Love from Alaska

Christina Demetro’s “Love From Alaska” project engaged senior CIHA residents in an art-based initiative combining storytelling, poetry, imagery, and crafts. The project complemented Demetro’s Sunrise Swan sculpture installation with a series of 212 paper hearts created by residents, each sending support to a different country affected by COVID-19. The installation, which was located outside of CIHA’s downtown Elizabeth Place building, consisted of two golden swan sculptures connected by strings of the paper hearts.

Senior resident participants were able to participate in heart-making through one of three groups: “Heads”, “Hands”, or “Hearts”. The different groups allowed people with different abilities and physical or mental challenges to all participate by doing a verbal interview, writing, drawing, or having their photo taken with artwork. All physical artwork and photos were laminated and displayed on the Sunrise Swans sculpture. The “Love From Alaska” project fostered connection with senior CIHA residents through engagement in storytelling and the creative arts. Additionally, it provided support to 212 countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the citing of specific countries in individual art pieces created by senior residents, which were then shared through social media. The artist collected and distributed poems of appreciation to resident participants written by students from Soldotna, Kenai, and Seward. All artwork created during the “Love From Alaska” project was made into a book and placed inside a time capsule to be buried in Soldotna at a later date.

Contact Christina Demetro at seedemetro@gmail.com