Arts

Visitors put on personal protective equipment before an artist talk by Dr. Sami Ali' at the Jan. 7, 2022, First Friday opening of her exhibit, "The Mind of a Healthcare Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic," at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

ER doctor’s paintings follow passage of pandemic

Dr. Sami Ali made 2019 resolution to paint every day — and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Visitors put on personal protective equipment before an artist talk by Dr. Sami Ali' at the Jan. 7, 2022, First Friday opening of her exhibit, "The Mind of a Healthcare Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic," at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Alyeska Krull, Jayni Parish, Braeden Garrett, Brittany Gilman and Selia Butler act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women” in May 2021. (Photo provided)

Dressing the part

Kenai Performers to give workshops on how to create theater costumes

Alyeska Krull, Jayni Parish, Braeden Garrett, Brittany Gilman and Selia Butler act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women” in May 2021. (Photo provided)
A cast member holds up a cue card in Soldotna High School’s production of "Annie" on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Voices of the Peninsula: Is theater dead?

“It will not be an easy task, performing CPR on this theater, but imagine the joy that you could bring to the students.”

A cast member holds up a cue card in Soldotna High School’s production of "Annie" on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy

Music series aims to warm up community

The miniseries chronicles western music from the prehistoric days to the present.

Courtesy
Megan Pacer / Homer News
Artist Asia Freeman, third from left, speaks to visitors on Nov. 1, 2019, at a First Friday art exhibit opening at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer.

Freeman wins Governor’s Arts Humanities Award

Bunnell Street Arts Center artistic director is one of nine honored.

Megan Pacer / Homer News
Artist Asia Freeman, third from left, speaks to visitors on Nov. 1, 2019, at a First Friday art exhibit opening at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer.
Zirrus VanDevere’s pieces are displayed at the Kenai Art Center on Jan. 4, 2022. (Courtesy Alex Rydlinski)

A journey of healing

VanDevere mixes shape, color and dimension in emotional show

Zirrus VanDevere’s pieces are displayed at the Kenai Art Center on Jan. 4, 2022. (Courtesy Alex Rydlinski)
A copy of “The Year of Magical Thinking” by author Joan Didion is displayed on an e-reader. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Didion’s “Year of Magical Thinking” is a timely study on grief

‘The last week of 2021 felt like a good time to pick up one of her books.’

A copy of “The Year of Magical Thinking” by author Joan Didion is displayed on an e-reader. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News
Kim McNett’s exhibit at Bunnell Street Arts Center features original art and prints from her nature journals, as well as the original journals.

Artist, naturalist finishes Bunnell residency

McNett uses as her subject the environment of Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula.

Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News
Kim McNett’s exhibit at Bunnell Street Arts Center features original art and prints from her nature journals, as well as the original journals.
From left, Sophia Micciche, Luci Micciche and Terri Burdick perform during the Triumvirate Theatre’s rehearsal of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lioin, the Witch and the Wardrobe” at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Triumvirate brings Narnia to life

The acclaimed tale follows four siblings who discover a snowy fantasy world beyond the doors of an antique wardrobe.

From left, Sophia Micciche, Luci Micciche and Terri Burdick perform during the Triumvirate Theatre’s rehearsal of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lioin, the Witch and the Wardrobe” at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Ash Naderhoff, center, pointing, shows the rest of the team the spot where he witnessed the mysterious figure that morning and documented its scat in the woods. (Courtesy Photo by Daniel Lennon/Discovery+)

New reality-TV show explores Nantinaq stories

Series follows 40-day expedition to Port Chatham in search of mysterious Bigfoot-like creature.

Ash Naderhoff, center, pointing, shows the rest of the team the spot where he witnessed the mysterious figure that morning and documented its scat in the woods. (Courtesy Photo by Daniel Lennon/Discovery+)
The cover of Madeline A. Hawthorne’s “A Christmas Parade,” published by Olympia Publishing.

‘A Christmas Parade’ is local author’s first book

Just in time for Christmas, a new Homer writer and artist has published her first book. Bumblebee Books, an imprint of Olympia Publishers, London, United… Continue reading

The cover of Madeline A. Hawthorne’s “A Christmas Parade,” published by Olympia Publishing.
The film “Finding Balance” directed by Santino “Tino” Martirano will be featured in the upcoming Backcountry Film Festival hosted by Tsalteshi Trails Association at the organization’s annual meeting on Saturday. (Courtesy of David Julian and the Winter Wildlands Alliance)

Tsalteshi to feature films from Backcountry Film Festival at meeting

The films range from extreme sports to outdoor winter hobbies, while also promoting sustainable recreation.

The film “Finding Balance” directed by Santino “Tino” Martirano will be featured in the upcoming Backcountry Film Festival hosted by Tsalteshi Trails Association at the organization’s annual meeting on Saturday. (Courtesy of David Julian and the Winter Wildlands Alliance)
Homer writer Richard Chiappone. (Photo by Joshua Veldstra)

‘Hunger of Crows’ perfect for winter reading

Chiappone’s first novel is set in Homer, Anchor Point.

Homer writer Richard Chiappone. (Photo by Joshua Veldstra)
Forever Dance students practice for the “Forever Christmas” annual holiday variety show at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Remembering that we’re all in this together’

Forever Dance celebrates the holiday spirit with Christmas showcase.

Forever Dance students practice for the “Forever Christmas” annual holiday variety show at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Shelli and Mike Gordon pose in October 2011 at their Halibut Cove, Alaska, home in an Alaska Gothic version of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” painting. (Photo courtesy of Mike Gordon)

‘Dagnabit’ features tales of ’80s wild Alaska

Gordon’s second book also tells of Ruben Gaines, creator of Chilkoot Charlie.

Shelli and Mike Gordon pose in October 2011 at their Halibut Cove, Alaska, home in an Alaska Gothic version of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” painting. (Photo courtesy of Mike Gordon)
Dianne Spence-Chorman’s “Fig Study” is one of the works showing in the Homer Council on the Arts “Fun wtih 5x7” show through Dec. 22, 2021, at the gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

‘Fun with 5×7’ offers affordable art

HCOA annual art show presents art in a variety of media, all in 5x7 format.

Dianne Spence-Chorman’s “Fig Study” is one of the works showing in the Homer Council on the Arts “Fun wtih 5x7” show through Dec. 22, 2021, at the gallery in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The case of “Annie” rehearses at Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Tomorrow’ starts today

Soldotna High School returns to stage with production of musical “Annie”

The case of “Annie” rehearses at Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Tatihana DeHoyos cuts out the centerpiece stencil for the Kenai Alternative High School’s mural installation at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Finishing touches

High schoolers fill last-minute spot in art center’s mural project.

Tatihana DeHoyos cuts out the centerpiece stencil for the Kenai Alternative High School’s mural installation at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The cover of Tom Kizzia’s book, “Cold Mountain Path,” published by Porphyry Press in October 2021. (Photo provided)

‘Cold Mountain Path’ explores ghost town history of McCarthy

Kizzia’s book looks at McCarthy history from 1938 to the town’s revival as a tourist destination.

The cover of Tom Kizzia’s book, “Cold Mountain Path,” published by Porphyry Press in October 2021. (Photo provided)
Melinda Hershberger works on her installation for the Kenai Art Center’s collaborative mural project on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Wall-to-wall creativity

Artists collaborate on a single mural at the Kenai Art Center this month.

Melinda Hershberger works on her installation for the Kenai Art Center’s collaborative mural project on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)