News Release
Alaska’s Governors to Sign Collector’s Print: Signatures Commemorate, Raise Funds for Statehood Celebration
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – May 9, 2008 – Eight of Alaska’s surviving governors will begin signing a limited edition giclée print, entitled Legacy of Alaska, to raise funds for Alaska’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of Statehood. The print signing will begin at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center on May 9, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” says Tennys Owens, co-chair of the Anchorage Statehood Celebration committee and owner of Artique Ltd. “This print will preserve, for future generations, the remarkable history of the 49th state through the signatures of our leaders. The signing is a wonderful way to commemorate 50 years of Alaska statehood, to reflect on our past and plan for our future.”
Legacy of Alaska will carry the personal signatures of former governors Mike Stepovich, Walter Hickel, Keith Miller, Bill Sheffield, Steve Cowper, Tony Knowles and Frank Murkowski, as well as the state’s current governor, Sarah Palin. Legacy of Alaska will be the first document in Alaska’s history to be signed by eight of the state’s surviving 10 governors.
The heirloom print, taken from a painting by Sydney Laurence depicting Alaska’s largest mountain, Denali (Mt. McKinley), is from the art collection of the Alaska National Insurance Company and will be limited to 950 copies. The $1,500 print is available by reservation at Artique, Ltd.
The proceeds from this rare edition of prints will assist in funding six months of Alaska’s 50th Anniversary commemorative and celebratory events, legacy projects and history awareness campaigns in Anchorage. A donation of $750 dollars from each purchase will go to the Anchorage Celebration Commission though the Alaska Community Foundation.
Prints are available on a first-come, first-serve, basis. Reservations can by made by calling (907) 277-1663, or in person at Artique Ltd., 314 G Street, in downtown
Anchorage. The print can be paid for in full, or reserved with a down payment of $750 dollars, with the final payment due May 31, 2008.
The 50th Anniversary Celebration kickoff, hosted by Anchorage, will begin in June 2008, with numerous events planned through Statehood Day, Jan. 3, 2009.
Legacy of Alaska prints personally signed by:
Governor Mike Stepovich (1957 – 1958)
Governor Walter J. Hickel (1966 – 1969 and 1990 – 1994)
Governor Keith Miller (1969 – 1970)
Governor Bill Sheffield (1982-1986)
Governor Steve Cowper (1986 – 1990)
Governor Tony Knowles (1994 – 2002)
Governor Frank Murkowski (2002 – 2006)
Governor Sarah Palin (2006 – present)
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic and Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Shelly Wozniak
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
swozinak@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
