At Treetop Tees we are so lucky to work with many talented artists that find inspiration in the same place that we call home. We are excited to begin highlighting the artists behind some of your favorite products in the shop!
Our first artist that we are featuring is Hannah Perrine Mode. Hannah is an artist, educator, and researcher that has spent the last 10 years in Alaska. She started her journey working for the Juneau Ice Research Program or JIRP and in their words, “[I] have been teaching and making art on the Juneau Icefield ever since.” Currently, Hannah lives in Fairbanks pursuing an Interdisciplinary PhD at University of Alaska Fairbanks studying how art can be integrated into Arctic science to strengthen understanding, inclusivity, and communication.
Hannah’s inspiration behind her t-shirt design all comes back to her love for Southeast Alaska, translating the summer magic felt here often found in the connections between people and the environment. Similar connections found all over Alaska also provide Hannah with the inspiration felt in her other works of art.
“The relationship between humans and nature is very tangible and felt in Alaska – I feel inspired and humbled by my own relationship to land, light, weather, etc, and how dependent I am on these systems.”
They hope that when you purchase their design or observe their art that you come away with a sense of gratitude and wonder for Alaska and are motivated to learn more about supporting climate activism, environmental protection, and sustainability here in Alaska and in your own community.
When asked what she wanted more people to know about Southeast Alaska, Hannah wanted to highlight the original stewards of the region we call home: the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people. If you’re interested in learning more about the indigenous people of Alaska check out sealaska.com. As someone whose art and research are centered around glaciers that are physical evidence of the passing of time, Hannah reminds us that it is increasingly important that relational webs of learning and research are created between western science and indigenous knowledge and they are vital for solving environmental issues whether in Alaska or globally.
Locals in Juneau or loyal customers to our shop may recognize our Juneau Ice field Research Program or JIRP shirt, also designed by Hannah, a portion of each t-shirt purchase helps support the organization in their mission. To learn more about JIRP you can find them on Instagram @juneauicefieldresearchprogram or juneauicefield.org.
To close, I think this quote from Hannah perfectly sums up how a lot of us feel about living in Alaska and highlights why they were a natural choice to work with:
“I think it [Alaska] is a place where human and geologic time are overlapping more and more as a result of climate change, which is a huge challenge, but also makes creating art, teaching about glaciers, and researching connections between communities and climate feel urgent and tangible. I am also so grateful for the webs of community, care, and sharing that I have been fortunate to find here.”
Want to stay connected with Hannah? Find her on instagram @hannahpmode or check out her website: hannahpmode.com.