2024 Artists in Residence
Artists in Residence 2024
Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area, Chugach National Forest
Jessie Sheldon | Bainbridge Island, WA | Printmaker, Illustrator, Muralist
"This July, I had the privilege of joining wilderness managers in the Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area. Here the landscape is anything but still and quiet. All around us, change was occurring at different rates, whether over a millenia or a minute, from the slow-mo flow of glacial rivers of ice to rapid calving events rumbling through the fiords. It was both humbling and inspiring to be a visitor in this extreme environment and to witness the life that has carved out niches within this epic convergence of ice, earth, and ocean. My time here allowed for reflection on resilience in the face of change. This gift of immersion in such a magical landscape will fuel my creative endeavours for years to come."
Stewardship Projects:
- Brushed and restored trail at the Shrode Lake Cabin
- Worked with Alaska Geographic Youth Expeditions to remove invasive European black slugs from more heavily used areas of Prince William Sound
- Inventoried recreation sites in Deep Water Bay
- Removed marine debris on Perry Island
Community Extension: Jessie will host an artist workshop for the public at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center during the summer of 2025.
Visit Jessie Sheldon's Website
Kootznoowoo Wilderness, Tongass National Forest
Beatriz Martin | Richmond BC, Canada | Visual Artist
"In the summer of 2024, I was an artist in residence at Kootznoowoo Wilderness, Tongass National Forest, where I got the unique opportunity to join the Pack Creek rangers daily activities and to observe, study, and sketch brown bears (and other interesting critters) in their undisturbed habitat, during salmon season. As an animator, sketching animals in their natural environment, undisturbed, for hours, is simply precious. A true (wild) life drawing session indeed. At first all bears might look the same, but if you spend enough time drawing them, you start appreciating many differences in their bodies, faces, and behaviour. As an educator, I was able to gain knowledge through direct observation of animal behaviour and animal anatomy, interactions between species, and their relationship with their environment, which I discuss often in my Biology classes and in my nature drawing workshops with children. Completely off grid, I learned many environmental sustainable practices, and implemented better strategies to reuse, and recycle whenever possible upon my return home. Pack Creek humans were interesting as well! I got to join forest rangers at work, in action, managing their daily activities professionally, with caring leadership, delivering educational talks to visitors, ensuring the safe coexistence of humans and bears, managing the proper use of the site and respect for the environment, and dealing with unforeseen situations calmly and efficiently. Independent, self-reliant, creative, adventurous, and kind, these rangers were simply amazing! Serendipitously, on the plane to Juneau, I also sat beside a young lady who was Tlingit, the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. She was thrilled to know that I would be visiting Admiralty Island, where her mom lives. She generously talked about Angoon, and taught me how to say thank you in Tlingit. Gunalchéesh, Pack Creek!"
Stewardship Projects:
- Removed debris from campsites in Windfall Island as part of the ongoing monitoring of the area
- Surveyed and observed brown bears daily
- Welcomed visitors upon arrival to Pack Creek, at the bear viewing area, and on the trail to bear viewing tower
Community extension: Beatriz exhibited her residency artwork and shared her experience with faculty and students at LaSalle College in Vancouver. Her adventure directly aligned with the school’s strategic plan as it highlighted some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the importance of human/nature balance and sustainable practices.
Visit Beatriz Martin's Website
West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness, Tongass National Forest
Marianne Stolz | Fairbanks, AK | Woodcarver
"Rain is a defining ingredient in the coastal rainforest: no rain, no rainforest. During my visit it mostly rained. As a woodcarver, I was in awe of the towering tree giants that thrive in this climate. All that wood!
However, the true treasures inspiring my art unfolded within the complexity of the rainforest ecosystem:
Underneath a carpet of moss and ferns, countless tiny decomposers break down the massive fallen logs that clutter the forest floor like pick-up sticks; Scattered meadow bogs disappear into the fog, concealing flesh-eating plants and many other delights; The canopy resonates with birdsongs and insect buzz, but also reveals signs of the yellow-cedar decline - a reminder that the climate crisis does not halt in wilderness areas.
Joining the dedicated rangers and archaeologist in their work to protect this place added an invaluable layer of inspiration to my experience."
Stewardship Projects:
- Assisted in the removal of approximately 700 lbs of washed-up beach trash
- Supported botanists in vegetation mapping data collection
- Participated in recreation site data collection and naturalization of campsites
- Collected data alongside an archeologist
Community Extension: Marianne collaborated with the Sitka 4H club to teach children how to carve a story knife from local wood. They then used the knife to tell stories that connected them to the Tongass National Forest.
Donation: "Rain on All in the Forest" - 12” x 17” x 9” Yellow Cedar wood, Sitka Spruce wood, Douglas Fir bark, string made from plastic bottle trash washed ashore, pyrography, acrylic paint.
Visit Marianne Stolz's Website
Tebenkof Wilderness, Tongass National Forest
Ted Hansen | Minneapolis, MN | Painter
"My 2024 Voices of the Wilderness residency brought me to the Tebenkof Wilderness of Southeast Alaska. I joined two Forest Service workers as they did their field work. We got to the wilderness via float plane then spent five days traveling by collapsible sea kayak. Our work included wilderness impact surveys, water testing in freshwater streams, and clearing a section of portage trail. At one point we even found a previously undiscovered archaeological site!
I have a small watercolor kit and created several small works in my art journal. I also took several photographs to be used as references for future art projects. Mostly, I was able to have time and space to really slow down and experience this incredible wilderness. I was really drawn to the tidal zones and was fascinated by all the activity that follows the waterline as the tides shift."
Stewardship Projects:
- Helped to monitor human impact on the wilderness
- Assisted with water surveys
- Supported clearing trails
Community Extension: Ted led two different nature journaling workshops at a Minneapolis library, sharing his art journals and leading participants in creating their own art journals.
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, Tongass National Forest
Claire Giordano | Sammamish, WA | Painter, Writer, Videographer
"Next to the beached iceberg, my 17-foot sea kayak is a yellow slash against a wall of blue so intense the wide Alaskan sky and cobalt shadows of the fjord look dull. As I paddle around ice from the rapidly receding Sawyer Glacier, my mind jumps between irrepressible joy at witnessing something so exceptional, wondering how I will mix that incredible shade of blue with watercolor, and concern for the glacier’s loss.
This moment is one of many treasured memories from the week I shared with the wilderness rangers of Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. The residency was a singular peak experience of my life. Each day I painted and explored a landscape shaped by ice from the intimate level of a sea kayak carried by tidal currents. My paintings were imbued with the presence of the glaciers; in the patterns of u-shaped valleys and cliffs carved by ancient ice ages, in the cracked aquamarine lines of the Sawyer Glacier, and in the blue shades of icebergs dotted with raindrops foreshadowing continued change. And every day, I crawled into my tent full of hope. I was - and still am - deeply inspired by the rangers, the people we met, and the presence of this place."
Stewardship Projects:
- Monitored solitude, invasive weeds and recreation sites
- Surveyed vegetation
- Provided shipboard education aboard three vessels
Community Extension: Claire created a short film about her residency in Tracy Arm-Fords Terror, posted on YouTube.
Visit Claire Giordano's Website
Aleutian Islands Wilderness, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Vera Brosgol | Portland, OR | Comics, Ink, Watercolor
"I’ve wanted to visit the Aleutian Islands for a long time, but was completely unprepared for how incredible they were in person. Aboard the RV Tiglax I was able to visit islands humans hadn’t set foot on in years, exploring a uniquely wild and remote landscape that is out of reach to most of the public. Viewing it through the lens of the biologists on the invasive species survey added an extra layer of joy to it - my curious little brain could barely contain everything it was learning, while my eyes were getting overloaded with beauty. Active volcanoes, pods of orcas, massive rainbows and swarms of flying puffins were just some of the things I got to see when I looked out from the deck of the ship I was lucky enough to call home.
The landscape in the Aleutians is constantly shifting, with the seasons as well as with human influence, and taking it all in and recording it in my journal and sketchbook was a full-time job. Over the three weeks of the cruise I learned so much about the importance and complexity of the food web, the way balance can be lost and the passionate work the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is doing to restore it. I’m eager to communicate what I’ve seen to the public, so hopefully they can fall in love with the Aleutians and their inhabitants the way I have. It was easily the coolest thing I’ve ever done and will stay with me for the rest of my life."
Stewardship Projects:
- Assisted with surveys for invasive species on 37 islands
- Surveyed baseline fish and wildlife populations on and around Great Sitkin Island
- Helped resupply field camps
Community Extension: Vera put together a blog documenting her residency.
Arctic Wilderness, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Tyra Olstad | Fairbanks, AK | Creative Non-fiction Writing, Photography, Sketching, Cartography
"The first thing I learned about Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is that it’s extremely hard to get to—rainy, rugged, remote; enormous. But that’s the point. Once you make it to the Refuge, you feel lucky. Extraordinarily lucky, to be amid the mountains and rivers, muskox and mosquitoes. (Well, not the mosquitoes.)
The second thing is that if you want to learn anything about such a vast, wild space, it’s best to stay put and get to know one or two places, thoroughly and thoughtfully. In mid-July, I helped botanists count alpine plants near Galbraith Lake as part of a global project on mountaintop vegetation. Then in August, I joined a team researching permafrost degradation and surface hydrology on the Coastal Plain. While they cored for ice and quantified stream discharge, I recorded measurements, asked questions, and tried to comprehend the place from both scientific and aesthetic perspectives.
What I learned last is that places like the Arctic Refuge will, to some degree, always remain unknown, unknowable. That’s part of their allure. Something that draws us, scientists and artists alike, back to them, over and over again, mosquitoes and all."
Stewardship Projects:
- Measured alpine vegetation on summits near the Dalton Highway for GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine environments) led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Studyed changes in permafrost and surface hydrology in tussock tundra on the Coastal Plain “Tundra Capillaries” project, led by the Woodwell Climate Center
Community Extension: Tyra gave a public reading, with photographs and audio recordings, at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot, Alaska. She also presented at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Jay Hammond Wilderness, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
Cinnamon Dockham | Eagle River, AK | Painter and Multimedia Artist
"I was honored to be a part of the “maiden voyage” of this opportunity in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. My time in the park was split between Port Alsworth and Silver Salmon Creek. The time spent in Silver Salmon Creek was invaluable. The memories from that experience will last a lifetime and I expect a myriad of artwork to come from the inspirations gleaned from such an enchanted place. The timing allowed me to witness the gorgeous lupines, fully in bloom casting purple magic everywhere! The weather worked to my advantage, allowing time to explore and take reference photos to my hearts content. I was able to witness bears in sedges and on the beach, living their best life. The ranger I was with during my stay was fantastic, answering all of my questions, guiding me towards the best viewing opportunities and a deeper knowledge of the landscape, people, flora and fauna. Truly a once on a lifetime experience."
Stewardship Projects:
- Searched for Elodea, an invasive water plant species, and assisted with sampling, when present.
- Scouted and took GPS points for potential seed collection, to be added to the Bureau of Land Management’s “Seeds of Success” Program, which collects wildland native seeds for research, development, and ecosystem restoration. Seeds may also provide future plants with sensory interests to support future interpretive programs for the park.
- Collected debris and trash.
Community Extension: The park hosted an outreach program from their visitor center. Cinnamon introduced different kinds of watercolor paint and techniques, while discussing how inspiration and art can inspire activism and societal change, such as the inception of National Parks. Everyone left the program having created their own small painting and personal connection with the park.
Visit Cinnamon Dockham's Facebook page Cinnamon’s Whims Art
Jay Hammond Wilderness, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
Selene Ross | Berkeley, CA | Sound Art and Writing
"You can’t drive to Lake Clark National Park and Preserve unless your car is a plane. I spent two weeks in the massive wilderness collecting sounds and deeply listening. I learned just how pivotal it is to listen closely when I sat down by myself at the edge of pond in Port Alsworth, recording a noisy plane passing overhead. Only once it had passed did I hear the footsteps coming up behind me—a brown bear, about five feet away. I’d always known that listening was a way of engaging and connecting with the environment, but that experience taught me how it also keeps us safe.
In the backcountry of Silver Salmon Creek, I joined the ranger’s patrols and spent hours interviewing brown bears as they munched in the sedge meadows or dug elbow-deep in the mud flats looking for clams. My audio project explores the sounds of wilderness, and how human presence interacts with the natural soundscape."
Stewardship Projects:
- Monitored elodea, Alaska’s first invasive aquatic plant
- Surveyed plant populations and marking plants for seed collection
- Patrolled the backcountry and set safe bear-viewing practices
Community Extension: Selene led an interactive workshop on how to listen to the environment. Participants were invited to explore listening as a gateway to deeper presence, as a way to gather information about ecosystems, and as a playful way of interaction; they even created their own Lake Clark soundscape—mimicking with voices the sounds of the environment.
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