LAUGHTER IN THE NORTH: TRICKSTERS AND SOURDOUGHS  EXPLORES ALASKA’S UNIQUE HUMOR AND IDENTITY

On view Nov. 1, 2024 - Oct. 4, 2026

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska’s humor reflects the land itself: vast, resilient, and full of surprises. From the mischievous raven, a figure central to Alaska Native mythology, to the gruff Sourdoughs who braved the Gold Rush, a new exhibition opening Nov. 1 at the Anchorage Museum titled Tricksters and Sourdoughs: Humor and Identity in Alaska highlights how humor has shaped Alaska life. The exhibition brings together contemporary art, cartoons, memes, archival photographs, and other elements of pop culture to celebrate the diverse ways Alaskans poke fun at themselves and the world around them.

Humor as Connection, Resistance, and Joy
“Humor is an Alaskan language,” says John Hagen, the museum’s Curator of Indigenous Art and Initiatives. “It allows us to connect, to push back, and to find joy, even in the most difficult situations. Whether it’s through a Raven story or a joke about the mosquitoes, we’re laughing because we live here—and that’s powerful.”

In Alaska Native cultures, humor plays an essential role in storytelling and survival, using laughter to confront power and ease hardship. The exhibition will showcase examples like Wayne Price’s Raven Hand Mask, a playful Tlingit carving that invites viewers into the world of the Trickster. Iñupiaq artist Percy Avugiak’s masks, once the subject of national headlines, offer a northern perspective on pop-cultural figures like David Letterman and Bart Simpson, while works by artists like Larry McNeil use satire to critique colonial histories.

Cultural Commentary Through Laughter
The exhibition also explores how humor transcends entertainment, acting as a vehicle for cultural commentary. Raven stories, historical cartoons, and contemporary memes offer insight into Alaska’s social and political landscape. Highlights include Ravenstock by Sugpiaq artist Jerry Laktonen, a parody of the iconic Woodstock poster, and Mona Lisa Smile by Tlingit artist Alison Bremner, which merges satire with critique of Western art traditions.

Through visual gags, cultural references, and insightful commentary, Tricksters and Sourdoughs shows that laughter can be both a release and a powerful form of resistance, affirmation, and connection.

Tricksters and Sourdoughs runs Nov. 1, 2024 through Oct. 4, 2026, with an opening reception 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. It is made possible with support from Atwood Foundation.

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Press Preview:
Media are invited to a special press preview at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2024, where the museum’s curators will be available for interviews and a walkthrough of the exhibition.

Opening Reception:
Join us for the First Friday opening of Tricksters and Sourdoughs on November 1, 2024, from 6-9 p.m. The event will feature an introduction by the museum’s curators and opportunities to explore the exhibition.

Event Details:

- Press Preview: 11 a.m., Thursday, October 31, 2024

- Exhibition Opening Reception: 6-9 p.m., Friday, November 1, 2024

- Location: ConocoPhillips Arctic Gallery, Second Floor, West Wing, Anchorage Museum

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience how humor shapes Alaska’s cultural identity, blending traditional stories, modern satire, and playful artifacts. We look forward to welcoming the public to explore the humorous and complex ways Alaskans define themselves.

About the Anchorage Museum 
Creatively reflecting a sustainable and equitable North, the Anchorage Museum focuses on people, place, planet and potential. The museum sits on the traditional homeland of the Dena’ina Eklutna. Learn more at www.anchoragemuseum.org.