I’ve had a hard time describing Anchorage to people who often ask me what life in urban Alaska is like. Anchorage is quite unapologetic — we are who we are and we don’t take lightly to any “big city” slander, even from fellow Alaskans. I think after five years in Anchorage, I’ve finally stopped trying to fight her.
I’ve often viewed my move to Anchorage from rural Alaska as a pandemic-induced resignation. But, in the spirit of the new year, I look back now and see that Anchorage was a giant cushion for my aching body — stitched together by community and adorned with frilly, laced-lined possibilities.
This year-long photographic series, guided each month by different themes, is my attempt to show you Anchorage through a new set of eyes — photographing with intent, admiration and pride for this city and its people.
When thinking about themes for January, I realized that years ago, I unceremoniously stopped succumbing to the pressure of making New Year’s goals. Every January felt more exhausting than the last and I needed a break. I decided that the only thing I would require of myself each year was to learn something new. My first year in Anchorage I finally took a wheel-thrown pottery class, something I’d wanted to learn for ages but never had access to, and I got a little too into making jam. The following years I learned how to ski and make fireweed tea, expanded my baking repertoire, poked myself one-too-many times learning beaded embroidery, and even started learning Italian. This year, I have my sights set on learning stained glass while continuing to expand my photography skills, stretching my creativity in a new way through this column, which will focus on showcasing Anchorage through medium format film.
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that this January has been particularly brutal, yet I give myself and my community grace: it is unnatural to recreate yourself during this time of year. Wildflowers don’t force their way through frozen ground and bears quietly snooze under blankets of snow, not yet worrying about the summer food frenzy.
Thinking about this season, its darkness and quiet lull, I chose “blanketed” as my theme for January’s photographs.
I repeated the word in my head as I drove around Anchorage and I stopped when something caught my eye. I was guided mostly by light and weather this month, particularly drawn to the way both cover and soften our city.
Thanks to Stewart’s photo Shop for local film supplies and Young Kim with The Stoop PRC for film developing and scanning.
