Our son heads back to University of Alaska, Anchorage soon. It’s been wonderful having him around for the summer. He’s pursuing an art degree, and has spent a good deal of the summer researching and working on several experimental art projects. He has received various pigments and papers by mail, explored chemistry for various fixatives and bonding agents, and experimented with merging computer and traditional printing ideas. The art world seems to be embracing more non-toxic alternatives to the chemicals that have been used in the past, many of which have caused harm to artists. It’s been a treat to walk along side all this activity.
To drown my sorrow at his leaving, I’m reporting on a green roof that has been installed in Juneau, Alaska (403 miles from Anchorage by air, or 850 miles by road). The roof is on the Downtown Transportation Center in downtown Juneau, and viewable from surrounding buildings and hills. The roof is covered with square trays of sedum and native Alaskan sea thrift. The squares are placed in patterns used in Tlingit basketry; the red and yellow sedums on the left represent water and tides, and the red sedums and sea thrift on the right represent shaman or chief. Anyone familiar with traditional Tlingit art knows its bold and distinctive styling. This is a wonderful variation on green roofs – to create a representative pattern in plants. And exciting to see traditional art pushing into new frontiers.
Special thanks to Dave Harris for use of his photograph. To learn more about the roof see:
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| Roof garden in Juneau, Alaska using Tlingit motifs (photo by Dave Harris, used with permission). |
To drown my sorrow at his leaving, I’m reporting on a green roof that has been installed in Juneau, Alaska (403 miles from Anchorage by air, or 850 miles by road). The roof is on the Downtown Transportation Center in downtown Juneau, and viewable from surrounding buildings and hills. The roof is covered with square trays of sedum and native Alaskan sea thrift. The squares are placed in patterns used in Tlingit basketry; the red and yellow sedums on the left represent water and tides, and the red sedums and sea thrift on the right represent shaman or chief. Anyone familiar with traditional Tlingit art knows its bold and distinctive styling. This is a wonderful variation on green roofs – to create a representative pattern in plants. And exciting to see traditional art pushing into new frontiers.
Special thanks to Dave Harris for use of his photograph. To learn more about the roof see:
http://juneauempire.com/stories/080110/loc_689270345.shtml. To help a fledging artist, buy a painting or hire a newly formed gardening company!
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