| Fashion News Alaska |
Palin strikes a pose for Vogue
By Steve Quinn
ASSOCIATED PRESS
8:05 p.m. December 13, 2007
JUNEAU, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin got a break from answering questions about federal corruption probes and natural gas pipeline applications
this week to take on the heady subject of fashion.
Palin struck a pose for Vogue, a fashion magazine that spent Wednesday morning at her Wasilla home.
The 43-year-old former high-school athlete and ex-television broadcaster would not be out of place in the magazine.
In a state where residents are not shy about voicing their political opinions, Internet blogs also don't ignore this aspect of the current occupant of
the governor's office. One proclaims Alaska and Palin: “Coldest State, Hottest Governor.”
But don't let her black or red power suits fool you; the fashion photographer quickly learned this week that Palin is an Alaska girl at heart.
“At first they had me in a bunch of furs,” she said. “Yeah, I have furs on my wall, but I don't wear furs. I had to show them my bunny boots and
my North Face clothing.”
Photographers took shots of Palin – often including her daughters Bristol, 17; Willow, 13; and Piper, 6 – to be published in an upcoming edition.
As for the story line, Vogue was vague.
Magazine spokesman Patrick O'Connell only said she will be part of a story for its February edition to be released late January.
Palin was a little more forthcoming, saying Vogue wanted to talk more about fashion and women in leadership.
Palin has attracted plenty of attention from national media outlets during her inaugural year as the state's first female chief executive.
She's been interviewed by CNBC, MSNBC and Newsweek, and shared the spotlight on PBS' The Charlie Rose Show with Arizona Gov. Janet
Napolitano.
Most questions have focused energy related issues, like applications that have been received for the right to build a pipeline, or on the federal
corruption probes that continues to dog the state.
And she was glad to have an international fashion publication interested in Alaska for other reasons.
“Can you imagine if our administration would choose to shun any kind of national limelight and let them capitalize on some of the negative with the
corruption trials,” Palin said.
“Yes, it's humbling,” she said, “but it's also a responsibility we've taken on: changing Alaska's image.”
Vogue photographers picked the right day for the shoot, with a fresh layer of snow serving as a backdrop at her home about 40 miles north of
Anchorage.
“It was the most perfect day in the world with the new snow,” she said. “Everything was just too perfect: the mountains and the sun and the fog
on the lake.”
And for the record, Palin prefers clothing made by more outdoorsy clothiers, like North Face and Columbia rather than runway fashion dresses
Hot fashions for a cool climate
Nowadays the fashion scene in Anchorage is blossoming.
by Megan Baldino
Monday, Nov. 26, 2007
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In recent months, several small boutiques have opened in Anchorage for women and men.
In the not-too-distant past, if you lived in Anchorage and wanted the latest fashions, you had to hop on an airplane and go on a shopping
spree somewhere Outside.
But nowadays the fashion scene here is blossoming.
Rene Curzie, owner of blu menswear in Midtown, wanted to offer men in Alaska a new option.
"It's not so simple anymore. Men are going a little more toward the California-forward fashions, which are blue jeans and nice t-shirts
instead of Carharts," Curzie said. "There's nothing wrong with Carharts, but you know, people kind of want something and want to
look nice when they aren't at work."
It seems in just about every part of town new fashion boutiques are open for business.
Tina Briley recently opened She Boutique in downtown Anchorage with high end, high-priced fashion for women.
"This is the woman that shops online. She knows her line. She knows when she picks up a Nanette Lepore suit or Betsy Johnson dress,
she knows that it's going to fit," Briley said.
Briley, herself a long-time retail employee, says she got frustrated with the lack of options.
"There was nothing available for women who liked fashion, who liked nice things," she said. "Somebody had to do something."
It turns out a lot of people are doing a lot of things.
Lorena Roberts was one of the first to open a small independent woman's boutique in Anchorage. Her mission is being one of a kind for
each client that walks in the door.
"I knew people were still wanting to have fashion in Anchorage but it was hard," Roberts said. "So I really wanted to open a store that
marketed Anchorage and Alaska in the right way."
Robert's store, Lulu e. Bebe, opened in 2002 and carries the latest runway fashions for women.
"Customers are very receptive," she says. "They want to know what Hollywood is wearing and we try to bring the latest trends."
Shopper Catalina Myers grew up here. She remembers old department stores that used to dominate the Downtown shopping scene, like
Lamonts and J.C. Penney.
Myers said she's thrilled with the fashions and prices she is now able to find in Anchorage.
"I was really excited to find a place that was affordable for someone who didn't have a lot of money to spend," she said.
There are even options for couples who like shopping together. Gabe and Sasha Andreis opened Stage Left in October. It too is located
Downtown, on 4th Avenue.
"Mostly because when I shop I flew out of town and most of our friends did and there's just no men's stuff," Gabe Andreis said.
Stage Left offers men's and women's clothing. The Andreises say businesses has been good so far.
"It's been huge. Everyone loves it and there has been a lot of business," Gabe Andreis said.
Haley Wellsome is still learning the ropes of the Anchorage boutique industry but is already expanding her business.
Her Downtown store, Spoiled & Blush, has become so successful she's opening a second boutique in south Anchorage.
"I think one of the reasons we've been able to expand so quickly is because of our customers," Wellsome said. "Alaskans are so loyal
and so supportive of our business."
So how does an independent retail boutique survive in Anchorage? One woman knows first hand.
Jo Michalski, who owns Portfolio and Classic Woman, says clothing reps have been complaining for years that Anchorage is an "under-
stored market."
She says surviving is all about your target market.
"I think the most important thing is to try and figure out who your market is and not try to be all things to all people," Michalski said.
At least 24 boutiques have opened in Anchorage in the last four years. Most owners welcome all the new competition with a "the more
the merrier" attitude.
"Personally, I think it's great," Michalski said. "I think competition is good for everybody."
Finding nature in First Friday
By Naomi Klouda
Homer Tribune
December 5, 2007
Image provided
Katherine Little’s “Quest” is one of several acrylic paintings offered at her Fireweed Gallery showing by the same name. Little’s First
Friday exhibit opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. at the gallery.
Ushering in innovative birch baskets, Alutiiq masks, ancient walrus ivories — and a Christmas offering that shows off multi-talented
Alaska artists, First Friday exhibits in December focus on Alaska Native designs.
The works of Regina McAbee, a Soldotna artist who creates birch baskets and jewelry, will be featured throughout December and at a
First Friday opening show 5-7:30 p.m. at Picture Alaska’s Art Gallery.
McAbee was inspired to work with birch because of its long history as a crucial material among past cultures. She taught herself,
learning to wield the materials by experience.
The former speech pathologist moved to Alaska 12 years ago from Alabama. While working in mental health and education fields, she
had always pursued her art.
“I made gifts and painted with acrylic and watercolors, but didn‘t branch out to exhibiting or selling,” McAbee said.
Her final work as a children’s counselor in an elementary school left her with the feeling she needed art therapy to counteract the
stress she had experienced professionally. For the past five years, she has turned her sights to the birch designs.
“The medium that I work most in now is fiber – specifically birch bark,” McAbee wrote in her artist‘s statement. “The local tribes used
birch to fashion lots of items that were essential to their daily lives. I was interested in their techniques and skills,” Though she is not
an Alaska Native or American Indian, McAbee said she is drawn to the many traditions of their use for bark. To it, she adds her
contemporary interpretations.
“Each piece is constructed of hand-gathered birch bark and spruce root, which are only available for me to harvest about two months of
the Alaskan year,” she explained. “The bark I harvest from dead, dying or cut trees. The roots I dig with a framing hammer.”
During summer, McAbee gathers many additional materials like porcupine quills, river and beach stones, driftwood, shells and various
plants.
McAbee matches her gathering and creating excursions to the seasons. Moose-hunting time on the Peninsula is for harvesting
materials to create thread.
“Fall is also berry-gathering time, which I use for dyes and paints,” she said.
McAbee sews with sinew-moose gut and tendon made into threads she dyes with bark and roots.
“I have been experimenting with natural dyes from berries and plants, using them to dye the spruce root,” she said. “The roots I then
use in my usual framing style and as a woven adornment. I like to use porcupine quills, shells, stones, pyrographics and natural design
in the bark in my designs.”
At the Homer exhibit, McAbee introduces a line of jewelry made of birch bark, precious and semiprecious stones and beadwork. She
hand sews each piece with copper, silver, gold or sinew.
“I have created my own finding,” she said. “The chains for the pendants are handmade of copper or silk and adjust in length to
accommodate different necklines.”
Picture Alaska Art Gallery is located at 448 E. Pioneer Ave. For more information, call 235-2300.
The Art Shop Gallery features a “trunk show” of silver and semi-precious stone jewelry by Catrin Lovett of Bering Sea Designs. The
artist’s reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday, with the show continuing 1-6 p.m. Saturday.
The work represents new designs for Lovett, co-owner of Inua on the Homer Spit.
Lovett incorporates rare ancient walrus and mammoth ivories, coral, turquoise, denim lapis, and other semi precious stones into
jewelry designs. The work collaborates with Navajos from the southwest U.S. who inset the stones. The result is a blend of Native
contemporary pieces and wearable art for men and women. Pendants, bracelets, rings, earrings, full necklaces and cuff links as well as
money clips will be on exhibit.
Sign up for the drawing and be in line to win one of Lovett’s jewelry designs, to be held 6 p.m. Saturday. You need not be present to win.
Art Shop Gallery is at 202 W. Pioneer. For more information, call 235-7076.
Ring of Fire Meadery continues its show of uniquely pit fired Alutiiq masks by Lydia Lohse in an opening reception 5-7 p.m. Friday.
Artist Gust Rastopsosf will also have handcrafted throwing board and halibut hooks exhibited.
Lohse, a Kodiak artist, decorates her mask designs with petroglyphic writings, a form of ancient script left on boulders and in the caves
of Kodiak Island that modern people have yet to translate.
To avoid altering their meaning, Lohse uses a technique for maintaining the exact width and line of the original thousands of years old
petroglyphs formed above the brows and below the lips of her masks.
Ring of Fire Meadery is located at 178 W. Bunnell Ave. For more information, call 235-2656.
Ptarmigan Arts features “A Holiday Boutique.” Presenting the works of more than 30 Alaskan artists, a display in the Backroom
Gallery during the month of December opens with a Friday reception from 5-7 p.m.
Jewelry will be presented in seven different media, along with hand-knitted accessories, pottery, baskets, luminaries, art glass and
ornaments. Patrons will be able to view the art, and buy pieces as gifts that Ptarmigan will wrap for the holidays.
Ptarmigan Arts is located at 471 Pioneer Ave. For more information, call 235-5345.
Bunnell Street Gallery features the sculpture-like ceramic work of Anchorage artist Denise Heimel in an opening reception 6 to 8 p.m.
at the gallery. Heimel will also give a presentation and talk at 7 p.m.
Heimel‘s work can be viewed throughout December, and includes ceramics that incorporate wood, hide, hair and various media to add
textural and surface designs on ceramics.
The Bunnell Gallery is located at 106 W. Bunnell.
For more information, call 235-2662.
Fireweed Gallery presents “Quest,” an exhibit of acrylic paintings by Homer artist Katherine Little.
Little said she is inspired by the natural beauty of Homer to create giant floral paintings. She developed a process of pouring acrylic
paint onto large sheets of white canvas, with the results being grand and lively paintings in pure color, depicting abstracted landscapes
and flowers. The show opening and reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday. “Quest” closes Dec. 31.
Fireweed Gallery is located at 475 E. Pioneer Ave. For more information, call 235-3411.
Homer Council on the Arts gallery will be closed during December. However, the council will be open for the “Knit-to-Felting” classes
on Thursdays 7-8 p.m. Dec. 6, 13, and 20. Cost is $30 for HCOA members; $35 for non-members. For more information, call 235-4288.
The Fame Game
November 28, 2007 - 12:00am
By Julie Block
The plan was to be famous by 18.
Tyler had thought of a couple methods. She was going to become President of the United States, I was going to become the Prime
Minister of Israel, and then, in a feat of stupidity to go down in the ages as bigger than the sale of Alaska, would sell the entirety of
America to me for a limited edition, Steve Madden shoe. (We didn’t know Manolo Blahnik existed back then.) In her brief “reign” in
the Presidency, she was going to introduce good fashion sense to the unwashed masses of Washington D.C., and thus bring about world
peace.
We then realized that this would mean going into politics; even as 13-year-olds we were not that idealistic.
The next plan was slightly more realistic. I was going to become the first Jewish woman to not only make it into the WNBA (actually
untrue), but to cross gender lines and make it into the NBA as well. Tyler would be my agent. That I had never exhibited any real skill
with a basketball, minus the one time I broke our kitchen window, didn’t deter her. When I reminded her that, at only five feet, I lacked
the altitude, she reminded me of Muggsy Bogues. For some reason, we never considered that she, with decent skill and beanstalk-like
figure, should be the talent. We consulted with our middle school basketball coach, who told me my chances were “slimmer than [she]
would be if she substituted [her] daily McDonald’s for Slim Fast.” So that was out.
I had a separate dream, one I had nurtured since the ripe age of six. I was a pretty serious dancer and not tone deaf, and to me, acting
meant shouting emotions at the top of my lungs. Triple threat status, a Broadway career and a Tony didn’t seem far off, I reasoned. I
reassured my parents that I would also do something for humanity, so I figured I could work on curing AIDS while touring.
Finally, during our fifth viewing of Josie and the Pussycats, we had a plan. 3LW was big at the time, and Tyler was obsessed with them,
so she came to me with the proposition — just like Britney started as one of Janet Jackson’s dancers, we would be Britney’s dancers.
Then, after touring with her for a while, we would scandalously part to become our own group — 2(M)TW: 2 (Moderately) Tall Women.
(We weren’t very good at the name thing.) We reasoned that they weren’t such great singers, and we could rhyme, so why not? Visions
of descending onto a stage on clouds with angel wings crowded our daydreams; tours and episodes of MTV’s Cribs fought for dominance.
We tried our hands at lyrics; they rhymed and they almost had a salsa-like quality; being the poverty-stricken-man’s version of Destiny’
s Child didn’t upset us in anyway. Neither of us knew how to play an instrument, so I enrolled in a guitar class (not that girl pop stars
ever need to know how to play an actual instrument), only to realize that I was too lazy to practice, and wasn’t a big fan of finger
calluses. We also had no idea of how to go about getting an agent, and Britney wasn’t going to want us as backup dancers since we
weren’t 4’5”. The lyrics idea fell to the wayside after the first verse of our first song:
“Oh, we ain’t small
We’re pretty damn tall
Cuz we 2 (Moderately) Tall Women!”
My mom’s only comment when we performed for her was to ask why we had chosen to neglect proper English.
Anyway.
At some point in high school, those dreams fell the wayside. Tyler was going to be an entertainment lawyer and I was going to write a
bestselling novel (actually, I’m still going to do that as soon as I can find a good ghostwriter); if not, I was going to follow my father’s
footsteps and go to medical school. Fame was sacrificed for small-fortune. We apparently didn’t really want the rockstar life style.
I still think about what might have happened if we had pursued our dreams. Tyler thinks we still have a shot. I guess the real reason
why I’m hesitant is because I worry that becoming famous turns you into a coke-headed, Kabbalah worshipping crazy person. No, that’s
a damn lie. It’s actually because I’m extremely lazy and lack talent. What we both really needed, we’ve decided, was to be born to the
Hiltons or minor royalty; that way we could have been famous without having to do anything whatsoever.
Unfortunately, the closest I’ve come to fame is this column, and that time I made a joke group on Facebook that reached about 300
people in a week. (Yes, I’m still proud.) But still, I hold strong to my dream. I will be famous. My name, like those hot messes before
me, will become a noun/adjective. (“Girl, don’t pull a Julie!” “Oh, that’s so Julie.”)
And yes, you may have my autograph … if you ask nicely.
By Steve Quinn
ASSOCIATED PRESS
8:05 p.m. December 13, 2007
JUNEAU, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin got a break from answering questions about federal corruption probes and natural gas pipeline applications
this week to take on the heady subject of fashion.
Palin struck a pose for Vogue, a fashion magazine that spent Wednesday morning at her Wasilla home.
The 43-year-old former high-school athlete and ex-television broadcaster would not be out of place in the magazine.
In a state where residents are not shy about voicing their political opinions, Internet blogs also don't ignore this aspect of the current occupant of
the governor's office. One proclaims Alaska and Palin: “Coldest State, Hottest Governor.”
But don't let her black or red power suits fool you; the fashion photographer quickly learned this week that Palin is an Alaska girl at heart.
“At first they had me in a bunch of furs,” she said. “Yeah, I have furs on my wall, but I don't wear furs. I had to show them my bunny boots and
my North Face clothing.”
Photographers took shots of Palin – often including her daughters Bristol, 17; Willow, 13; and Piper, 6 – to be published in an upcoming edition.
As for the story line, Vogue was vague.
Magazine spokesman Patrick O'Connell only said she will be part of a story for its February edition to be released late January.
Palin was a little more forthcoming, saying Vogue wanted to talk more about fashion and women in leadership.
Palin has attracted plenty of attention from national media outlets during her inaugural year as the state's first female chief executive.
She's been interviewed by CNBC, MSNBC and Newsweek, and shared the spotlight on PBS' The Charlie Rose Show with Arizona Gov. Janet
Napolitano.
Most questions have focused energy related issues, like applications that have been received for the right to build a pipeline, or on the federal
corruption probes that continues to dog the state.
And she was glad to have an international fashion publication interested in Alaska for other reasons.
“Can you imagine if our administration would choose to shun any kind of national limelight and let them capitalize on some of the negative with the
corruption trials,” Palin said.
“Yes, it's humbling,” she said, “but it's also a responsibility we've taken on: changing Alaska's image.”
Vogue photographers picked the right day for the shoot, with a fresh layer of snow serving as a backdrop at her home about 40 miles north of
Anchorage.
“It was the most perfect day in the world with the new snow,” she said. “Everything was just too perfect: the mountains and the sun and the fog
on the lake.”
And for the record, Palin prefers clothing made by more outdoorsy clothiers, like North Face and Columbia rather than runway fashion dresses
Hot fashions for a cool climate
Nowadays the fashion scene in Anchorage is blossoming.
by Megan Baldino
Monday, Nov. 26, 2007
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In recent months, several small boutiques have opened in Anchorage for women and men.
In the not-too-distant past, if you lived in Anchorage and wanted the latest fashions, you had to hop on an airplane and go on a shopping
spree somewhere Outside.
But nowadays the fashion scene here is blossoming.
Rene Curzie, owner of blu menswear in Midtown, wanted to offer men in Alaska a new option.
"It's not so simple anymore. Men are going a little more toward the California-forward fashions, which are blue jeans and nice t-shirts
instead of Carharts," Curzie said. "There's nothing wrong with Carharts, but you know, people kind of want something and want to
look nice when they aren't at work."
It seems in just about every part of town new fashion boutiques are open for business.
Tina Briley recently opened She Boutique in downtown Anchorage with high end, high-priced fashion for women.
"This is the woman that shops online. She knows her line. She knows when she picks up a Nanette Lepore suit or Betsy Johnson dress,
she knows that it's going to fit," Briley said.
Briley, herself a long-time retail employee, says she got frustrated with the lack of options.
"There was nothing available for women who liked fashion, who liked nice things," she said. "Somebody had to do something."
It turns out a lot of people are doing a lot of things.
Lorena Roberts was one of the first to open a small independent woman's boutique in Anchorage. Her mission is being one of a kind for
each client that walks in the door.
"I knew people were still wanting to have fashion in Anchorage but it was hard," Roberts said. "So I really wanted to open a store that
marketed Anchorage and Alaska in the right way."
Robert's store, Lulu e. Bebe, opened in 2002 and carries the latest runway fashions for women.
"Customers are very receptive," she says. "They want to know what Hollywood is wearing and we try to bring the latest trends."
Shopper Catalina Myers grew up here. She remembers old department stores that used to dominate the Downtown shopping scene, like
Lamonts and J.C. Penney.
Myers said she's thrilled with the fashions and prices she is now able to find in Anchorage.
"I was really excited to find a place that was affordable for someone who didn't have a lot of money to spend," she said.
There are even options for couples who like shopping together. Gabe and Sasha Andreis opened Stage Left in October. It too is located
Downtown, on 4th Avenue.
"Mostly because when I shop I flew out of town and most of our friends did and there's just no men's stuff," Gabe Andreis said.
Stage Left offers men's and women's clothing. The Andreises say businesses has been good so far.
"It's been huge. Everyone loves it and there has been a lot of business," Gabe Andreis said.
Haley Wellsome is still learning the ropes of the Anchorage boutique industry but is already expanding her business.
Her Downtown store, Spoiled & Blush, has become so successful she's opening a second boutique in south Anchorage.
"I think one of the reasons we've been able to expand so quickly is because of our customers," Wellsome said. "Alaskans are so loyal
and so supportive of our business."
So how does an independent retail boutique survive in Anchorage? One woman knows first hand.
Jo Michalski, who owns Portfolio and Classic Woman, says clothing reps have been complaining for years that Anchorage is an "under-
stored market."
She says surviving is all about your target market.
"I think the most important thing is to try and figure out who your market is and not try to be all things to all people," Michalski said.
At least 24 boutiques have opened in Anchorage in the last four years. Most owners welcome all the new competition with a "the more
the merrier" attitude.
"Personally, I think it's great," Michalski said. "I think competition is good for everybody."
Finding nature in First Friday
By Naomi Klouda
Homer Tribune
December 5, 2007
Image provided
Katherine Little’s “Quest” is one of several acrylic paintings offered at her Fireweed Gallery showing by the same name. Little’s First
Friday exhibit opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. at the gallery.
Ushering in innovative birch baskets, Alutiiq masks, ancient walrus ivories — and a Christmas offering that shows off multi-talented
Alaska artists, First Friday exhibits in December focus on Alaska Native designs.
The works of Regina McAbee, a Soldotna artist who creates birch baskets and jewelry, will be featured throughout December and at a
First Friday opening show 5-7:30 p.m. at Picture Alaska’s Art Gallery.
McAbee was inspired to work with birch because of its long history as a crucial material among past cultures. She taught herself,
learning to wield the materials by experience.
The former speech pathologist moved to Alaska 12 years ago from Alabama. While working in mental health and education fields, she
had always pursued her art.
“I made gifts and painted with acrylic and watercolors, but didn‘t branch out to exhibiting or selling,” McAbee said.
Her final work as a children’s counselor in an elementary school left her with the feeling she needed art therapy to counteract the
stress she had experienced professionally. For the past five years, she has turned her sights to the birch designs.
“The medium that I work most in now is fiber – specifically birch bark,” McAbee wrote in her artist‘s statement. “The local tribes used
birch to fashion lots of items that were essential to their daily lives. I was interested in their techniques and skills,” Though she is not
an Alaska Native or American Indian, McAbee said she is drawn to the many traditions of their use for bark. To it, she adds her
contemporary interpretations.
“Each piece is constructed of hand-gathered birch bark and spruce root, which are only available for me to harvest about two months of
the Alaskan year,” she explained. “The bark I harvest from dead, dying or cut trees. The roots I dig with a framing hammer.”
During summer, McAbee gathers many additional materials like porcupine quills, river and beach stones, driftwood, shells and various
plants.
McAbee matches her gathering and creating excursions to the seasons. Moose-hunting time on the Peninsula is for harvesting
materials to create thread.
“Fall is also berry-gathering time, which I use for dyes and paints,” she said.
McAbee sews with sinew-moose gut and tendon made into threads she dyes with bark and roots.
“I have been experimenting with natural dyes from berries and plants, using them to dye the spruce root,” she said. “The roots I then
use in my usual framing style and as a woven adornment. I like to use porcupine quills, shells, stones, pyrographics and natural design
in the bark in my designs.”
At the Homer exhibit, McAbee introduces a line of jewelry made of birch bark, precious and semiprecious stones and beadwork. She
hand sews each piece with copper, silver, gold or sinew.
“I have created my own finding,” she said. “The chains for the pendants are handmade of copper or silk and adjust in length to
accommodate different necklines.”
Picture Alaska Art Gallery is located at 448 E. Pioneer Ave. For more information, call 235-2300.
The Art Shop Gallery features a “trunk show” of silver and semi-precious stone jewelry by Catrin Lovett of Bering Sea Designs. The
artist’s reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday, with the show continuing 1-6 p.m. Saturday.
The work represents new designs for Lovett, co-owner of Inua on the Homer Spit.
Lovett incorporates rare ancient walrus and mammoth ivories, coral, turquoise, denim lapis, and other semi precious stones into
jewelry designs. The work collaborates with Navajos from the southwest U.S. who inset the stones. The result is a blend of Native
contemporary pieces and wearable art for men and women. Pendants, bracelets, rings, earrings, full necklaces and cuff links as well as
money clips will be on exhibit.
Sign up for the drawing and be in line to win one of Lovett’s jewelry designs, to be held 6 p.m. Saturday. You need not be present to win.
Art Shop Gallery is at 202 W. Pioneer. For more information, call 235-7076.
Ring of Fire Meadery continues its show of uniquely pit fired Alutiiq masks by Lydia Lohse in an opening reception 5-7 p.m. Friday.
Artist Gust Rastopsosf will also have handcrafted throwing board and halibut hooks exhibited.
Lohse, a Kodiak artist, decorates her mask designs with petroglyphic writings, a form of ancient script left on boulders and in the caves
of Kodiak Island that modern people have yet to translate.
To avoid altering their meaning, Lohse uses a technique for maintaining the exact width and line of the original thousands of years old
petroglyphs formed above the brows and below the lips of her masks.
Ring of Fire Meadery is located at 178 W. Bunnell Ave. For more information, call 235-2656.
Ptarmigan Arts features “A Holiday Boutique.” Presenting the works of more than 30 Alaskan artists, a display in the Backroom
Gallery during the month of December opens with a Friday reception from 5-7 p.m.
Jewelry will be presented in seven different media, along with hand-knitted accessories, pottery, baskets, luminaries, art glass and
ornaments. Patrons will be able to view the art, and buy pieces as gifts that Ptarmigan will wrap for the holidays.
Ptarmigan Arts is located at 471 Pioneer Ave. For more information, call 235-5345.
Bunnell Street Gallery features the sculpture-like ceramic work of Anchorage artist Denise Heimel in an opening reception 6 to 8 p.m.
at the gallery. Heimel will also give a presentation and talk at 7 p.m.
Heimel‘s work can be viewed throughout December, and includes ceramics that incorporate wood, hide, hair and various media to add
textural and surface designs on ceramics.
The Bunnell Gallery is located at 106 W. Bunnell.
For more information, call 235-2662.
Fireweed Gallery presents “Quest,” an exhibit of acrylic paintings by Homer artist Katherine Little.
Little said she is inspired by the natural beauty of Homer to create giant floral paintings. She developed a process of pouring acrylic
paint onto large sheets of white canvas, with the results being grand and lively paintings in pure color, depicting abstracted landscapes
and flowers. The show opening and reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday. “Quest” closes Dec. 31.
Fireweed Gallery is located at 475 E. Pioneer Ave. For more information, call 235-3411.
Homer Council on the Arts gallery will be closed during December. However, the council will be open for the “Knit-to-Felting” classes
on Thursdays 7-8 p.m. Dec. 6, 13, and 20. Cost is $30 for HCOA members; $35 for non-members. For more information, call 235-4288.
The Fame Game
November 28, 2007 - 12:00am
By Julie Block
The plan was to be famous by 18.
Tyler had thought of a couple methods. She was going to become President of the United States, I was going to become the Prime
Minister of Israel, and then, in a feat of stupidity to go down in the ages as bigger than the sale of Alaska, would sell the entirety of
America to me for a limited edition, Steve Madden shoe. (We didn’t know Manolo Blahnik existed back then.) In her brief “reign” in
the Presidency, she was going to introduce good fashion sense to the unwashed masses of Washington D.C., and thus bring about world
peace.
We then realized that this would mean going into politics; even as 13-year-olds we were not that idealistic.
The next plan was slightly more realistic. I was going to become the first Jewish woman to not only make it into the WNBA (actually
untrue), but to cross gender lines and make it into the NBA as well. Tyler would be my agent. That I had never exhibited any real skill
with a basketball, minus the one time I broke our kitchen window, didn’t deter her. When I reminded her that, at only five feet, I lacked
the altitude, she reminded me of Muggsy Bogues. For some reason, we never considered that she, with decent skill and beanstalk-like
figure, should be the talent. We consulted with our middle school basketball coach, who told me my chances were “slimmer than [she]
would be if she substituted [her] daily McDonald’s for Slim Fast.” So that was out.
I had a separate dream, one I had nurtured since the ripe age of six. I was a pretty serious dancer and not tone deaf, and to me, acting
meant shouting emotions at the top of my lungs. Triple threat status, a Broadway career and a Tony didn’t seem far off, I reasoned. I
reassured my parents that I would also do something for humanity, so I figured I could work on curing AIDS while touring.
Finally, during our fifth viewing of Josie and the Pussycats, we had a plan. 3LW was big at the time, and Tyler was obsessed with them,
so she came to me with the proposition — just like Britney started as one of Janet Jackson’s dancers, we would be Britney’s dancers.
Then, after touring with her for a while, we would scandalously part to become our own group — 2(M)TW: 2 (Moderately) Tall Women.
(We weren’t very good at the name thing.) We reasoned that they weren’t such great singers, and we could rhyme, so why not? Visions
of descending onto a stage on clouds with angel wings crowded our daydreams; tours and episodes of MTV’s Cribs fought for dominance.
We tried our hands at lyrics; they rhymed and they almost had a salsa-like quality; being the poverty-stricken-man’s version of Destiny’
s Child didn’t upset us in anyway. Neither of us knew how to play an instrument, so I enrolled in a guitar class (not that girl pop stars
ever need to know how to play an actual instrument), only to realize that I was too lazy to practice, and wasn’t a big fan of finger
calluses. We also had no idea of how to go about getting an agent, and Britney wasn’t going to want us as backup dancers since we
weren’t 4’5”. The lyrics idea fell to the wayside after the first verse of our first song:
“Oh, we ain’t small
We’re pretty damn tall
Cuz we 2 (Moderately) Tall Women!”
My mom’s only comment when we performed for her was to ask why we had chosen to neglect proper English.
Anyway.
At some point in high school, those dreams fell the wayside. Tyler was going to be an entertainment lawyer and I was going to write a
bestselling novel (actually, I’m still going to do that as soon as I can find a good ghostwriter); if not, I was going to follow my father’s
footsteps and go to medical school. Fame was sacrificed for small-fortune. We apparently didn’t really want the rockstar life style.
I still think about what might have happened if we had pursued our dreams. Tyler thinks we still have a shot. I guess the real reason
why I’m hesitant is because I worry that becoming famous turns you into a coke-headed, Kabbalah worshipping crazy person. No, that’s
a damn lie. It’s actually because I’m extremely lazy and lack talent. What we both really needed, we’ve decided, was to be born to the
Hiltons or minor royalty; that way we could have been famous without having to do anything whatsoever.
Unfortunately, the closest I’ve come to fame is this column, and that time I made a joke group on Facebook that reached about 300
people in a week. (Yes, I’m still proud.) But still, I hold strong to my dream. I will be famous. My name, like those hot messes before
me, will become a noun/adjective. (“Girl, don’t pull a Julie!” “Oh, that’s so Julie.”)
And yes, you may have my autograph … if you ask nicely.
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