- Fran Reed
Infobox Person
name = Fran Reed
caption =
birth_date =June 12 ,1943
birth_place =La Jolla, California
death_date =September 11 ,2008
death_place =Anchorage ,Alaska
other_names =
known_for =
occupation =Artist ,fiber artist ,teacher
nationality =
spouse = Dick ReedFrances Ann Reed (
June 12 ,1943 -September 11 ,2008 ) was an Americanfiber artist andteacher based inAlaska who specialized in a distinctive style ofbasketry made fromdried fish skins and othernatural material s found in the state. cite news |first=Mike|last=Dunham|title=Fish skin artist Fran Reed dead at 65 |url=http://www.adn.com/life/story/523672.html|work=Anchorage Daily News |publisher=|date=2008-09-12 |accessdate=2008-09-25]Biography
Early life
Reed was born Frances Williams in
La Jolla, California , onJune 12 ,1943 to parents Charles and Mary Alice Williams. cite news |first=|last=|title=Frances Ann Reed|url=http://www.legacy.com/newsminer/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=118101522|work=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner |publisher=|date=2008-09-28 |accessdate=2008-09-29] Reed, a competitive swimmer, graduated fromLa Jolla High School in 1961. cite news |first=|last=|title=Fran Reed Obituary|url=http://www.sdnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/09/19/48d481dc9df27|work=La Jolla Village News |publisher=|date=2008-09-19 |accessdate=2008-09-25] She met her husband, Dick Reed, in 1961 while both were students at theUniversity of Oregon . The couple had two children, Collin and Jocelyn.Career
Reed graduated from University of Oregon with a
bachelor's of science degree inart education . cite news |first=|last=|title=Fran Reed Biography|url=http://www.museums.state.ak.us/online_exhibits/reed_bio.html|work=Alaska State Museum |publisher=|date=|accessdate=2008-09-25] She began teachingweaving at an art school inEugene, Oregon , after her graduation.She relocated to
Fairbanks, Alaska , in 1969. Once in Fairbanks, Reed began teachingqiviut weaving (musk ox wool ) at theUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks . She also worked as a lecturer atAlaska Pacific University , where she taught Alaska Native arts for fifteen years. Additionally, Reed worked for the Alaska Marine Highway Elderhostel program.Reed began working with
dried fish as an art material in 1986 using dead "river kill" fish collected from theChena River . The family moved south to Anchorage shortly afterwards when her husband, Dick Reed, anarchitect , was hired for a large project.Southcentral Alaska offered more numerous, diverse fish species than those found near Reed's former home in Fairbanks. This allowed her to incorporate more fish skins in her art and expand her interests.Through her art, Reed became an expert on the use of fish skins and their uses, especially in the traditional indigenous art of Alaska, such as
baskets . She extensively researched Alaskan fish skin and their uses independently. Her unique art and expertise attracted attention from throughout Alaska and the rest of theUnited States . This led to a number of awards and honors.Reed's fish skin
baskets and other crafts were featured in the book, "Arctic Clothing", which was published by the British Museum Press. She received theLila Wallace -Reader's Digest Artists atGiverny fellowship in 1996, which allowed her to study at the home ofClaude Monet inFrance for three months. She also received theRasmuson Foundation andWestern States Arts Federation fellowships during her career. In 1989, Reed was adopted into theTsimshian Killer Whale clan, which is also known as theGispwudwada .In 1997, Reed was commissioned by the
Governor of Alaska to create the prizes given to the recipients of theAlaska Governor's Arts Awards .Reed was awarded the Anchorage Mayor's Award for Outstanding Individual Artist by Mayor
Mark Begich in 2008. Despite being ill with cancer, Reed spent for days in 2008 at theSmithsonian Institute inWashington D.C. Reed aided Smithsonian staff and curators to restore and identify animal skins in the museum'sNative Alaskan collection.Reed was a member of The Friends of Fiber Arts International and
Northwest Designer Craftsmen .Death
Fran Reed died of cancer on
September 11 ,2008 , at the age of 65, inAnchorage, Alaska . cite news |first=Mike|last=Dunham|title=Renowned Alaska artist Fran Reed dies |url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/523093.html|work=Anchorage Daily News |publisher=|date=2008-09-11 |accessdate=2008-09-29] She is survived by her husband and children.Reed's final scholarly paper, entitled "Embellishment of the Arctic Gut Parka", was presented posthumously at the 11th Biennial Textile Society of America Symposium in
Honolulu, Hawaii , byAudrey Armstrong . Armstrong, anAthabascan basket maker and friend of Reed, had been taught many techniques and skills by Reed.References
External links
* [http://www.rasmuson.org/ArtOnDisplay/artistGallery.php?artist_name=Fran_Reed Rasmuson Foundation Fran Reed gallery]
* [http://www.museums.state.ak.us/online_exhibits/reed_bio.html Fran Reed Biography]
* [http://www.sdnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/09/19/48d481dc9df27 La Jolla Village News: Fran Reed obituary]
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