According to Wikipedia, “A jökulhlaup (Icelandic pronunciation:  [ˈjœːkʏl̥øip]) (literally “glacial run”) is a type of glacial outburst flood.It is an Icelandic term that has been adopted in glaciological terminology in many languages. It originally referred to the well-known subglacial outburst floods from Vatnajökull, Iceland, which are triggered by geothermal heating and occasionally by a volcanic subglacial eruption, but it is now used to describe any large and abrupt release of water from a subglacial or proglacial lake/reservoir”.

In McCarthy, Alaska, a favorite annual event centers around Hidden Creek Lake Glacier releasing its waters. It usually happens sometime shortly after July 4th. When the waters from Hidden Creek Lake Glacier reach the Kennecott River the river rises, and the news starts spreading through town. 

 Locals gather on the footbridge to watch bergie bits float down the river. Sometimes there is music and even wild river antics—by people and river. It is McCarthy’s version of television.

I have visited the site of Hidden Creek Lake Glacier after it has released its waters.

So beauitful.

I wanted my water quilt to be about our local jökulhlaup.

Creating free form curves requires lots of layering and pinning, and marking, and stitching.

 I am pleased with the composition. In fact, I really think our group did a fabulous job with this prompt.

1- 8 Jökulhlaup

30”H x 40”W

Hand dyed fabrics, vintage and contemporary cotton textiles

Improvisationally cut and pieced
Gallery 1-8 Water