Create Formline Art Together in this Family Workshop Led by Tlingit Artist & Carver James Johnson

Families (children 5-17 and at least one relative or guardian) are invited to register for a FREE hands-on workshop led by Tlingit artist and carver James Johnson. Inspired by Alaska Native cultures and the traveling immersive experience Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure, particpants will create their own Formline-inspired artwork on a wood panel to take home. This workshop offers families a unique opportunity to explore this rich form of Tlingit art, storytelling, and culture while creating together.

Formline design is a traditional Indigenous art form of the Northwest Coast that has been practiced for thousands of years. In this workshop, James Johnson will guide participants through the Formline artistic process — from sketching a design on paper and tracing it to transferring it onto wood and bringing it to life with paint. Along the way, families will learn about the significance of Formline design and hear the Tlingit story of “The Raven Who Stole the Sun,” which inspires the workshop’s creative theme.

Workshop Times
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Registration Info
Class sizes are limited. Please complete the registration form and our team will notify you to confirm your group’s spot until all spaces are filled. Questions? Email education@heard.org.

About the Artist

James Johnson is an award-winning Tlingit artist and carver from Juneau, Alaska. He belongs to the Ch’áak’ Dakl’aweidi Clan (Eagle Killerwhale) and carries forward a powerful lineage of leaders and makers, including Chiefs Gusht’eiheen, Jimmy Johnson, and Peter Johnson, for whom he is named. Encouraged by his late father, Franklin Johnson, he has dedicated his life to perpetuating the Tlingit art form — honoring his ancestors through his art.

Made possible at the Heard Museum thanks to: