The biggest celebrity in Anchorage, Alaska this winter in 2023 has been a white raven. The bird has a Facebook page dedicated to sightings of it, with nearly 15,000 members. People post photos of the raven, its location with the date and time, and artists have even started making jewelry, greeting cards, prints, and other beautiful items immortalizing the clever creature. He/she is not shy, appearing on a daily basis in plain sight, mostly around midtown in Anchorage. I happened to see the white raven on Spenard Rd. and Northern Lights Blvd in a big spruce tree while driving around on winter solstice. Seeing a white raven on the darkest day of the year seemed like an omen.
I have many questions about this bird. Why is it white? Are there other white ravens? Is the white color a dominant, or recessive trait? Can other ravens see that he/she is different, and if so, do they treat it differently? Does it know that it’s different? All this mystery, and the novelty of a white raven is what makes this bird so popular. People have been traveling to Anchorage from out-of-state for a chance to see the white raven. I hope you get to see it, because it really does feel special.
I was inspired to paint this oil painting, and decided to release it today on winter solstice. Oil paint on stretched canvas, 24″x18″. The original oil painting, and signed prints are available at my Etsy shop.
White Raven, by Scott Clendaniel, oil on canvas, 24″ x 18″
Tok Thai Food by Scott Clendaniel, 20″x16″, oil on canvas
My Aunt Barbara took a photo of a raven sitting on top of the Tok Thai Food establishment on her drive back from a visit to McCarthy, and I got her permission to make a painting based on her photo. According to a review on Yelp, Tok Thai Food has the best Panang Curry in Alaska. I’m going to get some on my way back from McCarthy next time. This roadside restaurant is an enigma, and I don’t know much about it. All I could find online were the menu and a bunch of positive reviews. The official website’s title page calls it Tok Tdai Food. I have always had a good meal there, but is it really “t’die” for? So, why is Tok Thai Food in Glennallen, and not in Tok? The questions keep on rolling. Why is the best food in Glennallen, Thai food? Why is the best Thai food in Alaska located in Glennallen? Who owns this place? Who is making this delicious food?
What I do know is that I love stopping at this crossroad on my way back from McCarthy, and taking a minute, or 20 to get out of the truck, get some gas, and have fresh food. Making a stir fry from old cabbage, a spotty squash, and some canned chicken at the cabin in McCarthy may fill my belly, but it is far from what you get at Tok Thai Food. I think it’s the location that makes it so special. Strategically located at the T, where the Glenn Highway meets the Richardson. If you are going to Chitina to dipnet, or want to go to Valdez, you drive right past it. If you want to go to Tok, Whitehorse, Haines or Seattle, you will also drive right past it. It is four hours from Anchorage, and four hours from the Canadian border, perfectly located for lunch.
I painted this iconic sign because it represents returning to civilization. After a month in the Wrangell Mountains, a hot meal is welcome. The Radio Shack sign in Glennallen advertising hot pizza is alluring, but they don’t actually have hot pizza, or at least not when I have been there. The Freeze has long since closed its doors. The IGA may have some sandwiches and deli snacks, but it is far from excellent. The raven in this painting symbolizes wilderness to me, and the bright yellow manufactured plastic sign, humanity. After washing hands in the gas station, and getting a crispy fried egg-roll, it feels good to know, that yes, they do sell auto parts within the Glennallen city limits. This painting is about the balance of going to the wilderness to reduce stress by leaving the trappings of the city behind, while in the wilderness there is a different kind of stress of knowing you only have what you brought with you. It is good to change it up, find the ataraxia (Greek for balance), remind yourself what is important in your life, and you will find your inner peace.
The original oil painting on canvas will be on display, and available for sale at my art show at Dos Manos Gallery in June and July. The art opening reception will take place on First Friday, June 3, 5-8pm. I will also have some prints available.
Real Art Is Better! 