A dozen people assembled at the Anchorage Museum at 10 p.m. on Thursday and started placing boxes full of painted rocks along the wall south of the main entrance. The rocks were intended as a gift to celebrate the city's 100th anniversary.
Some 800 stones were set in position over the course of about 10 minutes along with a sign reading, "Anchorage Rocks 100." Organizers said the rocks were free for anyone wanting to take one home.
The stream-smoothed stones were painted by 30 artists, some professionals, some amateurs, over the past six weeks, said local art gallery owner Margret Hugi-Lewis. They included designs of animals, faces, geometric patterns and everyday objects like shoes. Some included messages. "Be happy." "Follow your heart." The sizes ranged from several as small as a coin purse to one as large as a fox head, which was also the image painted on it.
The artists had kept their project secret and did not tell the museum or city officials about the plan ahead of time. While they were arranging the stones a museum security guard came out to ask what they were doing. After a phone call to a superior, he went back inside as the people kept spreading their rocks on the wall.
"We weren't going to put them on the grass or anything like that," Hugi-Lewis said. "Those would be a problem when they mowed."
Hugi-Lewis said although the group considered this to be a centennial celebration event, they did not apply for any of the various public and private grants offered for the festivities this summer.
"It's a birthday," she said. "There should be presents. And to be a gift, it must be given. Presents are supposed to be free."
With the display complete, the group paused for a few minutes to take pictures and admire their work.
"Look carefully," Hugi-Lewis told them. "Tomorrow they will be gone."
By mid-afternoon Friday between 200-300 stones remained.