"It Thrills Me When Art Can Do This."

OK, here's some happy news:  U.S. Department of the Interior Museum (yes, the DOI actually has a museum) acquired a piece of art that Rika Mouw made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of establishing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "The Gift of the Arctic Refuge" is now on display in Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel’s conference room for the rest of 2014, and then will be displayed in the public museum starting January 2015.

"I am thrilled to think my work is now ‘working’," says Rika, "’speaking’ to a broader audience outside the state of Alaska.This is the intent of my work: to speak out, to have a voice to a broad audience. It thrills me when art can do this."

Here's a vimeo showing the artwork in action:

 http://vimeo.com/38738558

 

And here's the text of the video: 

The Gift of the Arctic Refuge

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most visionary and far reaching gifts this country has given itself, and the world.

This piece was made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of formally giving ourselves and future generations this remarkable gift. Through bird migrations alone, the Arctic Refuge connects people and places all over the world. The Gift of the Arctic Refuge is a hand fabricated box that unfolds and contains a necklace of hand-made paper birds, with each bird carrying a different quote in its wings from those who campaigned tirelessly for the establishment of the Arctic Refuge. The birds are strung on sinew and are clasped with a piece of carved caribou bone. The gift box is lined inside with the text of the Land Order that established the Arctic Refuge in 1960.