An Alaskan summer is known for its fields of wildflowers scattered across the landscape, but typically you can only enjoy them for a few months of the year. But in downtown Anchorage there is a place where you can walk through a field of poppies all year round. 

In 1985, a request for artwork was put out to fill the soon to be built Alaska Center for the Performing Arts with art. Nancy Stonington submitted an original watercolor of poppies to the committee, and they responded asking her to modify her art into a design for carpet. She spent the next 3 years working directly with a mill to create the carpet. She wanted the colors to be warm and inviting, and a true representation of Alaskan wild poppies.  

Originally the carpet was planned to be large-scale poppies that you would not be able to recognize as poppies unless you were looking down at it from one of the PAC’s balconies. However, the cost to produce that would have been too much, so the current design came to life.  

Today over 4,600 yards of poppy carpet adorn the floors of the PAC. Continuing to bring joy to theater goers over 30 years later. And the art continues to evolve as over the years patrons have spied salmon, ptarmigan, polar bears, and whales in the design. When Stonington was asked about these animal designs in 2025, she responded, “I did not plan those images but it’s fun to see them.” Stonington is pleased her art continues to grace the PAC and continues to bring summer colors, especially during winter months.