The Fourth of July weekend starts off with an affirmation of one of the basic rights of free people: to create art. As Homer hits the peak summer month, from Old Town to the Homer Spit galleries display exhibits.

In her Homer debut at the Homer Council on the Arts, Homer-raised artist Hailey Smith presents “Wildlands,” paintings of wild places, but also places taken back by nature. In her Ptarmigan Arts show, “Botanica,” photographer Debbie Fanatia looks at nature close up and from a distance, from the stamen of a lily to whispering aspen groves. 

In a more fanciful approach, artist Christina Fenner suggests how past events might have happened differently in “History Retold” at Bunnell Street Arts Center. Another painting show opening this month is “Flying Colors,” aviation art by Bob Thompson and John Hume, opening at Fireweed Gallery. Multimedia art from fused glass to metal to painting can be seen in M. Marali Sarget-Smith’s show at Alaska Marketplace, formerly Homeric Traders, on Ocean Drive across from the Farmers Market.

Three-dimensional art is seen with jewelry by Dawn Horner at Art Shop Gallery and wearable art by Homer sisters Leslie Garrison and Marcy Bauersfeld at Diamond Ridge Art Studio and Gallery on the Homer Spit. Clay artists Lisa Wood Beck, Marie Herdegen and Cynthia Morelli also show their work at Bunnell.

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