Bunnell Street Arts Center

106 W. Bunnell Ave.

Seven Years, installation by Desiree Hagen

5-7 p.m., First Friday Opening Reception; 6 p.m., artists talk
Noon-4 p.m. Feb. 13, 14, 28: Papercut workshops on stencils (Feb. 13), colored paper cut from photos (Feb. 14) and shadow puppets (Feb. 28)

While Bunnell Street Arts Center was closed last January, Desiree Hagen created a giant cut-paper installation. Her exhibit, Seven Years, is an installation made of handmade and salvaged paper, cut, sewn and painted to form a collage of memories and impressions of her life in Alaska. Hagen is a Homer artist who works in metal, fiber and clay, but most consistently enjoys meticulously cutting and gluing tiny sheets of paper. This is the third time Bunnell has hosted a resident artist to use the space in the heart of winter. The installation involves “papering” all main walls of the exhibition space with delicate, detailed, cut and painted paper and stencil imagery of life in Homer. Local artists also have been helping Hagen out on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m.

Hagen also offers paper cut workshops in February. Workshops are $10 a member and $15 nonmembers. Sign up online at bunnellarts.org.

Homer Council on the Arts

344 W. Pioneer Ave.

Work=Art, art by various artists

5-7 p.m., First Friday Reception

In Work=Art, community members were asked to take a look at the work they do with new eyes. Would someone else see what they do as art? So often the work we do has elements of creativity and imagination. This show will highlight a broad variety of pieces that demonstrate creativity.

 

Kachemak Bay Campus

533 E. Pioneer Ave.

Promise of Spring, photography by Joe Kashi

5-6:30 p.m., First Friday Reception

Kenai Peninsula photographer Joe Kashi’s large images are intended to be simply fun and light-hearted, brightening the often-overcast, dark days of late winter with portents of spring and of the bright summer and soft autumn to come. In his artist’s statement, Kashi writes that “there’s a tendency in Western art circles to equate intense, often anguished, emotionality with ‘artistic’ depth. In contrast, Eastern thought seeks to find transcendence in the calm acceptance, spontaneous observation, and contemplation of the manifold wonders of daily life, unfiltered by preconception. This exhibit is informed by the latter world-view.” The art show will be on exhibit through March.

Ptarmigan Arts Back Room Gallery

471 E. Pioneer Ave.

Science fiction and fantasy art, by various artists

5-7 p.m., First Friday Reception

Ptarmigan Arts holds a second reception for its science-fiction and fantasy art show that opened in January. The Force was with the Ptarmigan artists as they created photos, weavings, paintings, jewelry, masks and indescribable creatures from the recycled deep that stretched their imaginations to the outer limits during the short but dark winter. Some works will pay homage to established greats such as Star Wars and Lovecraft, others are created from the twilight zone of pure imagination, but tickle your fancy, they all will. The show will live long and prosper through February. Refreshments will be served, and you may even have the opportunity to tell the artists, “So long, and thanks for all the fish!” on your way out.