Downtown Anchorage pedestrians can learn about one of Southcentral Alaska's iconic mountain ranges through a new mural located on the western wall of Wild Smoke BBQ, across A Street from the Anchorage Museum.

Developed by graphic designer Karen Larsen, the mural depicts the peaks of the front range of the Chugach Mountains, along with elevation data. This design, an adaptation of the mountain silhouette on the windows of the museum's Discovery Center, is part of an initiative that places creative content in urban spaces in collaboration with local businesses, organizations, designers and printers.


Anchorage Museum Education Interpretation Manager
Kirk Gallardo examines the "Sukdu" font featured in
the Chugach mural.
Superimposed on the mural's mountain range is the word 'Chugach,' presented in a typeface titled Sukdu. This typeface was created by Indigenous graphic designer Sebastian Garber of Anchorage. The Sukdu font was developed in collaboration with Anchorage Museum Senior Curator Aaron Leggett and Education and Interpretation Manager Kirk Gallardo to acknowledge the forms and celebrate Indigenous languages of Alaska. It is inspired by Tlingit formline and glacial valleys. Iñupiaq scrimshaw and Athabascan quillwork inform the dot and cut-out design elements. This project is made possible through the Anchorage Community Development Authority's Great Streets Facade Improvement Loan Program.

The open-source font is available to download for free at www.sukdu.com.