News Release
Alaska Native Culture Inspires Art for Anchorage’s New Civic & Convention Center
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Aug. 6, 2007 – With just over a year until the opening of the new $107 million, 215,000-square-foot Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska, two major pieces of art inspired by Alaska Native culture have been selected to adorn the facility. One percent of the initial $70 million construction costs, or about $685,000, has been designated for art for the facility as required by under the state’s 1% for Art Program.
The first, by Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schecter of Newton, Mass., is a towering 65-foot sculpture of glowing resin birds, indigenous mammals and graceful sea creatures, which will draw the visitor’s eye upward into a spiraling menagerie of Alaska’s wildlife as they enter the Center’s main lobby. The sculpture, “Constellation,” will cascade through the 100-foot-high lobby creating a visual anchor through the multi-level facility. The lowest level depicts Alaska’s abundant sea-life through a delicate, circular inlay of Southcentral’s sea creatures in the tile floor under the main body of the work. The simple, elegant design of Athabascan fish traps at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center and the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage inspired the team’s award winning submission.
“This sculpture reflects the history and endurance of Alaska’s Native peoples,” says Mayor Mark Begich. “Our distinctive culture and connection to the natural world sets Anchorage apart from many other metropolitan cities. The artwork chosen for the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center will articulate the diversity and richness of Alaska’s resources and illustrate how we are inextricably tied to the land of this region.”
The second major work awarded funding as part of the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center collection is by Athabascan Artist James Grant from Fairbanks, Alaska. Grant’s submission consists of a 30-foot long, multi-media mural named “A Dena’ina Day Around Cook Inlet.” Laser-cut and painted images combine with aluminum animals and stained glass depictions of traditional Athabascan activities conveying to the viewer the richness and beauty of the Dena’ina culture. It will adorn the wall in the pre-function area outside of the Center’s main ballroom.
An additional large piece of artwork for the boardroom, as well as several smaller pieces for other parts of the building will be chosen and purchased this fall. The art pieces will be installed in the new building in spring 2008, in anticipation of the building’s opening in September 2008.
The Center, which is slated to open in September 2008, will double the amount of available convention space available in the city when combined with the existing William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center. For additional information on meeting space in Anchorage, Alaska, explore www.anchorage.com/meetings, or contact the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau Convention Meetings Sales & Service Department at 1-888-257-2381.
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic and Convention construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds.
Media Contacts:
Shelly Wozniak
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
swozinak@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
