Features

Spectators relax while listening to a musician at the Ocean Stage at Salmonfest on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Salmonfest returns — cautiously and in expanded space

10th festival will be more spread out and completely outdoors.

Spectators relax while listening to a musician at the Ocean Stage at Salmonfest on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Brad Hughes' "Nautilus" is made from recycle plastic and other materials. It's part of his show opening Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)

First Friday art exhibit openings

First Friday shows feature new paintings and photographs by Homer and Alaska artists.

Brad Hughes' "Nautilus" is made from recycle plastic and other materials. It's part of his show opening Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)
Mavis Muller, center, with bull horn, arranged Salmonfest attendees for an aerial art event in the rodeo arena at Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds near Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Mavis Muller)

Aerial art circles back to its origins

Human mosiac art project happens Sunday at Bishop’s Beach.

Mavis Muller, center, with bull horn, arranged Salmonfest attendees for an aerial art event in the rodeo arena at Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds near Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Mavis Muller)
The cover of Doug Dodd's "Hero Unaware" features a photo of Walter Dodd in his U.S. Navy uniform at the start of World War II.

‘Hero Unaware’ based on author’s compilation of father’s war correspondence.

Letters home span the entire length of World War II from a Navy corpsman’s perspective.

The cover of Doug Dodd's "Hero Unaware" features a photo of Walter Dodd in his U.S. Navy uniform at the start of World War II.
A painting from Gerri Martin's exhibit, "Peonies: Alaska’s Floral Gems,” that opened Friday, July 2, 2021, at Fireweed Gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)

Late blooming artist has peony show

Peony farm, art classes led Martin back to an interest in art.

A painting from Gerri Martin's exhibit, "Peonies: Alaska’s Floral Gems,” that opened Friday, July 2, 2021, at Fireweed Gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)
Jessica Williams, left, as Patsy Cline, and Maggie Quarton, right, as Louise Seger rehearse for the upcoming Pier One Theatre production of "Always, Patsy Cline" in the Pratt Museum & Park. (Photo courtesy of Pier One Theatre_

Arts organizations return with live performances

Homer Council on the Arts, Pier One Theatre and Bunnell Street Arts Center offer live music and theater this month.

Jessica Williams, left, as Patsy Cline, and Maggie Quarton, right, as Louise Seger rehearse for the upcoming Pier One Theatre production of "Always, Patsy Cline" in the Pratt Museum & Park. (Photo courtesy of Pier One Theatre_
Tim Troll's painting, "Flat Island: Lake Iliamna," is part of his show at the Homer Council on the Arts opening Friday, July 2, 2021, at the gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)

Peonies featured at new shows for First Friday

Fourth of July weekend opens with First Friday exhibits.

Tim Troll's painting, "Flat Island: Lake Iliamna," is part of his show at the Homer Council on the Arts opening Friday, July 2, 2021, at the gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)
This photo illustration shows the design of Argent Kvasnikoff's "Tuyanitun Tuggeht" sculpture to be installed at Bishop's Beach in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Argent Kvasnikoff and Bunnell Street Arts Center)

New monumental sculpture shows Dena’ina wayfinding

Ninilchik artist Argent Kvasnikoff’s ‘Tuyanitun: Tuggeht’ will be installed at Tuggeht — Bishop’s Beach

This photo illustration shows the design of Argent Kvasnikoff's "Tuyanitun Tuggeht" sculpture to be installed at Bishop's Beach in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Argent Kvasnikoff and Bunnell Street Arts Center)
Homer artist Jenna Gerrety straightens paintings currently being shown at Sustainable Wares. (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)

Regeneration of art and man: Gerrety finds inspiration in nature

Put nature and man together and what do you get? For starters, a sky brilliantly colored by the sun with oranges and reds, mountains deep… Continue reading

Homer artist Jenna Gerrety straightens paintings currently being shown at Sustainable Wares. (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)
Mary Beth Leigh, director of the Microbial Worlds project, stands next to the exhibit on Friday, June 4, 2021, at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer. The exhibit shows through the summer of 2021. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

‘Microbial World’ blends science, art

Exhibit postponed by the pandemic opens at Pratt Museum & Park.

Mary Beth Leigh, director of the Microbial Worlds project, stands next to the exhibit on Friday, June 4, 2021, at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer. The exhibit shows through the summer of 2021. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Holly Shirk's art opens Friday, June 4, 2021, at Fireweed Gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Fireweed Gallery)

First Friday art exhibit openings

Cautiously and carefully, June’s First Friday marks a real first: an evening when all galleries in town hold in-person receptions. Some galleries like Bunnell Street… Continue reading

Holly Shirk's art opens Friday, June 4, 2021, at Fireweed Gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Fireweed Gallery)
On Saturday, May 15, 2021, Lulu Hawkins, age 6 holds up her pottery tour purchase: a David Kaufmann mug at his studio in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by David Kaufman)

Homer pottery tour returns

After a year hiatus, Homer’s annual Pottery Studio Tour returned to bring fun, beauty and education to ceramic enthusiasts May 15-16. With five studios participating… Continue reading

On Saturday, May 15, 2021, Lulu Hawkins, age 6 holds up her pottery tour purchase: a David Kaufmann mug at his studio in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by David Kaufman)
This sketch shows Homer artist Brad Hughes' design for "Loved and Lost," a memorial bench to honor Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, a Homer woman missing since Oct. 17, 2019. It also will draw attention to missing women and children in Alaska. (Drawing courtesy of Brad Hughes)

Arts in brief

Family commissions memorial bench for missing daughter The family of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has commissioned Homer artist Brad Hughes to create a memorial bench to… Continue reading

This sketch shows Homer artist Brad Hughes' design for "Loved and Lost," a memorial bench to honor Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, a Homer woman missing since Oct. 17, 2019. It also will draw attention to missing women and children in Alaska. (Drawing courtesy of Brad Hughes)
Crews work on the botanical garden on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at the Pratt Museum in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Museum plans more programs, more exhibits as COVID-19 danger drops

‘We’ve learned a lot in the pandemic — this new normal we’re embracing,’ communications manager says.

Crews work on the botanical garden on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at the Pratt Museum in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Members of the Motivity Dance Collective rehearse at the Kachemak Shellfish Growers Association deck in Homer, Alaska. From left to right, Emily Rogers, Emilie Springer, Bridget Doran, Rhoslyn Anderson, Breezy Berryman. Not pictured is Kammi Matson. (Photo by Kammi Matson)

Arts in brief

Motivity Dance Collective performs Saturday After a winter of practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic with face masks and social distancing, Motivity Dance Collective holds it… Continue reading

Members of the Motivity Dance Collective rehearse at the Kachemak Shellfish Growers Association deck in Homer, Alaska. From left to right, Emily Rogers, Emilie Springer, Bridget Doran, Rhoslyn Anderson, Breezy Berryman. Not pictured is Kammi Matson. (Photo by Kammi Matson)
Gail Priday's paintings are on view starting Friday, May 7, 2021, at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Bunnell Street Arts Center)

First Friday art exhibit openings

As more Alaskans get vaccinated for COVID-19, local galleries are reopening cautiously. The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival opens today, so it’s no accident that many… Continue reading

Gail Priday's paintings are on view starting Friday, May 7, 2021, at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Bunnell Street Arts Center)
The cover of Anne Coray's novel, "Lost Mountain."

Review: New novel set near fictional Pebble Mine

Coray’s ‘Lost Mountain’ looks at personal, community conflict in setting where a large mine might happen.

The cover of Anne Coray's novel, "Lost Mountain."
The Jubilee youth art show opened on Friday, April 2, 2021, at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Arts in brief

April is ‘youth in the arts’ month at HCOA The creativity of artists from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade can be seen in the Homer Council… Continue reading

The Jubilee youth art show opened on Friday, April 2, 2021, at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Koby Etzwiler is a two-time Ptarmigan Arts scholarship recipient. His stickers can be found locally, in Juneau and online. (Photo courtesy of Ptarmigan Arts)

Ptarmigan Arts allery, community boost young artists’ dreams

For almost 25 years, Ptarmigan Arts Scholarship has been helping artists’ careers

Koby Etzwiler is a two-time Ptarmigan Arts scholarship recipient. His stickers can be found locally, in Juneau and online. (Photo courtesy of Ptarmigan Arts)
The cover of Larry Baxter's novel, "Abandoned." (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)

New book looks at legend of Alaska’s ‘Nantiinaq,’ or ‘giant hairy thing’

“Abandoned, the History and Horror of Port Chatham, Alaska,” by Larry Baxter (Sasquatch Publishing, $14.99, 141 pages) ^ As a youngster in small-town Kentucky, Larry… Continue reading

The cover of Larry Baxter's novel, "Abandoned." (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)
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