"Finial" by Gretchen Sagan
Staff Biographies
Introduction to Staff
Alaska Native Arts Foundation Team brings a broad spectrum of skills, experience and knowledge to serve the artists from across the state. Our goal is to be art consultants to our customers and to be stewards to our artists. For us, selling art is more than finding a decorative piece, we hope to make the experience of acquiring a valuable piece of art pleasant and providing the pride of owning an original piece that will last a lifetime. Our artists share their personal and cultural expression through tangible works of art, for us, it is essential for the survival of Alaska Native worldviews and perpetuation of culture. Meet our staff:
Trina Landlord, Executive Director
Trina Landlord is the Executive Director for the Alaska Native Arts Foundation. Her background has been on indigenous issues locally and internationally. She has worked as the Communications Coordinator for the Alaska Marketplace; an economic development initiative of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) modeled after the World Bank Development Marketplace, and managed the annual Elders and Youth Conference during AFN Convention week for over 1,000 statewide participants. Her work on Alaskan issues earned her a fellowship at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland working with top leaders from across the globe. She has also worked at the former Alaska House, a cultural embassy in New York City. Landlord is one of Alaska's Top Forty Under 40. She is of Yup'ik ancestry born in Bethel, grew up in Mountain Village, Anchorage and Pennsylvania.
Ryan Romer, Photographer
Ryan Romer is the gallery photographer for the Alaska Native Arts Foundation. He takes pictures of artwork for the website, social media and image library. A multi-talented artist himself, he works in a variety of mediums, including print-making, painting, photography and ceramics. He says about his work both professionally and personally, “My work is elevated from first hand experiences living in Alaska’s diverse rural communities and environment.” Ryan received a bachelor's degree in printmaking from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He is of Yup'ik and Athabascan ancestry from Bethel, currently living in Anchorage.
Carrie Swanson, Business Manager
Carrie Swanson, Cingliaq, has more than 30 years experience in Alaska’s indigenous tourism and arts industry. Tutored at a very young age in the intricate and delicate art of traditional skin sewing and parka design by grandmother Lucy Beaver and mother Anna Anvil; she blends a childhood steeped in Bering Sea coast Yup’ik traditional arts with unprecedented career experience in contemporary Alaska Native arts management—serving as demonstrating artist, project consultant, artist liaison and program coordinator. At the Alaska Native Heritage Center she worked with the cruise ship and tourism industry promoting authentic indigenous Alaska cultural experiences and has delivered successful programs for ANAF in Boston, Las Vegas, Sante Fe, New York and the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
Eric Van Thiel, Sales and Marketing Associate
Eric Van Thiel is the Sales and Marketing Associate for the Alaska Native Arts Foundation. He was hired in June 2010 and brings over 13 years of experience in sales to the foundation. He has lived, worked and traveled all over the world in places such as Belize and Australia. His adventurous side brings creative, imaginative solutions to ANAF in advertising and marketing. Eric’s tenacity, commitment to superior customer service and penchant for details is valuable for working with our artists. Even with all his globetrotting, he finds Alaska one of the most scenic places in the world. He graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2008 with a BBA in Marketing. Eric enjoys hiking and is a beginning photographer. He is Inupiat Eskimo with family ties to Nome and born and raised in Anchorage.