Today Kindred Post announced the ten winners of their statewide postcard art contest. Each of the 10 top finalists picked by judges from all over Alaska will receive $100 and have their work printed on 1000 postcards to be featured at Kindred Post. This year we included a public voting portion between the 10 finalists where 3 winners were picked by the community. The top three finalists receive various cash prizes, KP swag, and more!

The contest winners were chosen from nearly 70 submissions from across the state. Selections are made by a panel of judges composed by community members. This year's judges included Lance (X̱’unei) A. Twitchell, June Pardue, Mariano Gonzales, and Bonilyn Parker. 

The art depicted in the submissions represented a diversity of mediums as well as identities. “This contest is so fun and interesting because it gives us a chance to see how a wide range of people are experiencing Alaska,” says Kindred Post owner Tressa Furner.  “There were many different ages, worldviews and mediums present in these submissions - we were very impressed with the work and are excited for these to be sent all over the world.”

Tens of thousands of postcards are sent from Kindred Post, a post office and gift shop, each year. “I love that we have the opportunity to represent a larger picture of Alaska to our many visitors,” Furner says.

2024 Statewide Postcard Art Contest winners:

"Curiosities of Alaska" by Junnie Chup, an Alaskan artist who loves painting landscapes with different mediums. (1st place winner)

"Choir of Herring" by Christine Kleinhenz, who lives and plays in Juneau, Alaska where she and her family explore the natural surroundings to find inspiration for her art. (2nd place winner) 

"Kindred Post" by Rick Kauzlarich, a multidisciplinary artist who is currently based in his hometown Juneau. He encompasses the realms of painting and more recently, digital art. (3rd place winner)

"I Woke Up Like This #aplineglow" by Xochiyollotl, a mixed media artist from Homer, AK. 

"Bus Stop" by Kathryn Gray, a studying illustrator living in Juneau, Alaska who takes inspiration from their queer identity, passion for sequential arts and her home to explore the world around them.

“Porcupine Dreams" by Juliana Cornett, a self-taught artist who moved to Juenau after acquiring a master's in marine science. 

"Alaska is a Dream" by MK Repetski, an artist who lives on Dena'ina lands and is inspired by the plants on the land and our relationship with them.

"Freerange Alaskan" by Cynthia Lagoudakis, a printmaker, painter, and photographer, sharing my patch oios.com forest by the sea with creatures great and small.

"Alaskan Scenes" by Gizmo Skaggs, a digital art creator that enjoys using their art to help people through life changes. 

"Berries & Contrasts" by Rosie Frankowski, a self-taught artist inspired by the light and natural space of Alaska and beyond. 

Postcards will be available for sale individually and as a set in June at their storefront at 145 South Franklin in Juneau and online at www.kindredpost.com. 

About Kindred Post

Kindred Post is a post office, gift shop, and gathering space rooted in connection. We strive to cultivate a sense of belonging in our neighborhood and beyond. We put art at the center of our work because we believe in the power of artists to tell our stories, bring people together, and lead positive social change. 

To learn more about Kindred Post, visit www.kindredpost.com

Kindred Post is so happy to be a part of this year’s statewide postcard competition! Each year we relish in the beauty, creativity, and amazing community we have here in Alaska. It is always a joy to promote artists in such a personal way that shares their many perspectives. 

Read about the artists and why the postcard contest was born.

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July 15 

Today Kindred Post announced the ten winners of their statewide postcard art contest, all Alaskan artists. Each winning artist will receive $100 and their work will be printed on 1000 postcards to be featured at Kindred Post. 

The contest winners were chosen from nearly 300 submissions from across the state — representing the largest pool of submissions since the biennial contest began in 2017. Selections are made by a panel of judges composed by community members. This year's judges included Lily Ayau, Angela Cox, Tripp Crouse, Brita Fagerstrom, Jill Kaasteen, Maka Monture, and Mercedes Muñoz.

The art depicted in the submissions represented a diversity of mediums as well as identities. "What I love about this contest is it shows us the many ways Alaskans experience Alaska through their work," says Kindred Post owner Christy NaMee Eriksen. "Not only do we receive different types of art, but we receive different types of worldviews. Why people take photos of what they do, paint what they do, examine what they do - it's all influenced by their experience as women, as queer, as indigenous, as Asian Americam, etc. Of course they all have this in common: they love Alaska."

Tens of thousands of postcards are sent from Kindred Post, a post office and gift shop, each year. "I love that we get to help showcase a more inclusive picture of this place as people are visiting and writing home," Eriksen says. 

2022 Statewide Postcard Art Contest winners:

"Fungi Family" by Cammie May, who has lived on Prince of Wales Island for the majority of her life and is primarily inspired by the beautiful nature surrounding her in Southeast Alaska

"Pumphouse" by Crystal Jackson, an Iñupiaq painter, illustrator, and graphic designer from Anchorage and a recent transplant to Juneau

"Pride" by Chloey Cavanaugh, an LGBTQ+ indigenous artist and a child of the Was’ineidi Tax’Hit, Eagle Wolf clan in Kake

"Night Lights" by Christine Carpenter, an artist and designer who lives in Juneau and creates art primarily for herself as emotional therapy, but hopes you love it, too

"Girl Group" by Madelyn Boman, a 17 year old artist from Juneau

"Southeast Mushrooms" by Rebecca Hsieh, an Asian-American artist, aerialist, and educator

"Vibing Seal" by Emily Pastore, a self-taught artist living in Juneau who is constantly inspired by the nature and beauty of Southeast Alaska and is honored to be a visitor on Lingit Aani land

"Soft Lights No. 1" by Veronica Bunnies, who combines slow stitching and fun fabrics to create quilted art for modern tastes

"Chilkat Protector Masks" by Lily Wooshkindein Da.áat Hope, a Tlingit ceremonial regalia maker, prolific weaving teacher, entrepreneur, tradition bearer and enthuser for other creatives to thrive as artists, too

"Power to the People" by Jessica Thornton, a multimedia artist and community organizer living on Ahtna and Dena’ina lands in Palmer

Postcards are available for sale individually and as a set. The collection is available at their storefront at 145 South Franklin in Juneau and online at www.kindredpost.com. 

Pictured: Ivette Lugo of AIJ and Kristie Russette of Kindred Post

We're committed to annually donating 10% of profits from our Social Justice Hustle collection to a social justice cause we believe in. We were honored today to write a $590 check to Alaska Institute for Justice, a direct result of your support in 2019. Gunalchéesh, thank you! 

We invite you to read our donation letter:

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Dear Ms. Robinson, 

It is my pleasure today to donate $590 to Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ), representing 10% of sale profits from our store's Social Justice Hustle collection over the last year. We designed this collection to inspire and recognize the hard work it takes to make social change. We're committed to continuously donating 10% of profits to excellent examples of social justice in action, and your organization's work is just that. 

At Kindred Post, we subscribe to the notion of interdependence; we belong to each other, and our oppressions and our liberations are bound to one another. We know that although our individual experiences may be varied; it is our collective experience that shines a light on our communal well being. Social justice will require careful attention and action to the communities most often marginalized, silenced, or ignored. 

We admire AIJ's fight for the human rights of all Alaskans. From environmental justice to legal services, your team cherishes and protects the homes of indigenous, immigrant, and all those in between. Your collaborative research on displacement affects climate change policy. You help those fleeing violence find legal protection. You bring and keep families together. Your work reminds us that we each have a right to be safe, healthy, and home. All of our communities are better for it. 

As a small business that promotes arts, community, and social justice, we are inspired by and deeply impacted by your everyday acts of social justice. We would be honored if you would receive this small gift, intended to shine a light on your efforts and lift them up. 

Gunalchéesh to the Tlingit, especially the Áak'w Khwáan, for the privilege of allowing us to be conscientious guests on their land, and to the patrons of our store who make this possible. 

Sincerely, 

Christy NaMee Eriksen, owner

Kindred Post 

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Kindred Post makes donation to Sealaska Heritage Institute

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