I collect many things: feathers, fortune cookie messages, hotel room key cards from my travels, whimsical earrings. But now I can say I also collect art, more specifically fine art photography from Daniel Buck's Wilderness Peaks Gallery, right here in Juneau, Alaska.
Two years ago, I splurged and bought myself "Serenity" (pictured at the end of this blog post), a splendid sunset scene photographed at Lena Cove. The photographer, who happens to be a good friend I met when I first moved to Alaska, recently moved his gallery to a terrific new space located at 263 South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau, across the street from the Red Dog Saloon.
Just in time for December's First Friday Gallery Walk, Daniel hosted a Grand Re-Opening, and boy was it packed! I knew this would be the case, so I waltzed down to the gallery earlier that afternoon, to check out the new space before all the crowds started gathering.
Lo and behold, I cast my eyes on “Melt Creek.” It wasn’t hard to notice. At 32” x 48” and printed high definition on aluminum metal, it stood out. But what really caught my eye was the turquoise blue of the water. Icy turquoise is my favorite shade of blue (really, my fave out of the whole color spectrum), so I knew I had to have it. Fortunately, I had first dibs on the art since I arrived so early - a blessing because, according to Daniel and his staff, there were about 70 people that evening who wanted to buy it off the wall, and a few budding fights over it, too!
"Melt Creek" was taken on a 10-day whitewater rafting expedition down the Tatshenshini (say that three times fast) and Alsek Rivers, which flow 130-miles through the largest internationally protected wilderness area in the world. I can't wait to go there myself one day and see this inspiring spot. Until then, I'll just have marvel this stunning glacial landscape from the warmth of my living room.
"Melt Creek" by Daniel Buck.
With the artist, right after my purchase.
The new gallery space.
"Serenity" under a crest of whale baleen.