"I couldn't believe this was happening again," he said.
The kayaker is among 10 or so pieces Matchian will take to the Santa Fe Indian Market, Aug. 22-23. The prestigious New Mexico event is widely considered as the showcase for the best in Native American crafts and artwork. The "market" label is somewhat misleading; unlike most of these festivities, artists must be juried into the show through a rather competitive and selective process.
"I've been trying to get into it for years," Matchian said. This year worked for him, he joked, "because I finally managed to get the application in before deadline."
Other items being packed for Santa Fe include the artist's ivory mosaic copy of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, created from mammoth ivory -- 10,000 years old -- and black walrus ivory -- a mere century or three old.
He'll also be taking an ivory version of Michelangelo's "David" as well as more traditional items, like a Bering Sea style conical hunting hat.
More about Matchian at eskimodavinci.com.
Early dates for fair
Parties wishing to enter their work in the Alaska State Fair art show are advised that the dates have moved up. Bring your work to the Mountain View Boys & Girls Club, 315 N. Price St., from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday or to the fairgrounds in Palmer, noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14 and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.
Commuting art show
Most of us walked around to see the art in the latest round of First Friday openings. But some rode. Specifically those taking in Sharon Ennis' new work on display inside Anchorage People Mover buses.
Each long, skinny panel represents a "portrait" of a real-life rider, the artist said. But they aren't facial images. Instead, a few words describing the individual are superimposed over abstract or geometric patterns.
"There is one piece on each of the 55 buses," Ennis said, "so you'll have to ride a lot of them to see everything in action."
"The Bus People" rolling exhibit was funded by an individual artist award from the Rasmuson Foundation. It can be seen anytime the buses are running through Dec. 30. Admission is $1.50 in exact change, which includes a ride to someplace.
You can also view a slide show of the work at Ennis' Web site, www.GalleryEnnis.com.
For more on Friday's openings, see "First Friday Rambles" at adn.com/artsnob and check the gallery of work now on display at adn.com/artwalk. (Note to those submitting pictures of their art: Be sure to name the artist and let us know where it can be scen.)
Grand piano adventure in Tok
In May an intrepid troupe of musicians, movers and technicians moved a nine-foot Steinway concert grand piano from the Steinway Piano Gallery in Anchorage to its new home at Faith Bible Chapel in Tok. Pianist Juliana Osinchuk, part of the convoy taking the instrument up the Glenn Highway, reports that the party in her car got a text message from piano technician Dan McElrath saying, "Sorry but the piano is in Peter's Creek."
It was a joke.
But the reception the big piano got in Tok was accompanied by pure awe. Osinchuk and Evgeny Chernonog played a concert that ranged from Mozart to Fats Waller in a packed house. "The crowd's enthusiasm was overwhelming, and we could probably have played all night," Osinchuk reported.
The Steinway was the gift of an anonymous donor who requested only that it be accompanied by a plaque that reads: "This wonderful instrument is to provide a voice in the wilderness to glorify God."
Osinchuk's complete account of the event is online at adn.com/artsnob. You can also link to a You Tube video of her playing her own arrangement of "Alaska's Flag," aka "The Alaska Flag Song," which she presented as an encore following her performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with the Anchorage Symphony on April 11.
Or you can get to the video on your own going to youtube.com and searching for Juliana Osinchuk.
Outdoor art event raises $4,000
The annual Plein Air Weekend on July 25-26 was a success despite iffy weather. Organizer Don Kolstad writes: "It was a great success, and we had a good turnout with many art sales. We don't have the final totals in yet, but we know at this point that we raised over $4,000 this year for Clare House."
Kolstad also informs us that he's teaching beginning and advanced watercolor and oil painting classes starting Aug. 17 -- on different days and, we trust, indoors. For more information, call 561-5344.
Major Dena'ina exhibit planned
The Anchorage Museum has received a $147,736 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to develop an exhibition on the history and culture of the Dena'ina people. The museum will collaborate with the Alaska Native Heritage Center on the project, which is believed to be the first exhibition on Dena'ina Athabaskan history and culture.
Most of the modern Alaska population, including that of Anchorage, is located in traditional Dena'ina territory. The exhibition of more than 200 objects will include many early artifacts, some now in European museums.
The as-of-yet untitled show, occupying a display space of 5,000-square-foot exhibition, is tentatively scheduled to open summer 2011.
Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.