Arts and Culture

Max Parrot, of Canada, jumps during the men’s Big Air snowboard qualification competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (Dmitri Lovetsky | The Associated Press)

Tlingit artwork featured at the Olympics

KINY Radio recently reported that the Canadian Olympic snowboarding team’s uniform sports a raven pattern familiar to many Alaskans. Designed by Tlingit artist Corrine Hunt,… Continue reading

Max Parrot, of Canada, jumps during the men’s Big Air snowboard qualification competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (Dmitri Lovetsky | The Associated Press)
The Awesome Alaska Book Review: The Snow Child

The Awesome Alaska Book Review: The Snow Child

Finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction “The Snow Child,” the debut novel of Alaskan writer Eowyn Ivey, is a book I’ve been meaning… Continue reading

The Awesome Alaska Book Review: The Snow Child
Rainbow smelt shimmer before they’re cooked. Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott

It’s the little fish in life

My dad rolled the small fish in egg and then flour, and set it beside three other smelt in the hot frying pan. He stood… Continue reading

Rainbow smelt shimmer before they’re cooked. Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott
Fred Bennett served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1968. He attended basic training in Fort Ord, CA and was then transferred to Presidio of Monteray, CA. Fred was trained as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. Fred served in Vietnam from October 1965 to September 1966. After his service in Vietnam, Fred spent the rest of his service time in Fort Lewis, WA. Image courtesy of the Huna Heritage Foundation. Identifier: PH002_016_FredBennett_001

Hoonah goes digital, launches trove of historic photos

It’s been the mission of the Huna Heritage Foundation (HHF) to perpetuate the Huna Tlingit culture and promote education for future generations, and it plans… Continue reading

Fred Bennett served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1968. He attended basic training in Fort Ord, CA and was then transferred to Presidio of Monteray, CA. Fred was trained as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. Fred served in Vietnam from October 1965 to September 1966. After his service in Vietnam, Fred spent the rest of his service time in Fort Lewis, WA. Image courtesy of the Huna Heritage Foundation. Identifier: PH002_016_FredBennett_001
Zach Brown. Courtesy image.

Inian Islands Institute a reality

Three years and a million dollars later, Zach Brown’s dream is coming to fruition. The Inian Island Institute, an educational hub for researchers, conservationists, and… Continue reading

Zach Brown. Courtesy image.
Gary Neilson has to chop through snow and ice to pull the plug in his skiff. He’ll let the saltwater in to melt the snow and ice that’s accumulated in the bottom. The seats and bow will have to be shoveled off before the skiff can be used to go get mail and groceries.

‘Chionomisia’ for the win

Snow. Chiono is Greek for snow; phobia is Greek for fear. While there is definitely anxiety involved when I hear that there is a big… Continue reading

Gary Neilson has to chop through snow and ice to pull the plug in his skiff. He’ll let the saltwater in to melt the snow and ice that’s accumulated in the bottom. The seats and bow will have to be shoveled off before the skiff can be used to go get mail and groceries.
University of Alaska Southeast assistant professor of Alaska Native Languages Lance Twitchell teaches a basic Northwest Coast Formline Art workshop at UAS on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. Michael Penn | For the Capital City Weekly

Art of Place: Spirit through form(line)

Northwest Coast Art is an easily distinguished and recognizable art form, and formline is its foundation, seen on cultural objects from blankets to screens. So… Continue reading

University of Alaska Southeast assistant professor of Alaska Native Languages Lance Twitchell teaches a basic Northwest Coast Formline Art workshop at UAS on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. Michael Penn | For the Capital City Weekly
“Terpsichore,” part of the “Lost Language” exhibit. Image courtesy of Papke.

Q&A with Skagway artist Daniel Papke

If you swung by the Alaska State Museum this past January you may have noticed the exhibit “Lost Language” by Skagway painter Daniel Papke. Up… Continue reading

“Terpsichore,” part of the “Lost Language” exhibit. Image courtesy of Papke.
Patricia Hull, as the witch, bullies Zebadiah Bodine, as the Baker, into taking Little Red Riding Hood’s red cape to undo a spell during rehearsal of Juneau-Douglas High School’s production of “Into the Woods” at JDHS on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.

‘Into the Woods’ offers fairytales … with a twist

Familiar fairytale characters like Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Jack and his magic beanstalk will soon grace the Juneau-Douglas High School stage, but their… Continue reading

Patricia Hull, as the witch, bullies Zebadiah Bodine, as the Baker, into taking Little Red Riding Hood’s red cape to undo a spell during rehearsal of Juneau-Douglas High School’s production of “Into the Woods” at JDHS on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.
Reknowned weaver Teri Rofkar’s Lituya Bay robe. The robe documents the 1958 earthquake that created a tsunami in the bay. Photo courtesy of Vivian Mork Y&

Planet Alaska: A tsunami warning at sea level

We awoke just after midnight to a pounding on our door. My slightly inebriated fisherman neighbor, who is moored on another finger, anxiously informed us… Continue reading

Reknowned weaver Teri Rofkar’s Lituya Bay robe. The robe documents the 1958 earthquake that created a tsunami in the bay. Photo courtesy of Vivian Mork Y&
Part of Patti Hutchens Jouppi’s “Unfathomable” series. Courtesy image.

Local artist uses Chinese technique to create paintings of underwater sea life

Painter Patti Hutchens Jouppi has decided to brighten up these dark winter days with her First Friday exhibit “Unfathomable.” In this series of paintings featuring… Continue reading

Part of Patti Hutchens Jouppi’s “Unfathomable” series. Courtesy image.
Gary Neilson tows the new log to put into place behind his floathouse. Photo by Tara Neilson

Floathouse maintenance and B-horror movie frights

The thing I love most about living in a floathouse is how relaxing and idyllic it is. We spend our days in a state of… Continue reading

Gary Neilson tows the new log to put into place behind his floathouse. Photo by Tara Neilson
Frank Henry Katasse, left, James Sullivan, Erin Tripp and Alec Shamas rehearse in Perseverance Theatre’s production of William Inc. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (Michael Penn | For the Capital City Weekly)

Review: ‘William, Inc.’ at Perseverance Theatre

I’ll let you in on a little trade secret. My first step, when writing about pretty much anything, is a Google search. I like to… Continue reading

Frank Henry Katasse, left, James Sullivan, Erin Tripp and Alec Shamas rehearse in Perseverance Theatre’s production of William Inc. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (Michael Penn | For the Capital City Weekly)
Omar Ali shares about his exchange experience while Carlos Carbello. Debby, Katja Steimann and Manuel Lopez Balserio listen. Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly.

Students from across the globe experience Alaska, America

On an overcast Juneau afternoon, eight high school students from around the world took a seat at a table inside the Capital City Weekly to… Continue reading

Omar Ali shares about his exchange experience while Carlos Carbello. Debby, Katja Steimann and Manuel Lopez Balserio listen. Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly.
Beginning Tlingit materials. Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott

Learning how to speak Tlingit

The Tlingit language is such an elaborate language. It needs to be lived: It is a living language — Vivian Mork Yéilk’ I was afraid.… Continue reading

Beginning Tlingit materials. Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott
Sherri McDonald sits in her room of inspiration at Color Wheel Arts. Clara Miller | Capital City Weekly

New art studio opens on Douglas Island

As a Douglas resident of 20 years, Sherri McDonald had wanted a studio on the island for some time for her paper art. She finally… Continue reading

Sherri McDonald sits in her room of inspiration at Color Wheel Arts. Clara Miller | Capital City Weekly
Eli Lawrence holds a hemlock branch covered in herring eggs, haaw, pulled from Crow Pass. Photo by Bethany Goodrich

Activist group fights to conserve Sitka’s herring

SITKA — On Jan. 14, more than 200 people crowded inside the oldest ANB Hall in Alaska to partake in a koo.éex’. Koo.éex’ is Tlingit… Continue reading

Eli Lawrence holds a hemlock branch covered in herring eggs, haaw, pulled from Crow Pass. Photo by Bethany Goodrich
Cedar fire tree on Betton Island, Alaska. Image courtesy of Henrikson.

Ketchikan artist delves into mystery of Southeast Alaska ‘fire trees’

It was more than a decade ago that painter Mary Ida Henrikson began her quest for knowledge about fire trees, sparked by a cedar on… Continue reading

Cedar fire tree on Betton Island, Alaska. Image courtesy of Henrikson.
The Awesome Alaska Book Review: Blair Braverman cracks open an ‘Ice Cube’

The Awesome Alaska Book Review: Blair Braverman cracks open an ‘Ice Cube’

It can be intimidating to give books to a bookseller. But that is just what happened one summer when a young man with a shy… Continue reading

The Awesome Alaska Book Review: Blair Braverman cracks open an ‘Ice Cube’
123rf.com Stock Photo

Therapy on dark winter days

An early memory that I treasure and often revisit is of when I was about eight years old and I was staying with my grandparents… Continue reading

123rf.com Stock Photo