Homer’s galleries and public art spaces celebrate winter and the slow transition to more daylight with new and ongoing exhibits. Stroll the galleries, meet the artists and enjoy the variety of mediums on display.
Art Shop Gallery
202 W. Pioneer Ave.
Gallery hours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sundays. No exhibit.
Art Shop Gallery will be open their normal winter hours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sundays. Watch for their next First Friday exhibit in March. Visit the gallery online at artshopgallery.com.
Bunnell Street Arts Center
106 W. Bunnell Ave.
“Fantastic Fens,” paintings and pen and ink drawings by Kim McNett
Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m. Artist’s talk, 6 p.m.
Bunnell Street Arts Center presents new work by Kim McNett, a naturalist, artist and wilderness adventurer. In her exhibit, “Fantastic Fens,” McNett expands science illustration into a realm of impression and imagination and showcases her fascination with the world of Fens, a special kind of wetland. Showcasing this body of work in a variety of mediums, including watercolor painting, oil painting and pen and ink black-and-white drawings. At the heart of her work is a curiosity and love for the natural world. In a practice of creativity and scientific observation, she keeps a nature journal to document her extensive wilderness explorations and daily life around Kachemak Bay. McNett teaches nature drawing, journaling and visual arts to people all ages throughout the state, including communities across the bay from Homer.
In addition to her exhibit, McNett is offering Winter Watercolor Workshops, a beginner-friendly watercolor workshop series where participants will learn to convey the magic of the winter world in light, shadow, reflection and color. Tuesdays, Feb. 11, 18, and/or 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Bunnell. All supplies provided. Space is limited to 12 participants per workshop. $40 per workshop or $100 for all three. Register in person at Bunnell Street Arts Center, by phone at 907-235-2662 or online at bunnellarts.org.
The exhibit is open during regular gallery hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit the gallery at bunnellarts.org.
Fireweed Gallery
475 E. Pioneer Ave.
Closed through Feb. 11
Fireweed Gallery is closed for winter break and will reopen on Wednesday, Feb. 12, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Visit the gallery online at fireweedgallery.com.
Grace Ridge Brewing
870 Smoky Bay Way
Paintings by Rebekah “Honey” Griffard
Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m.
Grace Ridge Brewing showcases work by the late Rebekah “Honey” Griffard. A wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and registered nurse, Griffard was also a lifelong artist. Her work reflects the influence of living for a year and a half in the Republic of Korea and eight years in Europe as a military spouse. Originally self-taught, she took advantage of local and regional opportunities wherever she was to participate in formal art instruction and organized and participated in local expositions at all assignment locations during her husband’s 28-year, active-duty military career. This included showing at three consecutive Free Berlin Art Exhibitions in West Berlin, Germany. Griffard enjoyed experimenting with a variety of media and subjects and the diversity of her work is reflected in this exhibit that features still life, wildlife and scenes from everyday life. Her work, which spans more than five decades, incorporates the muted tones of pencil and watercolor and the vibrancy of acrylic as well as mixed media.
In December 2015, following her husband Bernie’s retirement from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the couple relocated to Homer. Here, Griffard was captivated by the beauty of the Kachemak Bay area and its nurturing art environment. In 2018, her basic motor skills began to deteriorate and in April 2019 she was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. She passed away in May 2020 and this exhibit was arranged by Bernie, her husband of nearly 50 years, in her memory.
All donations from the sale of her work will benefit the ALS Association to help combat ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord eventually stealing people’s ability to walk, talk and eventually, breathe. Anyone interested in purchasing work can do so by visiting the ALS website, als.org, clicking on the Donate button and showing the donation receipt to the brewery staff as proof of purchase before removing the artwork. As pieces sell, they will be replaced by other work.
For more information, contact Bernie Griffard at 717-319-2653. Visit the brewery online at graceridgebrewing.com.
Homer Council on the Arts
355 W. Pioneer Ave.
“Women In Science: A Group Show Celebrating the Brilliant and Inquiring Minds of Women”
Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m.
Homer Council on the Arts debuts “Women in Science,” a community art exhibit that invited artists to consider the ways that women have contributed to advances in science today and through the ages. From the show statement:
While women today face less opposition to careers in scientific research, women historically faced social, cultural and economic factors barring them from being recognized as members of the scientific community. Qualified women who were able to push back against the societal norms of their time were still relegated to assistants or secretarial positions. This gave women little agency over practicing or being credited for their work. Aside from being overlooked, women’s achievements mostly went unacknowledged or were attributed to men who either claimed credit for, or stole, research from their female colleges. Today, women face less blatant misogyny throughout scientific fields yet only account for 30% of the STEM workforce. For these and other reasons, we may never know the true impact women have had on scientific inquiry, technological advancement, or modern inventions.
With this in mind, HCOA and Pier One Theatre partnered to engage the community in conversation. With a goal of uplifting and highlighting women’s achievements, the Call for Art prompt allowed artists the creative freedom to explore the work of innovative women in their chosen mediums. Exhibited works represent women throughout history, as well as women active in their respective fields of science. In collaboration with Pier One Theatre, HCOA hosts live performances of the play “Silent Skies” on Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. and the “Half-Life of Marie Curie” on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets and more information at homerart.org, 907-235-4288 and in person Monday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., 355 W Pioneer Avenue, Suite 100.
Kachemak Bay Campus
533 E Pioneer Ave.
“Looking for Authenticity,” photography by Joe Kashi
Opening Reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Kachemak Bay Campus hosts an exhibit of photography by Soldotna photographer and lawyer, Joe Kashi. Why do some photographs and other visual images linger in memory, continuing to engage us and resonate emotionally over time, while others fade away? Do any of these images speak to you beyond a surface level? Why or why not? With this body of work, Kashi intends for his images to be a traditional fine art photography exhibit of pictures that “hang together” and invites an interactive approach, encouraging viewers to look more deeply into the photographs that are open to multiple interpretations. An exhibit of both color and black-and-white images that includes still life, landscape and other themes, this is Kashi’s 29th solo non-coffeehouse exhibit.
Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection
111 W Pioneer Avenue
Photography by Andrew Tomey
Opening Reception, 4-6 p.m.
Kachemak Bay Recovery hosts photography by Andrew Tomey of Arctic Stills Photography. Featuring all-Alaska wildlife and landscape images, this is Tomey’s first public exhibit and will include metal prints and custom-mounted and framed prints. On the board of Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection, Tomey is proud to support this nonprofit organization whose work is centered around connecting people in recovery to a recovery community through events, activities and new, a space to hang out. Find him online on Facebook at Arctic Stills Photography.
Pratt Museum
3779 Bartlett St.
“Bering Sea Storms: Past to Present”
Opening Reception, 4-6 p.m.
Pratt Museum hosts “Bering Sea Storms: Past to Present,” an exhibit that highlights the research collected in 2022 by a group of scientists, local youth, elders and stakeholders who participated in a research trip transiting the Aleutian Islands to study Bering Sea storminess, gathering data to help further understand the historic record of extreme storm events. The goal of the project was to help communities plan for future storm scenarios that may result from rapid climate change. “Bering Sea Storms: Past to Present” highlights the research collected and the way that scientists and Indigenous Alaskans worked together. All three galleries of the museum will be open, as well as the museum store. Enjoy light refreshments, explore the exhibit, and connect with other community members. Visit the museum online at prattmuseum.org.
Ptarmigan Arts
471 E. Pioneer Ave.
Member work
Gallery hours 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Sunday
Ptarmigan Arts presents member work, including new copper charms by Karianna Ford and recycled XtraTuf and leather earrings by Jenny Chamberlain. Visit the gallery online at ptarmiganarts.com.
The Dean Gallery
40374 Waterman Road
Open Studio
Open Studio, 5-7 p.m.
The Dean Gallery is family-owned and features contemporary art by M’fanwy, Ranja, and Jeff Dean. In the gallery are also intricately carved wood panels, bronze sculptures, metal and wood wall art, seed bead jewelry and specialty prints on metal, wood, and paper. They will be hosting an Open Studio for February First Friday, featuring Jeff’s latest work in progress commission, “Salvage Rights,” depicting a giant Pacific octopus grappling with a whale skull. The gallery will also be open for browsing. Visit them online at deangallery.com.
Copper charms by Karianna Ford are on display at Ptarmigan Arts in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Ptarmigan Arts
“Harbor at Night”, a photo by Andrew Tomey taken in the winter of 2021, showcases boats in the Homer Harbor and is one of several images on display in Tomey’s solo exhibit at Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection in Homer, Alaska, through February 2025. Photo provided by Kachemak Bay Recover Connection
“Bering Sea Storms: Past to Present,” an exhibit at the Pratt Museum in Homer, Alaska, features data gathered during a 2022 research trip transiting the Aleutian Islands in order to help further understand the historic record of extreme storm events. Photo provided by the Pratt Museum
“Drift-fishing the Kenai III,” a photograph taken by Joe Kashi in September 2010, is one of several images in his solo exhibit through February 2025 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Joe Kashi
”Salvage Rights,” a 5.5-foot wide wall piece in brass, stainless steel and reclaimed redwood, is a work in progress by Jeff Dean that can be viewed at The Dean Gallery. Photo provided by Jeff Dean
