POSTCARDS FROM THE IÑUUNIAĠVIK

A poetry collection by Jen Stever, intended to be an immersive experience between photo, poem and soundscape.

A bald eagle flying over breaking waves. In the background, a mountain spans the horizon. — In the Presence of Eagles and Whiskey

The sun breaks through clouds over a snowcovered shoreline. In the background, icy mountains line the horizon. — Ferry

Footprints of animals are scattered across the snow of a frozen marsh. To the left mountains line the horizon. To the right the sun breaks through scattered clouds. — Potter Marsh 1

Behind a large plain of brown grass, construction machinery sits in a row. To the left, mountains line the horizon. — Potter Marsh 2

Pale green aurora borealis shines over the top of a double-peaked mountain. Snow covered trees sit below in the foreground. — The Alaska Character

A tree's dark reflection is shown in a puddle of water, filled with floating yellow leaves. — On the Frequency of Rain

Colorful stones scattered in the sand and shallow waters at a beach — Kenai Beach

A close-up details shot of the surface of a burned tree, covered with ashes after a large wildfire — Swan Lake Fire

Hoarfrost clings to a branch and a small bundle of conifers. In the background, and out of focus sunset casts yellow light into the center of the image. — Hoarfrost

Close-up details shot of ice melting as silt-filled water flows through. — Disruption

Three small rocks are stacked on top of a larger stone in a clear, flowing river. Other colorful stones line the edge of the water. — Deluge

A muddy, braided river flows in front of a large mountain range. — Ch'atanhtnu

A small bird sings, clinging to the trunk of a birch tree. — Throat Singer

Close-up, detailed shot of the needles from a tree of the evergreen variety. — Infestation

A row of windmill silhouettes line the horizon as the sun breaks through pink colored clouds. — Sister Home

A white-petaled flower with a yellow center lays atop a gray backdrop — The Daughter Who Birthed Me

Snow blows in the wind as sunlight reflects off of a snow-covered mountain top. — Kiguġuya

A close-up, detailed photo shows the textures of a clump of fur. — Movement on the Tundra

The silhouette of a tree stands out in front of pink clouds with strips of blue sky peaking through. — Three Wishes

A large calm bay, sits bordered by cloud-covered, green mountains under a blue sky. — I Received My Markings on Dena'Ina Land

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Jen Stever is an Iñupiaq writer, photographer, mom, artist and proud nerd. They grew up splitting time between the San Francisco Bay Area and Alaska. They currently live in Anchorage with their husband, daughter and two dogs. Jen is a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage's Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Literary Arts program, where they won a 2020 Jason Wenger Award for Excellence in Creative Writing. Their first collection of poetry, Immuk and Cookies, was published in 2020 by Kissing Dynamite Poety.

“Potter Marsh 1,” “Potter Marsh 2,” “Hoarfrost,” “Disruption,” “Ch’atanhtnu,” “The Alaskan Character,” “Ferry,” “Swan Lake Fire,” and “Infestation” appeared in Water Stories: Visual Poetics and Collective Voices in collaboration with Anchorage Museum artist-in-residence Andrea Wollensak and poet Erin Hollowell. “Movement on the Tundra” was first published by Alaska Women Speak.

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