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Artists in Residence 2023
Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area, Chugach National Forest
Jacqueline L. Scott | Writer | Ontario, Canada
“There was no swimsuit on the packing list. Now I understood why as we beach-camped in Alaska. It was June and behind us was snow-covered land. I wore long johns, wool socks and a winter jacket. Back home in Toronto, Canada June is t-shirt and lake-swimming season.
The Pacific Ocean dripped from my fingers when we kayaked. Bergy bits floated by. No fun tipping the kayak in these waters! Glaciers gleamed in the sunlight. Blue-ice, eons-old, melting in the climate crisis. Seals and sea otters played in the water. Orcas and humpback whales waved fins and tails at us.
Back on the land bears bounded away. Rainforest trees fingered the sky. Bald eagles soared by. Chugach National Forest grows beautiful life. It needs us to let it thrive. We need it too, to keep us alive.”
Stewardship Projects:
- Participated in Teach the Teachers outdoor education program at Derickson Spit, bringing a social justice perspective to the conservation discussions.
- Removed debris from unauthorized campsites in Prince William Sound, as part of the ongoing monitoring of the area.
- Assisted with repairing mosaics in Girdwood’s garden planters as part of its community art project.
- Removed invasive European black slugs at the Whittier Slug-Out organized by the Kenai Watershed Forum, Forest Service and Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation.
Community Extension: Jacqueline Scott shared her experience on the need to protect public lands in Alaska in her many speeches and webinars on the links between race and nature. She also shared it on her blog and social media channels.
Artist Donation: Jacqueline Scott’s feature article on conservation and Black whalers in the Pacific Ocean is in progress.
Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area, Chugach National Forest
Keith Boggs | Painter | Anchorage, Alaska
“I spent a week in June at one of the most beautiful locations imaginable; Blackstone Bay. The Chugach National Forest had requested a painting of the Fjord and I spent the time hiking to various locations from their main camp. The company was excellent including the rangers and family, and volunteers from the Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation. Their objective was to harden the various campsites that needed repair. It rained every day which is expected and appropriate for a rainforest.
I paint landscapes and thus view the world in ecosystems. The main camp is a mix of old-growth spruce hemlock forest, rocky headlands, beach dunes, tidal marshes and drowned old-growth from the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake. In one of my paintings, I will try to capture this coastal ecosystem and the other painting is of Blackstone Glacier and what I imagine is below the ocean.”
Stewardship Projects:
- Participated in restoration and campsite improvements in partnership with the Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation and Alaska Geographic.
- Accompanied a Forest Service shipboard interpretation ranger in Prince William Sound.
Kootznoowoo Wilderness, Tongass National Forest
Tom Hanicak | Painter | Cleveland, Ohio
"Years ago my son asked me what the word "majestic" meant. I realized that simply reading him a definition of the word would do little to help his then eight-year-old brain understand, so we embarked on a cross-country adventure in search of anything and everything that fit the bill.
Had I known about it at the time, a trip to the Kootznoowoo Wilderness of Alaska's Admiralty Island would've been an apropos excursion, because everything about my summer residency at Voices of the Wilderness was—in a word—majestic.
No matter the weather or time of day, everything surrounding me at Pack Creek—from every angle, perspective, and vantage point—was overwhelmingly beautiful and exciting. Guided by the amazing Forest Service and Fish and Game rangers, I was the enthusiastic student, taking in tidal zones, watching the static sun set in the July sky, and cutting the glass surface of the ocean in a sea kayak, water mirroring the morning mist and reflecting cloaking snow-capped mountains, lush greenery, and an abundance of land and marine wildlife. My Voices of the Wilderness experience will have a lifelong impact on how I see the world and create art."
Stewardship Projects:
- Brown bear observation and surveying
- Visitor contacts at bear viewing area
- Visitor contacts on the trail to bear viewing tower area
Community Extension: Tom Hanicak gave multiple presentations, showcasing his artwork, video and stories from his journey as an artist in residence for Voices of the Wilderness.
Artist Donation: Hanicak donated a watercolor painting, 5” by 7” depicting the tidal beach view from Pack Creek looking toward Windfall Island.
Tebenkof Bay, Tongass National Forest
Trenton Jung | Illustrator | Tucson, Arizona
"Going from the scorching summer heat of Tucson, Arizona to the cool coastal weather of Petersburg, Alaska refreshed my artistic spark.
During my time on Kuiu and the surrounding Islands in Tebenkof Bay, my daily rhythms synchronized with the ebb and flow of the tide and adjusted to the long summer days. The Forest Service rangers and I used our Feathercraft kayaks to navigate the waters of Tebenkof Bay where we conducted solitude monitoring, checked up on campsites, watched sea otter pups learning hunting skills, saw a 3-foot-long pile worm cruising around, and a pair of humpback whales circling the bay. The quiet air of the forest created the perfect studio atmosphere for me to draw, paint, and write in my nature journal. Each night, before tucking away in my sleeping bag, I spent time sketching bits of plants, shells, and taking notes of my observations. My sketches will turn into an illustration featuring a “slice of the Tongass National Forest” from the treetops to the ocean.
This rugged wilderness where the sea meets the forest has gifted me memories that will last me a lifetime. I hope that my experiences and artwork inspire others to preserve and respect our natural world."
Stewardship Projects:
- Solitude monitoring
- Campsite monitoring
- Vegetation mapping
- Marine debris clean up
Community Extension: Trenton Jung led two different scientific illustration classes for the community at the public library in Petersburg, Alaska. The two classes focused on exploring science illustration techniques such as careful observation, sketching, note-taking, and lots of sketching that Jung used in the field.
Artist Donation: "Slice of the Tongass", graphite and watercolor, 12" x 20".
Sitka Ranger District Wilderness Areas, Tongass National Forest
Nellie Geraghty | Mixed medium | Providence, Rhode Island
Tracy Arm-Ford's Terror Wilderness, Tongass National Forest
Youpa Stein | Multidisciplinary | Arlee, Montana
"I joined the rangers in collecting marine debris from Harbor Island and inventorying eight campsites in both Tracy Arm and Endicott Fjords for human traces (debris, footprints, sluice box, trails) and invasive species. There are trillions of tons of macro and micro plastics in the world's oceans. Some of that plastic ends up on beaches like the ones on Harbor Island. Seeing the bite marks on the plastic waste we found and knowing that these plastics have been breaking up into smaller and smaller pieces impacting wildlife, is a part of the story of this place. This experience highlights an aspect of our responsibilities for the care of this precious environment. We also found some bits of plastic and debris at campsites including a fragment of nylon rope, a small zip lock bag with some food in it, band aid wrappers and rubber bands. While debris at the campsites was minimal, as humans we seem to find it hard to leave no trace. I was grateful to accompany these dedicated rangers in their work to reduce negative debris impacts in the Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness Area and will include this topic in my post residency artwork and community outreach.”
Stewardship Projects:
- Collected marine debris
- Inventoried recreation sites and monitored for invasive species
- Accompanied the wilderness rangers on two marine vessels for shipboard education
Community Extension:
Youpa Stein gave two public presentations, one at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau, Alaska, and another at the Confluence Center in Missoula, Montana, where she also had a month-long exhibit showcasing her artwork.
Artist Donation: "Home" Painter plaster-cast clay with plastic jug (whiskers of seal) and found marine-debris plastic rope. Youpa Stein donated a sculpture integrating plastic marine debris collected during her residency with the sculpted head of a harbor seal. The harbor seals frequently poked their head out of the water to check out Stein and the three Wilderness Rangers while they were kayaking in the Tracy Arm. Stein said the seals curiosity, big eyes and water smoothed heads, and thinking about wildlife exposures to human impacts even in wilderness areas, inspired the piece.
Aleutian Islands Wilderness, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Bridget Brunner | Stained glass | Valdez, Alaska
“As an adventurous lifelong Alaskan, I have been fortunate to have spent time in beautiful wild lands. But the incredible and remote locations offered through the Voices of the Wilderness program were places that would be very difficult or impossible to accomplish on my own. My very first choice of locations was a vessel-based journey through a section of the Aleutian Islands, joining the experienced and knowledgeable crew and biologists as they did their bird surveys.
We had fantastic weather and were able to join the biologists for skiff rides and hikes on wild islands. The scenery and abundance of marine and bird wildlife was like nothing I have ever seen! Volcanos, beaches, sea lions, whales, and birds in the millions! Truly an unbelievable experience!”
Stewardship Projects:
- Assisted biologists with bird counts of various species from the skiff, and hiked islands looking for puffin burrows.
- Assisted with shipboard interpretation and education aboard the vessel Tiĝlax̂ in the village of Sandpoint.
Community Extension: Bridget Brunner presented a slideshow and narrative of her journey at the Orcas Island Library in the San Juan Islands of Washington as well as at the Prince William Sound Community College in Valdez, Alaska and the Wrangell Mountain Learning Center in McCarthy, Alaska. She highlighted the unique environment and importance of the biologists work in our nationally protected lands.
Artist Donation: Bridget Brunner constructed a 24" x 32" stained-glass panel depicting the research vessel Tiĝlax̂ with surrounding islands, orca whales and horned puffins.
Arctic Wilderness, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Tessa Hulls | Multidisciplinary | Seattle, Washington
Selawik Wilderness, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge
Andrea Nelson | Assemblage | Haines, Alaska
“My residency involved a boat voyage from Kotzebue Sound in the Chukchi Sea, inland through shallow wetland lakes, and over one hundred miles up the Wild and Scenic Selawik River. Near the breeding grounds of the sheefish (a central species to the local ecosystem and Iñupiat subsistence culture) I assisted in setting up a remote research camp to study the fish. Unfortunately, weather and water conditions delayed the study during my residency. I was also able to spend a day at the Selawik Village Culture Camp, wherein local students practiced traditional fish processing skills, listened to stories, learned Iñupiaq vocabulary and picked berries. I also had the opportunity to explore the beaches, tundra, fish camps and art displays of Kotzebue. Highlights included conversations with Selawik residents and culture bearers, and seeing efforts to keep traditional skills and values strong.”
Stewardship Projects: Assisted with transporting field supplies up the Selawik River and setting up Sheefish research camp.
Community Extension: Andrea Nelson created a video entitled, "Introduction to Found Object Art and Assemblage," which is designed for middle and high school students in Kotzebue, Selawik, and other villages in proximity to the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. The video walks students through two activities to get them experimenting with found objects artistically.
Artist Donation: "Selawik River Box" 18.5" x 8" x 4"mixed media assemblage. This interactive piece consists of aerial views on fabric of the Selawik River, which scrolls across the box surface via two cranks. Imagery of the entire Selawik River was digitally made linear, printed on fabric and stitched together. The sides of the box are decorated with reproductions of marbled antique book end pages, and the cranks are vintage fishing reels, nodding to the importance of subsistence fishing by the local Inupiaq on the Selawik.
Noatak Wilderness, Western Arctic National Parklands
Rachel Heckerman | Videographer | Wanaque, New Jersey
“Within the Western Arctic National Parklands, I found myself immersed in an unexpected tapestry of winding rivers, bears, and seashells. An experience defying conventional expectations of the arctic, I was captivated by the blend of wildlife, culture, and a timeless anthropological narrative.
My residency unfolded in 18 days—four days navigating the Kelly River, three days along Cape Krusenstern's coast, and immersive explorations in Kotzebue's unique history. Where the Iñupiat people still thrive today, stepping into the heart of the Western Arctic National Parklands reignited a childhood wonder within me.
Each morning entailed wandering down the coast or river in search of rocks, sea stars, and whale bones. I harbored the hope of discovering remnants of mammoth fossils, from where the Bering Land Bridge was once a prominent passageway.
Through my videos, I aim to unveil the untamed beauty and historic wonders of these seldom-explored landscapes. Though I alone cannot tell the full story of these beautiful places, I invite others to explore the richness of these places through my lens.”
Stewardship Projects:
- Assisted with maintenance work at Camp Annigaaq
- Assisted with maintenance at Camp Kelly
Community Extension: Rachel Heckerman gave a presentation in the village of Kotzebue called “Videography for Beginners”. Heckerman based the presentation around how to become a videographer using a smart phone. She shared examples of her previous work, as well as a sneak peek video of some of the things she experienced during her artist residency.
Artist Donation: Rachel Heckerman donated two, 3-5 minute videos sharing the different places visited during her residency—one about the Kelly River, and one about the Cape Krusenstern National Monument.
Learn how to apply and view more past artists