The Homer Society of Natural History is hosting the Pratt Museum’s Ritz event on Saturday, Oct. 5 starting at 6 p.m. The Ritz is an event to benefit the Pratt Museum and will include a silent and live auction and food and drink options. Tickets are $75.
The theme for this year, Kodachrome, is related to the current photography show on exhibit in the main gallery of the museum. Homer is the final stop for the 2023 Rarefied Light show, Alaska’s largest traveling juried fine art photography exhibit sponsored by the Alaska Photographic Center, an organization formed in 1983. This year’s exhibit includes 46 photographs by 35 artists.
The Ritz started in Homer in 1984 in order to create a festival to dress up and come out for, according to a 2014 Homer News article. The original theme “Putting on the Ritz” by Irving Berlin became the inspiration for the formal dinner and auction event. Now, the theme changes annually.
For several years, the Ritz has been on hold and the museum is excited to have it return, Whitney Harness, visitor services and communications manager, said.
“This has long been a signature event at the Pratt Museum and we are incredibly grateful to our vibrant community for its dedicated and sustaining support of our organization,” Harness said in a release from the museum.
Patty Relay, executive director, said in the same release said she is “thrilled” the Ritz is coming back.
“As a community museum, this is a special opportunity to bring people together to support our facility and at the same time raise money to support our critical efforts to explore and preserve the traditions, cultures, science and art of the Kachemak Bay region of Alaska.”
In addition to the art auction, there will be live music from pianist Erica Ono Hasche and a live art demonstration from artist Sharlene Cline. The emcee for the evening will be Brittany Carr, public speaker and publicist for Power Plant Productions as well as the programs and marketing coordinator for the Kenai Chamber of Commerce. The museum will conclude their 2024 quilt raffle fundraiser by drawing the winning raffle ticket before the start of the live auction.
Silent auction bidding items are available to preview and bid on via the Pratt website (www.prattmuseum.org). This is also where tickets to the event can be purchased. Auction items include things such as guest passes to various facilities in the state including the Alaska Aviation Museum in Anchorage, a tour at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage, and a day pass to the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward. Locally, there are gift certificates to Sweetgale Meadworks, Grace Ridge Brewing Company, tickets to Pier One Theatre’s “Fiddler on the Roof,” various local art, historic Alaska art and donated commercial art. More details and information on how to bid is available on the website.
Local sponsors for the event include Beluga Air, South Peninsula Hospital and Homer Real Estate. Other sponsors are Northrim Bank and Farwest Residential and Commercial Services.
