Life

Joe Spady as Algnernon Moncrieff, left, and Devin Boyle as Jack Worthing rehearse a scene from the Kenai Performers’ production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kalifornsky, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Performers)

‘A trivial show for very serious people’

Kenai Performers takes on Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”

Joe Spady as Algnernon Moncrieff, left, and Devin Boyle as Jack Worthing rehearse a scene from the Kenai Performers’ production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kalifornsky, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Performers)
Photos by Sean McDermott Artist Amber Webb starts works on a new drawing at Bunnell Street Arts Center. Her work will be on display at the gallery through the month of May.

Where the waters mixed

Artist uses art to explore the blurred boundaries between sorrow and celebration, hardship and healing

Photos by Sean McDermott Artist Amber Webb starts works on a new drawing at Bunnell Street Arts Center. Her work will be on display at the gallery through the month of May.
Aislyn Downum, left, and Mylee Yeoman perform a scene from “Moana” during a dress rehearsal at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Middle debuts ‘Moana’ this weekend

The Disney musical follows the story of a young heiress to a Polynesian kingdom

Aislyn Downum, left, and Mylee Yeoman perform a scene from “Moana” during a dress rehearsal at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Writer Toni Jensen is part of the visiting faculty teaching at the 25th Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference. (Photo provided)

It’s back: Writers’ Conference returns

20th Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference returns in new location in downtown Homer.

Writer Toni Jensen is part of the visiting faculty teaching at the 25th Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference. (Photo provided)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire This photo shows “Old Woman With Berries in Her Lap,” a poetry collection by Wrangell writer and poet Vivian Faith Prescott. She recently released two books, the second being “My Father’s Smokehouse,” a combination of recipes and stories.

Southeast author releases ‘foodoir’ and book of poetry

The prolific author and poet has been working for years on the two books

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire This photo shows “Old Woman With Berries in Her Lap,” a poetry collection by Wrangell writer and poet Vivian Faith Prescott. She recently released two books, the second being “My Father’s Smokehouse,” a combination of recipes and stories.
Left to right: Darek Hatten, Aidan Bon and Sophia Micciche rehearse “Arsenic and Old Lace” at Soldotna High School on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Arsenic and laughs pair well

SoHi students bring the dark comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” to the stage

Left to right: Darek Hatten, Aidan Bon and Sophia Micciche rehearse “Arsenic and Old Lace” at Soldotna High School on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Steve M. Schoonmaker recites poetry as part of the opening of his show “Symbiotic Symphony: Alders and Salmon” at Cook Inletkeeper’s Community Action Studio on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The giving of self’

Community art show celebrates symbiosis in nature

Steve M. Schoonmaker recites poetry as part of the opening of his show “Symbiotic Symphony: Alders and Salmon” at Cook Inletkeeper’s Community Action Studio on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nathan Hall (left) and Jesse Egner (right) play a duet Hall composed that was inspired by dried stalks of cow parsnips at Bunnell Streer Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Sean McDermott)

Screenwriting, cyanotypes and a sonic portrait

A trio of artists visit Bunnell Street Arts Center in April as Artists in residence

Nathan Hall (left) and Jesse Egner (right) play a duet Hall composed that was inspired by dried stalks of cow parsnips at Bunnell Streer Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Sean McDermott)
“A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold was originally published by Oxford University Press in 1949. (Image via Amazon.com)

Revisiting ‘A Sand County Almanac’ as Earth Day approaches

Leopold shows that conservation is active and an awesome responsibility

“A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold was originally published by Oxford University Press in 1949. (Image via Amazon.com)
From left: Zodiac Trio members Kliment Krylovskiy, Vanessa Mollard and Riko Higuma (Courtesy image)

Soldotna to host musical trio

The three-member group features the sounds of the clarinet, violin and piano

From left: Zodiac Trio members Kliment Krylovskiy, Vanessa Mollard and Riko Higuma (Courtesy image)
David Rosenthal describes work from his travels around the Arctic Ocean and through the Northwest Passage from his show, “Painting at the Edge of the Ice Age,” at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Sean McDermott)

A chronicle of vanishing ice

A chronicle of vanishing ice: A new exhibition at the Pratt Museum by painter David Rosenthal

David Rosenthal describes work from his travels around the Arctic Ocean and through the Northwest Passage from his show, “Painting at the Edge of the Ice Age,” at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Sean McDermott)
Jonathan Freeman displays his first place photography piece during the opening reception of the Kenai Art Center’s annual student show on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Students show their stuff

Kenai Art Center’s annual student showcase will be on display through May

Jonathan Freeman displays his first place photography piece during the opening reception of the Kenai Art Center’s annual student show on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Bunny Swan performs at Soldotna Creek Park on July 3, 2019, as part of the Levitt Amp Soldotna Music Series. The series returns June 1 in Soldotna Creek Park. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna summer serenades are back

The free concert series — put on by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce — will kick off on June 1 at Soldotna Creek Park

Bunny Swan performs at Soldotna Creek Park on July 3, 2019, as part of the Levitt Amp Soldotna Music Series. The series returns June 1 in Soldotna Creek Park. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Elementary School kindergarten class runs into Kaladi Brothers Coffee on South Kobuk Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, April 8, 2022, to look at their art show. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Making ‘beautiful things’

Kindergartners show off work at Kaladi Brothers Coffee shop

The Soldotna Elementary School kindergarten class runs into Kaladi Brothers Coffee on South Kobuk Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, April 8, 2022, to look at their art show. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” rests against a typewriter on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Reckoning with a challenged author in times of censorship

Off the Shelf is a bimonthly literature column written by the staff of The Peninsula Clarion

A copy of Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” rests against a typewriter on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew This photo from the same series that gave “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” its cover image shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau in December 2021. Heist’s debut album “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau.

Roots music: New album draws from memories and connections made in Southeast Alaska

Steel (pedal) yourself for new music.

Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew This photo from the same series that gave “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” its cover image shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau in December 2021. Heist’s debut album “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau.
A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Taking back the pen

Malala Yousafzi writes of the struggle for education in Afghanistan

A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Isabella Valenzuela prepares for the Forever Dance company showcase “Among Dreams” during a rehearsal on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

A dreamland for dancers

Forever Dance showcase ‘Among Dreams’ opens

Isabella Valenzuela prepares for the Forever Dance company showcase “Among Dreams” during a rehearsal on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Bunnell Street Arts Center visiting artist-in-residence Berith Stennabb poses next to one of her pieces, "Anomicholistic ar.35." (Photo by Sean McDermott)

Connected threads: A Swedish and Alaska artist exchange

Stennabb is in Homer as part of a two-month-long artist in residency exchange with the Konstmuseet, Skövde Kulturhus in Sweden

Bunnell Street Arts Center visiting artist-in-residence Berith Stennabb poses next to one of her pieces, "Anomicholistic ar.35." (Photo by Sean McDermott)
Charli Byrd (left) and Selia Butler, who play Little Red Ridinghood and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” run through voice exercises with vocal director Rosemary Bird at the Kenai Performers building in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, March 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Performers take the stage for Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’

The show follows characters and storylines from well-known folklore

Charli Byrd (left) and Selia Butler, who play Little Red Ridinghood and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” run through voice exercises with vocal director Rosemary Bird at the Kenai Performers building in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, March 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)