Ray Troll & The Ratfish Wranglers

Ray Troll and the Ratfish Wranglers will be in Petersburg during Mayfest 2018!

On Thursday, May 17, Ray Troll will be offering a community talk about his art, his inspiration, and how he works to create his art. This is a free presentation at the PIA Conference Room (12th near Howkan) at 7 p.m. There will be time for Q&A and Ray will be available to sign his items following the talk.

On Saturday, May 9, the Ratfish Wranglers will be bringing music to the Sons of Norway Hall. The band begins playing at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30. Advance tickets are $15 and available for purchase at FireLight Gallery & Framing. Any remaining tickets will be offered on first-come-first-serve at the door for $20. Bar service will be provided. Come dressed to dance and party for a few hours!

 

Ernestine Hayes, Alaska Writer Laureate

Ernestine Hayes, the current Alaska Writer Laureate is coming to Petersburg to hold two public events on January 11 and 12, 2018.

Hayes belongs to the Kaagwaantaan clan of the Tlingit nation. Current Alaska Writer Laureate, she is best known for award-winning Blonde Indian, an Alaska Native Memoir. Her latest book, The Tao of Raven, weaves narratives and reflection in the context of the story “Raven and the Box of Daylight.”

Author Event

An opportunity to meet Ernestine and a time to hear from her and experience her writing.

At the Petersburg Pubic Library, Thursday, January 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Writing Workshop: Writing Our Lives

Through exercises and discussion, participants draw on their own life experiences to explore personal and cultural histories. Hayes discusses elements of craft and offers insights into the writing and publishing process. Open to any writing level.

At the Petersburg Pubic Library, Friday, January 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Workshop is free, but registration is required. Register Online.

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The Petersburg Arts Council is pleased to co-sponsor these events with the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Petersburg Public Library, and the Petersburg Community Foundation.

The Defibulators – May 8

“Rowdy, punk-fueled twang highlighted by heaps of blue-collar wit”
– Washington Post

Performing in Petersburg, Alaska on May 8, 2017 at the Wright Auditorium. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with the concert starting at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are available at Lee’s Clothing and at the door. Prices are $20 general admission, and $10 for students and seniors. 

“A rockabilly bluegrass band from Brooklyn? Don’t scoff! With the release of their new album Corn Money earning plenty of attention, these city bumpkins are causing a barrel o’ buzz. Trading children’s acid-washed jeans and Ray-Bans for long johns and denim overalls? Now that’s how you change things up in the Brooklyn music scene.”
– BuzzFeed

CBGB’s meet the Grand Ole Opry. Hailing form New York, the six-man, one-woman band blends bluegrass, country, rockabilly, and a sucker punch of punk for a rubber-meets-the-road roots sound. Many of their songs tow a thin line between serious and satire. But don’t let irreverence fool you. These accomplished musicians create artistic arrangements that feature harmonies worthy of Gram and Emmylou, and a virtuosic chicken-pickin’ guitar that belies their geographic origin.

Call it what you will, Americana, indie honky-tonk, truckerpunk, or Brooklyn Country, the proof is in the listening. There is a unique familiarity that percolates throughout Debt’ll Get ‘Em. The reverence for traditional country forms combined with an irreverent rock and roll attitude is a trademark of the Defibs sound. Gear-grinding twang and sawing fiddles saturate songs rooted in the debt-laden and downtrodden, the moods swinging between satirical and sentimental, with unpredictable outbursts into total country chaos.

“If the Blues Brothers played more than just covers at Bob’s Country Bunker, this is what it would sound like. Making music that’s both “country” and “Western,” the Defibulators deliver tunes informed by rock and jazz…But female vocalist Erin Bru’s crooning on a song like “Wandering Eye” melts any notions of cynicism or insincerity. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, The Defibulators flatter the hell out of country music.”
– INDY

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Band website: http://thedefibulators.com/

The Defibulators program was made possible with funding by Rasmuson Foundation through the Harper Arts Touring Fund, and is administered, under contract, by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

Shane Koyczan, Spoken Word Artist – April 17

“a beacon of hope and change”
–The Georgia Straight

Coming to Petersburg at the Wright Auditorium, April 17, 2017. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with the show starting at 7:00 p.m. 

Tickets are available at Lee’s Clothing and at the door. Prices are $15 for general admission, and $10 for students and seniors. 

“Shane’s words were so emotional and powerful it was impossible not to be drawn in. Shane doesn’t just recite poetry. He brilliantly manipulates the emotions of his audience members, bringing them from tears of sadness to tears of laughter.”
–Cassie Silva, Review Vancouver

In a realm where poets rarely intersect with stardom, the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics introduced us to Shane Koyczan. With a collective “wow” across Canada and beyond, we found the poet of our generation. And we weren’t even looking for one.   The world took notice when Shane’s influential, anti-bullying, To This Day Project video went viral in early 2013 with over 14 million views and counting.  Powerfully engaging and authentic in attitude, his explorations are relevant to our times in the way that Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Downie and Leonard Cohen are to theirs. But unlike the musicians that he’s often compared to, poets rarely infiltrate pop culture. Koyzcan emerges in a new wave of 21st century poetry that dares to belong to the people and speak directly to them in their own voice.

Shane Koyczan is best known for his award winning spoken word performances. With his rhythmic verse in high gear, he navigates his audience through social and political territory with a furious honesty and a tender humanity that has brought audiences to their feet in New York, London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Stockholm, and Los Angeles, to name a few. He has received 5 star reviews for his performances around the globe. Winner of the US Slam Poetry Championship and the Canadian Spoken Word Olympics, Koyczan is truly an extraordinary talent that has blown the dust off of the traditional designation “poet”.

“With biting honesty and a riveting stage presence, 29-year-old Vancouver spoken word artist Shane Koyczan is quickly obliterating all the rules of poetry and forging his own literary path”
–The Quill and Quire

Artist website: http://www.shanekoyczan.com/

“Poetry isn’t a problem when it’s this cool”
–Metro

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The Shane Koyczan program was made possible with funding by Rasmuson Foundation through the Harper Arts Touring Fund, and is administered, under contract, by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

Help from PAC During Artfest – April 20-23

Ashley is asking for Arts Council members and friends to help with some of the efforts involved in hosting this event in Petersburg this year. There will be students and instructors coming in from out of town, and we’d like them to experience the best hospitality that Petersburg has to offer.

Ashley would like Arts Council to help out in two specific areas:

1. Meals for the instructors
2. Help with the art show on Sunday, the 23rd

Meals for Instructors

The following is requested:

• 4/20 (Thursday): Lunch: Two Soups, Salad, Bread, butter. Dinner theme: Two Pasta Salads and dessert. 
• 4/21 (Friday): Breakfast: bagels, fruit, jam, butter, yogurt. Lunch: Two Chilis, Salad, Bread, butter. Dinner theme: Mexican and dessert. 
• 4/22 (Saturday): Breakfast: bagels, fruit, jam, butter, yogurt. Lunch: Sandwiches, Salad. Dinner theme: Lasagna + dessert.
• 4/23 (Sunday): Breakfast: Left overs. Lunch: leftovers

The culinary kitchen is available for Artfest feeding needs. If you are able to assist with this aspect, Ashley has set up a Google forms survey where you can provide more details: https://goo.gl/forms/bQEWJgUvVpYdDqbW2

Art Show

The art show takes place 5:30 to 7:00 pm on Sunday, April 23. The following assistance is needed before and after the show:

• Set-up: 1 to 3 pm
• Again at 4 to 5:30 pm
• Clean-up: 7 to 8 pm

Please contact Ashley Lohr (at the school) if you are able to offer some of your time during this event.

Petersburg Live! 2017

Happy February, Arts Council Friends!

Our (now) annual local talent and variety show is returning February 23. Once again this is a joint effort by the Arts Council and Artfest participants. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to run about 2 hours with an intermission. Admission is by donation, and proceeds will go toward Artfest.

We are looking for donations of dessert items for the silent auction that will take place before the show and during intermission. If you are able to donate, please let us know by calling Mark Kubo at (907)650-7210. Of course, we won’t refuse any donations brought in at the last minute! Dessert auction proceeds will go to the Arts Council.

Thank you for your support!

(Artfest logo done by Sydney Guthrie! Artfest is hosted here this year! April 20th-23rd. Contact Ashley Lohr at the HS if you’d like to help out any of the artfest days.)

“A Feast of Small Things” 2016

Holiday Party and Fundraiser!

Arts Council will provide non-alcohol punch, cups, plates, and napkins. We ask that you bring some finger-food appetizers to share. Diane requests that they really be finger-food/toothpick-able items that don’t require forks or spoons.

The main event will be a “progressive auction” (that’s what we’re calling it!) of small art pieces. If you were able to attend last year’s PAC party, it will be very similar. This year the art pieces will not just be painting on canvas, but other media as well that fits around the 4×4″ to 6×6″ size. Based on feedback, we are setting the entry fee to participate in this event to $10; $20 to steal an item; and $30 to permanently place a hold on an item.

If you haven’t yet become or renewed your PAC membership, we will also be taking membership sign-ups at the event. Memberships start at $25 for individuals and $40 for families.

[Update 11/28:] During the party we will be offering the first pre-sale tickets to the upcoming stand-up comedy by Juneau’s Club Baby Seal. The comedy event will take place on the evenings of January 20 and 21 at Kito’s Kave. Food will be available for purchase to benefit The Market. Tickets prices are $15 for individual tickets and $25 for tickets purchased in pairs.

Vitals:

• Friday, December 2 – 6:30 p.m. – 1409 S. Nordic
• Bring finger-food appetizer to share
• BYOB
• Questions and/or more info: Diane 772-9375 or Mark 650-7210

Dia de los Muertos Community Art Exhibition

Petersburg Arts Council and Clausen Museum are partnering to hold a “Day of the Dead” art show. The theme is “Celebration of Ancestors.” 

We’re looking for work that celebrates those who have passed OR inspired by the bright and colorful traditional Mexican holiday celebratory items. Memorabilia, old photos, vintage items are welcome in addition to the traditional Day of the Dead. Please submit works at the museum on October 21 and 22.

If your talents and skills run more toward the culinary side of things, don’t feel left out. We will gladly accept contributions of finger foods and sweets for the opening reception on the evening of October 28. 

Petersburg Arts Council – Summer 2016 Update

Everything Begins With a Dream

Here are a few things going with the Petersburg Arts Council during the summer of 2016.

Sculpture Ceremony

First, on July 2 (Saturday) at 5 p.m., the Centennial Sculpture (pictured above) at Buschman Park will be formally unveiled. The public is invited, and a special invitation is extended to those who were part of the various committees and groups that made this possible. A thank you to every member who through the years has contributed to the Arts Council. Your contributions make this and other works of art, both visual and performing, available to the rest of Petersburg. 

The Market Fundraiser

Next, the Arts Council will have a table at the July 19 (Tuesday) The Market which will take place at the Sons of Norway from 4 to 7 p.m. This will be a fundraising activity at which we hope to offer baked goods in exchange for donations. If you are able to contribute items for the sale and/or be present during some of the time at the table, please let us know. 

Alaska Airlines Raffle

You may have seen the display at Rexall Drugs window announcing an Alaska Airlines ticket raffle benefitting the Arts Council. It is going on right now through September 11. Tickets are $10 each and have a maximum of 500 to be sold. They can be purchased at Rexall Drugs and at Lee’s Clothing. Board members also have books, so you can purchase through them as well. There will be tickets available during our Market bake sale. Drawing for the tickets will take place during the Rainforest Festival. 

Next Season

Looking forward past the summer, here is a preview of a few things to come. In September Chris Proctor will be returning to perform a solo-guitar concert. He will also be presenting a guitar workshop. Our annual membership drive takes place in October. We would like to have another holiday party and fundraiser event. The Petersburg Live! in partnership with the High School went well this past season, so that’s something we would like to have again. We expect to bring in a spoken word artist, Shane Koyczan, in April. 

It’s also been some time since an official annual meeting with board elections has been held. If you have an interest in serving on the Arts Council Board, please contact Mark Kubo. 

We wish all of you a great summer. 

The Middle of Everywhere by WONDERHEADS

Coming Saturday, March 19

7 p.m. – at the Wright Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices (advance sales at Lee’s Clothing)

• $20 General Admission
• $10 Students and Seniors

Description

What do you get when you mash together Pixar, Maurice Sendak and Doctor Who? A time and space bending adventure by mask imagineers the WONDERHEADS, that’s what.

When two unlikely strangers discover a mysterious device at a bus stop, they are whisked away on a cosmic journey through time and space…but will they claim their place in the universe and find their way home?

The Middle of Everywhere is performed in full-face mask, a form so magical it will delight the child in you, whether you’re eight or eighty. Wordless and whimsical, it has been described by audiences as watching a living cartoon, or live-action Pixar.

Called “a captivating, wordless journey of physical theatre” by the Edmonton Journal, this unparalleled piece of physical theatre will transport you along with Winston and Penny on a fantastical journey that must be seen to be believed!

The Middle of Everywhere is recommended for ages 6 – adult.

Mask Performance Workshop – Friday, March 18

A FREE mask performance workshop will be held by WONDERHEADS crew on Friday from 1 p.m. at the Auditorium. There is room for up to 25 participants, middle school age and older. Call 650-7210 to guarantee a spot.

If you are in a drama group – school, community (Mummers), or others – this is an opportunity to learn and practice performing on-stage using masks.

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This presentation of WONDERHEADS is funded in part through a grant made available by WESTAF in coordination with the National Endowment for the Arts.