By MIKE DUNHAM

When looking at a large, heavy, possibly bizarre piece of art on display in a gallery show for the first time, one sometimes wonders what will become of it? Oversized for most private houses, it depends on either an institution or a wealthy patron with much space to find a home.

One answer, at least, is in front of me as I post this: "Weapons of Mass Defense 2" - a pair of 100 pound iron facsimiles of traditional Tlingit daggers by Da-ka-xeeen Mehner, are mounted by the windows of the second floor lobby at the Alyeska Prince Hotel.

They're a good addition to the place. While the hotel itself is spectacular architecture (just drive in with someone who hasn't seen it before and note their reaction) and elegantly furnished, the landscapes, wildlife sculptures and other pieces on display are not all of the most refined quality. The best stuff is in a circular cabinet on the entry level, traditional carvings, baskets, skin work and so forth.

Part of the problem is scale. There's a nice Byron Birdsall triptych on this level that would fill a respectable space in anyone's living room. But here in the Alyeska lobby it's swallowed by the paneling - well, drywall - and easy to ignore. As currently mounted, it seems gratuitously out of place.

Mehner's "Weapons," however, are a good fit. Whoever lit on bringing them in should be put in charge of revamping the artwork for the whole place.

There's also a large wall piece by Sonya Kelliher-Combs, but not easy to find, on the first floor, tucked by the computer rooms.