Pictured above is a unique piece of art. Click and enlarge.  Take a close look.  It’s a paper collage. Everything that’s depicted is torn from paper, assembled and glued to the background to create the finished product. Note the artist’s attention to detail in the mittens,  mitten keeper, headlamp, light beam, sled bag, dogs and the person walking.

Checkpoints located in villages with schools are often decorated with projects and artwork created by students. In Takotna the kids have used musher’s homes to study and replicate flags with water colors.  Their flags were displayed on the exterior wall of the checkpoint. The McGrath checkpoint is always decorated with student projects like musher posters that include a picture, bio info, race history and even a 4 square comic strip. The students who created the posters are often around and quite happy to explain their work. There’s a wall in the Shaktoolik checkpoint that’s usually adorned with colorful artwork and inspiring messages for the mushers. Likewise Unalakleet. 

Watch for more Telephoto Stories.  Having worked as a volunteer for the race for twelve years and having my camera handy every hour of every day, my Iditarod photo library contains roughly 20,000 pictures.  Seems like sharing photos periodically all year long with a brief description to tell a photo story is a great way to share favorite photos and unique pieces of Iditarod history with Iditarod fans, family and friends.  Enjoy and comeback soon for another Telephoto Story.