SATURDAY JUNE 22
BENDING LIGHT PAINTINGS BY BRENDA K. JAEGER
Contributed by Brenda Kay Jaeger
Bending Light, an exhibition of paintings by Brenda K. Jaeger, will open on May 13 in The Bodega at Jens’ Restaurant. These original acrylic paintings include landscapes of Palmer, the Mat-Su Valley, and other areas of Alaska. Alaska-born, Brenda paints en plein air and completes her work in her studio in Anchorage. As a child, she attended part of first grade in Palmer. She lives in Anchorage and teaches online through the Brenda Jaeger Art Studio. For information on classes, call (907) 350-4539 or email brendajaegerartstudio@startmail.com.
Artist’s Statement
Born in Alaska, I find my heart responds to all Alaska’s landscapes offer. One of the many techniques I use is one I call “traceries.” I paint an image, often in layers. When a layer is dry, I see small open spaces I call interstices, which are tiny negative spaces or openings. I fill these tiny negative spaces with hues that relate in several ways—complementary hue, adjacent hue, hues used for light, for direction, for shimmer, for luminosity. I like to start en plein air, often finishing paintings in my studio in Anchorage. Everything I do recognizes process as the way of painting.
I drew and painted Alaska landscapes while growing up. In college I took classes from Bob Gilmore, Krielsheimer Professor of Art at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, who taught me everything I know about art. Subsequently I obtained two master’s degrees, the first in Drawing and Painting and the second, to teach in preschool through 12th grade. I also hold an Online Teaching Certificate from the Online Learning Consortium. My teaching experience includes teaching in Akiachak, Arctic Village, Circle Village, Bethel, Kongiganak, and other places in Alaska through the Alaska Artist-in-Education Program. I have traveled to Japan three times to study hand papermaking, and to Mata Ortiz,
“Born in Alaska, I find my heart responds to all Alaska’s landscapes offer...”
Chihuahua, Mexico, to observe the clay process there.
Art Lessons: I have been teaching art since 1975. I currently teach on Zoom, one-on-one drawing and painting online art lessons, at $50/hr. I teach all ages, starting where you are in your work, and helping you to develop where you would like to go. I don’t charge for the first lesson as it is the introduction in which I learn what your interests are and whether I can help you in what you want to do. If you are interested, contact me at (907) 350-4539. I can also be reached at brendajaegerartstudio@startmail.com.
Brenda K. Jaeger
2633 East 17th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99508-3207
(907) 350-4539
Instagram: @brendajaegerartstudio brendajaegerartstudio@startmail.com
BRITTANI WITH GRACE: THE STAR
Contributed by Brittani with Grace
Hello everybody! Welcome to my column. Each month I will draw a Major Arcana tarot card which represents one of many possible paths to follow. Major Arcana cards represent the archetypical themes of life, presen@ng the overall possible experiences.
Deck: Mermaid Tarot
By Leeza Robertson
Illustrations by Julie
Card: 17 The Star
The Star card is the epitome of Hope. Hope is the yearning for something to appear in our lives. Hope is said to be the pinpoint of encouragement, manifestations, and future happiness. Hope allows us to escape the current moment’s reality into a day dream of something desired.
Wishing upon a Star, day dreaming, vision boards, and visualization meditations are all examples of Hope. When we know what it is our heart desires, we send out an energetic frequency. Sometimes what we dream of is so big its scary. Sometimes its something small and just helps us to feel better in the moment. Either way, hoping is the cornerstone of our wishes coming true. Hope can be a complicated concept. In fact, I would like to take a moment to talk about the other side of Hope. The disappointment, discouragement
and the let down that comes along when what we had hoped for doesn’t come to fruition.
There are @mes when we Hope so hard, we Hope so much, that we can feel it coursing throughout our beings. We focus so hard on it happening that when it doesn’t, we fall into despair. We suddenly feel as though because it didn’t happen when we thought it should, it means it never will. I know personally there are @mes when I have had so much Hope in a single moment, waiting and convincing myself that this big thing will happen right then, because I so desperately wanted or needed it to, only to be crushed when it didn’t.
When this happens to us, we tend to jump on the judgement train of how we react; whether it is big or small, we have been hoping for years, days, or even just a few hours.
Even something as small as hoping for French fries from an airport restaurant during a layover can be disappointing. Our flight had been delayed an hour and a half. We got off the plane, went right next door only to have them tell us that just a few minutes before we arrived they had completely run out. To add insult to injury, the waitress explained how that had never happened before and how she, herself, was astonished. Excellent.
The excitement and hope I had felt vanished. My entire being slumped and the wave of frustration and disappointment washed over me. I was hungry, @red, and now my plan had been obliterated.
I became cranky, my mind slammed shut, and I even almost cried. We decided just to leave, because my stubborn self had decided that since I wasn’t getting the fries, I didn’t want anything. Nothing sounded good and I was just going to starve. My partner lovingly looked at me and said “maybe this is an opportunity for growth”, and as my eyes turned into laser focused daggers my mouth opened and in a
mocking tone said, “maybe this is an opportunity for growth” (Yeah, I sure am real mature in these situations) he laughed and pulled me in for a hug. (Man he is so incredibly patient) Back on the plane as my frustration grew knowing that when we landed back in Alaska everything would be closed, I felt hopeless; which caused a spiral of disappointment to the point where I was even questioning myself “why can’t I just be like those easy ‘go with the flow’ people” I had allowed myself to spinout over french fries. Eventually, as we were getting ready to hit the taxi way before take off, I breathed deeply and transitioned myself into a state of gratitude, as I do every @ me we are about to take off, and I was able to laugh at myself for my reaction. I was able to sit back and ask myself what was the belief about not getting the fries, that sent me into such darkness? A belief is just a thought we tell ourselves over and over again, so what was it that I believed about the disappointment that brought on the overwhelming despair? Doing so allowed my mind the ability of re- opening to other possibilities and hoping for something new. The flight attendant appeared later with an “adult lunchable snack pack” and all was right with the world.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know why something as simple as delicious sounding gorgonzola cheese sauce fries can send me into a tailspin of crushing disappointment. What I do know, is that its okay. My emotions and feelings about the situation are valid. Having the awareness to recognize the reactions to crushing hope, gives me back the power to respond in a new way moving forward. So I will continue to allow myself to Hope. Allow myself to dream. Allow myself to live in the ever-loving frequency of happiness and joy as I transmute the energy around me. Don’t be so hard on yourself and Don’t ever quit your daydreams.
Alaska Junior Theater ended its 2023-2024 “Season of Legends” with a bang, all thanks to the help of Griffin Theatre Company. 6,300 students came to see the last show of our season – Frindle! The beloved children’s book by Andrew Clements was brought to life on stage and audiences were raving!
“We read Frindle before the performance. The actors were stellar.” - Chinook, 1st Grade Teacher
“Frindle was a great show and loved the story. Actors were awesome. Loved how actors played different parts. Impressed how they changed clothes so fast. Surprised how many people were there to see the show. The got everything right in the story. The ending was done well. Liked that it was the same, but the few changes like the beginning and ending were well done. Rated 5 stars because the actors were so good.” – Alpenglow, 3rd Grade Teacher
“Better than the book!” – College Gate, 4th & 5th Grade Teacher
“They enjoyed Frindle. We read the book and came up with our own word – “Flaber” – for the pencil. So, they enjoyed the play, seeing it all in action.” – Eagle River Christian School, 4th Grade Teacher
On Saturday, patrons to the public performance of Frindle got to enjoy walking through two different story tracks and Fur Rondy royalty reading stories before the show as well as a milk & cookie reception and cake walk after the performance, where they also got to mingle with the performers!
We’re so proud to say that over 22,000 people walked through our doors this season.
What’s next for AJT?
Alaska Junior Theater’s Annual Benefit Garage Sale is coming back at the end of June! Be sure to donate your gently used items today!
AJT will be at Reading Rendezvous at the Loussac Library on May 18th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM!
AJT will be at the JBER Air Show July 20 & 21, 2024! Be sure to come see us there!
Alaska Junior Theater is excited to announce our 2024 – 2025 Season: “Bold, Bright & Breathtaking!” Featuring FIVE different incredible performances, each with a public show, we’re so excited to bring this incredible season to life.
The season begins in November with 360 Allstars, one of AJT’s favorite shows. Sold out in 2018, 360 Allstars are back and better than ever! A phenomenal physical performance exploring all different forms of rotation, 360 Allstars connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus.
“... 6,300 students came to see the last show of our season – Frindle! The beloved children’s book by Andrew Clements was brought to life on stage and audiences were raving!”
ALASKA JUNIOR THEATER ENDS SEASON WITH A BANG Theater
Then, in December, Pushcart Players return once again with Peter and the Wolf, an enchanting tale about the adventure of growing up and all the dangers that come with it. This captivating tale introduces the magical sounds and musical instruments featured in Prokofiev’s exciting musical score.
As February rolls around, David Gonzalez and Daniel Kelly return to Anchorage once more in Aesop Bops!, a funny, fast-paced adventure into the world of Aesop’s classic tales re-imagined by Master Storyteller David Gonzalez. Audience participation abounds in this fun and exciting show.
March brings a new performance to Anchorage with The Fourth Wall: Hybrid Arts Ensemble, an experience like no other. The Fourth Wall is no ordinary ensemble –part chamber music group, part theatre company, part modern dance troupe, part circus act, The Fourth Wall blends music, theatre, dance, and acrobatics into a new hybrid art form.
We end the season with another one of our favorite groups, Lightwire Theater in The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen. Smart phones and video games create a new landscape of lost connections to life experiences. This incredible show features Tortoise Jr and Li’l Hare in a whole new kind of race, where their adventures lead them to unexpected territory. Innovative electroluminescent puppetry brings this classic tale into a new and brilliant light!
Alaska Junior Theater is a private, nonprofit organization that has been bringing the best in professional theater from around the world to Alaska’s young audiences since 1981. Each year, more than 30,000 students attend a variety of live performances, which share the common educational goal of “bringing learning to life.” For many students, AJT’s school-time presentations are their only exposure to the performing arts.
Save 20% off ticket prices and purchase season tickets by filling out our Season Ticket order form: https://akjt.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Public-OrderForm2425.pdf
The Alaska State Council on the Arts offers Excursion Grants to assist with the cost of educational field trips. Go here for more information and for how to apply: https://arts.alaska.gov/Media/ArtsCouncil/docs/grants/Cultural_Collaborations_Excursion_Grant_Guidelines_and_Application.pdf
AJT’s presentation of our “Bold, Bright & Breathtaking” 2024 – 2025 Season receives additional support by National Endowment for the Arts, WESTAF, Alaska State Council for the Arts, Carr Foundation, Atwood Foundation, Municipality of Anchorage and Rasmuson Foundation.
For event information and more, visit us at www.akjt.org.
Contributed by Rowan Holmes Alaska Junior Theater
ALASKA THEATRE OF YOUTH RETURNS TO UAA FOR SUMMER CONSERVATORY 2024
Contributed by Christine Cooke
After a 20-year hiatus, the Alaska Theatre of Youth (ATY) is thrilled to announce the return of its Summer Conservatory Theatre camps to the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Fine Arts Building in summer 2024.
ATY, founded in 1983 by the late John Goldring, began as a pilot project at McLaughlin Youth Correctional Center, where workshops were taught on playwriting using raw materials from interviews and personal experiences of students. Now in its 41st season, ATY offers a variety of programs, including Drama Center classes, year-round camps, school workshops, intensives, MainStage performances, Mastery Series, and PlayLab.
The Alaska Theatre of Youth prioritizes providing a safe environment where young people can develop, implementing programming that raises the self-esteem of the children involved, teaching young people new ways to effectively communicate ideas and goals, teaching skills that will help young people succeed in life no matter what occupation they choose, and finally, providing an opportunity to foster artistic and creative urges in all people.
Over the past 20 years, ATY has housed its summer programs in various locations and is overjoyed to be taking over the UAA Fine Arts Building once again. The facilities feature three stages on which ATY youth will get to play and perform: the Mainstage Theatre, a thrust-style stage that seats up to 185 patrons; the Harper Studio Theatre, a black box theatre seating 68; and the UAA Fine Arts Recital Hall, a beautiful concert hall supplemented with color-changing LED lighting that can seat 200. The building also boasts lobby spaces, classrooms, and a nearby trail system.
In summer 2024, ATY will present seven shows with participants in six different Summer Conservatory programs. The camps include Music Theatre Conservatory, Acting Conservatory, Triple Threat Camp and Triple Threat Intensive, and Fairytale Camps 1 & 2. Participants will engage in a curriculum of classes, including dance, movement, voice, acting, character development, stage combat, costuming, circus skills, technical theatre, and of course, rehearsing for the final performance. Kids will
also enjoy classic camp activities, including Wednesday Parties, 80’s prom, karaoke, photo scavenger hunts, ATY Field Days, and getting outside daily in the beautiful parks and trails. Final performances are open to the public.
Participants love making new friends and spending their days immersed in imagination and the shoes of their characters. “Summer Conservatory is such a fun place to spend my summer! Best of all, we get to be in a show! But I also love spending the summer hanging out with my theatre friends,” says one participant.
Conservatory programs run from May 28 to August 9, with varying camp lengths ranging from one to four weeks and youth ages 5-18. Beginning and advanced actors, singers, and dancers are welcome. There is something for everyone! Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be a part of the Alaska Theatre of Youth’s Summer Conservatory Theatre camps.
“The Alaska Theatre of Youth prioritizes providing a safe environment where young people can develop, implementing programming that raises the self-esteem of the children involved teaching young people new ways to effectively communicate...”
Contributed Michael Economies
Alaska Creative Economies, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, and UAA Center for Economic Development lead community effort for Greater Anchorage Music Census launching today Wednesday May 1, 2024. Community engagement partners are invited to join the first Greater Anchorage Music Census and assessment study; census to serve as a “health check” for the local music sector informing community-driven approaches to grow and harness the value of Anchorage’s music ecosystem.
Alaska Creative Economies, the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, and the UAA Center for Economic Development are proud to announce that the GREATER ANCHORAGE MUSIC CENSUS launches today, May 1, 2024, to gain an understanding of the current needs of the Anchorage area music community. The census link is LIVE at www.anchoragemusiccensus.org. This launch marks the first time that the music community will have standardized data from which to develop policy solutions and approaches. The Census captures key information about the greater Anchorage and Mat-Su area music economy to help the city and community to make more informed, data-driven decisions to support the music ecosystem.
This project supports broader creative economies initiatives to leverage Anchorage’s vibrant music scene as a driver of quality of life, economic development, and talent attraction and retention in Anchorage. As a community-led effort, community partners are invited to participate in the outreach efforts.
To become an official community engagement partner, please include your organization’s info here or email michael@alaskacreativeeconomies.org.
The census will collect data from a variety of local music professionals and analyze the results to establish a new baseline of data for music industry members including
GREATER ANCHORAGE MUSIC CENSUS
musicians, venue owners, music nonprofits and music business professionals. The census includes a survey that will be open for three weeks to be filled out by anyone working creatively in music, as a musician, or participating in any music related product, service, or venue in the greater Anchorage area. The data will be released publicly through a series of reports later this year.
Who is eligible to participate in the Census: Those working or students in the music industry in ANY capacity who are 18 years or older and living in the greater Anchorage metropolitan area including Mat-Su. You should participate in the census if you contribute any type of music-related work, with or without compensation, and you believe your skills and commitment are worthy of acknowledgement and support.
Lead partners in the Greater Anchorage Music Census are Alaska Creative Economies, the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and the UAA Center for Economic Development:
“I am thrilled to see broad participation in the Greater Anchorage Area Music Census throughout our city’s diverse music community. We know that a vibrant music ecosystem drives value for cities in several important ways, such as fueling job creation, economic growth, and tourism, as well as strengthening a city’s brand.” said Jenna Wright, President & CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation. “For this reason, we must be strategic in how we support our musicians, businesses, and industry workers in order to sustain and grow our music economy. The Census will help us do that and contribute to a sense of pride in Anchorage that increases our city’s livability and gives young people a reason to Choose Anchorage as their forever home.”
“Anchorage has an opportunity to support and develop our local musicians, boosting downstream economic impacts for venues, promoters, hospitality, transportation, tourism, and more. The Greater Anchorage Music Census will provide us with valuable data to inform our path forward.” said Kathleen McArdle, President & CEO of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.
“A healthy economy rests on a foundation that includes quality of life. If you want a stable workforce, you need a population that’s happy to live here. That includes music and other forms of entertainment and artistic expression that enrich our lives and help form the bonds that make up a community.” said Nolan Klouda, Executive Director of the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development.
“Local music scenes are complicated ecosystems that appear different to different individuals,” said Don Pitts, Founder of Sound Music Cities. “Over time, initiatives like this can align the collaborative efforts of those who wish to grow and support their music scene. A common vision for what good looks like guides how the community works together to address barriers that come into focus, to activate civic and philanthropic resources, and to empower music people to take ownership, not just of their problems, but their solutions as well.”
Sound Music Cities, which is facilitating the multi-city census process, implements the design, deployment, analysis, and publishing of custom research projects like this around the country, providing tools for the passionate professionals who wish to dig deeply into root causes for systemic issues impacting today’s urban music scenes. For information on Sound Music Cities, visit here.
Michael Howard, Executive Director 907-931-0181 michael@alaskacreativeeconomies.org