GETTING HERE
When Salmon Fly
Looking out the airport window , you see an Alaska Airlines jet approaching your gate , but this one is unlike anything you ’ ve seen before . Swirls of navy and light blue wrap around the nose of the plane , and bold white lines stretch along the body of the jet , creating the shape of a salmon in a traditional Tlingít formline design . Xáat Kwáani , meaning “ Salmon People ,” is printed in large salmon-colored letters just below the cockpit .
This 737-800 jet is the first of its kind in many ways , including the first ever domestic aircraft to depict an Alaska Native language , and after witnessing its cultural significance , it ’ s sure to inspire other largescale cultural pieces across the country .
The artist behind this monumental piece is an Alaska Native woman of Tlingít and Athabascan descent , Crystal Worl . As a creator , Crystal aims to mix the modern and traditional worlds . Her works , which include printmaking , painting , multimedia pieces , and public art , celebrate her Indigenous roots and invite others to explore the connection her people have with the land and animals . She hopes the Alaska Airlines plane will do the same ; that it will share a piece of her and her ancestors ’ story while paying homage to a creature that has played an integral part in her culture – the salmon .
Her idea for this project began long before things were set in motion , making the final product that much more special . She speaks about envisioning a salmon in formline flying through the air , and since she grew up seeing Alaska Airlines jets fly over the mountains , it was only fitting that this vision should make its way onto one of their planes . The entire process took a few years from start to finish , but with the help of sponsors and several confidantes , her salmon took flight .
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