationally recognized artist sought for commissioned portraits and paintings, which include works at the White House, a portrait of former U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield and another of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, which hangs in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. In addition to his ongoing creation of new art, he teaches art in San Francisco. He has twice won the coveted John and Anna Lee Stacey National Award for oil paintings and in 2008 he was awarded the prestigious Pollack-Krasner Foundation Grant for his work.

Larson grew up in the Matanuska Valley and was a student of Fred Machetanz. He credits Machetanz as being a key figure in his development as an artist. Machetanz is one of Alaska’s most recognized artists. His wife, Sara Machetanz, was an accomplished writer and produced several children’s books, which her husband often illustrated.

Machetanz’ work adorns the walls of public and private collections throughout Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and increasingly far beyond. The Machetanz family played a key role in the early history of Mat-Su College by donating 240 acres of the 970-acre campus after both Fred and Sara Machetanz had passed away. That parcel of land includes most of their original homestead overlooking High Ridge Lake.

The Machetanz family also donated its personal Alaskana book collection to the college. Those books are housed in special glass cases in the Okeson Library. In addition, the Machetanz Family endowed a $67,000 scholarship fund for MSC students.

In addition, the college is now home to three original Machetanz oil paintings, one of which hangs appropriately in the lobby of Machetanz Hall.

Fred and Sara Machetanz’s only son, Traeger Machetanz, is a prominent attorney in both Alaska and Washington. Traeger Machetanz and Dean Larson grew up together and remain good friends. Traeger Machetanz also has been very supportive of the college endeavor to develop the art festival in honor of his parents.

Okeson became director of the college in 1961 when there was no campus, no building, no full-time staff and only rented rooms in downtown Palmer for a few courses taught by adjuncts. He served as director for 27 years until his retirement in 1988. His retirement as director did not end his work at the college. He continued to work as a counselor for new students at the college and even as an interim director between the terms of some of his successors.

His wife, Gloria, was a crucial unpaid support staff for many of the early years when she did much of the paperwork to keep the college viable. The Okesons made use of Valley talent to generate a local faculty in the early years of the college. Recognizing that Larson was an emerging talent, Al Okeson, and later Glenn Massay, started to invite Larson back to the college to teach short art classes, a tradition that was repeated this year.

Two years ago, Al and Gloria Okeson established a scholarship fund for nontraditional students (older students who were unable to pursue college immediately after high school). Al Okeson passed away in 2011. Gloria Okeson continues to live in Palmer.

Professor Felicia Desimini and her Arts Advisory Council organized a reception at the college for artists who participate in the Machetanz Art Festival classes on May 31. The Arts Advisory Council members for the festival are: Sharon Allen, Nancy Angelini Crawford, Elaine Helling, Dr. Carole Menard and Judy Stancyk. A key member of the committee was Candace C. Gleason, who passed away before this year’s festival.

Although technically “advisory,” the committee has in fact generously devoted a lot of time and energy to hands-on work to make the festival possible. Desimini evinces palpable excitement at her first opportunity to manage the art festival. The festival reception featured the presentation of Larson’s painting to the college in memory of former director Okeson.

Mat-Su College is now the beneficiary of the seeds that were planted in its early years. Larson, once a student at the college, is now a donor to the college. His life as a successful artist is confirmation of the college’s slogan “Opportunities Start Here.”

Talis Colberg is director

of Mat-Su College.