Copper River Gallery

Named for the majestic, braided river that calls our salmon home, the Copper River Gallery becomes home to creative reflections on local events, featuring traveling exhibits, local art, and “reveals” from the Historical Society’s collection.

Our cultural program leader and curator of the Copper River Gallery, Paula Payne has a diverse artistic background well-suited for this task.

A graduate of New York’s Cooper Union and the University of Montana, Paula’s background includes Head Scenic Artist on episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood from 1988-1992 and on-set scenic artist for numerous movies including The Silence of the Lambs, Lorenzo’s Oil, and Monkey Shines.

Locally, Paula continues to paint her own works as well as teaching art to Cordovans, organizing art workshops and set design for local theater and dance productions.