Visions of nature fill the main gallery of the Kenai Art Center this month, as artists Theresa Ritter, Susan Watkins and Anna Widman are showcased in “Wonder and Wander.”
The show, according to a joint artists statement, is borne of the combined creativity of three artists “who love the outdoors and all of what nature has to offer.” There are paintings of wildlife and natural vistas from Alaska and beyond, reflecting the travels and experiences of the three artists.
“From scenery to creatures, there is something for everyone to wonder and wander about.”
Widman writes that art is an outlet for emotion and experience, capturing physical encounters through her journaling, photography, painting and ceramics. Many of her works include some tactile material, like sand, shells or dirt “to connect the works to that which inspires them.”
“The duality of what occurs naturally and what has been created by my hands is a valuable part of my process,” she writes.
Ritter writes that she grew up in the Pacific Northwest and moved to Alaska more recently, increasingly turning to painting, “something that brings her joy and frustration at times, but she truly loves it.” Landscapes and animals, she writes “are her favorite subjects.”
Watkins, similarly, said she was born outside of Alaska but moved here 20 years ago. She has a background in mural art and has worked to bring the outdoors inside for people who can’t experience it for themselves.
In Alaska, she writes, “I am never short of inspiration.”
“Wonder and Wander” can be seen at the Kenai Art Center until July 3, during gallery hours, noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
For more information, find “Kenai Art Center” on Facebook or visit kenaiartcenter.org.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
Art by Anna Widman is showcased in “Wonder and Wander” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Art by Susan Watkins is showcased in “Wonder and Wander” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Art by Susan Watkins is showcased in “Wonder and Wander” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Art by Anna Widman is showcased in “Wonder and Wander” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
