Homer’s galleries and public art spaces showcase work by local and Kenai Peninsula artists during their November First Friday events. Stroll the art walk, meet the artists and enjoy the variety of mediums on display.
Art Shop Gallery
202 W. Pioneer Ave.
Bryan and Shannon Olds, ceramics and fused art glass
First Friday Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m.
Art Shop Gallery features high-fire ceramics and fused art glass by Bryan and Shannon Olds of K-Beach Studios, whose work is inspired by nature. Shannon took art classes at Elmendorf Air Force Base in 2012, where she learned basic pottery throwing and fused glass techniques. After practicing at home for several years, she taught her husband Bryan to throw and the process of fusing glass, blending the two mediums. With her concentrating on pottery and his on fused glass, the two created pieces together. Today they focus more of their time and energy on pottery.
Bunnell Street Arts Center
106 W. Bunnell Ave.
Photography by Rafael de la Uz
First Friday Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m. Artist talk, 6 p.m.
Bunnell Street Arts Center showcases photography by Rafael de la Uz. An award-winning photographer and filmmaker, de la Uz was born in Cuba and lives and works in Alaska, where he has been documenting stories for media organizations including Voice of America, Fern Magazine and Biographic. He is currently co-producing a documentary film for Alaska Public Media about the effects of hatcheries on the population of wild salmon in the Pacific Ocean. In 1998, de la Uz earned a degree in cinematography from the International School of Film and Television in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. His first documentary film, “The Cuban Game,” directed by Manuel Martin Cuenca, won international acclaim and awards from film festivals worldwide, including LaCinemaFe in New York and the BBC’s Grierson Award. With his photography focused on telling stories, de la Uz’s goal is to build a narrative from a group of images organized in a specific order. This exhibit is about his personal vision of his son’s isolation and strategies to adapting to his new life in Alaska.
Creative Fires Studio and Dean Gallery
40374 Waterman Rd.
New Metal Art by Jeff Dean
Open 5-7 p.m. First Friday
The Dean Gallery is extending their exhibit of metal wall art by Jeff Dean. Fifteen new heat-colored steel engravings range from geometric abstracts to images inspired by braided rivers and celestial themes. In addition to the metal art, on display are carved wood panels by M’fanwy Dean, bronze work by Jeff and Ranja, and prints from Ranja’s graphite drawings and several large metal wall pieces.
Fireweed Gallery
475 E. Pioneer Ave.
“A Story Only We Know,” paintings by Emily Camacho
First Friday Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m.
Fireweed Gallery presents “A Story Only We Know,” acrylic paintings by Emily Camacho. Eager to demonstrate the many-layered world we create for ourselves through our imagination, Camacho’s paintings depict abstract stories she likens to walking into a book one would read as a child, with each piece fanciful, whimsical, colorful and very imaginative.
Grace Ridge Brewing
870 Smoky Bay Way
Photography by Joey Hasslerl
First Friday Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m.
Grace Ridge Brewing exhibits photography by Joey Hasslerl. In this work, Hasslerl strives to capture the detail and design of Alaska wildlife, with a special focus on birds, using space to create clean backgrounds and light to emphasize the subjects so that each image is carefully composed to highlight the unique characteristics of each animal. Hasslerl began the journey into wildlife photography four years ago, inspired by the wildlife viewed during a trip to Iceland. A Homer resident since 2021, Hasslerl has since that time been learning to compose images by setting up photo blinds next to bird feeders.
Homer Council on the Arts
355 W. Pioneer Ave.
“Fun With 5×7”
First Friday Opening Reception, 5-7 p.m.
Homer Council on the Arts showcases “Fun With 5×7,” a small works show for and by the community. This sixth annual exhibit challenges artists to think inside the box and is an opportunity to experiment and try something new while encouraging camaraderie among the arts community. Open to all ages, abilities, mediums and subjects, participating artists range in age from pre-teens to late 70s, with most from the Homer area, a few from Kasilof and one from Ketchikan. This exhibit of one-of-a-kind 5×7 pieces will be on display at HCOA through December.
Pratt Museum & Park
3779 Bartlett St.
Museum Store Grand Re-opening & “Patterns in Place,” paintings by Deland Anderson
First Friday Opening Reception, 4-6 p.m.
Pratt Museum & Park hosts a grand re-opening of the museum store. Community members are invited to stop by and see the artwork and merchandise now available that align with their mission to strengthen relationships between people and place through stories relevant to Kachemak Bay. Among the many locally crafted items in the store are hand-crafted jewelry from artists including George Overpeck and Carley Conemac, art prints and cards from artists including Valisa Higman and Kim McNett, as well as vinyl art stickers, books, games and more.
Continuing through December in the main gallery is “Patterns in Place,” a celebration of paintings created by Deland Anderson during the past 30 years. Introduced to Aboriginal art in the Australian Outback in 1980, Anderson has since that time been keying into patterns and how they distribute color in the world. Through his work, he strives to create an interplay between sky and land, water and light.
Ptarmigan Arts
471 E. Pioneer Ave.
Pop Up of copper and bronze jewelry by Cindy Nelson
Open 5-7 p.m. First Friday
Ptarmigan Arts hosts a Pop Up with local artist Cindy Nelson, showcasing her new copper and bronze jewelry. A bead weaver and fused glass jewelry artist for 19 years, Nelson was inspired to pursue copper and bronze as a medium after taking a metalsmithing workshop with Homer artist Art Koeninger. Now, Nelson strives to find ways to combine her traditional glass and beads with her newfound love of the metals, as displayed during this Pop Up event and available year round at the gallery.
South Peninsula Hospital
4300 Bartlett St.
“We Are All Connected,” pandemic-inspired quilts
An ongoing exhibit.
South Peninsula Hospital is now home to “We Are All Connected,” a series of quilts by quilters Francie Roberts, Jane Regan, Nan Thompson, Pat Sims, Ruby Nofziger and Sara Reinert. Developed by quilters during the pandemic when connecting with others was very challenging, a ribbon of hand-dyed fuchsia connects nine unique quilt panels, with the quilts themed around the idea of identifying, accepting and appreciating human differences, while recognizing our connectedness. Donated to the hospital by the quilters, they are located on the lower level of the hospital, near the Rehab/Long Term Care entrance, accessible via the lower level entrances.
“June’s Moon,” a painting by Deland Anderson in his “Patterns in Place” exhibit, showcasing work from the past 30 years, is on display through December at the Pratt Museum. Photo provided by Pratt Museum and Park
“Don’t Tell What’s Behind That Mirror,” a black and white photograph by Rafael de la Uz is on display in his exhibit at Bunnell Street Arts Center through November. Photo provided by Bunnell Street Arts Center
Metalwork jewelry by Cindy Nelson is featured during a First Friday pop up and available year-round at Ptarmigan Arts. Photo provided by Ptarmigan Arts
“Waterfall City,” a acrylic painting by Emily Camacho, is on display in her solo exhibit at Fireweed Gallery through November. Photo provided by Fireweed Gallery
“Jelly Fish Lamp” by Bryan and Shannon Olds of K-Beach Studios is one piece in their exhibit at the Art Shop Gallery through November. Photo provided by Art Shop Gallery
“Purple Dusk,” a painting by Susan Welsh-Smith, is on display at Homer Council on the Arts during their sixth annual “Fun with 5×7” exhibit that runs through December. Photo provided by Homer Council on the Arts
”Across the Universe,” heat-colored steel by Jeff Dean, is featured in the Dean Family gallery through November. Photo provided by Jeff Dean
