Come to know the true North

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Janice Wright Cheney, Spectre

Perhaps no creatures better reflect the climate, landscape and culture of Alaska and the Arctic than the walrus and polar bear. Power and vulnerability coexist within these giants living in a massive Arctic – a distinct region known for its own striking contrasts. They are animals nearly without equal in size and strength. Yet perhaps their greatest strength – and weakness – comes from the ability to adapt to a changing world and a warming climate. Their lives have entwined with humans for centuries. To the first peoples of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, walrus (aiviq) and polar bear (nanuq) each have been predator, co-habitant, sustenance and spiritual ally. To generations of artists and culture-bearers, these remarkable creatures are both material and muse. They have been revered for centuries, studied by scientists, commodified by pop culture and manipulated by politicians. Through the lens of artists and artworks from Alaska and around the world, this 8,000-square-foot exhibition at the Anchorage Museum explores the ways these iconic animals offer important insight into the culture of the North and its complex future.

 

THIS EXHIBITION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THESE SPONSORS:

Anchorage Museum Donors
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
Lloyd Eggan and Penny Cordes
Erik & Robin Hill
Steve and Katie Turner
  

 

Gallery

Click to Enlarge

Alvin Amason_1201-Lightbox.jpg Charles Sidney Raleigh Chilly Obs 1965-209-6(1)-Lightbox.jpg Couzyn van Heuvelen19 2015walruslure-Lightbox.jpg Frank Fleming T.2014.431_01a_p01(1)-Lightbox.jpg Gisli Hilmarsson Soap-Lightbox.jpg Janice Cheney spectresideview-Lightbox.jpg Janice Cheney spectredetail1-Lightbox.jpg Lenore Tawney Brooklyn Museum 87.205-Lightbox.jpg
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Alvin Amason_1201-Lightbox.jpg

Oh My Heart

Alvin Amason
Oil, canvas, spruce, polystyrene, and fabric, 2015

Charles Sidney Raleigh Chilly Obs 1965-209-6(1)-Lightbox.jpg

Chilly Observation

Charles Sidney Raleigh (1830-1925)
Oil on canvas, 1889
On loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Couzyn van Heuvelen19 2015walruslure-Lightbox.jpg

Walrus Lure

Couzyn van Heuvelen
Silver, fish hook, thread, brass, 2015
On loan from the artist

Frank Fleming T.2014.431_01a_p01(1)-Lightbox.jpg

Reclining Walrus

Frank Fleming
Ceramic, 1978
On loan from a private collection

Gisli Hilmarsson Soap-Lightbox.jpg

12 Soap Sculptures

Gísli Hilmarsson
Coconut oil, Icelandic water and sea salt

Janice Cheney spectresideview-Lightbox.jpg

Photo by Sara Fuller

Spectre

Janice Wright Cheney
Crocheted wool, crystals, wooden armature, site specific installation, 2014
On loan from the artist

Janice Cheney spectredetail1-Lightbox.jpg

Photo by Sara Fuller

Spectre (detail)

Janice Wright Cheney
Crocheted wool, crystals, wooden armature, site specific installation, 2014
On loan from the artist

Lenore Tawney Brooklyn Museum 87.205-Lightbox.jpg

Said the Walrus to the Carpenter, It Would Be Very Nice

Lenore Tawney (1907-2007)
Collage and wash on paper, 1985
On loan from the Brooklyn Museum

Related
Events

Scientist Spotlight: Aiviq & Nanuq

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28

Join us for scientific exploration of the important Northern mammals highlighted in the Aiviq & Nanuq: Sea Horse and Sea Bear of the Arctic exhibition. Hear from Todd Atwood, PhD, a USGS wildlife biologist whose research focuses on polar bear ecology and population dynamics. Examine artistic accounts of sea ice, polar bears and walruses in the gallery to inspire conversations about the current status and future outlook for these animals in a rapidly changing climate. These events will include a presentation of current science research by a local expert and a hands-on activity. $10, free for members.

Pictured: Janice Wright Cheney, "Spectre"

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Scientist Spotlight: Aiviq & Nanuq
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