Painting Atmautluak 2
Atmautluak airstrip in the wind photo.
It was a short flight from Bethel to the Yupic eskimo village of Atmautluak, the flat white snow covered terrain extended as far as the eye could see. Not a tree in sight. The wind howled, blowing snow sideways across the landing strip, before I knew it I found myself standing alone next to my strange shaped pile of luggage in the middle of a whiteout wondering what on earth I was doing here. The pilots reassurance of “don’t worry, someone will come for you soon” did little to quell my concerns.
I was relieved to hear the approaching whine of a snow machine. The driver, unrecognizable in snow suit, face mask and helmet advised me to climb aboard, he was my transportation to the village and assured me he would return with my gear after he dropped me off at the school. I had no choice but to trust this masked stranger.
The community consisted of small wooden dwellings situated in a long row on either side of a boardwalk that was partially visible between huge snow drifts. The homes were lined up along the banks of a frozen river, and smack in the middle of the line of houses was a large building elevated on pilings, my home for the week and the center of village activity; the new Atmautluak school.
Atmautluak village wind photo.
My anxiety level increased as I thought about spending a week sleeping on the school floor, cooking meals in a home economics classroom, while trying to figure out what I could paint that would represent the village and make the students proud. At first glance, I have to admit I was concerned, at the very least this was a monumental challenge.
More tomorrow.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist
