First Thursday
■ A First Thursday opening of a show of illustrations and drawings by Will Harper will take place today from 6-8 p.m. at the Kenai Fine Art Center. Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Art teachers will be displaying selections of their work in Gallery II. Kenai Fine Art Center, at 816 Cook Avenue in Old Town Kenai, opens all galleries daily from noon to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, manned by volunteer artist participation. Call 907-283-7040 for further information.
Events and Exhibitions
■ Redoubt Flute Studio’s students’ concert will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. (Admission is free) Students will play beautiful flute pieces and chamber music by J.S. Bach, Faure, Telemann, Delibes, Bloch and more. In addition, Keri Ann Peek (piano) and Charley Morton (bassoon) and some violin students of Ida Pearson are going to play too.
■ Nikiski Middle-High School’ spring musical production of “The Wizard of Oz” plays Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.
■ The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Juried Student Show is on display at the Kenai Fine Art Center, 816 Cook Avenue, in Kenai. Art center hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday.
■ Kaladi’s Coffee on Kobuk in Soldotna features a collection entitled “Revisited” by local artist Melinda Rosin Hershberger for the month of May. There is a reception May 15 from 3-5 p.m.
■ Kaladi’s Coffee on the Sterling Highway next to the Peninsula Center Mall features a collection of Alaska wildlife by Two Loons Photography. Jeff Jicha will host a meet-and-greet the artist on May 5 from 3-5 p.m.
■ Call for artists: Artists ages 2-17 are invited to enter up to 2 artworks relating to the theme of ‘Birds of the Kenai Peninsula’ for the 2016 PEEPS Kids Art and Photo Exhibit to be displayed at the Kenai Visitors Center, May 17-21. Artworks must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. May 5 to the visitors center in Kenai. This is an annual event of the Kenai Birding Festival. Details available at the Kenai Visitors Center or at www.kenaibirdfest.com.
■ A call for artists to submit up to two expressive, distinctive, original quilted wall hangings, up to 9 feet square, for the June, 2016 Art Quilts Extraordinaire Exhibit in Gallery Too at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook Ave. in Old Town Kenai. Kits or traditional patterns would not fit into the concept of this exhibit. Submissions are due by 4 p.m. May 28 to the Kenai Fine Arts Center. Art center hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. An artists reception will be 6-8 p.m. June 2.
■ Central Peninsula Hospital is extending a “Call for Artists” to Alaskan artists to submit examples of their work for possible purchase or commission, to enrich the healing environment of the River Tower Specialty Clinics Building. Artist applications will be handled through an online application process at the project website: www.cphcallforartists.com. Refer to the website for complete information on the application process. Completed applications must be submitted on or before May 23.
■ The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is issuing a call for artists for its Summer 2016 juried art show, “Keen on Kenai.” The show will run June 2-Sept. 3. The exhibition is open to all mediums with a limit of 2 entries per artist. Applications are available at the visitor center or online at kenaichamber.org. Entries will be accepted May 1-13.
■ The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center hosts an exploration of “Traditional and Contemporary Ravenstail Weavings” by artist Kay Field Parker.
■ ARTspace Drawer is on display at the Soldotna Library, the first annual collection of locally created 2D and 3D art. The first of its kind in Alaska, this display is made possible by a partnership between Soldotna Rotary, ARTspace Inc., and the Soldotna Public Library.
■ Frames & Things in Soldotna is offering a framing class on May 7 from 9 a.m.-noon. The class is limited to 15 people, must be at least 18. Please call Frames & Things for details at 262-5248 or find them on Facebook.
■ Registration for the upcoming 15th Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference is open. Sponsored by the Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College for teachers, writers, students and general public, the highly-acclaimed 2016 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference will be held June 10-14 at Land’s End Resort in Homer. This year’s keynote presenter will feature 2012-2014 U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize finalist Natasha Trethewey. Conference presenters include 17 award-winning, nationally-recognized authors, editors and agents who will conduct creative writing workshops, readings, craft talks and panel presentations in creative fiction, nonfiction, poetry and the business of writing. A special post-conference writing workshop will be held across Kachemak Bay at Tutka Bay Lodge for conference registrants. A Youth Workshop for high school students on graphic novels will held June 10. Advanced registration is required. For program and registration information see: http://writersconference.homer.alaska.edu.
Entertainment
■ Veronica’s in Old Town Kenai has live music at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Call 283-2725.
■ The Vagabond Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music at 9 p.m. with AK Blues on Friday.
■ A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.
■ The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Garrett Mayer on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Raymond Machen-Gray on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
■ An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.
■ AmVets Post 4 has reopened in its brand new building on K-Beach across from Jumpin Junction. Eligible veterans and their families are invited to stop by to find out more about AmVets and their involvement in the Veteran community. For members and invited guests, Friday night dance to DJ Roy, and Saturday Burn your own steak and karaoke with Frank.
■ Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.
■ The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.
■ Hooligans Saloon in Soldotna has poker Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. and live music Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
■ The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.
■ Mykel’s in Soldotna has live music Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. with Bob Ramponi and Dave Unruh.
■ The Soldotna library hosts a board game night on Tuesdays from 5-7:45 p.m. in the conference rooms, 235 N. Binkley Street. It’s time to get your game on! Have you ever wanted to try something other than another round of Monopoly, or to break out of that old Scrabble routine? Come ready to meet new people, engage your imagination, and have a great time.
Films
■ Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 for listings and times.
■ Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for listings and times.
Down the Road
■ The Pratt Museum in Homer is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.
Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.
