Life

A copy of Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” rests against a typewriter on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Reckoning with a challenged author in times of censorship

Off the Shelf is a bimonthly literature column written by the staff of The Peninsula Clarion

A copy of Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” rests against a typewriter on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew This photo from the same series that gave “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” its cover image shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau in December 2021. Heist’s debut album “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau.

Roots music: New album draws from memories and connections made in Southeast Alaska

Steel (pedal) yourself for new music.

Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew This photo from the same series that gave “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” its cover image shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau in December 2021. Heist’s debut album “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau.
A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Taking back the pen

Malala Yousafzi writes of the struggle for education in Afghanistan

A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Isabella Valenzuela prepares for the Forever Dance company showcase “Among Dreams” during a rehearsal on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

A dreamland for dancers

Forever Dance showcase ‘Among Dreams’ opens

Isabella Valenzuela prepares for the Forever Dance company showcase “Among Dreams” during a rehearsal on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Bunnell Street Arts Center visiting artist-in-residence Berith Stennabb poses next to one of her pieces, "Anomicholistic ar.35." (Photo by Sean McDermott)

Connected threads: A Swedish and Alaska artist exchange

Stennabb is in Homer as part of a two-month-long artist in residency exchange with the Konstmuseet, Skövde Kulturhus in Sweden

Bunnell Street Arts Center visiting artist-in-residence Berith Stennabb poses next to one of her pieces, "Anomicholistic ar.35." (Photo by Sean McDermott)
Charli Byrd (left) and Selia Butler, who play Little Red Ridinghood and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” run through voice exercises with vocal director Rosemary Bird at the Kenai Performers building in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, March 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Performers take the stage for Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’

The show follows characters and storylines from well-known folklore

Charli Byrd (left) and Selia Butler, who play Little Red Ridinghood and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” run through voice exercises with vocal director Rosemary Bird at the Kenai Performers building in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, March 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
“Selected Works and Sketches by Gaye Wolfe,” showing at the Homer Council on the Arts through March, includes these two paintings by Wolfe: a painting of a wildfire, right, and then a self-portrait of Wolfe, left, creating the painting. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Arts council shows eclectic collection of late artist

Gaye Wolfe estate donated vast collection of works to arts council.

“Selected Works and Sketches by Gaye Wolfe,” showing at the Homer Council on the Arts through March, includes these two paintings by Wolfe: a painting of a wildfire, right, and then a self-portrait of Wolfe, left, creating the painting. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Florence Given’s “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty” is a modern take on feminism and a reflection on the many ways patriarchy is still present in the lives of Generation Z’s young women. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: ‘Women Don’t Owe You Pretty,’ a modern take on Generation Z feminism

The informal guidebook-style text explores many themes within feminism’s realm

Florence Given’s “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty” is a modern take on feminism and a reflection on the many ways patriarchy is still present in the lives of Generation Z’s young women. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Origami cranes are folded to symbolize peace in Ukraine. (Photo provided by the Kenai Art Center)

Folding for peace

Community event will create paper cranes for Ukraine

Origami cranes are folded to symbolize peace in Ukraine. (Photo provided by the Kenai Art Center)
A photo by Lisa Williams of Peter Anahanok Sr., part of her show at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided/Pratt Museum & Park))

New photo exhibits at the Pratt celebrate community

Pratt Museum & Park photo exhibits feature works by three photographers

A photo by Lisa Williams of Peter Anahanok Sr., part of her show at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided/Pratt Museum & Park))
photos by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion Alex Rydlinski, executive director of the Kenai Art Center, sets up the “Small to Biggs” photography show at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday,

A space for photos, big and small

Kenai Art Center features work by amateurs and professionals in show curated by local photographer

photos by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion Alex Rydlinski, executive director of the Kenai Art Center, sets up the “Small to Biggs” photography show at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday,
A copy of Don’t Cry For Me is displayed on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: ‘Don’t Cry for Me’ a raw reflection on masculinity, black fatherhood

A central motif is the idea of masculinity and how that idea is or is not upheld by characters

A copy of Don’t Cry For Me is displayed on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Don Decker’s exhibit, Thin Ice, showing through February at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Decker’s ‘Thin Ice’ looks at expanse of Alaska and ground beneath

Artist’s talk includes Decker’s poetry.

Don Decker’s exhibit, Thin Ice, showing through February at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The newly renovated historic Kenai Jail is seen at the Kenai Art Center on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Beer, bars and ink

Kenai Art Center debuts renovated jail with printmaking show and custom ale

The newly renovated historic Kenai Jail is seen at the Kenai Art Center on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Triumvirate Theatre is seen on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned in a fire on Feb. 20. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Triumvirate construction on hold as theater seeks additional funding

The new theater is projected to cost around $4.7 million.

Triumvirate Theatre is seen on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned in a fire on Feb. 20. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, John Walsh, John Skelton and Pat Broaders perform at the annual Winter Concert of Traditional Irish Music at Kenai Peninsula College in Kenai, Alaska, on Jan. 24, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Irish musicians return to peninsula

John Walsh, Pat Broaders and Brenda Castles will perform Friday

From left, John Walsh, John Skelton and Pat Broaders perform at the annual Winter Concert of Traditional Irish Music at Kenai Peninsula College in Kenai, Alaska, on Jan. 24, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Laura Dewey’s art is on display at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Art of the wild

New Kenai visitor center show features the vivid colors of nature

Laura Dewey’s art is on display at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
From left: Yvette Tappana, Rob Lewis, Allen Auxier, Donna Shirnberg and Terri Zopf-Schoessler perform in the Kenai Performers production “The Old People Are Revolting” on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Donna Shirnberg)

Never too old for revolution

Kenai Performers’ ‘The Old People Are Revolting’ debuts

From left: Yvette Tappana, Rob Lewis, Allen Auxier, Donna Shirnberg and Terri Zopf-Schoessler perform in the Kenai Performers production “The Old People Are Revolting” on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Donna Shirnberg)
Visitors put on personal protective equipment before an artist talk by Dr. Sami Ali' at the Jan. 7, 2022, First Friday opening of her exhibit, "The Mind of a Healthcare Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic," at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

ER doctor’s paintings follow passage of pandemic

Dr. Sami Ali made 2019 resolution to paint every day — and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Visitors put on personal protective equipment before an artist talk by Dr. Sami Ali' at the Jan. 7, 2022, First Friday opening of her exhibit, "The Mind of a Healthcare Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic," at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Alyeska Krull, Jayni Parish, Braeden Garrett, Brittany Gilman and Selia Butler act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women” in May 2021. (Photo provided)

Dressing the part

Kenai Performers to give workshops on how to create theater costumes

Alyeska Krull, Jayni Parish, Braeden Garrett, Brittany Gilman and Selia Butler act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women” in May 2021. (Photo provided)