Located at 7th & Broadway, Skagway, AK 99840 (907) 983-3646 or 3650

Homestead Gallery is owned and operated by the Wassmans: Tim, Donna, their son Chris , and his wife Kathy. They are a family of northwest carvers known for their distinctive and unique carvings using fossil mammoth, walrus ivory, and rare exotic hardwoods from around the world. These ancient materials are used to create one-of-a-kind art; such as: sculptures, wall masks, exquisite vessels and carved knife handles. Their skillful creations often combine intricately carved ivory pieces with the resplendent beauty of the hardwoods. Their line of jewelry incorporates fossil ivory, amber, semi and precious stones and silver into stunning necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and pendants.

Visit the Wassmans' gallery at 7th and Broadway in Skagway where you can view their beautiful selection of artwork as well as a variety of creations from other artists.

Tim Wassman was born and raised in San Diego, California. His interest in carving began when he was 17, using interesting and unusual pieces of wood he found in the forest in his area. By his early twenties he was working with talented carvers around southern California and quickly developed his aptitude for design and workmanship. Tim met and married his wife Donna in 1977 and moved to the Pacific Northwest. They have sold their artwork to Alaskan galleries for the past 27 years and have had showings from Beverly Hills to Manhattan.

Donna Wassman was born and raised in southern Illinois. She can remember wanting to be an artist when she was 11 years old. She moved to San Diego, California when she was 20, and took basic art and drawing at the University of San Diego. After trying different outreach classes to help her determine which medium she liked working with, she finally settled on painting. Little did she know that with her marriage to Tim, her introduction to the art of carving would make it become her medium of choice. Her  work is featured in many designs from large sculptures to intricately carved necklaces.

In 1996, Chris Wassman made a life changing decision. It was shortly after his son’s first birthday, and the announcement of their second child on the way, that he decided he wanted to be a work-at-home father and husband. He had a love and talent for art and felt he could be beneficial in further developing the family business. In 1997, Wassman Art-Effects was founded. Chris creates jewelry and “turns” beautiful hardwoods into a variety of vessels and bowls. Chris also has a hand in marketing and promoting the business and helps his wife take care of all the little details that come with creating art and raising children at the same time.

Kathy Wassman started in the family business in a “family way” and hasn’t really had the time to look back. Creative and artistic in her job as an art instructor for parks and recreation, Kathy easily found her place in the business “tying knots” (macrame) and enjoying being home with her children, Zack and Zoe. It wasn’t long before she was carving “happy faces,” often capturing the face of a friend or her children.