First Friday art exhibit openings

As Homer enters the season of coming darkness and more subtle daylight, it’s a time to celebrate the art of painting with light — photography.

Two photographers show their work at shows opening Friday for November. At Grace Ridge Brewery, Soldotna photographer and recent Alaska arrival Kathy Cross reminds seasoned Alaskans of how a fresh eye for the Great Land can find images we might take for granted or overlooked. At the Art Shop Gallery, Homer photographer Laural Sabin gives a tour of the city with her “Highlights of Homer,” images of everything from fireweed and lupine to Kachemak Bay wildlife.

Two group shows open this month. At the Kachemak Bay Campus, students in Asia Freeman’s painting class demonstrate their continued learning and mastery of their craft. The students will be on hand not only to show their work, but to discuss their approaches and ideas. Their focus on bright and complementary colors should brighten up the dreary fall days.

At the Homer Council on the Arts, another group show features works by a variety of artists, all working within the confines of 5-inches-by-7-inches. It’s always a delight to see how artists expand their creativity while facing the challenge of a physical limit.

Jeffrey Dean’s monthly openings offer a glimpse into the studio of a working artist and a chance to see what new projects he and his family have going. This month he shows three bronze sculptures of crows, art that inspired his 1-percent-for-art commission at the Homer Volunteer Fire Department fire hall.

Don’t miss the annual Ptarmigan Arts Scholarship Fund auction, with items displayed and on sale to help raise funds for scholarships given to promising 2019 graduates.

Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.

Art Shop Gallery

202 W. Pioneer Ave.

Highlights of Homer, photographs by Laural Sabin

5-7:30 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Homer Photographer Laural Sabin shows her new work. “There is so much to celebrate about the amazing place we call home,” she writes in her artist’s statement. “My ‘Highlights of Homer’ show features the scenery and animals we all know and love.”

Bunnell Street Arts Center

106 W. Bunnell Ave.

Qaspeq/Atikluk Gala

8-10 p.m., First Friday

Celebrate Indigenous fashion and function at the Qaspeq/Atikluk Gala. ” Showcase your original Alaska “hoodie” in style. Wear a favorite kuspuk purchased, created or loaned at this adult “dress-up” party featuring appetizers by Maura, specialty beverages and entertainment by the Nanwalek Seal Dancers. Admission is $50.

Creative Fires Studio and Dean Gallery

40374 Waterman Rd.

New work by Jeffery H. Dean

5-9 p.m. First Friday

The Dean Gallery shows three, life-size, bronze crows made by Jeffery H. Dean to fit a coastal Massachusetts boulder. You can see these one night only before they head Back East. These crows were indirectly responsible for the design of Nor’Easter, Dean’s stainless steel engraving of a rowboat in a storm which is installed in the pocket park beside the Homer Volunteer Fire Dept. Be sure to ask to hear that story when you visit this Friday.

Fireweed Gallery

475 E. Pioneer Ave.

Homer Kimonos and Coats, by Linda Martin

5-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Homer fiber artist Linda Martin writes that she got her inspiration from Jennifer King and Lynne Burt, especially from the Wearable Art shows. She credits teachers Keren Lowell and Rachel Clark, and the encouragement of fashion enthusiast Lin Hampson.

Most of her fabric comes from The Confident Stitch in Missoula, Montana, with other fabric from China and Myanamar, trim from Finland and buttons from Rome.

Grace Ridge Brewery

3388 B. Street off Ocean Drive

New photographs by Kathy Cross

5-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Soldotna photographer Kathy Cross shows her new work. She and her husband moved to Alaska from Virginia for “An Adventure of a Lifetime.” During the day she works as an echocardiographer, but in the evenings, weekends and on vacation she and her husband travel all over the state looking for great things to photograph.

“It has been very easy building up my wildlife and landscape portfolio this past year and a half,” she writes. “In February I submitted some photos to the Fur Rondy photo contest and won with three of them. I have to admit my biggest accomplishment with my photography since coming to Alaska is having some of my Alaska photographs and our story about our Alaska adventure being published in the summer edition of The Drift Travel Magazine.”

Homer Council on the Arts

344 W. Pioneer Ave.

5×7 Show

5-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

The Homer Council on the Arts features works by various artists, all working with two-dimensional or three-dimensional art that fits a format of 5-inches-by-7-inches.

Kachemak Bay Campus

533 E. Pioneer Ave.

Student Art Show

5-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Painting students of Kachemak Bay Campus will present a group show of new landscapes and interiors in vivid color. Featured painters include Brittany Siekaniec, Jen DePesa, Linda Franklin, Drew Wimmerstedt and David Sorensen. Artists will be present for the opening, with an exhibit tour and artists talk at 6 p.m. Reception provided by KBC.

“The students, including some experienced painters, are doing great work this semester,” writes art instructor Asia Freeman. “These images explore a recent focus on painting on brightly colored backgrounds and use of complementary color to bring more vibrancy to paintings.”

Ptarmigan Arts Back Room Gallery

471 E. Pioneer Ave.

Scholarship auction

5-7 p.m.

Ptarmigan Arts will celebrate the 2019 scholarship auction with its First Friday opening displaying the items up for bid. Ptarmigan gives annual scholarships to talented young artists and the proceeds from the auction, administered through the Homer Foundation, provides a nest egg for their scholarship fund. Bidding will be through the online auction site Bidding Owl, but donations from local businesses and residents will be on display.

David Sorensen’s painting of a landscape is one of the paintings from a student art show opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Asia Freeman)

David Sorensen’s painting of a landscape is one of the paintings from a student art show opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Asia Freeman)

Jen DePesa’s painting of a landscape is one of the paintings from a student art show opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Asia Freeman)

Jen DePesa’s painting of a landscape is one of the paintings from a student art show opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Asia Freeman)

Britni Siekaniec’s painting of a fox is one of the paintings from a student art show opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Asia Freeman)

Britni Siekaniec’s painting of a fox is one of the paintings from a student art show opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Asia Freeman)

Jeffrey H. Dean’s bronze sculpture of a crow is featured at a First Friday show opening on Nov. 1, 2019, at his gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Jeffrey H. Dean)

Jeffrey H. Dean’s bronze sculpture of a crow is featured at a First Friday show opening on Nov. 1, 2019, at his gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Jeffrey H. Dean)

Kathy Cross’ photographs are featured in an exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Grace Ridge Brewery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Kathy Cross)

Kathy Cross’ photographs are featured in an exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Grace Ridge Brewery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Kathy Cross)

First Friday art exhibit openings

Kathy Cross’ photographs are featured in an exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Grace Ridge Brewery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Kathy Cross)

Kathy Cross’ photographs are featured in an exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Grace Ridge Brewery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Kathy Cross)

Kathy Cross’ photographs are featured in an exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Grace Ridge Brewery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Kathy Cross)

Kathy Cross’ photographs are featured in an exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Grace Ridge Brewery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Kathy Cross)

Kathy Cross’ photographs are featured in an exhibit opening on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Grace Ridge Brewery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Kathy Cross)

A photograph by Laural Sabin from her exhibit showing starting Nov. 1, 2019, at the Art Shop Gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Laural Sabin)

A photograph by Laural Sabin from her exhibit showing starting Nov. 1, 2019, at the Art Shop Gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Laural Sabin)

Photo by Jeffrey H. Dean                                 Jeffrey H. Dean’s bronze sculpture of a crow is featured at a First Friday show opening on Nov. 1 at his gallery in Homer.

Photo by Jeffrey H. Dean Jeffrey H. Dean’s bronze sculpture of a crow is featured at a First Friday show opening on Nov. 1 at his gallery in Homer.

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