Buoys & Chairs Auction 2024

Several artists have painted buoys and chairs to help raise funds for BHV! The artworks are on display downtown for residents and visitors to enjoy all summer. Find your favorites, then place your bids HERE in our online auction September 18-25, 2024.

Be of Brave Heart

by DJ Robidou

9" buoy

“Be of Brave Heart”

There’s a call to ALL:

Run the race from the start

always rise from a fall.

Release the fear

and break through that wall.

Never look back ‘cause it has

exited and gone.

Rejuvenate, refresh, then move on

sing! dance! continue The Run

(it ain’t over til it’s done)

Move through those hard times,

we Don’t have time for them.

Release - Be Delivered,

then Make Amends.

And to ALL:

Finish the Start!

“Be of Brave Heart”

Line tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Herring in the Kelp Forest

by Amy Sweeney

15" buoy

“I find inspiration in the amazing beauty, diversity and quirkiness that is Sitka. I love the mountains that leap from the ocean, plumes of whale breath drifting across the waves, cloud-wrapped islands, and even the hundred different gradations of rain from barely-there mist to downpour. Eagles soaring sky high, ravens swooping in the breeze, banana slugs slowly creeping among mosses, lichens, and ferns too numerous to name, the wonderful diversity of local human community and history, the annual return of salmon as well as human visitors-- even the dark winter months, when small-town community activities abound, are precious to me.

"With my husband and two children, I have called Sitka home for over 30 years, and remain with a heart full of gratitude for the privilege of making my home here. I strive in my art to highlight cherished facets of this beloved, incredible place that is Sitka, Alaska.

"I am a member of Sitka’s local artist cooperative, Island Artists Gallery. My artworks may be viewed in there at 205 B Lincoln St."

Marcellus

by Ellie Jansen

8.5" buoy

“I went to Brave Heart’s paint and sip night to show my enthusiasm to our volunteer artists for their pursuit in creating beautiful buoys for our auction and to help out. While perusing the raw buoys on the shelf at the Sitka Science Center, I felt compelled to pick up a paintbrush! I had just the evening prior finished reading Incredibly Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt and enjoyed the character of the wise and curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus. Marcellus was my muse! I do hope he brings joy to those who spot him!”

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Sun & Swim

by Cora Dow

10.5" x 7.5" buoy

This fun buoy was painted by Cora Dow and features swimmers on one side, with beach enthusiasts on the other. Cora said, “I wanted to paint something that conveys the joy that I feel while being outside.” Cora’s art can be seen on Instagram @cora.dow.art

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Sitka Sky

by Angie DelMoral

11" buoy

"Whenever I stand under a clear Sitka night sky, I am reminded of loved ones who have passed, who are just beyond the other side of the stars. 'Leave the light on for me,' I say, trusting and hoping I will see them again someday. I thought of them as I painted this buoy for Brave Heart Volunteers, a refuge for those who are grieving their own loved ones, preparing for end of life, or experiencing loneliness. The stars may be billions of miles away, but my loved ones remain ever near, shining bright and clear within my memory."

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Breaking Free

by Kimberly Gleason

11" buoy

“I was born and raised on the outskirts of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In my early twenties, I broke free and my wanderlust took me into the mountains of Colorado, and eventually into the splendid wilderness of Alaska. I traveled extensively around Alaska, and often lived ruggedly remote, until I finally settled in this beautiful small town of Sitka. I fell in love with not only the people, but how the majestic mountains are married to the sea. My love for Sitka’s great outdoors has me spending as much time on the ocean as I possibly can. My SUP has become a great escape for me on calm water days. It is my way of breaking free from the noise of life, and to float freely surrounded by beauty. The name of my buoy is ‘Breaking Free.’ May she inspire you to break free, whether it be from the noise of life, or as a reminder to emerge out of this world, to see its beauty and to find your happy place of peace.

"I have one request: If you name her, please let me know her name. I am hoping she will be one of many in a series that I call Fat Bottom Girls."

You can find Kimberly on Instragram @itskimjo_yo

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Passing Through

by DJ Robidou

11.5" buoy

Passing Through

Remaining steadfast in Light

Yearning for Peace

Always keeping the vigil for Life

Never giving up Hope

Always Magnificent!

Learning

Loving

Ever-ready

Nearer to Thee

Passing Through

Tidal Zone

by Holly Morris

15.5" buoy

"The cracks and pits I saw as I cleaned the buoy inspired me to use them to design sea anemones and eel grasses in the lower half of the buoy. As I worked my way up, I found there were fewer cracks to outline so I transitioned to the forest and sunburst landscape. Sharpies were used to outline and color the shapes. Mod Podge was used to protect the colors. The artwork needs to be displayed indoors."

Holly was born in Connecticut and raised in Colorado, Holly Morris is a lifelong artist. Her childhood wasfilled with outdoor adventures in the mountains and deserts and at her family’s cabin on a mining claim. Holly’s rich artistic childhood led her to attend the University of Northern Colorado and its Study in Florence, Italy. After her UNC graduation, she was employed as a geologic map painter, an experience which led her to pursue a geology degree from the University of Colorado. She has worked as an artist/geologist in Alaska since 1995 and currently calls Sitka home. Her original paintings are for sale at Gallery by the Sea in Sitka.

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Water Dancers

by Merri Larson

10" buoy

“The inspiration came from living here at Twin Islands Lodge & Retreat. I was inspired by the diversity of all the beautiful sea life I’ve seen around the Island since we’ve been here. Whether I was just walking along the shoreline, kayaking or what we’ve pulled from a crab trap! It all started with the sea kelp because the water here is so clear and the Kelp is so pretty when it’s dancing in the water.”

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Octopus Garden

by DJ Robidou

7.5" buoy + 3"w x 4.5"H Buoy

Octopus Garden

- a place we call HOME -

Nestled All Snuggly Together

Always Shining Happiness And

Emitting Love & Learning

Everlasting Nurturing

A big thank you to Rob Suarez for the beautiful rope-work.

A Bloom of Jellies

by Sandra Butler

11" buoy

Although my home base is in New England, I have been in Sitka for two full winters now, from late Fall through early Spring, spending time with my remarkable in-laws and the many Alaskan friends and family we have here. Last winter I participated in the Brave Heart Volunteers’ buoy fundraiser - almost on a whim - and thoroughly enjoyed painting colorful sea stars, seaweed, and shells that wash up along this coast. This year, after attending one of the BHV painting workshops at the Sitka Science Center, and observing, by flashlight, the amazingly delicate moon jellies gently oscillating in one of the tanks, I was completely captivated by them, and decided to try my hand at capturing their intricate details, their transparency and subtle luminosity.

While there are many beautiful and unique jellyfish I decided to limit my focus to Moon Jellies (Aurelia Aurita) because they are abundant in the cold waters of Southeast Alaska, and are frequently sighted, sometimes in great numbers, by boaters, fishermen, and

divers. Unlike other species of jellyfish which can be extremely toxic, and even deadly, they pose little danger to humans.

I loved painting these mysterious and elegant creatures. Ethereal shape-shifters, moon jellies contract their umbrella-shaped bodies when they move, propelling themselves with a fringe of tiny tentacles through the water in a graceful dance. Their bodies consist of moon-like bells, frilly feeding appendages that dangle below, and four horseshoe-shaped reproductive organs that create a beautiful cloverleaf pattern inside their transparent domes. I purposely chose to limit my palette to milky whites, shadowy grays, and deep blue colors as I sought to create a sense of underwater depth and convey the mystery and beauty of these magical invertebrates.

You can see more of Sandra’s art at her website sandrabutler.com or email her at sandybutler711@gmail.com

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Good Mourning

by Angie DelMoral

10" buoy

"When I paint, I am often surprised by how pretty my palette looks with all its muddled dabs and daubs of color. There is an abstract beauty about the messiness and the fact it was used to create something meaningful. During my last art project, it struck me how grief is like an artist’s palette. It feels like a muddled mess, chaotic and confusing, used to transform us in the most profound ways. But somehow, order emerges from the disarray, and we eventually find fresh hope and strength in our new life after a loss. This buoy represents the messiness of grief that lies below the surface and how it evolves into something strong and beautiful, like butterflies rising up and away as they heal."

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Mountains of Memory

by Libby Stortz

7" buoy

“I was inspired by remembering the mountains from my former street and window, along with a bit of the ocean. I loved that view and did a number of paintings of it. The buoy was a challenge, as sphere meant the mountains had to attach to themselves at some point on the buoy. You might see where that happens! So I decided to give the entire buoy a fantasylike look with metallic paint. It’s still just a bird feeder.”

AWAKIN

by DJ Robidou

13.5" buoy

AWAKIN

Making things New again

Overcoming ALL

Restoring the Lost

Great thou Art

All things possible, Amazing Grace

Now, Forever, and Always!

Winning, Intervening, Nourishing

Freeing, Releasing,

Edifying and Delivering

AMEN

Line tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco

on Instagram.

Reflections

by Barb Leuty

10" buoy

“My paintings are inspired by my love of nature and in particular the reflections and patterns I see on water. Growing up in Canada one is never far from water or the woods and that is where I love to spend time.

“I was excited to try painting on a spherical form when Michele invited me to create a buoy for the auction. It was a very different experience from painting on a 2D surface. My process is to create an abstract design using layers of different colours and shapes.

“I love colour and hope you can feel the joyful energy I wanted to express in my painting.”

Barb Leuty is an artist from Seattle, Washington.

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Ode to Octo

by Jude Reis

13.5" buoy

Jude expertly captured the grace and incredible beauty of the octopus, which served as the inspiration for her buoy. She said, “8 legs, 9 brains, 3 hearts… what an awesome creature!! My red octopus is happy and excited to see you, and go home with you to grace your space and your life.”

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Crab Love

by Maia Carter

11" buoy

Maia has always adored crabs! Her grandmother was the only family member who also enjoyed seafood and Maia remembers sitting together, talking about her travels and life on the east coast, while delicately cracking crab legs and carefully learning the best ways to get all of the meat from each section. As a college freshman, Maia’s roommate made her crab legs one night to commemorate their friendship-- which is quite the feat in a University of Minnesota dorm building. Crabs have always been a symbol of awe and care to Maia, and she is fortunate enough to return that care to the crabs now, as she works in the aquarium and education department at the Sitka Sound Science Center. The crabs on the buoy are crabs you can find in the Science Center and around Sitka. Feast, enjoy, and most importantly, care!

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Perfect Adventure

by Angie Eaton

11" buoy

“I created this buoy to inspire myself and others to never stop dreaming, to always allow ourselves to release our expressions of our inner beauty.” As an artist, she said, “It is my dream and unique vision to embrace my journey in capturing beautiful memories through my love of art, and photography, by creating a vision of hope that illuminates the path and direction of concurring challenges and welcoming daily adventures.” Angie’s art can be seen on Instagram @angielynneaton

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Northern Lights

by Rain Van Den Berg

7" buoy

Rain Van Den Berg is a Sitka artist and maker who works in many mediums. This is her first buoy for Brave Heart, and it honors the northern lights and the forests of Southeast. The northern lights swirl and dance in a sky seen through tree silhouettes, as the moon floats among them. The base of the buoy features an "angel" formation of northern lights, which the artist aspires to see in person one day. She hopes the buoy will bring joy to the highest bidder, and so appreciates the work the good people of Brave Heart do.

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Happy

by Yusur Jasim

7.5" buoy

Yusur Jasim painted this joyful buoy using rich primary colors against a white background. Yusur said, “I painted fun colors and shapes that made me feel happy. My art is on Instagram @paintpoptart“

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

A Day at the Beach

by The Pagni Family

7" buoy

When we think of grief, we often forget that children might be part of the equation. They lose parents, grandparents, friends, and loved ones too. But children also remind us that sorrow and joy can coexist, and even when we’re grieving deeply, we can still experience moments that make us smile. Waves may crash upon us, but people are always there, waiting on the shoreline, building sand castles, and reminding us of the little things worth celebrating until we are ready to join them. This playful buoy is meant to represent the childlike joy that can calm even the deepest waves of grief.

Come Rain or Come Shine

by Ally DeSantis

10" buoy

I am an art therapist and I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago now, but am originally from a small town in Colorado. Sitka Alaska is one of my favorite places in the world to visit (I have family members with an island there who host us anytime we would like.) To see the beauty in nature in Alaska, from the volcano islands to the bears to the bald eagles…. but especially the magnificence of the whales, is life giving! As a mom of two young girls ages 1 and 3, I am finding beauty and appreciation in the small and big moments that bring obvious joy and light, but also in the tough times… in the raging storms. Art Instagram: @darkally.art

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Tale of Three Ravens

by Pat Kehoe

14" buoy

Pat Kehoe has been fascinated by the white Raven sightings around Anchorage and after waiting patiently for a Sitka white Raven, decided to paint one. One of the lovely things about Ravens is that there seems to be no hesitation in welcoming color variations to the fold, so this buoy is her hope for humans to learn a bit about acceptance from their feathered neighbors.

Pat’s watercolors can be found at the Island Artists Gallery.

Starry, Starry Night

by Annie Howell Adams

10" buoy

Annie Howell Adams spent years in the late 70’s and 80’s skippering her troller, the F/V Marvel, through the waters of SE Alaska, chasing wily salmon and appreciating the beauty around her. Eventually she traded her fishing career for a life as an artist and entrepreneur in the San Juan Islands. Annie came back through Sitka this summer, writing her memoir, and when she heard about the Brave Heart Buoy Project she immediately jumped on board. Annie playfully joins her version of Van Gogh’s Starry, Starry Night sky with the low tide splendor of Sitka and her “Starry, Starry Night” was born. More of Annie’s work can be found on Instagram @anniehowelladams123

Octopus in the Intertidal Garden

by Pat Kehoe

14" buoy

“Octopus in the Intertidal Garden,” is Pat Kehoe’s tribute to the octopus who so cleverly helped herself to the shrimp, even unscrewing the bait cups to add a little bait to her repast before finding her way back out of the pots. Octopus are intelligent and voracious eaters and it is kind of fun, although a little frustrating, to share shrimp. Pat’s work can be found at the Island Artists Gallery.

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Springtime Fish

by Emma Bruhl

11.5" buoy

I was interested in creating bright colors and smooth textures to contrast with the original rough black plastic of the unpainted buoy. I went about doing this using masking tape and a pocket knife — painting the floral design before removing the tape. You can see the original black plastic peeking though the negative space where the fish swim across the surface of the bright buoy.

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Burnt Shadows Shine in Rain

by Marshall Barg

13" buoy

"Burnt Shadows Shine in Rain" depicts a panoramic view looking down Lincoln Street towards St.Micheal's Cathedral, fading into itself when walking around the buoy. Archival images from the Sitka Historical Society before the Lincoln Street Fire of 66' were used to create the piece. The wispy blue street scene hints at how the true essence of Sitka cannot be captured or disrupted, but rather how it is passed down through the people and their memories.

Marshall Barg is an artist and designer hailing from Monsey, New York. When speaking about his artwork Marshall has said his, "current goal is to capture the feeling of a memory, how it's hazy and clear, accurate and false, but also true and crucial to our identities." He is particularly interested in how our collective memory impacts historical narratives. Marshall recently moved to Sitka after graduating from Yale University with a degree

through the Alaska Fellows Program. He is excited to continue getting involved in the community and to make more art celebrating Sitka's history. His art can be found both at mbarg.info and at @mmellow354 on Instagram.

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram and the buoy is meant to be displayed indoors.

125 Years Under Sail

by Martin H Johnson Jr

14" buoy

My father, Martin H Johnson Sr, gillnetted in Bristol Bay, Alaska under sail for 13 years. After that, fished another 42 years in power boats. This buoy is inspired by the 125 years of sailboat fishing and by my father’s participation in that fishery. Many old timers have told me about the beauty and grace of sailboats leaving the Naknek river to set their nets. I have attempted to capture that beautiful scene with this artwork.

I carved the 1/40 scale wooden boat to represent a Red Salmon Cannery vessel. My father was also a carver. Since he made ships in a bottle I decided to put a sailboat inside my buoy.
I am a landscape painter and woodcarver and really enjoyed this project. The string used for hanging the buoy is recycled twine used to tie web to cork lines in Bristol Bay.

Wings Across the Pacific

by Laura Deroles

10" buoy

The Puriri moth, native to the lush forests of New Zealand, and the Galium Sphinx moth, found in the temperate regions of Alaska, are depicted with their wings outstretched as if ready to take flight across the Pacific Ocean. Having just flown from New Zealand to Alaska myself both moths pose a narrative of exploration, balance and the interconnectedness of our natural world. The buoy not only lends itself as my canvas but is also a symbol of navigation across oceans.

The line was tied by Chelsea Huckbody @littlefishlineco on Instagram.

Four Faces

by Randy Ferguson

9"h x 14"l x 11"w stool

The stool is made from three pieces of wood. The top is made of yellow cedar. Each set of legs is cut and carved from one block of wood and then finished with acrylic paints and linseed oil. I sort of had a vision of this carving, but it came out nothing like I thought. That’s half the fun of it. You can see some of my other creations at the local Sitka Farmer’s Market or the annual Christmas Bazaars.

Hummingbirds

by Victoria Smith

38.5"h x 17.5"w x 10.5"d highchair

"Color in harmony makes me smile. The beauty of natural things is my inspiration. My intent was to bring color to this chair and still keep the natural simplicity of its form. I choose hummingbirds as subjects because they make everyone smile.”

Victoria Smith, owner of Ravenhawk Studio, is a self-taught artist who works in several different mediums. Her published artworks include The Celtic Calendar, (1994,1995,1997) and various private commissions.

Hold Fast

by Allie Spurlock

27.5"h x 25"w x 17.5"d chair

Allie breathed new life into this old chair that she found at a garage sale. She “knew right away she wanted it to look like it had sleeves of tattoos” and she decorated it with the kinds of tattoos a boat captain might have.

On her website, alliespurlock.com, Allie says, “I grew up in Washington State and moved to Alaska to commercially fish. Art has been a lifelong work in progress for me, always trying to get a little better, and learn new skills. I love making things that reflect the life in the fishing town I live in, and the wildlife nearby. Creating big one of a kind pieces is one of my favorite things. The subsistence lifestyle on our little island requires everyone to make the best use of what they have, and that’s what I love about making art out of things that have outlived their original purpose!”