Despite Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s recent executive order to cut wasteful government expenses and eradicate preferential spending on diversity, equity and inclusion agendas, bureaucrats at the publicly-funded Alaska State Museum have decided to spend money on highlighting the work of a nonbinary photographer who explores radical leftist ideas related to queer sexuality, class struggle and the so-called “politics of representation.”
According to a Nov. 17 notice, the Alaska State Museum will showcase the work of Patrice Aphrodite Helmar, a Juneau born woman who uses they/them pronouns and lives part time on the East Coast teaching at Harvard and Columbia University.
Helmar’s photos explore themes of colonization, the negative impact of resource extraction, and young people who identify as “queer.” She’s also fascinated by mosh pits at hardcore metal clubs, as well as access to education and early childhood education, among other topics.
According to a recent interview, she is especially fascinated by “headbangers who disidentify with oppressive local culture,” and has taken over 400 self-portraits with her dog Molly, including a series in the nude.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
The museum has not yet released the final list of photos that will be included in Halmar’s upcoming show. While her work certainly showcases her own personal views and proclivities, it’s unclear how they contribute to the original statutory intent of the Alaska State Museum, which is to acquire, catalog and display artifacts, natural history specimens, art objects, and other items that “pertain to the human and natural history of Alaska.”
According to the museum notice, Halmar’s exhibition is part of a project that “highlights the role of Alaskan photographers in today’s visual culture.”
Helmar will open her three-month show at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau with a Nov. 25 lecture. After the exhibition closes in mid-March, a government-funded statewide tour will begin with stops in local libraries around the state.
Alaska’s state museum was first established in 1900 by an act of Congress to collect, preserve and exhibit objects from the then-territory. The museum is now owned and operated by the State of Alaska under the Department of Education’s Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums. It is primarily funded through state appropriations allocated by the legislature. For fiscal year 2026, the museum received over $2.5 million in state funding.
TAKING ACTION
— Click here to contact Alaska Education Commissioner Deena Bishop.
— Click here to contact Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
— To contact Amy Phillips Chan, Director of Alaska’s Libraries, Archives and Museums Division, send an email to amy.chan@alaska.gov or call (907) 465-8718.
13 Comments
OBVIOUSLY DUNLEAVYS RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER DOESN’T APPLY TO THIS SHOW! AFTERALL HE WILL BE IN THE FRONT ROW WITH HIS TROLL SMOLDEN DRUELING! WERE PAYING FOR HIS PERVERTED ENTERTAINMENT!
Our state horrifically squanders money. In all areas. We need a state DOGE.
I can get behind the tinfoil hat but that’s about it.
this looks kind of cool actually i like some of these pictures.
Helmar does not even have an upcoming show. They are a guest juror for an upcoming photography exhibit. This article is incorrect.
This is interesting! I’m kinda curious to see what kind of photos they’ll actually put on display. Sounds like it could be a pretty thought-provoking exhibit.
Blech!
Provoking the thought of they/them’s weird obsession with bestiality and destruction of Western Judeo-Christian morals and culture.
Who wants to see this kind of garbage when visiting a museum? Is no place sacred from invasion by these perverts and radicals? I am so weary of it all.
THEN FIGHT LIKE HELL TO STOP IT!
Museum: “Pertain to the human & Natural history of Alaska”
Everyone knows FDR sent young queer headbangers w/ “fur babies” from Minnesota to Palmer back in the day.
NOT!
I assure you it is rather difficult to know everything Librarians are doing. Having been a director for a short time in Anchorage, I realized that librarians make college professors look humble. They follow faithfully their national organization. Our libraries are the center of socialism and anything to destroy American and any of our Biblical values. As a public school teacher and principal of many years, I had no idea how bad our libraries had become. When I asked the Children’s Librarian why we had a “drag queen picture book” for 3 years old, she looked at me like why would we not. It is obvious, along with many of our educational organizations, they are pushing an agenda. In actuality conservative people in Anchorage don’t seem to care. They don’t even vote.