Annual ARTrageous August inspires abundance of creative opportunities </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Annual ARTrageous August inspires abundance of creative opportunities

BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
STAFF WRITER

Make that old T-shirt a canvas. Grab paints and easel and sketch Poot Peak from the end of the Homer Spit. Do that Andy Goldsworthy thing with some beach rocks. Hey, get wild and get outrageous: it's the annual ARTrageous August.

Photo by Toni Jabas
Ron Goulet, an artist from Florida, and his wife, Karen, spent an afternoon painting beside the Beluga Lake slough, during the Kachemak Bay Watercolor Society's Plein-Air month last August. Plein-air -- which means "paint outside" -- is one of the events held for Artrageous August.

For the second summer, Homer dedicates the entire eighth month and a few days in July and September to more art activities in 31 days than some towns have all year. After three ARTrageous weekends held around the Pratt Museum's "Putting on the Ritz," last year arts, educational and business organizations came together to celebrate all the arts.

"The whole concept is taking on a life of its own, and people are embracing it," said artist Gaye Wolfe, one of the ARTrageous August organizers.

Early ARTrageous events have already started with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra Summer Music Festival events, including almost a free concert a day for KPO's luncheon concert series. ARTrageous really gets cooking Friday night with First Friday art openings (see related story, page 12B) and the second weekend of Pier One Theatre's "Nunsense."

New this year is "Get Your Drag On," a drag show with kings and queens, women dressing as men and men dressing as women on Aug. 31 at Bunnell Street Gallery. Just to confuse the performers, the audience is invited also to come in drag. A family-oriented show is at 7 p.m. and an over-21 show at 10 p.m. The show benefits Bunnell and Kachemak Bay Family Planning; ticket prices haven't been set.

For a twist on a play traditionally cast with men, Pier One Theatre presents a female version of "The Odd Couple," rewritten by playwright Neil Simon with women in the roles of Oscar and Felix now Olive and Florence. The play opens at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23. Pier One also presents the Youth Theatre's production of "Revenge of the Space Pandas" opening 7 p.m. Aug. 9.

Last year's ARTrageous Ball returns, but this year it's at Alice's Champagne Palace. Like many ARTrageous events, the ball sponsored by the Homer Council on the Arts includes a family-friendly show at 7 p.m. Aug. 15, with art activities for kids and adults. An adults-only show is at 10 p.m.

"We want to encourage multi-generational good times," said Hope Finkelstein, HCOA executive director.

The popular shirt-painting event also returns, although there won't be stylists doing big hair this year. Bring a white shirt, hat or scarf and let artists turn it into wearable art. Beau Soleil provides music.

The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies sponsors nature films including "River and Tides," a film about Andy dGoldsworthy's environmental art at noon on Saturdays. Get inspired and make your own environmental art at noon Sundays with Beach Sculpture Sundays at Bishop's Beach, with CACS instructors to help with ideas on beach etiquette.

Those are just a few of the many events, workshops and shows running all month.

"We need to get used to the idea we're artrageous," Wolfe said. "It's not just the read of the world that thinks we are."

For a full list of events and sponsors, visit www.artrageoushomer.org.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.