Kodiak, AK
Welcoming visitors with a new portside plaza
The Project
The economy of Kodiak, Alaska, relies heavily on the tourism industry, primarily through cruise ships. Over the course of the past decade, some cruise lines have removed Kodiak as a destination due to the lack of pedestrian-friendly activities and welcoming aesthetics downtown. In 2019, the City of Kodiak lost more than $350,000 in moorage fees alone from cruise ship cancellations, and even more severe losses were faced in subsequent years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebuilding these relationships with the cruise companies is necessary to revitalize the local economy, but required some creative approaches.
“The Heart of Kodiak” is a pilot project to see how asphalt art—a relatively low-cost, high-impact intervention—can address some of the tourism needs and revitalize the city’s downtown center. The artwork was installed in a new pedestrian plaza carved out of a large parking area in front of the ferry and cruise ship loading terminal and cultural and educational district. A selection committee chose local artist duo Marina Thomas and Bonnie Dillard to design “Dancing in the Rain,” a celebration of the island’s native fauna and Kodiak’s water cycle. It was only fitting that an impending rainfall forced the project team to abridge their four-day installation schedule into a single day. Through a call for volunteers, over 30 residents showed up throughout the day, and completed the mural in a 14-hour shift ending at 8 p.m. The new artful plaza serves as a welcome mat from visitors arriving by boat and by bus as they begin their explorations of the city’s many attractions, including the nearby Kodiak History Museum, Alutiiq Museum, and Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.
How This Alaskan Community Used Asphalt Art to Improve Road Safety
“By providing a vibrant mural, drivers slow down and we can provide a safe place for pedestrians to cross.”
Marina Thomas, Artist
Use the slider to see the transformation
Press
A community effort – and impending rainstorm – brings a new art project to life in downtown Kodiak (KMXT, August 11, 2022)
Kodiak Asphalt Art Initiative seeks volunteers (Kodiak Daily Mirror, August 1, 2022)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
