31 May 2011 What's Happening in Fairbanks?

Journal

Dr. Natali flew out this morning for a science conference in Seattle, Washington. She was looking good but a bit over worked after all of this time in the field. She was in good spirits and we said goodbye until we meet next school year when she comes to visit Talbert! I went for a run, and took a shower right after! It was nice having running water! After the shower and some breakfast I went out to see what I could see.

Burnt building — There was a fire in the wooden structure next to the PolarTREC building. It destroyed the power and communication lines.

The first place I went was to the PolarTREC office just a couple of miles away from the university. I wanted to find out what had happened to the our website and all of the PolarTREC sites. As it tuned out I met Kristin there and she informed me, and showed me the fire that had started next door a few days ago. It burned a small building and melted the power and communication lines to the PolarTREC building. As you can see they have fixed it now and we are up and running. I had written and constructed my journal for the passed two days just waiting for the site to open up again.

The Craft Market is a very unique looking place.

Mammoths on a Mammoth bone — One of the artists has carved two Mammoths on a Mammoth hip bone.

After I left the office I went looking for the visitors center. As I was driving I came across a shop that I had seen during our training in February but never got time to stop in. The name of the shop is The Craft Market, and that is an understatement! Sure there are craft supplies and gifts and things for jewelry. There are even tools to make jewelry and other crafts. But what the shop is really about is old bones and teeth and horns and tusks, and making art out of them.

When I entered the shop I was instantly met by Andrew. A really nice guy who has been everywhere and done everything! He really had some great stories to share and showed me the backroom and the downstairs of the shop where all of the work and stored items were. It was amazing! He has folks from all over the state bringing him things that they find, and there are many things. He talked about some of the Alaskan artists that make the figures and carve the pieces. The work is wonderful to look at. There is ivory from various animals, and antlers from moose and oxen. There are also lots of bones from whales and walrus, to moose and mammoths, even mammoth teeth! I bought a part of a mammoth tooth for a tie. I spend over an hour in the shop and Andrew even gave me a small sample for each of my students back home. He was very informative and generous with his time and information.

Carved salmon — This salmon is carved out of a dead walrus tusk.

Bear hunting seal. — This statue is made from different parts of dead recovered animals. The bear is hunting the fish through a hole in the ice.

When I left the shop I did find the visitors center. It had some great exhibits and lots of printed information on everything Alaskan. I spoke with Steven there, who used to live in Barrow. He gave me some good ideas about what to see when I get there. When I left the center I found an arch made of moose antlers. So I asked someone to take my picture, waving hello to all of my students.

After that it was time to head back to the university where I am staying and check to see if the web site was up. It was!