Art Work Chosen for Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center
Works reflect life, people, animals around Cook Inlet

The main art work to be displayed in Anchorage’s new Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center has been selected and will reflect the land, people, and animals around Anchorage and Cook Inlet.  

The art was selected by an Art Selection Jury appointed by Mayor Mark Begich. The Jury’s selections are the result of over a year’s worth of work that began with proposals from 128 artists through an open competition process.

“Residents and visitors alike will be pleased to see art that continue to reflect and honor the life and history of Anchorage’s Dena’ina Athabascan people and the region of Cook Inlet,” Mayor Begich said. “These works of art will be the centerpieces of what will be a premier building and gathering place in downtown Anchorage.”

The Art Selection Jury selected the artist team of Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter of Newton, MA, for the main lobby and Fairbanks artist James Grant for the pre-function area on the third floor at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center. 

The first piece by Helmick and Schechter, with a working title of “Constellation,” consists of 300 glowing, resin birds, animals and sea creatures suspended in a conical form starting at 15 feet above the main lobby and rising 65 feet above the third floor to the ceiling.  The fauna depicted will reflect animals and birds from around Southcentral Alaska.

The birds will be flying at the highest level, moving into land animals and then lower levels will represent sea creatures such as fish and crustaceans. The sea creatures will also be inlaid in a circular pattern into the tile floor under the artwork. The illuminated art piece cascades down through the full height of the lobby creating interaction with all levels of the building, as well as being highly visible from outside of the building.

The inspiration of the design came from a fish trap the artists saw at the Alaska Native Heritage Center when they visited Anchorage in February.  Helmick and Schechter also plan to commission a large fish trap through the Alaska Native Heritage Center to reflect a complementary shape in the west window of the main lobby.

The second selection, by Fairbanks artist Grant, entitled “A Dena’ina Day Around Cook Inlet,” will be located on the south wall of the third floor pre-function space outside the main ballroom. The artwork depicts images from everyday life of Athabascan people of Cook Inlet using laser-cut and painted images, aluminum animals and people combined with stained glass images of activities and the aurora created from suspended beads. 

The Dena’ina Center construction team is working with both sets of artists to make sure all safety and maintenance concerns are addressed in setting up the infrastructure of both works of art. 

Works of art included in the 1% for Art Program have been selected by Art Selection Juries as a result of an ordinance passed in 1978 which requires that 1 percent of the construction costs of new public buildings and major additions to existing buildings be spent on permanent art to enhance the space and bring professional art work to public buildings and facilities. The local ordinance is based on a state law.

The 1% for Art budget for the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center is $685,000. The cost of the premier pieces chosen by the Art Selection Jury is $350,000 for “Constellation” and $120,000 for “A Dena’ina Day Around Cook Inlet.” The remainder of the art budget will be used for smaller pieces in other parts of the building, lighting, infrastructure and other similar costs. 

For each public art project, an art selection jury is appointed by the mayor. Each jury has seven members including the project architect, a user of the building, representatives of the Urban Design Commission, the Arts Advisory Commission, and two citizens of the community "at large" including one professional artist.

The Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center Art Selection Jury includes local architect Rollie Reid of RIM Architects; local interior designer Shelah Shanks, RIM Design; Schawna Thoma, Deputy Director of the Office of Economic and Community Development, Municipality of Anchorage; Bill Puckett, Urban Design Commission; Ed Blahous, Arts Advisory Committee; Carol Smith, Historical and Fine Arts Commission; Carol Bryner, artist and Public Art Committee member; Jana Hayenga, local business owner and community member; Becky Beck, Anchorage Downtown Partnership and Aaron Leggett representing the Alaska Native Heritage Center. 
 
For more information please contact Jocelyn Young, Curator of Public Art, 343-6473 or email youngjh@muni.org. 

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