Nancy Hausle-Johnson, Jennifer Moss
• ceramic tile, acrylic •
Special Thanks to Benjamin Maglio
Wetlands are areas where the water table is near to or above the land surface long enough or frequently enough to develop thick organic soils and support plant species adapted to wet environments. With only minor land coverage, they offer refuge for nearly half of all known animals and plant species to live or breed.
In boreal and arctic regions, wetlands are classified based on their soil, hydrology, and vegetation. These factors all impact biogeochemistry. Wetland types include bogs, fens, marshes, permafrost bogs, and tundra wetlands. Bogs are hydrologically isolated and rely solely on precipitation for water. They have thick peat, low pH, and nutrient-poor conditions. Fens form less peat and have strong groundwater connectivity, supporting a variety of plants depending on nutrient levels. Marshes are nutrient-rich, with dynamic water levels and emergent vegetation. Permafrost bogs have shallow peat underlain by permafrost, with drier soils and limited nutrients. Tundra wetlands are treeless, with saturated conditions and vegetation like sedges and grasses, often found in continuous permafrost areas.
This classification system helps scientists understand and predict carbon emissions. The presence of permafrost influences the hydrology, affecting the levels of carbon dioxide and methane fluxes. This artwork explores these classifications using abstracted representation to better understand the boreal wetlands, their connections, and their characteristics.
NANCY HAUSLE-JOHNSON
Nancy Hausle-Johnson has been crafting hand-fired ceramic tiles in Fairbanks Alaska for over 30 years. Her custom-designed art tiles and tile murals have been featured in numerous art shows and farmers’ markets. Her work has been selected for One Percent for Art commissions for hospitals, libraries and schools. Her murals and mosaics can be found in Japan, England Australia and Germany. She works with private clients to design tile art for homes, including kitchen backsplashes, bathroom tiles, murals, fireplace surrounds and coat racks.
Website: alaskatileart.com
JENNIFER MOSS
Jennifer Moss is a visual artist who uses contemporary visual elements to interpret the natural environment. Inspired by monochromatic winters, summer days brimming with light, and northern extreme weather events, Moss uses a range of mediums to explore figurative and abstract imagery and elusive connections within ecosystems. Moss studied at the Pacific Northwest College of Art and is an instructional designer and adjunct faculty at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Website: jmossart.com • Instagram: jmoss.art• Linkedin: 2farnorth
