Island Institute’s 2017 Tidelines Tour was a mobile residency aboard Alaska’s public ferry and in towns along the way. A select team of five artists were brought together to explore the theme of “Signal-To-Noise” throughout a three-week community engaged journey. Signal-to-noise is a ratio that compares the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise interfering with it. The following images BJM took of the land, as well as some that tell the story of the trip.
Through events, interviews, student projects, and a sculptural installation, the residents considered how the noise caused by human environmental impact rises alongside the internal noise of modern life. Community engagements occurred aboard the Alaska Marine Ferry and in the Alaskan towns of Ketchikan, Juneau, Gustavus, and Sitka.
Prior to starting the residency, the five artists collectively added to a reader with writings inspired by the themes of the trip. During the trip, often on the ferry, the group got together every 2 or 3 days to discuss the readings. Sometimes they invited and were joined by guests. Excerpts from the reader toward the end.
With the residents of Gustavus, Alaska, a tiny island community, the Tidelines artists created a temporary sculptural installation. It was conceived as a response to rising ocean levels and an homage to Alaskan islanders relationship to the sea. Utilizing the regional skill of rope tying, and the excesses of rope that wash ashore on the island, the sculpture suspended rocks parallel to the rising and falling ocean.
Mendenhall Glacier Ice Cave, which has since collapsed.
Tideline Residents:
Wendy Given, BJM, Nina Elder, Peter Bradley, and Jimmy Riordan(below).
Jimmy Riordan put together a three color monochromatic zine of BJM photos from the Tidelines trip; a grouping of images inspired by geometric shapes, form and symmetry found in nature. Message BJM for a copy.
