In January, CIRCAC hosted an exhibit of original art inspired by photographs of Alaska's coastline taken during shoreline surveys through the Alaska ShoreZone partnership. ShoreZone is a coastal habitat mapping method that uses high resolution digital imagery to help classify coastal features into searchable data, and the coastal video, photographs, and habitat data can be accessed by any user on-line.
Artists Janet C. Hickok, Terisia Chleborad, and Nessa Nouveau interpreted sixteen previously exhibited photographs from Coastal and Arctic Impressions photo exhibits in an abstract, impressionistic, or realistic manner-depending on how the color, pattern, texture, space, coastal area, and atmosphere inspired them. The result of this collaboration was an exhibit highlighting the artists' translations of what they saw in the photographs. CIRCAC and the Alaska ShoreZone Partnerships co-hosted the week-long exhibit at Hotel Captain Cook during the Alaska Marine Science Symposium. A "meet-the-artist" reception provided an opportunity for viewers to learn more about the encaustic (hot wax) and cold-wax methods the artists applied.The exhibit is currently on display at Doriola's Restaurant at 510 West Tudor through March 2.
By linking coastal science to art, the exhibit successfully demonstrated another mechanism for inspiring the public to learn about Alaska's coastal environment.CIRCAC has written proposals to expand this concept for a juried-exhibit for art produced through a wider range of mediums.Learn more about the artists and the exhibit.
Cook Inlet Navigator February 2016
Kristina Butler poses with CIRCAC's Jerry Rombach at the UAA Scholarship Fair
Catching up with our 2015 Scholarship Recipients, Part 1:
Kristina Butler
The Ming Dynasty called China's Stone Forest the First Wonder of the World. CIRCAC scholarship recipient Kristina Butler can trace her interest in geology to this very place.
*Next month, we'll catch up with CIRCAC scholarship recipient Annie Looman.
ADEC wants to improve how we train for spills
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) is exploring ways to make oil spill drills more efficient and at the same time more cost effective to the oil spill response community. ADEC is accepting comments on their proposed recommendations.
For more information and to download the white paper, click here.
ARRT approves new oil dispersant guidelines
On January 27, 2016, the Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT) approved new Dispersant Guidelines for Alaska that will be incorporated into Annex F (Non-mechanical Response Guidelines) of the Unified Plan. The new guidelines define the pre-authorization area where the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) is authorized to approve dispersant use after coordinating with ARRT members, federally recognized tribes, and stakeholders. Cook Inlet is not part of the pre-authorization area and any use of dispersants under the new guidelines will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Now begins a two year period where subarea-specific stakeholders can identify "avoidance areas" within the pre-authorization area.
CIRCAC submitted comments on the draft Guidelines in 2014 and will continue with further reviews and participate with discussions regarding avoidance areas within the Cook Inlet subarea.
March 22-24--Alaska Oil Symposium, Fairbanks
March 24--Kenai Jobs Fair
March 31-April 2--ComFish Expo, Kodiak
April 15 - CIRCAC Board of Directors & Annual Meeting, Kenai
Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council 8195 Kenai Spur Highway
