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Art Meets Science: Celebrating 100 Years of Climate Observation in Denali National Park

Alaska’s Denali National Park is known for its majestic landscapes and its role as a critical site for climate observations. Over the last century, from 1924 to 2024, park rangers at Denali National Park have done two things every day: feed the sled dogs and record weather observations. To commemorate 100 years of climate data collection, an inspiring partnership between park scientist Pam Sousanes and artist Ree Nancarrow was born. This collaboration led to a powerful piece of artwork that both celebrates Denali’s climate history and communicates the pressing issue of climate change in a way that resonates with viewers on an emotional level.

Pam Sousanes, the lead scientist behind this initiative, wanted to make the centennial milestone something that would not only highlight Denali’s scientific contributions but also reach a broader audience. “Celebrating 100 years of climate observations at Denali is a big deal, and I wanted to make the event memorable,” Sousanes explained. With support from a generous grant from Alaska Geographic, she sought out an artist who could translate the raw data into something more tangible and impactful for the public. Through a recommendation from her colleague, she found Ree Nancarrow, whose quilt work on a wildlife study had already made a lasting impression. Nancarrow’s ability to turn scientific data into compelling visual narratives made her a perfect fit for this project.

Ree Nancarrow, Denali Weather – 100 Years; 2024; digitally designed cotton fabric, polyester thread, Prismacolor Art Stix; quilted, texture added with Art Stix; 26.5 x 44 x 0.25 in.

Nancarrow embraced the challenge, collaborating closely with Sousanes to create an artwork that effectively communicated 100 years of climate data. Together, they worked to ensure the data was represented in a way that would engage non-scientific audiences. Nancarrow chose to represent Denali’s temperature changes through vertical stripes of color, each stripe symbolizing one year of data. The deeper shades of blue and green in the quilt represent cooler temperatures, while lighter shades indicate warming trends. The three sled dogs featured in the artwork, current residents of Denali’s historic kennel, also reflect this warming trend with their colors transitioning from cool to warm as you move across the quilt.

“Some people’s eyes glaze over when I show them a scatterplot graph of temperature increases,” shared Sousanes. “But visualizing the same data with colorful stripes and vibrant textures can reach an untapped audience.” This is exactly what they achieved with Denali Weather: 100 Years. At a special event held at the Denali Visitor Center, science and art came together to celebrate the occasion. In addition to the commemorative artwork, the event featured a climate-science symposium, an art exhibition, and a climate-change panel, sparking thoughtful discussions among members of the audience.

Ree Nancarrow at her sewing machine
Celebrating 100 Years of Denali Weather Climate Change Perspectives artist panel, August 23, 2024
Climate inspired art exhibit, August 23, 2024; L-R: Bonni Brooks, Pam Sousanes
Pam Sousanes, National Park Service physical scientist

For Nancarrow, this project was not only a professional success but also a personal journey. “I’ve been working with scientists for over a decade through the “In Time of Change” program, where artists collaborate with scientists to create work informed by their research,” said Nancarrow. Her personal connection to Denali also added depth to the collaboration—her late husband, Bill Nancarrow, had worked as a ranger at the park in the late 1940s and early ’50s and contributed to early weather recording efforts there.

Both Soussanes and Nancarrow believe in the power of combining art and science to reach wider audiences. Sousanes noted that the quilt, along with other pieces in the exhibition, generated conversations about the consequences of climate change that wouldn’t have been possible with data charts alone. For Nancarrow, the goal of her work is to produce a visual image that sparks curiosity and inspires people to ask questions about the world around them. “I want viewers to think more seriously about what is happening in our world,” she said.

Denali average annual temperature graph

Their collaboration is a reminder that when art and science join forces, it can create powerful stories that resonate on both an intellectual and emotional level. Nancarow’s artwork brought Denali’s climate data to life, and Sousanes’s scientific expertise ensured the accuracy of the message. Together, they created a lasting tribute to the importance of climate observations—a work that speaks to both the beauty of Denali National Park and the urgency of acknowledging the changes taking place within it.

As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, collaborations like this one remind us that understanding the data is only one part of the equation. Art can help make complex issues accessible, bridging the gap between numbers and the emotional impact they represent. Nancarrow’s and Sousanes’s partnership serves as an inspiring example of how creative thinking and collaboration can help communicate scientific issues in new, compelling ways.

reenancarrow.com

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Cami Smith is the Fiber Art Now media manager, community engagement coordinator, and a mixed-media artist.

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