Creative Q&A with VAA Executive Director discussing the nonprofit's progress through the pandemic

WASILLA — Valley Arts Alliance Executive Director Carmen Summerfield recently participated in a question and answer interview to discuss recent efforts, upcoming projects, and fostering connectivity through creativity at the local level.

Q: How was Art on Fire?“It was great. I’d say we had 2019 numbers… There was a nice group of artists and the audience was really good too, with a good response to everything we’re doing too.

Q: What kind of demonstrations happened this year?“We had of course the iron casting, cast iron sculptures. People were able to make a plaque there and take those home… And that’s the fun part you get to take it home an hour later. We had the raku pottery… We had a blacksmith, and acoustic wax, and we had someone make out of recycled can, like a little camping stove. That was recycling and fire so that was really neat. We had other fun art not related to hot art,like fiber art and painting… It’s all inclusive.”

Q: What other events do you have coming up?“Alaska Home Companion. We’re gonna plan that on October 9 at the Transportation Museum.”

Q: What’s Alaska Home Companion all about?“It’s a little different every year, which is kind of neat too. We have some really talented people who sing, play different musical instruments, dance, and act out skits… It’s Alaska stories, so if anyone in the general public has tires that’s so uniquely alaskan we’d love to hear them… And all you have to do is tell your story at the mic. We also broadcast on Big Cabbage radio, so that’s really cool. The format is supposed to be like an old fashioned radio show.”

Q: How often does the VAA meet?“We meet weekly at 11 and we talk art at Sophia’s… That’s not only painting, but other art too… just to get an idea from someone. Anyone is free to check it out.”

Q: What are some of the good things about being a member of VAA?“I think it’s about meeting different people that are interested in the arts or artists themselves. It doesn’t matter. We’re really open to that because everybody is artistic in some way. A lot of people say, ‘oh, I’m not an artist’ or ‘I’m not artistic,’ but you are some way, somehow. Gardening is artistic… We take the arts seriously but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

Q: How important is it to find different ways to express yourself through creativity?“Oh, it’s really important. In some ways, you could call it therapy too,” she said with a laugh. “It’s fun to work on a project, and it doesn’t have to be an ‘art piece.’ You can just enjoy it.”

Q: What does your often used tagline, ‘bringing the community together through the arts’ mean after all these years?“I think we need it now more than ever really,” she said with a laugh. “We’re all in this Valley together.”

For more information about VAA, visit valleyartsalliance.com or stop by during one of their weekly meetings at Sophia’s Cafe at 11 a.m. There’s also a weekly art workshop at the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions classroom after the regular meeting at 1 p.m.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com