![]() Oil and acrylic on canvas Karen Austen Remembering Chief Thomas’ Children, 1923, NenanaOil and acrylic on canvas "The story behind the compelling black-and-white photograph that I worked from was told to me by Dorothea Lord and Mary Ann Beltz of Fairbanks, Alaska, granddaughters of Athabascan Tribal Chief Thomas. The Chief, his wife Martha and grandson Daniel Thomas are dressed in elaborate ceremonial clothing because they are attending a potlatch. Mary Ann Beltz knew that the location was along the Nenana River in Wood River, now Nenana, in Interior Alaska. The year was 1923, as her 'Uncle Dan' was thirteen years old at the time and was born in 1910. Chief Thomas was holding the potlatch in memorial to his children who had died of whooping cough. - Karen Austen
![]() NPS Photo, Karen Austen Karen Austen grew up in Southern California and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1991. While reluctant to leave the San Francisco art world, she happily found Fairbanks to be a supportive community of artists and art lovers. Austen began teaching at the University of Alaska Fairbanks while earning a Masters Degree of Fine Art. For the past 25 years, Austen has worked from her downtown studio painting portraits of Fairbanks families, including pets. Currently, she is painting portraits of Alaskan wildlife. She is also bringing black and white historic photographs to life through brushstrokes and color. ![]() |
Last updated: December 9, 2017