December in Juneau brings with it Gallery Walk on First Friday in regular years.
But what happens in a time of pandemic?
“I think it’s important that while our businesses can still stay open that we encourage people to shop at local businesses,” said Laura Miko, the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s artist program manager, in a phone interview. “They’ve been hit really hard this year.”
Many artists and annual performances have also moved their venues online, Miko said, focusing on safety.
“The First Friday flier this year, we have individual artists saying, come to my online platform,” Miko said. “Just because you can ‘t go to a physical place doesn’t mean you can’t support the arts. The JACC is going to be doing a live concert, but it’s going to be on our Facebook.”
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Juneau’s downtown businesses, which often do a brisk trade during the summer months, have been hit especially hard, Miko said.
“Everyone I know of is mandating safety precautions. We think it’s safe in that respect. We have promoted Gallery Walk this year to be not a one-day event. We have encouraged businesses to have their specials up for longer,” Miko said. “We just want to have some normalcy. I don’t know if it will bounce back, but we can prevent it from taking an even harder hit. The arts have been hit really hard. Juneau is an artists community. ”
While it seems simple now, adapting to the new landscape has been an involved and ongoing process, Miko said.
“Over the span of the pandemic since March, it’s thrown our staff for loop. You’re catching up, because you have to figure out these new platforms. It’s also expensive for everybody, because you have to figure out these digital platforms.
With safety measures in place and many artists striking out on their own platforms, Miko said, she hopes this year’s Gallery Walk will allow people to support local businesses and artists while remaining safe and good citizens.
“For us, once things start getting back to normal, and we have good safety procedures, we’re looking forward to it,” Miko said. “We all have to make it through the storm for us to celebrate together later. We’ll be back and we’ll be back better than ever.”
List of events
Juneau Arts and Humanities Council: MK MacNaughton & Dan Redfield, Virtual Event: www.facebook.com/juneau.arts, 4:30-7 p.m. The JAHC presents a virtual exhibition featuring the work of MK MacNaughton and Dan Redfield, opening during Gallery Walk. This is a collaborative project of oil paintings and photographs that highlight Anchorage and surrounding areas of Alaska. 50% of the proceeds from the paintings sold during this exhibit will benefit the non-profit ‘Adventures for Ava’.
Juneau Arts and Humanities Council: Live music with Erian and Andrew Heist, Virtual Event, www.facebook.com/juneau.arts, 5 p.m. This will be a live duet performance with local musicians Erin & Andrew Heist. As part of Juneau’s online Gallery Walk, enjoy an hour of live seasonal and classic bluegrass, country, and folk songs. This project was funded in part by a CBJ Covid-19 Juneau ArtWorks Grant.
Bustin’ Out Boutique: Painter Hollis Kitchin, 234 Front St., Physical Event, noon-6 p.m., Virtual Event www.holliskitchin.com. Artwork will be up through the month of December, and work may be viewed digitally or purchased at www.holliskitchin.com
Coppa: Jim Fowler, 917 Glacier Ave, Physical Event, 7:30a.m.-5 p.m.,Virtual Event: www.facebook.com/coppa.alaska. Coppa will exhibit plein air acrylic landscapes as well as some small field sketches by Jim Fowler. The works will be displayed during December and January. Coppa will also be selling small artistic items through the holidays.
Crystal Cudworth, Painter, Virtual Event, www.crystalcudworth.com/for-sale. Crystal Cudworth’s sensual oil paintings are immersive, vibrant and transcriptive of the ephemeral properties of wood, wind, water and land.Paintings range from 3-by-5 inches to 30-by-45 inches, are framed, and ready to hang. All artwork was completed within the past four years.
Devil’s Club Brewing Company: Colleran Art, 100 N. Franklin Street, Physical Event: 5-8 p.m. Colleran Art is back at Devil’s Club Brewing Company. Devil’s Club will have their full merch line available.
Harbor Tea & Spice: Hot Tea for a Winter’s Night, 175 S. Franklin St., Suite 105, Physical Event: 4-6:30 p.m. Harbor Tea & Spice will be open for the first round of Christmas gift browsing and shopping. Everyone will receive their own party favor bag.
Juneau Artist’s Gallery: Painter Devita Stipek-Writer, 175 S. Franklin Street, Physical Event: 4:30-6 p.m. Award-winning Juneau painter Devita Stipek Writer will be presenting new oil paintings and pieces that have never been exhibited in a show through the month of December. There will be a “Covid Aware” reception.
Juneau-Douglas City Museum: Crankie Workshop, Virtual Event: www.facebook.com/JuneauDouglasCityMuseum and/or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc8pPMCtbK1KxAtBp6RAziw. The city museum made three videos for you to learn about the history of crankies (moving panoramas), the science of the northern lights and the steps to make your own crankie. You can add storytelling, poetry and music for a multimedia event you can videotape and share. The city museum has free kits to those interested in making a simple crankie. Call 586-3572 for more information.
Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council: Featuring Artists & Arts Businesses of Ketchikan, Virtual Event: www.ketchikanarts.org, Experience the arts of Ketchikan all in one place this winter from the comfort of your own home during the Winter Arts blitz. Beginning Nov. 27 through December 31st artists and arts businesses will be featuring their newest work and holiday specials. Find their online platform or where they are having in-person shopping. Something for everyone
Sketch Studio: MK MacNaughton, Paintings and Gifts, 122 Front St., Physical Event: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.,Virtual Event: mkmacnaughton.com.There will be a lot of hand-painted shirts, paintings and other gift ideas.
Southeast Alaska Land Trust: Seasons Greetings from SEALTrust, 119 Seward St., Physical Event: 4:30-6 p.m. The land trust invites people to celebrate the season as you walk by our First Friday display on Seward Street.
The Alaska State Museum: Solo Artist Exhibit-MITCH DID THIS³ by Mitch Watley, Virtual Event, www.museums.alaska.gov. The Alaska State Museum Solo Artist Exhibit Series 2020-2023 presents “MITCH DID THIS³” by Mitch Watley. Juneau-based artist Mitch Watley transforms everyday objects into complex dioramas often depicting futuristic landscapes. Sculpted figures inhabit these scenes navigating life in these other-worldly settings.
WILD by Nature Studio: Julienne Pacheco, Jewelry Artist, Virtual Event: www.wildbynaturestudio.com. WILD by Nature Studio will feature art jewelry handcrafted with wild and natural materials. 10% of all sales during the Holiday Season will be lovingly donated to The Glory Hall and AWARE Inc.
Sitka Arts Council: Celebrate Sitka Virtual Art Walk, Virtual Event: www.sitkaartscouncil.org/virtual-art-walk-map. People can visit each location on the map and enter to win prizes donated by sponsors and shops by completing an online passport.Many pages have featured artists and musicians.
Jerry Smetzer DBA Jerry’s Words and Pix, Virtual Event, Virtual Event: https://www.juneaupublicmarket.com/vendor/jerry-smetzers-books-writings. Jerry Smetzer’s 21-page novella “Savanna” is available as a free read and download. The novella is available on your internet browser by clicking the link below. Smetzer’s online store, “Jerry’s Words and Pix,” will open in early December. Readers of “Savanna” who also sign up on the store website will receive discounts from the list prices of products offered through “Jerry’s Words and Pix.”
Heritage Downtown Café: Holly Lena Winkleman Printmaking Show, 130 Front St., Physical Event: 4:30-7:30 p.m. “A little feather heavy” is a collection of linocuts featuring new landscape and feather designs by artist Holly Winkelman. Winkelman will be accepting messages through her Instagram page, hollywinkelmanart. She will also be at the cafe throughout the month with shrinkwrapped prints available.
AK Grizzly Bar: Photographer Mark Kelley, 210 Admiral Way, Physical Event, 4-8 p.m. The AK Grizzly Bar is featuring Mark Kelley for a 2021 Calendar Signing.
MK MacNaughton, one of the featured artists of this year’s Gallery Walk, will be selling gifts by appointment or drop-in shopping from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday at the Sketch Studio. (Courtesy art / MK MacNaughton)
Courtesy photo / JDCM The Juneau-Douglas City Museum will be hosting a workshop about making “crankies,” and posting the videos on YouTube, for this year’s Gallery Walk.
Coppa will be hosting landscapes and other art created by Jim Fowler, like that seen above, through December and January as part of this year’s Gallery Walk. (Courtesy art / Coppa)
