Arts and Culture

Mollie Walsh, seen here in “cabinet card” photograph from 1894 at age 25 in Butte, Montana, is the subject of a biography by Art Petersen who said Walsh’s life is the story of the Klondike Gold Rush. But, Petersen said, there was quite a lot of fact to be sorted from the fictions recorded about Walsh’s life. (James Schultz / Courtesy of Richard Gibson via Art Petersen)

Biography tries to sort fact from fiction in life of Skagway frontierswoman

‘History is a living thing.’

Mollie Walsh, seen here in “cabinet card” photograph from 1894 at age 25 in Butte, Montana, is the subject of a biography by Art Petersen who said Walsh’s life is the story of the Klondike Gold Rush. But, Petersen said, there was quite a lot of fact to be sorted from the fictions recorded about Walsh’s life. (James Schultz / Courtesy of Richard Gibson via Art Petersen)
Miranda (Natalia Spengler) covertly stares at recent arrivals to the remote island on which she resides during rehearsal for Theatre in the Rough's upcoming production of "The Tempest." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘O, wonder’: Theatre in the Rough puts on ‘The Tempest’

Prospero and Ferdinand, here on Caliban’s isle.

Miranda (Natalia Spengler) covertly stares at recent arrivals to the remote island on which she resides during rehearsal for Theatre in the Rough's upcoming production of "The Tempest." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Author-signed copies of "Luna's Big Oxcident," a children's book based on a real Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, will be available in exchange for donations to the musk ox farm during First Friday. (Courtesy Image / P.T. Custard)

Local author tells the tale of 3-legged musk ox

Get an autographed copy Friday

Author-signed copies of "Luna's Big Oxcident," a children's book based on a real Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, will be available in exchange for donations to the musk ox farm during First Friday. (Courtesy Image / P.T. Custard)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File Perseverance Theatre’s annual summer youth program, Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous, is scheduled for July 19-Friday Aug. 4.

A STAR is re-born: Perseverance Theatre gears up for new take on annual summer youth program

Registration is open.

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File Perseverance Theatre’s annual summer youth program, Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous, is scheduled for July 19-Friday Aug. 4.
Haida artist Janine Gibbons poses with the book she illustrated, the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s first children’s book in the Haida language Xaad Kíl, a translation of the traditional story “The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales.” (Courtesy photo / Janine Gibbons)

Haida-language children’s book released as part of award-winning series

The book is a re-issue in X̱aad Kíl of a previously released traditional story.

Haida artist Janine Gibbons poses with the book she illustrated, the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s first children’s book in the Haida language Xaad Kíl, a translation of the traditional story “The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales.” (Courtesy photo / Janine Gibbons)
Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)

Forecast calls for ‘Another Rainy Day’

Singer-songwriter Erin Heist records 1st EP, releases single.

Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
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Hayes receives prestigious Distinguished Artist honor

Acclaimed writer from Juneau receives Rasmuson Foundation award.

This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
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Garrett Klein, a junior at TMHS, recalls his reaction to finding out his painting will hang in Washington D.C. "I was just blown away," Klein said. "I was in absolute shock." Klein thanked Angela Imboden, Nancy Lehnhart and MK MacNaughton for making the success possible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

From Juneau with love

Local artist’s work to hang in Washington, D.C.

Garrett Klein, a junior at TMHS, recalls his reaction to finding out his painting will hang in Washington D.C. "I was just blown away," Klein said. "I was in absolute shock." Klein thanked Angela Imboden, Nancy Lehnhart and MK MacNaughton for making the success possible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)

During the Gold Rush: ‘Victorian folk opera’ tells stories inspired by Klondike history

The piece’s origins are no simple A-to-B journey.

Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)
Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Dance Theatre springs into action

Annual showcase to be available as streaming event.

Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
"Ducks at Dusk" by Thunder Mountain High School student Alain Soltys-Gray recently won best in show in the Alaska Junior Duck Stamp Contest. (Courtesy Image)

TMHS student earns top billing in duck stamp contest

Taking to the contest like a duck to water.

"Ducks at Dusk" by Thunder Mountain High School student Alain Soltys-Gray recently won best in show in the Alaska Junior Duck Stamp Contest. (Courtesy Image)
Courtesy image / Larry Johansen Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called “The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5.

Baseball in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Local author shares untold story of frontier baseball in a new book

Courtesy image / Larry Johansen Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called “The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5.
This composite image shows the cast of Perseverance Theatre’s production of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit.” The play features one actor each night reading a script for the first time. Pictured are (top row) Frank Delaney, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Ericka Lee, Martin Sensmeier, (middle row) Ben Brown, Allison Holtkamp, Enrique Bravo, (bottom row) Jesse Alleva, Rebecca George and Tia Carrere. (Courtesy Photos)

11 ‘very brave’ performers bring adventurous play to Perseverance Theatre’s virtual stage

No rehearsal. No direction. And an unknown script.

This composite image shows the cast of Perseverance Theatre’s production of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit.” The play features one actor each night reading a script for the first time. Pictured are (top row) Frank Delaney, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Ericka Lee, Martin Sensmeier, (middle row) Ben Brown, Allison Holtkamp, Enrique Bravo, (bottom row) Jesse Alleva, Rebecca George and Tia Carrere. (Courtesy Photos)
Members of the Argus String Quartet play a Brown Bag Concert at the State Office Building on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, during the annual Juneau Jazz Classics Festival. COVID-19 forced the festival online in 2020, but organizers are looking forward to a hybrid festival in May. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Live classical music will fill the air and airways in May

Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival will resume in a hybrid format

Members of the Argus String Quartet play a Brown Bag Concert at the State Office Building on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, during the annual Juneau Jazz Classics Festival. COVID-19 forced the festival online in 2020, but organizers are looking forward to a hybrid festival in May. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
The pageantry of western opera will join forces with the Tlingit culture’s rich history of storytelling, song and dance to create the world’s first Tlingit opera. The opera, which is currently untitled, will premiere at the Perseverance Theatre around 2025. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)

First-ever first Tlingit opera will premiere locally

It is a collaboration between Perseverance Theatre and the Sealaska Heritage Institute.

The pageantry of western opera will join forces with the Tlingit culture’s rich history of storytelling, song and dance to create the world’s first Tlingit opera. The opera, which is currently untitled, will premiere at the Perseverance Theatre around 2025. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
This combination of photos provided by the Sealaska Hertiage Institute in Juneau, Alaska, shows the front and back of a Tlingit Ravenstail coat. An Alaska Native cultural organization and the luxury department store Neiman Marcus have settled a lawsuit over the sale of a coat with a copyrighted, geometric design borrowed from indigenous culture. (Brian Wallace / Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Sealaska Heritage, Neiman Marcus settle lawsuit over coat

Associated Press An Alaska Native cultural organization and the luxury department store Nieman Marcus have settled a lawsuit over the sale of a coat with… Continue reading

This combination of photos provided by the Sealaska Hertiage Institute in Juneau, Alaska, shows the front and back of a Tlingit Ravenstail coat. An Alaska Native cultural organization and the luxury department store Neiman Marcus have settled a lawsuit over the sale of a coat with a copyrighted, geometric design borrowed from indigenous culture. (Brian Wallace / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire The Gold Town Theater’s new drive-in location at the downtown subport lot hosts a fully armed and operational screen for all-weather conditions.

New faces downtown: Drive-in theater settles into new home

The Gold Town Theater’s drive-in gets lively with its showings.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire The Gold Town Theater’s new drive-in location at the downtown subport lot hosts a fully armed and operational screen for all-weather conditions.
Sebastian Taylor-Manning pauses to sketch at a replica of an Alaskan illustrator’s desk. His brother McClain Taylor-Manning and his father, Chris Taylor, look on during a recent visit to the State Museum to see the new exhibit, "Illustrating Alaska: Artists Making Children’s Books", on display through April 3. (Courtesy Photo/Jackie Manning)

Drawing inspiration: State museum debuts new exhibit featuring the work of local illustrators

State museum debuts exhibit featuring the work of local illustrators.

Sebastian Taylor-Manning pauses to sketch at a replica of an Alaskan illustrator’s desk. His brother McClain Taylor-Manning and his father, Chris Taylor, look on during a recent visit to the State Museum to see the new exhibit, "Illustrating Alaska: Artists Making Children’s Books", on display through April 3. (Courtesy Photo/Jackie Manning)
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Writers’ Weir: Learning lessons from a first-class coach

Nonfiction prose by Mike Clemens.

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Nano Brooks talks in front of racks of records inside Hi-Fi Senpai on Saturday, Jan. 30. The shop includes vintage audio equipment and old forms of physical media. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Permanent records: New shop gives old media local staying power

It was love at first listen.

Nano Brooks talks in front of racks of records inside Hi-Fi Senpai on Saturday, Jan. 30. The shop includes vintage audio equipment and old forms of physical media. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)