Arts

Sam Rockwell portrays Aidan and Bryce Dallas Howard portrays Elly Conway in “Argylle.” (Promotional photo courtesy Apple Original Films)

On the screen: Anticipated spy flick falls flat in unmemorable ‘Argylle’

Overlong and a little jumbled, the film fails to play to its own strengths

Sam Rockwell portrays Aidan and Bryce Dallas Howard portrays Elly Conway in “Argylle.” (Promotional photo courtesy Apple Original Films)
“Will it Work?,” by Chris Jenness, is included as part of the People’s Choice Judged Exhibition at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘People’s Choice’ show makes attendees the judges at Kenai Art Center

A voting box will be present at the center all month, with each person getting one vote

“Will it Work?,” by Chris Jenness, is included as part of the People’s Choice Judged Exhibition at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The 2022 lineup of John Damberg’s Latin Jazz Quintet stand for a photo in 2022. John Damberg plays marimba and vibes, Mark Manners plays classical guitar, Bob Andrews plays bass guitar and Eiden Pospisil plays drums. Laura Koenig, pictured here with a flute, will not be playing with the quintet this weekend — the group will instead feature Karl Pasch on clarinet. (Photo courtesy John Damberg)

Latin jazz swings into town

Anchorage quintet to bring ‘fun and accessible’ music to Soldotna

The 2022 lineup of John Damberg’s Latin Jazz Quintet stand for a photo in 2022. John Damberg plays marimba and vibes, Mark Manners plays classical guitar, Bob Andrews plays bass guitar and Eiden Pospisil plays drums. Laura Koenig, pictured here with a flute, will not be playing with the quintet this weekend — the group will instead feature Karl Pasch on clarinet. (Photo courtesy John Damberg)
"The Boys" by Katie Hafner. (Photo via Amazon)

Off the Shelf: A quirky pandemic love story that hits close to home

Hafner portrays the toll forced isolation can take on the human psyche within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

"The Boys" by Katie Hafner. (Photo via Amazon)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
John Walsh, Rose Flanagan and Pat Broaders perform during “An Evening of Traditional Irish Music” on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna.

KDLL hosts Irish music at Kenai Peninsula College

The annual Irish music performance has been staged on the peninsula by a trio of performers almost every year since 2018

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
John Walsh, Rose Flanagan and Pat Broaders perform during “An Evening of Traditional Irish Music” on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna.
Jaquel Spivey is Damian, Angourie Rice is Cady and Auli’i Cravalho is Janis in “Mean Girls.” (Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures)

On the screen: ‘Mean Girls’ is a special, musical, spectacle

The adaptation of the 2017 Broadway musical is a surprising early-year hit

Jaquel Spivey is Damian, Angourie Rice is Cady and Auli’i Cravalho is Janis in “Mean Girls.” (Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures)
A copy of Judy Johnson’s “Alaskan Pioneer Girl” rests in the snow on Sunday, December 24, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Small town girl weaves tales of home

Local memoir is an engaging window into what life on the central peninsula looked like in the second half of the 20th century

A copy of Judy Johnson’s “Alaskan Pioneer Girl” rests in the snow on Sunday, December 24, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork by Lynne O’Connor set for exhibition in the Kenai Art Center’s January show, “Feels Like Home,” awaits hanging at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai on Dec. 22.

Kenai Art Center looks to 2024, wants to make more people into artists

The lineup includes open call shows, a fundraiser, artist features, an exhibition for tattoo artists and the annual mural show

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork by Lynne O’Connor set for exhibition in the Kenai Art Center’s January show, “Feels Like Home,” awaits hanging at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai on Dec. 22.
The Kenai Fine Art Centery as seen on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai Art Center accepting submissions for January show

“Feels Like Home” is set to open on Jan. 5, and will benefit the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition program

The Kenai Fine Art Centery as seen on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion file)
Elena Corey and Jim Pate perform during Music by the Fire at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

An evening of books and song

Musicians give fireside serenades to librarygoers

Elena Corey and Jim Pate perform during Music by the Fire at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tom Blyth portrays Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler portrays Lucy Gray Baird in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." (Promotional photo courtesy Lionsgate)

On the Screen: ‘Hunger Games’ still has something to say

Surprisingly rich prequel interrogates contemporary politics through dystopian lens

Tom Blyth portrays Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler portrays Lucy Gray Baird in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." (Promotional photo courtesy Lionsgate)
Carol Ford portrays Aunt Nancy in “Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble,” a short film by Raleigh Van Natta. (Photo courtesy Raleigh Van Natta)

Local filmmakers given spotlight at Winter Film Series

The series is an offering of short films intended to spark discussion about film in the local community

Carol Ford portrays Aunt Nancy in “Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble,” a short film by Raleigh Van Natta. (Photo courtesy Raleigh Van Natta)
"Specific Gravity, a multimedia work by Michael Armstrong is on display in Homer Council on the Arts' "Fun with 5x7" show in November and December 2023. Photo by Michael Armstrong

A life guided by art

Former Homer News editor Michael Armstrong pursues his creative life

"Specific Gravity, a multimedia work by Michael Armstrong is on display in Homer Council on the Arts' "Fun with 5x7" show in November and December 2023. Photo by Michael Armstrong
A copy of William L. Iġġiaġruk Hensley’s “Fifty Miles from Tomorrow” is held outside the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: A powerful record of Alaska Native advocacy

In “Fifty Miles From Tomorrow,” William L. Hensley divulges a lifetime worth of insight into both his childhood in the northwest Arctic and his decades of service as an unwavering champion of Alaska Native rights

A copy of William L. Iġġiaġruk Hensley’s “Fifty Miles from Tomorrow” is held outside the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional photo courtesy Toho Studios
From left, Yuki Yamada portrays Shiro Mizushima, Hidetaka Yoshioka portrays Kenji Noda, Kuranosuke Sasaki portrays Yoji Akitsu and Ryunosuke Kamiki portrays Koichi Shikishima in “Godzilla Minus One.”

On the Screen: New ‘Godzilla’ surprises as one of the year’s best movies

The film shines not because of a giant computer-generated monster, but instead because of its emotional narrative grounded in humanity, history and politics

Promotional photo courtesy Toho Studios
From left, Yuki Yamada portrays Shiro Mizushima, Hidetaka Yoshioka portrays Kenji Noda, Kuranosuke Sasaki portrays Yoji Akitsu and Ryunosuke Kamiki portrays Koichi Shikishima in “Godzilla Minus One.”
A copy of Sherry Simpson’s “The Way Winter Comes” is held in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Inhabited by winter

Juneau writer spins haunting tales of Alaska’s darkest season in 1998 short story collection

A copy of Sherry Simpson’s “The Way Winter Comes” is held in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Image via Amazon.com

Off the Shelf: Alaska rom-com is a not-so-guilty pleasure

From the start, the story has the same allure of a Hallmark Christmas movie

Image via Amazon.com
Photo courtesy Ben Meyer
From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.

Seizing the opportunity to explore

Packrafting adventure the topic of next KPC Showcase

Photo courtesy Ben Meyer
From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.
Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures
Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

On the Screen: ‘Flower Moon’ a grueling historical spotlight

Throughout “Killers,” Scorsese depicts failings of society and personal relationships

Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures
Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Photo via Amazon.com

Off the Shelf: Majestic landscape marred by narrow perspective

John Muir’s classic “Travels in Alaska” juxtaposes beauty with a writer’s disconcerting bias

Photo via Amazon.com