Local artist Audrey Cucullu shows off her latest piece at the Positive Vibe gallery in Kenai on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Local artist Audrey Cucullu shows off her latest piece at the Positive Vibe gallery in Kenai on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Local crystal shop doubles as gallery for artists in the community

When Kylee Swircenski moved to Kenai two years ago, she had no intention of starting her own business. As someone who regularly uses various forms of holistic medicine, however, Swircenski found herself driving a considerable distance any time she needed to buy materials. One day last October while driving home, she looked over at the empty commercial property next to RD’s Barber Shop, and a thought suddenly occurred to her:

“You know what? I can do this.”

Fast forward just a month later and Swircenski had opened the doors of Positive Vibe, her very own healing consignment shop that doubles as a gallery for local artists. A notable example of the work currently on display is a set of spirit masks handcrafted by artist Helene Griffith and arranged to resemble a choir of voices. Artist Audrey Cucullu had just arrived on Wednesday with her latest piece: a large piece of wood shaped and painted to evoke the image of a flowing blue and yellow river against a black background, or perhaps a geode that had just been cracked open to reveal the colors inside.

As far as healing products, everything from crystals to essential oils to coasters with inspirational messages are available at Positive Vibe. Swircenski even offers demonstrations of healing techniques such as pendulum dowsing for potential customers who may not be familiar with the world of crystals and holistic medicine.

Swircenski has been a massage therapist for about a decade and has always had an interest in healing people’s bodies and minds. The concept of having her consignment shop also function as a venue for local artists to display their work developed naturally, because she feels that art and healing go hand-in-hand.

“There is a natural connection between the two. Healing is art and art is healing,” Said Swircenski.

Positive Vibes also hosts a mask-making class taught by Griffith most Saturdays, and Swircenski hopes to organize more classes with different artists in the future. The gallery is open Monday though Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is located behind the Wells Fargo in Kenai.


• By BRIAN MAZUREK, Peninsula Clarion


A mermaid carving sits on display at the Positive Vibe gallery in Kenai on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A mermaid carving sits on display at the Positive Vibe gallery in Kenai on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A set of healing masks made by artist Helene Griffith on display at the Positive Vibe gallery in Kenai on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A set of healing masks made by artist Helene Griffith on display at the Positive Vibe gallery in Kenai on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Thousands respond to borough services survey

Many of the survey questions focused on the quality of borough roads

Two new cars purchased by the Soldotna Senior Center to support its Meals on Wheels program are parked outside of the center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.(Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Soldotna budget defunds area senior center

The unanimous vote came after multiple people expressed concerns about how the center operates

An Epidemiology Bulletin titled “Drowning Deaths in Alaska, 2016-2021” published Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (Screenshot)
Health officials say Alaska leads nation in drowning deaths, urge safe practices

A majority of non-occupational Alaska drownings occur in relation to boating, both for recreation and for subsistence

Chief J.J. Hendrickson plays with Torch the cat at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna, Kenai to extend animal control partnership

So far this year, the Kenai shelter has served roughly 190 animals

Transportation professionals tour the Sterling Highway and Birch Avenue intersection in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna brainstorming pop-up pedestrian safety project

The temporary project aims to boost pedestrian safety near Soldotna Creek Park

Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Kenai River Festival to bring education, music to Soldotna Creek Park

The festival will run 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday

Alaska SeaLife Center staff treat a harbor seal pup at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Nikiski harbor seal rescued, 4th in a week

The female seal pup was seen on a crowded fishing beach

Fishermen young and old try their luck at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on June 4, 2020, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Youth-only king salmon fisheries to open in Ninilchik, Homer

They will be open for one day in each location

Trenten Dodson (Photo provided by Kenai Watershed Forum)
Dodson to head Watershed Forum

He has a significant background in fisheries management and habitat restoration

Most Read