Arts briefs

Local artists win grants

Three Homer artists have received Individual Artist or Project Award grants from the Rasmuson Foundation, according to a press release from the foundation last week. The foundation awarded 10 $18,000 Individual Artist grants and 25 $7,500 Project Award grants. The recipients were selected from a pool of 289 applicants by a panel of Lower 49 artists and creative community leaders.

Fellowships are awarded to mid-career and mature artists ready for a year of focused creative development. Project Awards support artists at all career stages for specific, short-term works. Receiving awards are:

• Individual Artist fellowship, Cynthia Morelli. Morelli explores femininity in woodfired clay sculptural works. Her anagama kiln is one of only two in Alaska. She will advance her mastery of firing techniques through study with female mentors and will enhance her online presence.

• Project Award, Mandy Bernard. Bernard’s fiber art explores themes of interconnection and communication. She will create two new bodies of work: diptych sculptures employing dissonant fibers and textiles, and a wearable art collection integrating paper-cut accessories.

• Project Award, Mary Hayden. Hayden focuses on detail and craftsmanship in hand-stitched leather goods that are functional as well as artistic. She will purchase an industrial sewing machine and invest in training to expand her skills and the capacity and range of her work.

Pratt Museum reopens today

The Pratt Museum reopens today, July 9, with its new temporary exhibit, “Entangled: Exploring natural history collections from Kachemak Bay.” Through Aug. 31, its hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The cautious reopening is subject to updates in complaince with state and federal public health guidance.

For the safety of visitors and staff, face masks are required for entry. Visitors must log in and sign on entry. Social distancing of 6 feet must be maintained at all times. Capacity is limited to 10 guests in the museum at a time.

Face masks and capacity limits do not apply to our outdoor spaces including gardens, forest trails, and the Homestead cabin; however, visitors should respectfully comply with social distancing guidelines.