Artistic illumination

Long before the monthly tradition of First Friday Art Walk was begun in 2002, there was Gallery Walk. Now in its 28th year, the December event is Juneau’s biggest gallery night of the year, an evening for strolling, chatting, eating cheese, shopping, meeting artists — and ogling art. 

Here’s a look at what’s going on around town. 

 

1. KTOO, 360 Egan Drive

“Through the Viewfinder; The World As I See It” collection of photographs by Merrill Jensen

Reception: 4:30-7 p.m.

Merrill Jensen, manager of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum, will show 50 photographs in his first solo exhibit. The photos, taken between 1996 and 2009, were taken around the world, from Venice to the Seward Peninsula. 

The K3 Holiday Radio Auction preview will also be taking place, with the auction itself being held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. 

 

2. Alaska State Museum, 395 Whittier St.

Ongoing solo shows by Dan Fruits, Hall Anderson and Stephen Gray.

Free admission: 4:30-7 p.m.

Three artists are featured at the state museum through Jan. 15: Juneau painter Dan Fruits, Ketchikan Daily News photographer Hall Anderson and Anchorage-based digital photography artist Stephen Gray. Fruits’ work is displayed in the ground floor gallery, and Anderson and Gray’s works are on the second floor.

 

3. Juneau Arts & Humanities Council Gallery, Juneau Arts & Culture Center

“Recent Inspirations,” new ceramic work by Blue Clay Studios

Reception: 4:30–7 p.m.

The ceramic works of Paul Voelckers, James Voelckers, Matt Voelckers, Dean Guaneli, Mary Pat Wyatt and Janeanne Twelker will be on display, and include wheel-thrown and hand-built forms as well as carved pieces. 

The Juneau Artist Market will also be held during Gallery Walk, from 4:30-7 p.m., followed by square dance at 8 p.m. (see brief on Page C3). Proceeds from the square dance go to the Glory Hole.

 

4. Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Fourth and Main streets

“Lines of Design” by Salty Hanes, “Heartfelt History” by Sara Lee; 14th annual Native arts and crafts fair

Reception: 4:30-8 p.m.

Salty Hanes’ work will include gemstone jewelry, beaded bags, gloves, an octopus bag, and a retrospective of 15-20 pairs of moccasins that she has made during the past 20 years.  Lee’s felted fiber work ranges from large functional furnishings and wearable clothing to decorative wall pieces.

The Native Arts and Crafts Fair will also be underway, and will include work from the following artists: Percy Martin (beading), Florence Marks Sheakley (beading), Ed Kunz (silver), Annie Hurlbut (weaving and dolls), Barry Smith (ivory), Donald Gregory (silver and gold, ivory and trade bead earrings) and Benjamin Schleifman (copper jewelry and wood carving).

The fair will be held Friday in conjunction with the exhibit opening and continue on Saturday, Dec. 5 from noon to 4 p.m. This free event is co-sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Institute and the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. 

 

5. Bentwood and Bead Gallery, 315 Third St.

Artwork by Carl Clasmeyer, David Riccio and Jim Hanes

Reception: 4:30-7:30 pm

Carl Clasmeyer will show new watercolors of Southeast Alaska and his intricate fine art jewelry. Based in New Mexico, Clasmeyer is currently in Juneau visiting family. David Riccio will display ceramic vessels, paintings, etchings and digital prints. Gallery co-owner Jim Hanes will show new wood sculptures and prints.

 

6. The Canvas Community Art Studio & Gallery, 223 Seward St.

“Family,” artwork by 32 REACH artists, exploring and reflecting on family

Reception: 4:30-7:30 pm

This exhibit centered around the theme of family will include glass, fiber, clay, paint and mixed media pieces from 32 REACH artists. In keeping with the theme, the studio will be set up to reflect a home, complete with a dinner table. The table itself is a work of art, an etched glass piece created by 12 different REACH artists. Handmade glass plates and handwoven table runners and placemats will also be displayed. 

 

7. The Plant People, 224 Seward St.

“Je t’aime mon petit chou,” artwork by Sarah Maria Conarro

Reception: 4:30 -7:30 pm.

Sarah Conarro’s latest collages and paintings center on several themes: spiritual vs. secular, busy vs. calm. Bring an offering (written thoughts, oranges, apples, beads, coins). Take a fortune. Have a moment and be overwhelmed.

 

8. Zephyr, 200 Seward St.

“Abstraction & Reconstruction,” ceramic works by Jetta Mandl-Abramson

Reception: 5-7 p.m.

Mandl-Abramson’s first solo exhibition will include her latest ceramic works and will be held on the second floor of the restaurant; the restaurant will be open for dinner.

 

9. Silverbow Back Room, 120 Second St.

Mask display

Artwork by Antoinette Koenig

Reception: 4:30 -7:30 pm.

Antoinette Koenig will also show her latest paintings and photographs at the Back Room Gallery. 

Also on display will be the five winners of a mask contest sponsored by NAMI Juneau, “Faces of Disability.” The masks were created by high school students and reflect their interpretation of mental illness.

 

10. Capital Barbershop, 128 Seward St. 

Alaska photographer Chris Beck of Photography by Beck. 

Reception: 4:30-7 p.m.

A local photographer, Beck specializes in wildlife and scenic photos. Starting in December the collection can be viewed during normal business hours at the barbershop. 

 

11. Rainy Retreat Books, 113 Seward St.

Music by Riley Woodford

Singer and songwriter (and naturalist, author and new father) Riley Woodford will offer walkers some musical entertainment at the bookstore, and may be joined by one or more friends. 

 

12. Valentine's Coffee Shop, 111 Seward St.

New paintings by Jim Fowler

Reception: 4:30 -8 pm.

Fowler’s most recent landscape paintings will be featured at the Seward Street coffee shop.

 

 

13. Shoefly, 109 Seward St.

Bridget Milligan of Kodiak Coat Company

Reception: 4:30 -8 pm.

Bridget Milligan, of Kodiak Coats, will unveil a new coat design as well as new stock of some old favorites. Milligan closed up shop last year, and is offering her creations to the public again after a long hiatus.

 

14. Annie Kaills, 244 Front St.

Artwork of Brenda Schwartz, Sandra Greba, Rob Roys, Karen Beason

Reception: 4:30-9 p.m. 

Brenda Schwartz, of Wrangell, will show her paintings of Southeast scenes that incorporate marine maps. Sandra Greba, of Sitka, will display her watercolor paintings featuring Alaska birds and flowers. Abstract painter Rob Roys, of Juneau, will show his most recent acrylic paintings. And Karen Beason, also of Juneau, will show her linoleum block prints, handmade paper, paper mache sea-life sculptures and other fiber creations. One of Beason’s latest designs, the Peace Raven, comes with a story called “The Bringer of Peace.”

 

15. Hearthside Books, 254 Front St.

Stefani Marnon, editor of “Cooking with Alaskan Beer” 

Reception 5-8 p.m. 

Chef Steph will be on hand to personalize copies of her new book, “Cooking with Alaskan Beer,” written in collaboration with the Alaska Brewing Co. Sample treats from the book will be offered.

 

16. Aunt Claudia’s Dolls,Triangle Building 114 S Franklin Suite 105 (enter from Franklin St). 

Doll exhibit

Reception: 2-7 p.m.

Aunt Claudia’s Dolls, a museum housing the doll collection of Claudia Kelsey, is curated by Douglas doll maker Mary Ellen Frank. The exhibit includes more than 500 dolls and miniatures collected from all over the world by the Kelsey family over a period of 80 years, including some items from the 18th and 19th century.  

 

17. Baranof Hotel, 127 N. Franklin St.

UAS student exhibit

 Juneau Artists Gallery current and former members

Reception: 4:30-7 p.m. Wine tasting from 5-7 p.m. 

Paintings, photographs, prints, stained glass.    

This room on the right of the entrance to the hotel will feature work from the Juneau Artists Gallery (175 S. Franklin St.). The Baranof and Douglas rooms will feature UAS student work.

A wine tasting will also be going on at the hotel during Gallery Walk for $15.

 

18. Capital City Weekly, 134 N. Franklin St. 

Photos with Santa

Reception: 4 to 8 p.m.,

Photos will be available for free download on Spotted. Donations will be accepted for the Racheal MacLeod Christmas box project; funds are used to assemble hundreds of boxes of food for holiday meals. Capital City Rotaract Club is now accepting donations, which are tax deductible, for the project. For more information, call 789-4144.

 

19. Juneau Artists Gallery, 175 S. Franklin St.

“Crystal Moon” jewelry by Karen Housley and “Fine Days in Southeast Alaska” acrylic paintings by Monica O’Keefe Reception: 4:30 until 9 p.m. 

 Housley creates earrings and necklaces with sterling silver, gemstones, glass, Austrian crystals and freshwater pearls. A member of Juneau's Plein Rein Painters, O’Keefe paints both distant vistas and close-up views of the natural world.  

 

20. Changing Tides, 175 S. Franklin St.

Fiber art by Fabienne Peter-Contesse

Reception: 4-9 p.m.

Fabienne Peter-Contesse, a fiber artist and quilter, will show her works at Changing Tides, located in the Senate Mall building.

Heritage Coffee, 171 South Franklin St.

"Out Yonder" by Toby Narbanuk

Reception: 4-9 p.m.

This photography exhibit feautures aerial images of Southeast Alaska printed on glass, metal, tile and canvas.

 

21. The Ruby Room, 174 S. Franklin St, in the Emporium Mall 

Artwork by Pat Race and Sarah Asper Smith

Reception: 4-9 p.m.

This show will feature graphic designs and digital illustrations by Alaska Robotics artists Pat Race and Sarah Asper-Smith.

 

22. Goldtown Nickelodoen, 174 S. Franklin St, in the 

Emporium Mall 

Open house, featuring the artwork of Pedar Dalthorp, Jeremy Kane, David Woodie, Mitch Whatley. Keith Thompson, Liz Gifford and others

In addition to displays of local ceramics, art, photography and jewelry, the downtown theater will host a free gaming night on the big screen followed by a screening of two holiday classics, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Scrooged"

For more on the recent developments at the downtown theater, see page C1.

 

23. Rendezvous, 184 S. Franklin St.

“Building our Future”

Event begins at 5 p.m.

“Building our Future,” an event organized to raise awareness of healthy living for Juneau’s youth, will feature a silent and live auction, door prizes and a pledge drive. Music will be provided by Brooke Morgan, Meg Mackey and The House Band. Wine tasting for $10.

 

24. Jaded, 51 Egan Drive (at Zen in the Goldbelt Hotel)

“Figment,” illustrations by Alana Ballam Schwan

Reception: Beginning at 5-7 p.m.

The opening reception for Schwan’s work will be held concurrently with a wine tasting for $15. Music will be provided by DJ Manu.

 

25. Wilderness Peaks Gallery, Merchant’s Wharf

Daniel Buckshot’s 

photography

Reception: 4-9 p.m.

Buckshot opened the gallery in October with his wife, Jennifer. He’ll be featuring new wildlife photographs as well as a new holiday greeting card collection. 

 

 

Other events:

Invisible World

369 S Franklin St.

Local author and shop owner Stuart Cohen will have copies of his latest book, “Army of the Republic” (just issued in paperback) available at the store.

 

Jewel Box

248 Front St.

The store will be celebrating its 55th anniversary with festivities including "diamond” cookies, special cider and the sounds of bells.