Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. "Skip" Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture of a humpback whale that will soon be mounted on Juneau's waterfront. Starmer was joined by crane operator Buck Churchill and assistant Bart Latta for welding work that started Thursday and continued at 7 a.m. Friday.

Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. "Skip" Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture of a humpback whale that will soon be mounted on Juneau's waterfront. Starmer was joined by crane operator Buck Churchill and assistant Bart Latta for welding work that started Thursday and continued at 7 a.m. Friday.

Photos: Whale of a welding job

Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. “Skip” Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture of a humpback whale that will soon be mounted on Juneau’s waterfront. Starmer was joined by crane operator Buck Churchill and assistant Bart Latta for welding work that started Thursday and continued at 7 a.m. Friday.

Welder Craig Starmer attaches the second of two pectoral fins on a bronze humpback whale sculpture Friday morning, Aug. 19, 2016 beneath the Juneau-Douglas Bridge. The towering sculpture will soon be erected on an artifical island at the mouth of Gastineau Channel. Bart Latta is holding the ladder.

Welder Craig Starmer attaches the second of two pectoral fins on a bronze humpback whale sculpture Friday morning, Aug. 19, 2016 beneath the Juneau-Douglas Bridge. The towering sculpture will soon be erected on an artifical island at the mouth of Gastineau Channel. Bart Latta is holding the ladder.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, March 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Gabriel von Eisenstein (David Cangelosi) is pulled in two separate directions by his wife Rosalinda (Sara Radke Brown, right) and Rosalinda’s maid, Adele (Kayla Kohlhase, left) during a dress rehearsal of “Die Fledermaus” on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Lyric Opera celebrates a chorus of community for 50th anniversary

German operetta “Die Fledermaus” that launched JLO gets revival with old and new voices Friday night.

The Cable Innovator docks in Juneau on Wednesday, March 13, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Subsea communications cable repair ship makes port stop in Juneau between Southeast projects

Cable Innovator wraps up work in Sitka, now heads for Angoon following regional outage.

The Office of Personnel Management in Washington. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Judge orders Trump administration to rehire thousands of fired workers; at least some to get back pay

Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Interior departments affected by order.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, March 11, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, March 10, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, March 9, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read