Arts

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Off the Shelf: Alaska rom-com is a not-so-guilty pleasure

From the start, the story has the same allure of a Hallmark Christmas movie

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Photo courtesy Ben Meyer From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.

Seizing the opportunity to explore

Packrafting adventure the topic of next KPC Showcase

Photo courtesy Ben Meyer From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.
Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

On the Screen: ‘Flower Moon’ a grueling historical spotlight

Throughout “Killers,” Scorsese depicts failings of society and personal relationships

Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
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Off the Shelf: Majestic landscape marred by narrow perspective

John Muir’s classic “Travels in Alaska” juxtaposes beauty with a writer’s disconcerting bias

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Statues of a sow and two bear cubs are seen in this mock-up of a potential sculpture at the Kenai Municipal Airport, in Kenai, Alaska. (Illustration via City of Kenai)

Kenai explores bronze bear sculpture garden for airport

The display would include a bronze sow and two cubs interacting with a river

Statues of a sow and two bear cubs are seen in this mock-up of a potential sculpture at the Kenai Municipal Airport, in Kenai, Alaska. (Illustration via City of Kenai)
Braeden Garrett rehearses “Jekyll and Hyde: the Musical” at the Kenai Performers’ Theatre in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Exploring the dark side

Kenai Performers debuts ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ musical

Braeden Garrett rehearses “Jekyll and Hyde: the Musical” at the Kenai Performers’ Theatre in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional image courtesy Taylor Swift Productions Taylor Swift performs songs from her album “Lover” in “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”

On the Screen: An emotional spectacle

Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ brings intensity of stage to screen

Promotional image courtesy Taylor Swift Productions Taylor Swift performs songs from her album “Lover” in “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”
“The Land We Share: A Love Affair Told in Hunting Stories” is held aloft under light rainfall in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sharing about sharing the land

Local authors Christine Cunningham and Steve Meyer will discuss their book at upcoming KPC showcase

“The Land We Share: A Love Affair Told in Hunting Stories” is held aloft under light rainfall in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name” is held on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Haines obituary writer charms in slice-of-life collection

Heather Lende’s “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name” is as much about Lende as it is about Haines

A copy of “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name” is held on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Madeleine Yuna Voyles portrays Alphie in “The Creator.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)

On the Screen: ‘Creator’ a visual delight, thematically light

The film shows off a thought-provoking and vividly realized original setting, even if it fails to capitalize on its own ideas

Madeleine Yuna Voyles portrays Alphie in “The Creator.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)
A copy of “Two Old Women” is held inside the Peninsula Clarion offices on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ahlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Athabascan legend enchants, informs

The two women, shocked that they’ve been left behind by their family and friends, resolve that they will not resign themselves to death

A copy of “Two Old Women” is held inside the Peninsula Clarion offices on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ahlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Soldotna adopts arts and culture master plan

The plan outlines how the city plans to support arts and culture over the next 10 years

Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Kenneth Branagh portrays Hercule Poirot in “A Haunting in Venice.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)

On the Screen: Murder most haunting

Hercule Poirot takes on supernatural in latest Agatha Christie adaptation

Kenneth Branagh portrays Hercule Poirot in “A Haunting in Venice.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)
Shana Loshbaugh (Courtesy photo)

History comes home

Historical conference to bring statewide community to central Kenai Peninsula

Shana Loshbaugh (Courtesy photo)
Ben Mattox performs as part of BenJammin & The Jammin Band during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Jammin one last time

BenJammin and the Jammin Band play final show Saturday

Ben Mattox performs as part of BenJammin & The Jammin Band during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Taylor Zakhar Perez portrays Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine portrays Prince Henry in “Red, White and Royal Blue.” (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios)

On the Screen: A romance for idealists

‘Red, White and Royal Blue’ a surprisingly biting romcom

Taylor Zakhar Perez portrays Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine portrays Prince Henry in “Red, White and Royal Blue.” (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios)
The new portable dance floor is seen in use at the Kenai Performers theater in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Jodene McAuliffe)

Dance floor debut

Kenai Performers launch regular dance programming with weeklong social workshop

The new portable dance floor is seen in use at the Kenai Performers theater in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Jodene McAuliffe)
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Off the Shelf: ‘The bard of the Yukon’ lures with ghostly song

Jaunty tales and folksy rhymes bring the far north to life in Robert Service’s poetry

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Scott Warner performs as part of Hot Mess at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Music Series nears the close of another ‘incredible’ year

As of Aug. 16, the Soldotna Music Series had drawn more than 15,700 attendees

Scott Warner performs as part of Hot Mess at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Xolo Maridueña portrays Jaime Reyes, Blue Beetle in “Blue Beetle.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)

On the Screen: ‘Blue Beetle’ is fun, but offers little new

A new superhero film needs to be great to earn attention

Xolo Maridueña portrays Jaime Reyes, Blue Beetle in “Blue Beetle.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)