Preston Singletary’s Raven and the Box of Daylight Exhibit Finds Permanent Home at the New Venut 

Huna Totem Corporation (HTC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with renowned Native American glass artist Preston Singletary for his “Raven and the Box of Daylight” exhibit, the longest-running solo show by a Native North American.

Relaying the foundational Tlingit story of Raven, who brought light to the world by releasing the stars, moon, and sun, the exhibit weaves together more than sixty pieces of hand-crafted glass.

The exhibit will find a permanent home at the year-round cultural attraction HTC is working to develop in downtown Juneau. The venue will include cultural exhibits, retail, classrooms, and areas suitable for meetings and events. Working with Sealaska Heritage Institute and other regional partners, HTC will provide educational programs designed to preserve and promote Tlingit art, language, and culture. Community residents, visitors, and students will have an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Tlingit culture through an innovative and immersive experience.

The cultural attraction is part of HTC’s Áak’w Landing development in downtown Juneau, which builds on more than 20 years of creating and operating Icy Strait Point, the award-winning cruise destination in Hoonah, Alaska. The new cultural venue is a significant element of Áak’w Landing, which will also include a welcome center, waterfront retail and dining, underground parking, and a new public park and plaza.

“We are honored to offer this opportunity for our community and visitors to connect and engage with our rich Tlingit culture,” said HTC President and CEO Russell Dick. “Our company pillars of Culture and Community are at the heart of everything we do and are the driving factors for this project. Áak’w Landing is more than a development, it’s a powerful expression of who we are as Tlingit people and our commitment to sharing our stories with authenticity and pride. This project will deliver a cultural attraction that will stand as a beautiful beacon of our Tlingit culture and hospitality, providing meaningful experiences while bringing economic and social benefits to the communities we touch for generations to come.”

Singletary began blowing glass in 1982 at Glass Eye Studios in Seattle, Wash., where he developed his skills as a production glass maker and attended the Pilchuck Glass School.

“After many decades of developing a Tlingit style with my glass work, I am honored to collaborate with Huna Totem Corporation to make this installation a permanent exhibit in Juneau,” said Preston Singletary, reflecting on this meaningful partnership. “Together with Miranda Belarde-Lewis (curator), we bring honor to some of the teachings of Walter Porter who I developed a connection with and who taught us how to unlock the metaphors and symbolism within the story, Raven and The Box of Daylight. I’m very happy that this work will reside in the heart of the ancestral land of the Tlingit community. I hope that it will be enjoyed by many.”

His exhibit, “Raven and the Box of Daylight,” debuted in 2018 at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Wash.; was displayed for a year at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; and has been featured at several notable museums across the country. The exhibit will continue traveling through 2026 before making its permanent home at Áak’w Landing in 2027.

Completion of Áak’w Landing is planned for the 2027 cruise season. HTC has been working with the City and Borough of Juneau to secure a tidelands lease. An ordinance authorizing the city manager to negotiate the lease will be discussed at the next Juneau Assembly meeting on April 7. Following this project milestone, HTC will commence detailed design and construction planning.

The Áak’w Landing site was owned for many years by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. The Authority considered development of the site itself, then determined the highest value to Trust beneficiaries would result from selling the property. Proceeds from the public auction in 2019 are being used to provide programs to the Trust’s beneficiaries, including Alaskans experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders and traumatic brain injuries.