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RIE MUÑOZ: An Alaskan Treasure

6/15/2026

Most creative people, regardless of the media they work in, can appreciate creativity in other fields. I love art, and in Alaska in the spring of 2012, I became aware of a contemporary watercolor artist whose work I was unfamiliar with. I was amazed and delighted to make such a wonderful discovery.
▼ Image Credit: Mark Kelley
Image Source: alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09/

The artist Rie Muñoz, who passed away on April 6, 2015 in Juneau at 93 years of age, was and is still considered an Alaskan State Treasure. Her art work captured the natural beauty and majesty of the Alaskan landscapes and show cases the Alaskan culture and wildlife. Her artwork highlighted a deep connection to the land and the people.

Her works have been chosen by the State of Alaska for their Heirloom Birth Certificate, an unofficial commemoration of an Alaskan birth.
health.alaska.gov/heirloom-birth-certificate/

The Embrace by Rie Muñoz, Polar Bears by Rie Muñoz,
Source of Images: health.alaska.gov/heirloom-birth-certificate/

Rie Muñoz’ paintings are fresh, spontaneous, and full of fun. She conveys the subtle messages everyday life in her work. About herself, she writes:

"My artwork can best be described as expressionism. The term applied to work that rejects camera snapshot realism, and instead, expresses emotion by distortion and strong colors. My paintings reflect an interest in the day-to-day activities of Alaskans such as fishing, berry picking, children at play, crabbing and whaling. I am also fascinated with the legends of Alaska's Native people. While I find much to paint around Juneau, most of my materials comes from sketching trips taken to the far corners of Alaska."

Rie wasn't born in Alaska. She was born Marie Mounier in Van Nuys, CA, in 1921, but spent much of her early life in Holland where her Holland-Dutch father was a partner in a business magazine. He wrote stories about business in America, so he traveled to the US often with the family. In 1939, when Germany threatened to occupy Holland, Rie was sent to the US with a younger brother to live with friends in Plainview, NJ.
Since the US gave visas only to parents with minor children living in the US, her parents applied and received visas. A few days before they were scheduled to leave, Hitler attacked Holland. Rie's parents weren't able to come to the US until 1947.

After one year of high school, she joined her older brother in Hollywood, CA, where she had to earn a living with a job decorating windows in a North Hollywood dime store.

At some point she moved to Seattle. While living there, in 1951, she traveled to Alaska on vacation, taking the Inside Passage by steamship. When the ship stopped in Juneau, she fell in love with the city and its surroundings. She writes that she gave herself the one day before the ship sailed to find a job and a place to live.

After walking a few blocks, she went into the offices of the Daily Alaska Empire newspaper, where she was hired on the spot. Next she walked along Seventh Street and saw a woman hanging laundry out to dry. She asked the woman if she knew of anyone with a place to rent and the woman said, "I have a place for you." So Rie moved in with a Finnish woman and her husband, paying them $5 a week.

After she collected her belonging from the steamship two days later, she called her parents and told them she wasn't coming back. That was some gutsy lady, if you ask me.

And Alaska was her home ever since, except for a short time in 1957 living on Mercer Island, Washington where her husband Juan was employed as a geologist. Later they returned to Alaska.

In Juneau, her first painting was of the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church on Fifth Street downtown. She worked in oils in the beginning before perfecting her craft in watercolors.

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church – Juneau, Alaska
Image Source: Image Credit: R. Ann Siracusa (2012)

During her years in Alaska, Rie Muñoz lived in a variety of small Alaska communities and has held many jobs including journalist, a cartoonist, editor, teacher, museum curator, artist, and mother to a son.

At one point, she taught 25 Eskimo children on King Island, a 13-hour umiak (a walrus-skin boat) voyage from Nome. Image Courtesy of Juan Munoz ▼ Image Source: alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09

She studied art at Washington and Lee University, Virginia and at the University of Alaska-Juneau. She received the University of Alaska's Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree in May of 1999.

She has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the art community. Her art is showcased in various galleries and museums, reflecting her deep connection to Alaska. Muñoz is also known for her printmaking and published several books featuring her artwork.

These are photos I took of some of the signed prints I purchased at her gallery in Juneau.

Dogsled by Rie Muñoz Fishing by Rie Muñoz

Bathhouse by Rie Muñoz Eskimo Babies by Rie Muñoz

Muñoz carried a sketchbook at all times, drawing whatever caught her eye and capturing emotion in a few strokes. Life in general, fishermen repairing nets, children playing, village life, cannery workers, women bathing. She noted details in the margins, such as colors. These field sketches were used as references for composite sketches, more detailed renditions of the scene that she would paint.

After several, or many, composition sketches, Munoz would take the best one and project the image onto 300 lb. arches watercolor paper using an overhead projector and then spend the next 4 to 5 days finalizing the work in vibrant watercolor expression she is famous for.

Rie Muñoz’s sketchbooks were donated to the Juneau Douglas City Museum in 2022.

JUST SAYIN'
Sources:
https://health.alaska.gov/en/services/heirloom-birth-certificate/
https://www.riemunoz.com/rie-munoz-artist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rie_Mu%C3%B1oz
https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/the-art-of-sold/detail/discover-the-unique-world-of-artist-rie-munoz
https://alaskapublic.org/news/2015-04-09/rie-munoz-leaves-a-legacy-of-delight-joy-and-laughter
Images
https://health.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/PublishingImages/heirloom/Birth-PolarBears.jpg
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.Wuh5Lg00_1nInY0I038KwAHaFd?pid=Api&P=0&h=180
http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc437/asiracusa/Rie%20Munoz/russianchurch_Juneau.jpg
http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc437/asiracusa/Rie%20Munoz/200x300St-Nicholas-Orthodox-Church-Juneau-Copy-1.jpg

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WORLD OCEAN(S) DAY

6/1/2026

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WORLD OCEANS DAY
On June 8 we celebrate World Ocean(s) Day to raise awareness about the importance of oceans and to promote their conservation. The day supports the implementation of worldwide Sustainable Development Goals and fosters public interest in the protection of the ocean and sustainable management of its resources.

Initially, the World Commission on Environment and Development, in its 1987 report, pointed out that the ocean sector lacked a strong voice compared to other sectors. As a result, the concept for World Oceans Day was put forth in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit Conference on Environment held in Brazil.

The objectives were to move the ocean to the center of intergovernmental dialogue and policy and to strengthen the voice of ocean and coastal constituencies throughout the world.
Ten years later, in 2002, The Ocean Project started global coordination of World Ocean Day, which was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, and is now observed by all UN members.

ONE OCEAN OR SEVERAL OCEANS?
You may have noticed that there is an inconsistency in the title of the observation day. Is it “Ocean” or “Oceans”? Although the event carries both names, the objectives are the same.
For much of written history, the Earth was said to have four oceans. However, now oceanographers typically recognize five major oceans -- Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic – even though these bodies of water are interconnected, forming a single global ocean system. The distinction between oceans is based on geographical, ecological, and historical factors.

The difference between one and multiple oceans tends to be one of preferred definition and terminology. While some experts insist it should be called one ocean, and there are others who advocate for recognizing additional subdivisions as separate entities, most oceanographers accept the five-ocean distinction. Take your pick!

THE OCEAN
Most of our Earth’s surface (an estimated 71%) is covered by saltwater oceans, and scientists estimate that 97% of the water on our planet is found in the ocean. The ocean remains one of the most unexplored places on Earth, with about 80% of the ocean yet to be mapped or explored.

Also, experts estimate that about 50% of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean, most of it generated by plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. One particular species, Prochlorococcus, the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth, produces up to 20% of the oxygen in the entire biosphere, a higher percentage than all of the tropical rainforests on land combined. Source: oceanservice.noaa.gov/ocean-oxygen
That makes the ocean vital to survival on the planet.

THE OCEANS
Source of Images: ww.worldatlas.com/oceans

The Pacific Ocean
Spanning 63 million sq. miles, the Pacific Ocean is Earth’s largest ocean. It stretches from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east. It covers about 46% of the Earth’s water surface and 32% of its total surface.

The Pacific Ocean is the world’s deepest ocean and water body, with an average depth of 14,041 feet, and a maximum depth of 35,797 feet. It contains the Earth’s deepest point (Challenger Deep, at 35,853 feet) and the Southern Hemisphere’s deepest point (Horizon Deep, at 35,508 feet).

The Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean, the Earth's second-largest, covers 41 million sq. miles (17% of the Earth’s surface) and spans from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, and from the Americas in the west to Europe/Africa in the east. Connected worldwide by currents, this S-shaped basin includes deep trenches, submarine ridges, and diverse marine ecosystems.

The Atlantic Ocean has an average depth of 11,961 feet, making it the third-deepest ocean by average depth, with a maximum depth of 27,480 feet below sea level. The Puerto Rico Trench, located near the Caribbean Sea, is the Atlantic’s deepest point.

The Indian Ocean
The world's third-largest ocean, the Indian Ocean, comprises about 27 million sq. miles (about 20% of Earth’s water surface), and covers the area from Asia to Antarctica, and Africa to Australia.
The deepest point of the Indian Ocean is the Java Trench, located near Sumatra Island (23,812 feet) and the average depth is 23,273 feet.

Characterized by strong monsoons, it is the planet’s warmest ocean and plays a critical role in global climate. Rich in biodiversity—coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds—its waters support key fisheries but face threats like overfishing and pollution. Historically a hub for trade and migrations, it continues serving shipping routes amid concerns over geopolitics, piracy, and climate change.

The Southern Ocean
The Southern, or Antarctic, Ocean, is the second-smallest, encompassing about 7.8 million sq. miles. Most recently recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization in 2000, the boundary is generally defined as waters south of 60° S and encircling Antarctica.

The specifics of the boundary are still undergoing the ratification process because some member nations do not agree on the exact limits. The United States, represented in the IHO by the National Ocean Service (NOS) Office of Coast Survey, is among those that support the designation of the Southern Ocean.

The Southern Ocean is the world’s fourth-deepest ocean; the maximum known depth being of over 4.6 miles (The South Sandwich Trench). It supports the world’s largest ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, crucial for thermohaline circulation. Today, climate change impacts the region’s ocean currents, ice extent, and marine ecosystems.

The Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest, covering around 5.4 million square miles and having an average depth of 17,880 feet. Surrounded by North America and Eurasia, it is mostly covered by sea ice year-round, with melting intensifying in summer.

Arctic waters have the planet’s lowest average salinity from limited evaporation and heavy freshwater inflow. Today, climate change accelerates sea ice decline, potentially altering ocean circulation and Arctic wildlife. Despite harsh conditions, it houses unique species and significant natural resources. The Molloy Hole, located in the Fram Strait, is the ocean’s deepest point. The Caribbean Sea is deeper than the Arctic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea’s maximum depth is only slightly less.

SEA WORDS
The ocean is frequently referred to as the sea, meaning the huge continuous body of salt water that spans the earth. With the article the, the usage is correct.

“A sea” is a large body of saltwater, generally smaller and shallower than an ocean and typically found where the ocean meets land, and may be partially or entirely enclosed by landmasses, islands, or archipelagos. Proximity to land results in seas providing more varied habitats for sea life and greater accessibility to human influence, often giving them historical, political, and ecological significance.

Seas also play an important role in regulating Earth’s climate by absorbing vast amounts of heat – an estimated 90% of excess heat generated by human activities -- and carbon dioxide. They act as massive heat sinks, absorbing and redistributing heat globally through ocean currents, which helps to moderate atmospheric temperatures and weather patterns.S Source: biologyinsights.com

UNDER THE OCEANS
Because the major objective of World Ocean Day is to elevate awareness of the importance of the ocean and focus intergovernmental policy on protection of the ocean, what lies under the water and the ocean floor itself are central to that concern.

Image sources: viewfloor.com

TOPOGRAPHGY OF THE SEABED

Continental Shelf
The first part of land covered by the ocean extending from the coastline outwards towards deeper water, where it drops off at a point known as the shelf break. The size of the shelf differs around the world.

Continental Slope
The steeply sloping seabed that lies between the continental shelf and the deeper abyssal plain marks the boundary between the continental crust and oceanic crust at at the continental rise.

Abyssal Plain
Beginning at the base of the continental rise, the Abyssal plains are usually found at depths between 13,000 to 20,000 feet, forming some of the deepest parts of the ocean floor and making up about 50% of the seabed. They are mostly flat and cover large areas.

Volcanic Islands, Seamounts, And Deep Open Trenches

THE GEOLOGY OF THE SEABED
The composition of the seabed varies according to location and origin, from eroded land or sand to decomposing sea creatures and material from outer space. As a general rule, there are four different types of sediment which sit on top of the oceanic crust: Terrigenous, Biogenous, Hydrogenous, and Cosmogenous.

OXYGEN PRODUCTION
Our atmosphere contains oxygen because of a number of natural processes. These significant ecosystems make a big difference in the amount of oxygen produced in the atmosphere and are crucial for preserving the equilibrium between carbon dioxide and oxygen in our environment. The ocean gets the credit for producing half of the earth’s oxygen production.

According to oceanservice.noaa.gov/ocean-oxygen, “Scientists estimate that roughly half of the oxygen production on earth comes from the ocean. The majority of this production is from oceanic plankton -- drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. One particular species, Prochlorococcus, is the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth. But this little bacteria produces up to 20% of the oxygen in our entire biosphere. That’s a higher percentage than all of the tropical rainforests on land combined.”

However, roughly the same amount produced by the ocean is consumed by marine plants and animals , including dead plants and animals decaying in the ocean. The fact that half of Earth’s oxygen depends on microscopic ocean life makes it sensitive to environmental change, particularly the warming of temperature. The risk is the collapse of marine food webs that depend on these organisms, and the loss of a major carbon dioxide sink that helps regulate global climate.

ISSUES TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT
Despite the fact that so much of the ocean is unexplored, we know the life that the seafloor supports is crucial to the larger ocean ecosystem and to survival on the planet. Because the seafloor is largely unexplored and difficult to reach for prolonged periods, the condition of the ocean bed is a major concern.

● Habitat Destruction And Loss Of Biodiversity

● Deep-Sea Mining

● Pollution, Marine Debris, and Plastics
Once plastic makes its way into the ocean floor, it becomes near impossible to remove. It’s estimated that the ocean floor is covered in 14 million tones of microplastic, which is considered a conservative estimate. Microplastics make their way into the diet of sea creatures, often suffocating or poisoning them.

● Climate Change
As the global temperature rises, the temperature of the ocean goes up. This, along with altering sea levels, change in ocean acidification, and changing currents have profound effects on benthic life. Coral bleaching is one major concern that arises from global change.

● Lack of Knowledge and Access

REGULATIONS AND GOVERNANCE OF THE SEABED
A complex network of international agreements govern and regulate the sea floor. The United Nations Convention n the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) establishes the legal framework regarding the ocean, including the seabed. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) deals with regulations such as seabed mining activities in international waters, issuing licenses, and promoting sustainable practices.
World Oceans Day to about awareness and conservation. Life may depend on it.

JUST SAYIN’

Sources:
https://unworldoceansday.org/
https://www.worldatlas.com/oceans/how-many-oceans-are-there-in-the-world.html
https://earthhow.com/5-oceans/
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/worlds-seas/
https://biologyinsights.com/what-are-all-the-seas-a-look-at-the-worlds-major-seas/
https://learnertrip.com/geography/world-seas/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Oceans_Day
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-oxygen.html
https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/deepest-oceans-and-seas.html
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-floor-features
https://iere.org/how-does-oxygen-get-into-the-ocean/
https://thecriticalscript.com/article-details/5-major-sources-of-oxygen-on-earth
https://scienceinsights.org/what-produces-oxygen-on-earth-oceans-plants-more/#google_vignette
https://www.blue-growth.org/Oceans_Rivers_Seas/Index_Oceans_Seas_Bays_Gulfs_Of_The_World_%20A_To_Z_Lists.htm
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RIE MUÑOZ: An Alaskan Treasure

WORLD OCEAN(S) DAY

Author R. Ann Siracusa

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