Arts Briefs

‘Bears’ show opens at Grace Ridge Brewery

Homer artist Julianne Tomich’s new show, “Bears in Flowers,” opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Grace Ridge Brewery on Ocean Drive. A transplant from Ohio, Tomich moved to Alaska in 2011. In her artist’s statement, she writes that before moving to Alaska less than 2 percent of her time daily she thought about bears.

“However, shortly after moving to Homer, Alaska, that percentage rose drastically. The numbers are now on average 30-50 percent in a day, depending on the season,” she writes. “Is it obsession or natural fear? There are many stories and myths about Alaskan bears. And to say this was a ‘grizzly’ year would be appropriate with several bear encounters ending badly, for both people and bears. But for me personally the percentages rose and fascination and fear as well when a brown bear sauntered under my kitchen window one early morning during coffee. This happened no more than three months after arrival to Homer. It was verified then: this place is wild.”

In her paintings, Tomich pairs bears with poppy flowers. She writes that “pairing a bear phobia with flowers is kind of like trying to disguise the wild and unpredictable in domesticated comfort. As we all know, it’s still a bear, and for me they will always have my respect, especially in my flower beds. … I put the bears in poppies as I always found the poppy to be very beautiful and fancy, but also wild as they pop up in tough situations. (Or am I just hoping it keeps ’em sleeping?) Hopefully knowing (or thinking) that the ursus arctos are sleeping right now will allow you to enjoy this show without much furthered trepidation.”

KBC art classes start soon

Kachemak Bay Campus offers numerous full-semester and short workshop art classes in painting, sculpture, ceramics and writing. Upcoming 15-week art classes include Drawing with Asia Freeman, Beginning Sculpture with Maygen Janetta-Lotscher and Ceramics with new instructor Katie Miller. Short workshop classes are Color Theory Using Limited Stroke Deconstruction with Brianna Allen, 6-8 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 25-Feb. 22; Primitive Clay Vessels with Dave Kaufmann, Feb. 10 and 11; Chinese Painting with Sharlene Cline, 6-8 p.m. Thursdays, March 22-April 5; Painting the Live Model with Jim Buncak, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 31; and Plein Air Painting, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 21 and 28.

Writers Justin Hermann and Rich Chiappone hold a Flash Fiction workshop March 3 and 10, exploring the many shapes and forms of very short stories. For more information or to register, visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com. Course schedules listing describing these and more than 125 distance-delivered and face-to-face classes and workshops are available at the Campus or online. Advanced registration is required. Register early. For more information, call 235-7743.

Salmonfest-Alice’s series announces January shows

The Salmonfest-Alice’s Champagne Palace music series announces these upcoming shows for January, all starting at 9 p.m.:

• Jan. 13: Return of the Tom Petty Tribute. With Tom Petty’s recent death, this show will be even more poignant than last year’s blockbuster. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and expected to sell out.

• Jan. 20: Moxie Strings. Due Diana Ladio and Alison Lynn, sometimes joined by percussionist Fritz McGirr, perform genre-blurring, ear-catching melodies with foot-stomping, rock influenced rhythms. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

• Jan. 26: Gordon Tentrees. Ontario raised, Yukon based Golden Gloves boxer, school teacher and youth counselor turned folk artist has been hailed as “sounding like a younger John Prine.” His music is deeply personal, moving, melodic and sometimes humorous. Free.

• Jan. 27: Steve Poltz. A performer at the 2017 Salmonfest, many people felt Steve Poltz stole the show among a whirlwind of incredible performances. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

HCOA announces winter schedule

The Homer Council on the Arts announces the following workshops, scholarship opportunities and concerts:

• Jan. 16-March 1: ArtQuest: Claymotion with Sharlene Cline. Homer artist Sharlene Cline teaches this hands-on, messy class where students learn to create stories, sculpt and film stop-motion animation with clay sculptures. Classes are 2:50-4:15 p.m. for eight weeks, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 16-March 1. For grades 2 to 6, the fee is $195 for HCOA members and $234 nonmembers.

• Jan. 16-March 9: Aerial Fabric with Bridget Doran. Learn aerial fabric skills for all ages, all levels, 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 16-March 9. The fee is $210 for HCOA members and $252 for nonmembers.

• 5 p.m. Jan. 29: Audition applications due for Jubilee youth performing arts show, Tick Tock: An Evening Based in Time. Performances must somehow be connected to the theme of time.

• 7 p.m. Feb. 16, Mariner Theatre: Tick Tock: An Evening Based in Time. Falcom Greear and Jessi Adcox emcee the show.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11, Mariner Theatre, Squirrel Nut Zippers. $40 HCOA members, $50 general.

For more information, visit homerart.org or call 235-4288.