There will be another First Friday opening of a major statewide exhibit Sept. 4, in addition to "Earth, Fire and Fibre" and "Alaska Positive" at the Anchorage Museum. "Rarefied Light," the annual juried photography show of the Alaska Photographic Center will open at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, 427 D St.
"Rarefied Light" is Alaska's largest juried photography competition. Eighty-seven photographers submitted 490 images for consideration to juror Eddie Soloway, who selected "Eagles in the Banya" by Jay Barrett of Kodiak as Best of Show. Honorable Mentions were also presented to John Delapp, Ward Hulbert, Gary Postlethwait, Mark Stadsklev and Daily News photo editor Richard Murphy.
Photographs by Soloway will also be part of the exhibit at the International. After September, the show will travel to Fairbanks, Kenai and Cordova.
Wait! We're not through yet. There'll be yet a fourth juried exhibit opening Sept. 4, the Alaska Native Photography Invitational, with work selected by guest curator Larry McNeil. McNeil was a fixture on the Anchorage commercial photography scene before heading to the Lower 48 and gaining a widespread reputation as an art photographer and educator.
The reception for that show, at the Alaska Native Heritage Foundation gallery, 500 W. Sixth Ave., will take place starting at 5 p.m.
ArtWalk keeps growing
Speaking of First Friday, check out the virtual gallery of First Friday art online, adn.com/artwalk. Artists who are presenting their work may upload photos at the same site.
Don't forget to tell us who you are and where we can see the real thing.
Odd happenings downtown
If you see a bunch of people dancing in a downtown parking garage next week, it may have something to do with a series of public site-specific events collectively called "The Berth."
Curated by Michael Gerace and the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, the happenings/installations/whatever are to be created by photographers, poets, musicians, painters, etc. invited to participate by the organizers.
Details on what will actually happen are bafflingly vague except for the following:
• Everything will take place between Thursday and Sept. 11.
• Everything will take place between 3rd and 9th Avenues, A and L Streets.
• Film, photos and other products or debris from the event will be part of a show at the International Gallery in November.
• You can try to find out more and keep up with the assorted solemnities or jollifications at twitter.com/theberthspot.
Less arts money for Alaska?
I'm still trying to weigh the ramifications of remarks in last week's New York Times article about Rocco Landesman, the new chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. (Published in the Daily News on Aug. 23.)
In recent years, NEA funds have been spread through all congressional districts, meaning Alaska could expect roughly 1/435th of whatever money the Endowment hands out.
The article pointed out that Landesman is opposed to that approach.
"There is going to be some push-back from me about democratizing arts grants to the point where you really have to answer some questions about artistic merit.," he told the Times.
That might mean a larger piece of the pie for arts groups in major population areas and less money for perceived backwaters. Like here.
The NEA head suggested as much when he said, "I don't know if there's a theater in Peoria, but I would bet that it's not as good as Steppenwolf or the Goodman."
I've never been to either of the illustrious Chicago institutions he named. Nor have I seen a play in Peoria, though I'm sure they have at least one company.
And he may well be right to conclude that theater in Chicago is better -- though given the subjective nature of art that is hardly a given.
But I feel uneasy about funneling money drawn from all citizens to a few big-name entities that some authority says are superior to those in smaller towns.
Maybe Alaska's theater companies aren't as academically esteemed as Chicago's. But if you live in Anchorage, Lake Michigan is a long way to go to see a show.
And who makes the call? Alvin Ailey is an OK dance company if you like the kind of terpsichore where people move their legs.
Some Alaskans prefer the in-place elegance of Yup'ik dance; it's ever so much more dignified, emotional, artistic. I don't know if there are Yup'ik dancers in New York, but I would bet that they're not as good as those in Scammon Bay or Chevak.
Landesman's predecessor, poet Dana Gioia, was an unabashed populizer and an artist himself; that probably influenced his "democratizing" approach.
Landesman, a producer, professionally accustomed to deals made behind closed doors, may favor a more elite attitude, with direction and decisions determined by a small, select corps of brokers.
There's nothing wrong with that as long as the final product benefits a broad segment of the population. A lot depends on execution.
But I hope the new chairman understands that there are critical and appreciative audiences outside the hub metropolises with which he is most familiar, people for whom Chicago's theater district is as remote as the moon. People in Peoria, Anchorage and Scammon Bay.
Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.
By MIKE DUNHAM
mdunham@adn.com