Inspired by Diaries exhibit opens
The Pratt Museum’s Inspired by Diaries exhibit opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday. Have you ever kept a diary or journal? Had the opportunity to peruse the personal writing of your ancestors?
Several diaries and journals are held in the collections of the Pratt Museum. Their stories range from weather reports and moose sightings to extended narrative and personal reflection. Often the written word leaves much to be imagined, and can serve as a jumping-off point for something more.
Inspired by Diaries is an exhibition with art works by different artists inspired by diaries to create art. The exhibit remains on display through Dec. 30.
KBC student art showcase opens
The Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College and the Kachemak Bay Student Association invite the public to the opening reception of its Fall Student Art Showcase from 5-6:30 p.m. Fridayat the Kachemak Bay Campus Commons gallery. It will feature work from this semester’s Painting class taught by Asia Freeman.
Library plans
storytelling event
The Friends of the Homer Public Library hold a TELLABRATION!™ from 3-5 p.m. Nov. 19 at the library. Storytellers Skywalker Payne and Carol Ford hold Homer’s TELLABRATION!™.
The idea came about in 1987 when J. G. Pinkerton had the dream of having a night each year when storytellers gather to tell stories to families and friends. He called the idea TELLABRATION!™. A trademark of the National Storytelling Network, it is celebrated around the world the third Saturday in November. The emphasis of this storytelling celebration is to engage adults with the magic of storytelling.
Skywalker Payne, a professional storyteller, produced TELLABRATION!™ in Denver, Colo., and Des Moines, Iowa. She has told stories at the Homer Council of the Arts, Bunnell Arts Center, the 2015 Wearable Arts, and Alice’s Champagne Palace. After teaching a six-week storytelling course, participants expressed the desire to continue sharing the sacred art of storytelling. This TELLABRATION!™ is an introduction and invitation to join the monthly storytelling circle.
Carol Ford, the featured professional teller with Payne, taught theater and English in Montana high schools before moving to Alaska where she has shared her entertaining storytelling art for over 30 years. She participated in the Alaska Humanities forum, Alaska Teaching Artists, directed and acted with the Kenai Performers Community theatre, and has taught at the Kenai Peninsula College.
Homer author publishes Buddhist novel
RoseDog Books has published a new novel by Lela Ryterski, “Saved by the Light,” a novel featuring a Buddhist monk. “Saved by the Light” is a story about the samurai warrior, Shijo Kingo, and the Buddhist monk, Nichiren Daishonin.
“Nichiren is a rebel. Shijo Kingo is quick-tempered and has an inherent sense of what’s right and what’s wrong. He becomes Nichiren’s pupil and learns to chant a powerful invocation that can bring peace to the world. Because Nichiren refutes the main religions of his day and teaches the chant, he is almost killed and is exiled. However, the key to his victory lies in that very same chant. This is a true story of amazing events that saved Nichiren’s life,” RoseDog Books described the novel in a press release.
Nichiren Buddhism is a sect of Buddhism, with more than 12 million practitioners worldwide as a world peace movement. Ryterski encountered Nichiren Buddhism through the lay Buddhist organization, now called the SGI (Soka Gakkai International) in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1985.
Over the years she said she transformed her life from sad to happy because of the practice and overcame many challenges. She studied art from an early age and became a teacher and artist. She has previously illustrated a coloring book by Helga Wagenleiter and “Chirpee the Squirrel” by Alice Oates.
Ryterski practices chanting and yoga and lives in a yurt in Homer. “Saved by the Light” is a 30-page paperback with a retail price of $16.
