Arts and Culture

The cover of “Walter Harper: Alaska Native Son.” Courtesy of University of Nebraska Press.

Walter Harper, who died at 25 in the Princess Sophia, brought to life in new biography

Walter Harper, who is buried beside his bride Frances Wells in Juneau’s Evergreen Cemetery, lived a brief and wondrous life. He was born in 1893… Continue reading

The cover of “Walter Harper: Alaska Native Son.” Courtesy of University of Nebraska Press.
The Nutcracker, played by Kincaid Parsons, leaps across the stage as and Marie, played by Grace Gjertsen, looks on. Photo by Bobbi Jordan.

Tap dancing in Xtratufs: A Nutcracker to Alaskans, with love

SITKA — If Alaska is one big small town, then this year’s Sitka Nutcracker is a love letter to the community that inspired it. Crabs… Continue reading

The Nutcracker, played by Kincaid Parsons, leaps across the stage as and Marie, played by Grace Gjertsen, looks on. Photo by Bobbi Jordan.
Katie Jensen as M’Lynn, Stacy Stout Katasse as Truvy, and Naomi Prentice as Shelby in Perseverance Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias.” (Photo by Cameron Byrnes)

Southern Comfort: ‘Steel Magnolias’ at Perseverance Theatre

Three thousand air miles and three decades separate modern-day Juneau and mid-1980s rural Louisiana. Perseverance Theatre bridges this seemingly impossible gap with its latest offering,… Continue reading

Katie Jensen as M’Lynn, Stacy Stout Katasse as Truvy, and Naomi Prentice as Shelby in Perseverance Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias.” (Photo by Cameron Byrnes)
Gary Neilson inspects firewood logs in their corral, tied to a breakwater log. (Tara Neilson | For the Capital City Weekly)

In the bush, gathering firewood is both a routine and a danger

A couple weeks ago my dad and I were, as usual, nosing our 16 foot Boston Whaler up to a rocky shore in our quest… Continue reading

Gary Neilson inspects firewood logs in their corral, tied to a breakwater log. (Tara Neilson | For the Capital City Weekly)
Dankrupt poses behind the scenes at the Father Time music video shoot on Aug. 5, 2017. The shot was taken at Scary Dairy, a deserted, haunted building in Camarillo, California. (Photo by Julia Marquez Phillips)

‘CaliRock’ for a cause: Juneau bassist, band Dankrupt come to town

Los Angeles’ Dankrupt, a band including Juneau-raised bassist Nick Banaszak, will soon bring to Juneau a night filled with energy, share their unique Southern California… Continue reading

Dankrupt poses behind the scenes at the Father Time music video shoot on Aug. 5, 2017. The shot was taken at Scary Dairy, a deserted, haunted building in Camarillo, California. (Photo by Julia Marquez Phillips)
Master weaver Clarissa Rizal, who passed away in 2016, with her teacher, master weaver Jennie Thlunaut, in 1986. Image courtesy of the JAHC.

December Gallery Walk offers Chilkat weavers, Native American photography and Santa

December gallery walk is the busiest of the year, so we’ve tried to help you out by organizing the listings we’ve received on Juneau’s main… Continue reading

Master weaver Clarissa Rizal, who passed away in 2016, with her teacher, master weaver Jennie Thlunaut, in 1986. Image courtesy of the JAHC.
Elin Antaya, 13, plays a snowflake during the first act’s the snow scene. (Erin Laughlin | For the Capital City Weekly)

Juneau Dance Theatre rehearses for ‘The Nutcracker’

It’s time for a holiday classic. Juneau Dance Theatre (JDT) the first weekend of December presents the ballet “The Nutcracker” at the Juneau-Douglas High School… Continue reading

Elin Antaya, 13, plays a snowflake during the first act’s the snow scene. (Erin Laughlin | For the Capital City Weekly)
Students walk past the newly installed Core Cultural Values Panels at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Wednesday, Nov. 22. (Clara Miller | Capital City Weekly)

Cultural values panels promote diversity, understanding

On the day before Thanksgiving, Floyd Dryden Middle School’s gymnasium floor filled with students dancing to a Tlingit song — sung by other students —… Continue reading

Students walk past the newly installed Core Cultural Values Panels at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Wednesday, Nov. 22. (Clara Miller | Capital City Weekly)
Screenshot of footage from “Heartbeat” music video on YouTube.

Heartbeats and clouds: Haines locals create funny music videos

Haines locals Burl Sheldon, Nancy Berland and Gene Cornelius this year created two music videos: “Heartbeat” and “/the.cloud/,” which they’ve now shared with the world… Continue reading

Screenshot of footage from “Heartbeat” music video on YouTube.
Paulina Cohen (1859-1941). Leaves. Watercolor. Museum purchase, 86.252.29.

Sitka’s first postmistress forged her own path

The westward expansion of the United States did not just open new lands to eager settlers; it opened new doors of opportunity for women. Nineteenth… Continue reading

Paulina Cohen (1859-1941). Leaves. Watercolor. Museum purchase, 86.252.29.
Sitka’s Wild Language Festival: The art and craft of storytelling

Sitka’s Wild Language Festival: The art and craft of storytelling

A scene from the short film “For the Love of Salmon” flashes on the screen and the audience winces sympathetically. It’s the image of a… Continue reading

Sitka’s Wild Language Festival: The art and craft of storytelling
Left, Mark Zeiger as King Henry II, and right, Ryan Staska as Prince Richard the Lionheart. The Merry Trickers of Haines’ performance of “The Lion in Winter,” by James Goldman, runs two weekends beginning Friday, Nov. 24. Photographs by John Hagen.

First-time play group performs ‘The Lion in Winter’ in Haines

This holiday season, new theatre group The Merry Tricksters of Haines will bring the 1966 historical play “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman to… Continue reading

Left, Mark Zeiger as King Henry II, and right, Ryan Staska as Prince Richard the Lionheart. The Merry Trickers of Haines’ performance of “The Lion in Winter,” by James Goldman, runs two weekends beginning Friday, Nov. 24. Photographs by John Hagen.
This three blossom basket is made out of a single piece of kelp, hydroid, and three glass beads. Image courtesy of Lisa LeMay Doyon.

Meet three Juneau Public Market artists

This Thanksgiving weekend, 150 vendors representing 36 cities across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest will come for the 35th annual Juneau Public Market. This year… Continue reading

This three blossom basket is made out of a single piece of kelp, hydroid, and three glass beads. Image courtesy of Lisa LeMay Doyon.
Visiting students examine the Haa Aani panel during a visit to Sealaska Heritage. (Courtesy Photo | Brian Wallace via Sealaska Heritage Institute)

SHI to transfer Native values panels to Floyd Dryden

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will donate eight large panels depicting ancient Southeast Alaska Native core cultural values to Floyd Dryden Middle School. The panels, which… Continue reading

Visiting students examine the Haa Aani panel during a visit to Sealaska Heritage. (Courtesy Photo | Brian Wallace via Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Megan Duncanson pointing toward bubble feeding humpback whales last summer, when she became determined to buy an island in Meyers Chuck. Photo by Tara Neilson.

Welcome to MAD Island

I hopped out of the skiff and clambered up the steep rocks and then waded through the leafless (but not thorn-less) devil’s club with a… Continue reading

Megan Duncanson pointing toward bubble feeding humpback whales last summer, when she became determined to buy an island in Meyers Chuck. Photo by Tara Neilson.
Michael Wittig Sr. as Tevye at the rehearsal of Latitude 58’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at St. Ann’s Hall on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly)

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ comes to Juneau, explores timeless themes

Theater at Latitude 58 will be bringing the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof” to Juneau. “This show has a huge emotional range,” Director Karen… Continue reading

Michael Wittig Sr. as Tevye at the rehearsal of Latitude 58’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at St. Ann’s Hall on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly)
Robert Hoffman in his studio. (Photo by Sarah O’Leary)

The sketches of Tlingit artist Robert Hoffman

Walk halfway down Katlian St. in Sitka, and you’ll find Robert Hoffman’s light-filled, spacious art studio. Shelves filled with colorful paint tubes line the walls,… Continue reading

Robert Hoffman in his studio. (Photo by Sarah O’Leary)
This street scene in Dyea shows the false front as the small building on the left. From the Paul Sinic Collection, identifier ASL-P75-072. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Historical Archives)

Dyea’s 120-year old false front tells a story

An unadorned false front of weathered wood, along with the scattered, deteriorating boards behind it, are all that remain of the A. M. Gregg Real… Continue reading

This street scene in Dyea shows the false front as the small building on the left. From the Paul Sinic Collection, identifier ASL-P75-072. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Historical Archives)
A glance at the Weekly’s book shelf

A glance at the Weekly’s book shelf

We get a lot of books to review here at the Capital City Weekly. We typically focus on books written by Southeast Alaska residents, about… Continue reading

A glance at the Weekly’s book shelf
Chris Neilson holds the author’s canvas shopping bag for her- on the stock up trip when she broke her ankle - and gazes at the totem poles on Shakes Island in Wrangell. Courtesy of Tara Neilson.

Alaska for Real: The fall floathouse stock-up

Unlike most people, I imagine, I have a case of Spam under my bed and cases of tomato sauce, mayonnaise, and canned fruit in my… Continue reading

Chris Neilson holds the author’s canvas shopping bag for her- on the stock up trip when she broke her ankle - and gazes at the totem poles on Shakes Island in Wrangell. Courtesy of Tara Neilson.