Fireweed seeks art for June exhibit

Fireweed Gallery has put out a call for entries for its June show, “In The Manner Of.” Open to all media, artists are asked to select any known artist, photographer, clothing designer, jeweler, etc. and be inspired to create one or more works of art reminiscent or inspired by their style. Confirm participation by April 19 by calling Irene at 399-2650.

KBC writer series features Monica Devine and Mar Ka

Two award-winning writers share memoirs of life in Alaska in a reading at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Kachemak Bay Campus Pioneer Hall Commons. Reading are Mar Ka (also known as Mary Kancewick), the author of “Be-hooved,”and Monica Devine, author of “Water Mask.” “Be-hooved” is a memoir about Mar Ka’s decades in the north framed by the migration of the Porcupine caribou herd. Devine’s collection of essays reflects on family, place, culture, and memory set against the her home in Alaska.

“For our joint readings we are emphasizing common themes, and are taking turns reading her prose and my poetry in conversation,” Devine said. “Both our works could be called Alaska memoirs, hers in essays and mine in poems. They can be called spiritual memoirs, because they address how land, people, experiences — changed our perceptions of our world.”

Mar Ka is an indigenous rights attorney of Lithuanian heritage who has travelled to villages throughout Alaska. She has been the recipient of an NEH grant, a New York State Summer Writers Institute Fellowship, and the Midnight Sun Poetry Prize.

Monica Devine is a Pushcart Prize nominee, first-place winner of the Alaska State Poetry Contest, and her piece “On the Edge of Ice” won first place in creative nonfiction with New Letters journal.

Spit Takes starts Friday

Homer’s inaugural Spit Takes, a live storytelling event, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Alibi Bar & Café. Storytellers will elaborate on the theme, “Beginnings.” Spit Takes is organized by Homer News reporter Megan Pacer, KBBI reporter Renee Gross and Helen Armstrong (Homer News editor Michael Armstrong’s sister). There is no charge for admission.

Bernie and the Believers plays next week

Bernie and the Believers, billed as “a triumph of music over ALS,” performs at 9 p.m. April 19 at Alice’s Champage Palace. Essence Goldman leads the band inspired by and playing music written by songwriter Bernie Dalton. Goldman met Dalton in January 2016 when he came to her for voice lessons.

After two months, Dalton’s voice disappeared and he was diagnosed with bulbar-onset Amyotrophic Lateral Schlerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. As Dalton’s ALS developed, he worked with Goldman on his life wish: to record an album with his teenage daughter, Nicole. The album, “Connection,” was released in 2018. Dalton’s ALS has advanced, and he can no longer move and can only communicate through blinking in an eye-gaze computer connection.

With Goldman on voice and percussion, Roger Rocha on guitar, dobra, bass and piano, and Daniel Berkman on drums, banjo and keyboards, Bernie and the Believers also plays with a livestream of Dalton watching from home.

All proceeds support Dalton’s care with the goal of providing him dignity and peace at the end of his life.

The concert also includes a video presentation. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/581594785686170/ and https://www.bernieandthebelievers.com.

HCOA seeks nominees for arts awards

The Homer Council on the Arts seeks nominees for its annual Arts Awardsr. Make your nominations for any or all categoriesbefore May 13; forms are available online at https://www.homerart.org or at the HCOA gallery. Winners will be announced later in May, and the awards presented at the Homer Council on the Arts Annual Meeting and Mary Epperson Day celebration on Friday, June 7. Awards will be presented for Artist of the Year, Art Advocate, Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement, Jill Berryman Arts Education Award, Kathy and Mike Pate Business Award, Diane Borgman Youth Artist of the Year, and Mary Langham Volunteer of the Year.