Ursa X: A Decade of Doodles
"Half calf"
The Department of Art's own Jamie Smith, Assistant Professor in Drawing, invites the community to experience "Ursa X: A Decade of Doodles", his final retrospective exhibition of Nuggets, the beloved cartoon series that has captivated Alaskans since 1988. The show is open through January 31, 2025, at Ursa Major Distilling, marking a celebratory close to a decade of retrospectives.
This exhibition serves as a testament to Smith’s illustrious career as a cartoonist, painter, and printmaker. Over the past 35 years, his single-panel gag comic Nuggets has offered a humorous lens on life in Alaska, from its quirky wildlife to its unforgiving winters. Smith’s unique ability to capture the challenges and absurdities of life in the Last Frontier has made his work a beloved staple in the vlog Daily News-Miner and a source of joy for audiences statewide.
“I’ve always believed humor is a coping mechanism,” Smith explains in an . “Sometimes you just gotta laugh at the absurdity of it all... a little bit of levity goes a long way when it comes to making it through the long, dark nights of 40 below.”
Visitors to Ursa X can expect an eclectic mix of original art, including iconic Nuggets panels, illustrations featuring local wildlife, and limited-edition Spruce Moose comics—a recent major commission debuting in vlog for the first time. Also featured is a special series of works from Smith’s Nuggets Sketchbook collection and rare editorial pieces. Jamie’s creative influences, from classic illustrators like Maurice Sendak to underground comic legends like B. Kliban, shine through in his work, making the exhibit a feast of humor and heart.
For Smith, creating art has been both a profession and a passion. “Being a full-time
art teacher underscores my attitude: it’s called art ‘work’ for a reason,” he notes.
His journey began as a child assembling narratives from his father’s French editions
of Asterix the Gaul and grew into a lifelong dedication to storytelling through cartoons.
His Nuggets cartoons are not only funny but have also served as tools for literacy,
sparking joy and imagination in readers of all ages.
In addition to his long-standing comic series, Smith is known for his contributions to Alaskan culture as a freelance designer, educator, and advocate for the arts. He holds an MFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design and continues to inspire a new generation of artists through his teaching at UAF.
Stop by Ursa Major Distilling before the exhibition ends to celebrate Jamie’s remarkable career, enjoy a laugh (or several), and take home a piece of Alaskan art. Admission is restricted to guests 21 and older, as the venue is a distillery.