HCOA holds gala fundraiser

The Homer Council on the Arts holds a gala fundraiser, “A Night With the Arts,” from 6:30-10:00 p.m. Friday, May 11, at Joslyn Farm Wedding &Event Venue on Diamond Ridge Road.

The event includes a four-course meal prepared by celebrity chef Kirsten Dixon; a string trio featuring cellist Mannfried Funk, violinist Daniel Perry and violist Nancy Darigo; art from beloved local artists; and an auction led by Hannah Heimbuch and Kirby Calderwood.

Dixon of Tutka Bay Lodge and Winterlake Lodge will provide a locally-sourced gourmet meal beginning with a cocktail hour on the main level of the recently opened, Joslyn Farm Event Venue, overlooking Kachemak Bay and Joslyn Farm’s peony fields. Guests will proceed upstairs for the remainder of the evening where the meal will be presented among various forms of local visual, written and functional art, including tables set with the work of local potters.

Cellist Mannfried Funk, formerly of the Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera will be leading Anchorage Symphony’s violinist, Daniel Perry, and principal violist, Nancy Darigo, in the performance of Schubert String Trio No. 2 in B flat Major and Beethoven String Serenade in D Major Opus 8.

“Joslyn Farm Event Venue is in its second season and offers a stunning backdrop for the artistry represented by Dixon, the musicians and the local artwork that will be integrated into the evening”, said Kiirsten Styvar from HCOA Board of Directors. “HCOA is delighted to present this event in such a lovely location.”

Heimbuch and Calderwood will put an artistic spin on the traditional fundraising auction that includes items such as naturalist tour by Bay Excursions and Conrad Field and a bear viewing trip compliments of Sasquatch Alaska Adventure Company.

Unique to this event, all artwork will be for sale with HCOA using this opportunity to not only fundraise for HCOA programming, but to support participating artists by splitting earnings at familiar gallery rates.

This innovative way of raising money also promotes HCOA’s mission of “advocating for artists.”

Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased at the HCOA office at 355 West Pioneer Avenue; by calling 235-4288; or online at www.homerart.org.

Additional details can be found at HCOA’s Facebook Events page.

Tulku Yeshi Rinpoche Teaches in Homer This Week

Tulku Yeshi Gyatso Rinpoche, head of the Heruka Institute in Seattle, Washington returns to bring the wisdom and spiritual guidance of Tibetan Buddhism to Homer. All of his teachings and practices will occur at the Many Rivers Cedar Cabin, 1044 East End Road beginning Thursday, April 26 through Sunday April 29.

A highly trained Lama in the five schools of Tibetan Buddhism and traditional Tibetan medicine, Tulku Rinpoche gives teachings from South Korea, to Vietnam, and in many states in this country. He has written several books on Buddhism.

His autobiography documents his youth in Chinese ruled Tibet and dangerous escape to India over the Himalayan mountains.

Thursday from 6-8 p.m. you can meet Rinpoche and receive an introduction to Buddhist meditation and philosophy. Friday, again from 6-8 p.m., he will give a teaching entitled, “Vision is Mind, Mind is Empty, Emptiness is Clear Light, Clear Light is Union, Union is Great Bliss.”

Saturday and Sunday Rinpoche will give empowerments and teach practices to people who have taken refuge as Buddhist practitioners. Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Rinpoche will give the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Empowerment. From 3-5:30 p.m. he will teach the Bodhisattva of Compassion Practice of the empowerment. This practice helps people develop love and compassion in their lives.

On Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon, Rinpoche will confer the Green Tara Empowerment. Empowerments are an essential element of the Vajrayana school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Suggested donation is $20 – $30 or $120 for all teachings. However, no one will be turned away. For further information call 907-229-0187.