‘On the Wing’ returns
“On the Wing,” now in its 13th year, returns after a one-year hiatus with a celebration of birds in music, images, storytelling and poetry. Part of the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, “On the Wing” shows at 8 p.m. Friday, May 5, at the Homer Council on the Arts. Tickets are $15, on sale through shorebird headquarters at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. Proceeds benefit the Shorebird Education and Conservation Fund.
Directed by Sunrise Sjoeberg, the evening includes music by Kari Odden, Adela Person, Kevin Duff, Eleanor Sweeney, Steve Mueller, Iris O’Laire, Daniel Perry, Nancy Hannon and Sjoeberg. Poetry will be read by 13-time “On the Wing” performer Nancy Levinson and Jeanne Steele, with storytelling by Carol Ford and Skywalker Payne. Sandhill crane expert Nina Faust also shows slides of cranes and other birds.
Cowboy Cabaret is Saturday
Cowboy Cabaret, the annual fundraiser for the Kachemak Bay Equestrian Association and the Cottonwood Horse Park, returns for its 10th annual production at 6 p.m. Saturday at Alice’s Champagne Palace. Emcee Mark Marette directs the evening’s festivities, with music by HUGS, the Homer Ukulele Society. Doors open at 5 p.m., with sign up to read cowboy poems or present other entertainment. Bring a poem or song to share. Bidding also starts at 5 p.m. on silent auction menus. Tickets are $10 at the Homer Bookstore or the door and $25 a family. To reserve a table, call Jackie at 299-1851, and to sign up, call Tim at 299-3780.
Writers: Early deadline nears
May 1 is the deadline for “early bird” registration for the upcoming 2017 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference, to be held June 9-13 at Land’s End Resort and presented by Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College-University of Alaska Anchorage. The conference features 18 award-winning, nationally recognized authors, editors and agents who will conduct creative writing workshops, readings, craft talks and panel presentations in creative fiction, nonfiction, poetry and the business of writing. This year’s keynote presenter is Pulitzer Prize novelist, poet and essayist Jane Smiley. Other national and Alaska presenting and visiting writers are Richard Chiappone, Kevin Clark, Kate Carroll de Gutes, Erin Coughlin Hollowell, David Huddle, Brendan Jones, Thomas Larson, Nancy Lord, Linda Martin, Rebecca McClanahan, Nina McConingley, Don Rearden, Susan Fox Rogers, Rachel Rose, Peggy Shumaker, Dan Smethanka and Jane von Mehren.
Optional activities include manuscript reviews, editor-agent consultations, receptions, a boat cruise and open “mic.” Evening readings on June 10-12 by visiting writers will be open to the public at no charge. A special post-conference writing workshop will be held across Kachemak Bay at Tutka Bay Lodge for conference registrants.
The conference’s early registration fee is $395 and includes meals and workshops. There is a special UA admitted student rate. Advanced registration is required. For program and registration information visit writersconference.homer.alaska.edu.
