First Friday gallery openings kick off World Arts Festival

The Alaska World Arts Festival starts its two-week run with First Friday shows from 4-7 p.m. on Pioneer Avenue, Main Street and in Old Town. Art gallery receptions continue from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday on the Homer Spit and elsewhere in town.

With sponsorship from Land’s End Resort, KBBI Public Radio and the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, the Alaska World Arts Fest features main stage Mariner Theatre performances by Beatles tribute band the Fab Four at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Tom Bodett’s True Stories About Home at 7 p.m. Sunday, and Quixotic at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 and at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sept. 14.

World Arts Fest also includes traditional September events like the Homer Documentary Film Festival and the annual Burning Basket. Ninety activities will be free, and many others are priced at $15 and up. Selected events are below. For more information and a full schedule, visit https://www.alaskaworldarts.org.

First Friday

Art Shop Gallery

202 W. Pioneer Ave.

The Alaska Native Doll Collection of Heidi Catlett

4-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

This exhibit explores the art of doll making by Alaska Native artists across the state.

Bunnell Street Arts Center

106 W. Bunnell Ave.

New work by Sonya Kelliher Combs

4-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception; 6 p.m., artist’s talk

Inupiaq and Athabascan artist Sonya Kelliher Combs builds on the time-honored traditions of skin sewing and beading using traditional and modern materials.

Fireweed Gallery

475 E. Pioneer Ave.

Within Ten Miles: A Collection of Local Views, watercolor paintings by Diane Spence-Chorman

4-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Watercolor artist Diane Spence-Corman works in impressionist techniques inspired by Claude Monet, Sydney Lawrence and Jim Buncak. ‘“This show is intended to give visitors a sampling of ambiance we typically enjoy near Homer,” she writes.

Grace Ridge Brewery

3388 B. Street off Ocean Drive

Where the Land Meets the Sea, by Jen DePesa and Britni Siekaniec

4-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Jen DePesa and Britni Siekaniec have teamed up to present a collaborative show of art, “Where The Land Meets The Sea.” DePesa typically paints with water color and captures underwater aquatic life as well as Alaska landscapes. Siekaniec paints Alaska animals in oil. For this show they have both tried new mediums and even have collaborative mixed media pieces.

Homer Council on the Arts

344 W. Pioneer Ave.

World Art

4-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Homer Council on the Arts shows pieces from personal collections from different cultures around the world. Some of the items on exhibit will include Shyrdak rugs from Central Asia, Chinese brush paintings, and Ukrainian Pysanka Easter eggs.

Jars of Clay

3857 Main Street

Pottery and wreathes by Ruby Haigh

4-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

Kachemak Bay Campus

533 E. Pioneer Ave.

Halibut Cove arts

4-8p.m., First Friday Opening Reception

The Kachemak Bay Campus presentsworks by artists from Halibut Cove, curated by Marian Beck and Tony Maury. This exhibit reflects the history of art in the Cove as greatly influenced by Diana Tillion and Alex Combs.

Pratt Museum

3779 Bartlett Street

All Alaska Biennial

4-7 p.m. First Friday reception

Ptarmigan Arts Back Room Gallery

471 E. Pioneer Ave.

Take Your Best Shot, photos by various artists.

4-7 p.m.

Ptarmigan Arts presents “Take Your Best Shot,”an open show displaying the community’s best photos of Homer. The show celebrates Homer and its community’s vision of landscapes, wildlife and other subjects.

First Saturday

Dean Family Gallery

40374 Waterman Road

Origins, by Jeff Dean