Deb Lowney, Katelin Hiller & Leslie M. Robertson Exhibit, June 2026

Artists Debra Lowney, Katelin Hiller, and Leslie M. Robertson exhibit at Bunnell Street Arts Center for the month of June. The exhibit opens on First Friday, June 5, from 5-7pm with Artist talks at 6pm, and closes on July 1st.

Artist Statements

“I am a self taught wood sculptor who strives to create innovative art that inspires, intrigues, and challenges the viewer. I’m drawn to landscapes with a focus on drawing attention to the environmental changes taking place and hopefully tempt the viewer to contemplate this change. Wood, and its vulnerability in landscapes are a bit of a metaphor for environmental change. The majority of the wood in these pieces have been harvested from fallen trees, then transformed into an image, in essence given an opportunity to continue on by highlighting changes occurring in our environments.” – Debra Lowney

“I make drawings that regard the environment as a living shrine. They are made from mixed materials applied in many layers onto boards from white spruce trees that grew near where I live. The trees had a life before I made drawings on them, they contributed to the atmosphere and everything here. I view, touch, inhale, and ingest the boreal forest so it can express itself through my eyes and hands. I do this so you can be present among it too, imagining its current condition and future characteristics. In this body of work, I point mainly at green-hued life and a single wooded setting, but a closer look unveils variances: red, blue, yellow, overlapped vantage points, and hybridized horizons.” – Katelin Hiller

“My altered books are rooted in mixed media and experimentation, shaped by my ongoing relationship with nature and the materials themselves. I collect found objects from the environment, recycling bins, and pieces of my own past art work. Each piece carries traces of time, memory, and transformation. The process is immersive and slow. The materials guide my decisions on what to do next and the books develop gradually through collecting, layering, and reworking. I work with elements like tree bark, leaves, encaustic wax, fabric, and stitching, building surfaces through layers of pigment, texture, and found materials. These tactile qualities invite a closer look and engagement. I hope the work encourages viewers to slow down, notice the details, and find their own sense of connection—to the materials, to place, and to their own experience of being present.” -Leslie M. Robertson

Every year dozens of Alaskan artists create unique art plates for Bunnell’s Plate Project. Bisqued, handmade ceramic plates made by local potters become canvases for brilliant food-safe underglazes. Plate painters are artists, community members, and Bunnell supporters — anyone committed to crafting an excellent plate that will raise essential operating support for the mission and programs of Bunnell Street Arts Center. Plates are exhibited at the Plate Project Opening, May 29 and competitively selected by new and renewing Bunnell members in thanks for $125 to $1000+ donations.

$1,000 – Select your annual plate anytime 

$500 – E-Peek and select on May 15, 2026

$250 – Select on May 22, 2026

$125 – Select on May 29th, 2026 at Plate Project Opening, 5-7pm 

Painters may paint in-person during gallery business hours. This project welcomes adult and older teen artists, but requires a devotion to detail and a commitment of time to create a quality art plate. Painted plates are due back Tuesday, April 1, 2026. Contact Brianna Lee, b.lee@bunnellarts with any questions.

Bunnell Arts by Air presents Joe Goodkin performing The Blues of Achilles at Bunnell Street Arts Center on Friday, June 19th, 2026 at 7pm. The concert is broadcast live on KBBI AM 890 with in-person tickets available at Bunnell. In-person audience must be seated by 6:45pm. 

The Blues of Achilles is a set of 17 original songs for guitar and vocals. It tells the story of the Iliad through the eyes of the characters: Achilles, Patroklus, Briseis, Helen, Priam, and more. The performance evokes the original oral tradition of epic bards that stretches back millennia and frames the poem in an accessible way (both musically and narratively) for modern audiences. Whether you’re deeply immersed in Greek epic or just curious to see and hear a new take on an ancient story, this event is for you.