Make A Scene Magazine April 2022

Community

Contributed by Amber Sumner

The Mat-Su Community Chorus is excited to announce its return for the Spring 2022 season! The chorus is a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to bringing quality choral repertoire to the Mat-Su Valley since the 1970s. This season, the chorus is honored to present the Alaska premiere of Consider the Lilies: An Appalachian Requiem by Timothy Michael Powell. Commissioning a work of this magnitude would previously have been out of reach for a small non-profit organization, but thanks to the collaborative opportunity provided by the web-based platform Consortio, the chorus was able to participate in the commission with other ensembles around the country. Premieres were

originally scheduled for the 2020 season, but most were delayed due to the pandemic. After two long years of looking forward to singing, director Amber Sumner, accompanist Grace Page, and the 30 volunteer members of the chorus are thrilled to be able to present this piece to music lovers in the valley.

The nine-movement work memorializes the composer’s daughter through the use of Latin texts from the Requiem mass, traditional hymn texts, and Appalachia-inspired melodies. Powell says the composition “is intended to capture the sounds and feelings of the north Georgia mountains where I grew up. One of my earliest memories is hearing the rugged, unaccompanied voices of an Appalachian con-

gregation singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” echo and filter down through the trees from the mountains above my grandparent’s house in full, heartfelt, four-part harmony. That early memory provides a nostalgic framework for this piece, informing and inspiring the spirit of the music through these poignant and powerful hymns. Though there is, obviously, a personal component to this work, which uses the metaphor of scriptural “lilies” to indicate and symbolize the loss of loved ones, particularly children, it is my hope that Consider the Lilies: An Appalachian Requiem transcends its personal origins to provide healing and comfort for others in the same way it has done for me.”

A chamber ensemble of talented lo -

cal instrumentalists will accompany the chorus, and the program will include other folk music and songs of Americana ranging from the early 19th century through today. The Mat-Su Kid’s Chorus, a brand-new ensemble organized by the chorus for students, will also make an appearance. Concert performances are scheduled for Thursday, May 5th at 7:00pm at Mat-Su Evangelical Covenant Church in Wasilla; Saturday, May 7th at 7:00pm at Fairview Loop Baptist Church in Wasilla; and Sunday, May 15th at 4:00pm at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer.

Tickets are available at the door at $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. More information on the chorus can be found at www. matsucommunitychorus.org.

Contributed by Chris Fry

CD and digital release set for April 20, 2022.

March 22, 2022- Two decades after debut album release, Alaska Redd sets date of April 20, 2022 to release his sixth full-length album. O.G.A.R, (O.G. Alaska Redd) will be released in CD format as well as all digital streaming and downloading platforms.

The Album line up and track selection

were hand-picked and put together by Alaska Redd, an artist and producer with ReddDott Productions, to give the album a certain vibe and cohesive flow from start to finish. Set with a darker tone in mind from the artwork to the tracks topics, the album features 12 tracks with guest appearances from underground heavyweight Stevie Stone and Krizz Kaliko, formerly of Tech N9NE’s Strange Music, as well as some of Alaska’s most talented artists and producers.

“I feel like I truly showcased my lyrical talent and growth on this project, while bringing it back to the roots and core sounds and vibes that I’m originally known for. While I will always remain humble, I also feel like it’s important to poke your chest out a little,” says Redd. This latest release is a testament to his craft as an ever-growing emcee and the resilience of being an artist coming from one of the most remote and inaccessible locations in the world.

Redd, one of the most respected origi-

nators and longest standing hip hop artists in the state, showcased his longevity when titling the album O.G.A.R., (O.G. Alaska Redd). Krizz Kaliko, fellow rapper, singer and songwriter is eager for the release. “As an elite performer, I know everybody doesn’t know how to perform but ReddDott (Alaska Redd) is the party,” says Kaliko.

Alaska Redd continues to build the music scene in the state of Alaska while helping up and coming local artists.

FASHION SHOW

SCHEDULE

BIKERS & HIKERS GEAR SWAP

APRIL

Community

Contributed by Kiki Kellar

turn-A-leaf Thrift Store announces Free Monthly Crafting Workshops!

There are so many fun things to create using products from turn-A-leaf Thrift Store that we want to share those with our customers. We have the next three months’ themes created and ready for people to sign up as each month starts. Space is limited to eight participants, and eight alternates who sign up for the workshop.

Rustic Mason Jars in April

Patriotic Wreath in June Picnic Banner for picnics in July

The community donates so much, and this is one way to say thank you for shopping and donating to our store. An instructor will facilitate each Workshop at our turn-A-leaf Thrift Store on a designated Saturday.

To learn about each workshop, a sample will be displayed in our store.

through our Social Media turn-A-leaf

of the people who have signed up to participate in the workshop will put their name in for a raffle. At the end of the workshop, a ticket will be drawn, and the winner takes the display home

By Robert Lyons

Hunter was a businessman, selling dad to the foreign lands

The “big guy” would get ten percent for a handshake and a bad accent Joe would tell a racist joke and wink and nod at what the guys spoke

Grin ear to ear as he sold our secrets, caused deaths at home but who keeps account, Joe’s ability as an accountant doubtful considering the current constant shelling of the Ukrainian people He is happy as his deal comes through though, not to you know who, Pooty pooh, Nah to Germany and the Climate gurus, ruining the world for me and you Killing of people on a global scale is a globalist job it’s what the job entails

To them people aren’t beings but usable things and if they disagree, people they may no longer be, As the globalist deeds have always shown, the individual gets left out alone, Spurred from the herd by the scared and the needy, Outcast out of fear that themselves get called greedy, or foolish or dumb or cruel or belittled

The deal sealed when the devil comes fiddling and you come to realize you could have listened to the warnings before the war-torn embattled cities and fields full of blood and the funeral diddies and the cries like animals in a flood.

We have a Republic, if we can keep it

A dud doesn’t explode but sits in the woods, more dangerous than when it was targeted and good, because it sits there and broods and waits for a time, until disturbed enough to get set of by a kid or a man working to live.

It is how sparks work I am not mistaken, we do not long before our abilities are taken and used against us to sap our souls

And isnt it weird that this ruination is culminating in US, the citizen’s declination. That is good because truth can sap the elitist lies and flop them to doubt, and profound also that all comes out through a crackheads laptop, so ammusing I laugh and shout.......

By Katherine Baker

Essence of presence unrestrained, as force of the course gains domain.

Contributed by Robert Lyons

“This guy he is too wild for me”, Well, it is wild times and we will all see, wait till next year for things you can’t even conceive, as hard to believe that that is, we are only on the eve of upheaval, like the shifting of a sieve, flipping and flopping and grieving and tossing, lost in the forest and can’t see the trees. The fog of war making friendly fire leave the breech. But it is freedom we all seek, or so I thought. But I can’t be bought owned turned or convinced. I think it is heaven sent but many complain about how my will cannot be bent. A man with a head as hard as cement.

On a mission until his only master says complete. My feat is only to feature the fiasco without fear and ferociously fight those I think are coming near for false reason as I made clear since day one when I posted FJB and said Id stand up to any agenda sent, not feasible?

I already did. Now I called the clowns and the mounds of establishment money and the danger Alaska was in for months so don’t act like I just showed up. Again, it’s ugly in these woods, carcasses full of maggots and the people should clear house of these, trapeze artists entertaining us out of our spark, our interest, shadowed by dark flow, I don’t know, but I feel like US GRANT, right guy, right place, right time to plant my feet, rise up from my community and do my duty. We all lose battles, but we can still win wars, it’s for the fore fathers and ours who fought before.

Whirling, swirling, a rest is rare, for the frantic antics of unseen air. Forward and backward and in all directions, upward and downward without detection.

Hushing, then rushing, the hurling chatter, throws dust, debris, and scatters matter.

Testing, wrestling earth’s perception, the massive, passive stirred without exception.

By Karly O’Loughlin

Warm rain that smells of spring

Like a chorus of flowers and dirt

and it smells like you

When I roll over at 8am and burrow into your hollow spaces

God I can’t get enough of this season

Summer can wait

Community

Contributed by Nan Potts

Where you find people, you find readers . . . we’ve let the books out!

April fills our Alaskan calendars with many activities; beginning with yard and garden preparations, graduation celebrations, dusting off the bicycles and water craft, prepping camping and travel . . . to Community Events! April 29th & 30th, you’ll find excited shoppers in Palmer scurrying to and fro during the kickoff to Spring with, Who Let The Girls Out.

Bright Lights Book Project (BLBP), has participated in this fun extravaganza. Being granted our recent nonprofit status, we decided, “If the girls are out, we’re ready to release free books!”

Saturday, April 30th, you’ll find us hosting at our Palmer bookcases, handing out books in a variety of genres. We’ll also be ready to re-stock them. Better yet, if you see a book or two from our book boxes, that aren’t on the shelves, you are welcome to take home your treasure.

Remember, we have given these books a reprieve from being reduced to pulp before the end of their lifecycle. They’ve been collected from many different locations ; thrift stores, recycling, libraries, warehouses, schools and private collections. They’ve been cleaned and sorted into genres, ready for the next generation of readers! No charge to the public, just good homes or renewed circulation.

Yes, Spring does appear to see the re -

turn of life — even in books! So, when you’re shopping at your favorite shop or boutique, there may be a bookcase nearby, and a tome or two beckoning you. Why not give in, after all they are free, and you’ll round-out your day of shopping, literature included. Or, maybe a gift for a friend or relative, you never know!

Look for us around town. You can check our website, www.brightlightsbookproject.org, for specific locations — the possibilities are infinite!