Events and Exhibits
■ The Kenai Peninsula College annual Juried Student Exhibition runs through May 8 in the Gary Freeburg Gallery on the Kenai River Campus. A closing reception will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. May 8.
■ The KPBSD Art Show is here again for the 26th time! Held at the Kenai Fine Arts Guild on 816 Cook Street in Kenai, this unique show represents the high school and middle school art on the Kenai. The show will be up from April 1-30.
■ “Dena’inaq’ Huch’ulyeshi: The Dena’ina Way of Living” is on display at the Kenai Visitors Center through May 10.
■ A Flute Ensemble Concert, featuring the Fireweed Flutes, will take place at 2 p.m. April 26 at the Kenai Community Library. Flautists will play classical music as well as other genres, such as a song with a plot of the Wizard of Oz, Jazz, Celtic music, and Native American songs on different kinds of flutes, such as alto, bass, piccolo, flute traverse. Admission is free.
■ The 3rd Annual Fiber Arts Festival at the Kenai Peninsula Fair, Ninilchik is May 2-3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The community is welcome; no entrance fee. The event includes exceptional yarns, hand-made finished products, free children’s classes, free hands-on demonstrations, adult classes, easy parking, and is handicap accessible. Contact Helena or Kate at 567-3670 or kpsfair@acsalaska.net.
■ An art show sponsored by Friends of the Soldotna Library is hanging in the Soldotna Library with the theme of “Wildflowers” is on display through June 1. Please stop by and drink in the richness of the art. If anyone is interested in purchasing any of the art pieces, the Friends receive a 20 percent commission which is used for library program support. The librarians have contact information for the artists.
■ The Keen Eye Birders in conjunction with the Kenai Birding Festival invite Kenai Peninsula children, ages 2-17, to enter up to 2 artworks relating to the theme of Peninsula Birds to the PEEPS Kids Art and Photo Exhibit at the Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai, May 7-28. The deadline for entries is Saturday, April 28. Details and entry forms are available at www.kenaibirdfest.com or at the art center. The art center hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday, phone 283-7040.
■ Kenai River Council on the Arts and The Peninsula Art Guild are inviting artists to apply for month long Exhibitions in Calendar Years 2016 and 2017 at the Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai. Artists applying for solo, shared or group shows, please provide the following:
— Up to 12 labeled images (digital, slide, and or print) representative of recent work, with 3-D artists providing additional views of art works as needed.
— A separate image sheet, including title of piece, media, dimensions and when the piece was made.
— A proposal for your show (could include floor plan if needed). If you have a theme you are aiming for, this would be the place for that.
— A one-page Artist Statement.
Submit entries by mailing to: Peninsula Art Guild/Kenai River Arts Council, P.O. Box 703, Kenai, AK 99611; by email to ourkfac@gmail.com; or drop off at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook Avenue, Old Town Kenai.
■ Solstice Music Festival at the Diamond M Ranch will be June 20 and is being sponsored by Justin “Boot” Rousseau, Carrol Martin’s nephew. His group has traveled nation-wide and has performed in several states, including New York, Texas, and California. Local musicians, circus acts, vendors, and sound providers are invited to participate in the festival. There is also a possibility of a Sunday Gospel Music Festival sponsored by The Diamond M Ranch. For more information contact JoAnne Martin at 907-252-8162. For full information and an application contact Boot at bootsbisonranch@gmail.com.
■ The Alaska SeaLife Center, 301 Railway Avenue in Seward, is hosting a Summer of Sharks. Headlining the season is the Buzz Saw Sharks of Long Ago exhibit on loan from the Idaho Museum of Natural History in collaboration with artist Ray Troll. Areas around the aquarium are now transformed into the Paleozoic marine world of the humongous, whorl-toothed shark the Helicoprion via fossils, sculptures and artwork. This prehistoric giant is the world’s only animal – past or present – with a complete 360-degree spiral of teeth. Imagine a fearsome behemoth equipped with a circular blade of teeth and strong jaws that researchers believe crimped and cut its prey. The Buzz Saw Shark roamed the Permian Seas more than 270 million years ago.Detailed artwork from Troll include a 17.5-foot-long by 8-foot-high mural of sharks, as well as 21 individual pieces. Children and adults alike will enjoy a humorous documentary film about the artist as they sit on a whorl-patterned “art couch,” activate the whorl tooth mechanism
Entertainment
■ The Corner Cafe in the Blazy Mall in Soldotna has open mic night for all writers, storytellers and poets on the third Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m.
■ A community choir, The Kenai Peninsula Singers, is open to everyone who wants to be there, whether it is their first time singing or they sang at The Met. The choir will rehearse every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Kenai Central High School choir room. Call or email for more details: 907-283-2125 or simjnissen@gmail.com.
■ A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.
■ The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Garrett Mayer on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Raymond Machen-Gray on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
■ Veronica’s Cafe in old town Kenai has open mic from 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, and live music Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
■ An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.
■ AMVETS Post 4 is open to all military veterans and their families for support and camaraderie. Join us for Friday night tacos, or Saturday night steaks with Karaoke. Sunday afternoon its super hamburgers. Not a member? Stop by and we can show you how to become a part of this special veteran’s organization. AMVETS is located in the Red Diamond Center next door to IDEA Schools.
■ Sharpen your dart skills with a fun tournament every Sunday during the season at the AmVets in the Red Diamond Center. The number of players will determine the game. Sign up begins at 1 p.m. For more information call 262-3540.
■ Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.
■ The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.
■ Hooligans Saloon in Soldotna has poker Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. and live music Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
■ The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.
■ Mykel’s in Soldotna has live music Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. with Robb Justice, and Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. with Bob Ramponi and Dave Unruh.
■ The Duck Inn will have live music from 7 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday with Robb Justice and Trio.
■ The Pinochle Club, formerly from Kasilof, plays at Hooligans Bar & Restaurant in Soldotna Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Questions? Call Jay Vienup at 907-252-6397.
■ Mother’s Day Craft on May 7th at 4p.m. in the Community room at the Soldotna Library, 235 N. Binkley Street. Our master craftswomen are back! Celebrate your moms, grandmas, aunties, and all around good eggs with crafts that make great gifts. You can’t beat homemade!
■ The Soldotna library hosts a board game night on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the conference rooms, 235 N. Binkley Street. It’s time to get your game on! Have you ever wanted to try something other than another round of Monopoly, or to break out of that old Scrabble routine? Come ready to meet new people, engage your imagination, and have a great time.
Markets, fairs and bazaars
■ The Sterling Community Center Spring Craft & Vendor Fair is April 25 from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Call the Center at 262-7224 or email sterlingcommunityclub@live.com for more information.
Films
■ Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 for listings and times.
■ Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for listings and times.
Down the Road
■ The Pratt Museum in Homer is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.
Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.
