“Shifting Vantage Points” featured the work of local artists, Elizabeth Jurgeleit and Christine Carpenter, who are often inspired by their travels. The inability to travel during the global pandemic initially left them feeling trapped, both figuratively and creatively. Together they came up with the concept to find creative inspiration from their home in Southeast Alaska. While both artists created pieces inspired by the concept of exploring home, their interpretations of the concept vary greatly. The show exhibited at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum in January of 2023.

Christine’s pieces are an exploration of how our perspectives can change when we step outside of our comfort zone. While the pandemic was inherently lonely, it tempered her ability to be inspired. The constant noise of daily life—from the Zoom calls and troubling news, to the binging of TV shows and monotany of daily life—became deafening. So, she found her own quiet, peace, and creative refuge.

This exploration resulted in the documenting of Windfall Lake Cabin at three different snapshots in time. Traveling out to the cabin in February, June, and September of 2022, she painted and drew in isolation for two nights each time. The goal: to intimately explore the big picture and minute details of the area, reflect on how it changes with the seasons, and (re)discover what it means to create in isolation.

But the most important piece of this project is the process and growth of the artist. She spent the year examining the themes of: place; climate change; isolation; disconnection from technology; and mental health. In taking a break from the world’s relentless noise, she dove forest-deep into these themes—a journey that has matured my artistic voice, while also tackling relevant community issues.

Some of the pieces for this show are available for purchase in the shop. Click here.

This project was funded in part by the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council’s Individual Artist Grant, as well as the Juneau Community Foundation’s Individual Artist Grant.