Arts

Homer writer finds success with 'sexy, sassy' romance novels

Most new writers would count themselves lucky to publish a novel with a small publisher. Homer writer Jennifer Bernard hit a trifecta with not one but three novels, all published in mass-market paperback by Avon Romance.

Music pioneer with fond memories of Alaska dies

Violinist Roman Totenberg died of kidney failure on Tuesday at his home in Newton, Mass. The Polish-born virtuoso, a contemporary of classical music giants like Rachmaninoff, Toscanini and Heifetz, performed before kings and presidents -- and Alaskans.

Reading the North

New books of interest to Alaskans

Maurice Sendak, author of splendid nightmares, dies at 83

Maurice Sendak, widely considered the most important children's book artist of the 20th century, who wrenched the picture book out of the safe, sanitized world of the nursery and plunged it into the dark, terrifying and hauntingly beautiful recesses of the human psyche, died Tuesday in Connecticut.

Summer museum exhibits focus on Denali

May 1 will bring the start of general climbing season on Mount McKinley and the switch to summer hours at the Anchorage Museum. Yes, there's a connection.

Fairbanks residents imagine art ideas for downtown

Fairbanks residents offered artwork themes ranging from sternwheelers to mushers to ravens for green space that will be created by the realignment of downtown streets crossing the Chena River.

ART BEAT

At last: an opera 'Ring' cycle on the big screen

You knew they'd get around to this. After putting the four operas in Wagner's "Ring of the Nibelung" cycle on the big screen over the past two years as part of its transmission of live operas to local theaters around the world, the Met is ready to present them in a series over a 10-day period.

Blog: Art Snob

Reading the North

New books of interest to Alaskans

Woodcarver sees one-of-a kind furniture in forests

To an untrained eye, the property surrounding Phil Marshall's home along Skyline Drive looks like it houses a vast, eclectic and surprisingly well-organized firewood collection.

ART BEAT

International Gallery features Egyptian-themed art

Donald Ricker has configured the tiny space on the south side of the International Gallery of Contemporary Art into a mini-maze suggesting an ancient Egyptian temple. Entering the installation "Tomb of Reason: New work in an ancient iconography" from either of two doors, the viewer passes by several sculpted panels in the style of old Memphis -- the one in Africa, not the home of the blues.

Blog: Art Snob

Famed composer's latest work uses words by Alaska poet

Five poems by the former Alaska poet laureate Tom Sexton are featured in the latest work by one of America's most respected and performed serious composers, Libby Larsen.

Premiere of suffragette opera to take place in Anchorage

Anchorage Opera will present the world premiere of "Mrs. President," by Victoria Bond, in October. Bond has a long career as both a composer and conductor. "Mrs. President" is about Victoria Woodhull (1838 -1927), the first female candidate for president of the United States.

Youth Symphony to present more premieres

The big attraction at the Anchorage Youth Symphony's performance on May 5 will be Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which closes the program. The Anchorage Concert Chorus will join the orchestra with soloists Anastasia Jamieson, Marlene Bateman, John Ken Nuzzo and Anton Belov.

Reading the North

New books of interest to Alaskans

Anchorage arts beacon Bettie McDonald dies at 77

Bettie Jean McDonald, respected Anchorage educator, powerhouse singer and former member of the Alaska State Council on the Arts, died in Hermosa Beach, Calif., on April 1. She was 77.

Shimabukuro, Shrek set for Anchorage stage next season

Ladysmith Black Mambazo and ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro -- two acts that quickly sold out in their previous appearances in Anchorage -- will be in the 2012-13 season announced by the Anchorage Concert Association.

Profound tribute to famed photographers debuts Wednesday

On April 20, 2011, photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were killed while documenting the civil war in Libya. The two were among the top ranks of international news photographers, friends and mentors to many of the important visual chroniclers of our time.

ART BEAT

Reviews online -- A lot is going on in the art world

Read reviews of last night's Anchorage Symphony performance, Alaska Dance Theatre's "Solos and Arias" and UAA's "New Dances".

Blog: Art Snob

Reading the North

New books of interest to Alaskans

REVIEW

Puppet-filled fantasy wraps up Lautenberger's UAA tenure

"Bring Back the Sunshine" is Fran Lautenberger's swan song -- though swans are about the only animal not included in the show. Lautenberger is closing out her 26-year career at the University of Alaska Anchorage Department of Theatre and Dance with a delightful fantasy written by herself with Jon Minton and brimming with the wild costumes and puppet forms that have fascinated her through the years.

REVIEW

'New Dances' mixes thoughtful works with lesser ones

The UAA Dance Ensemble mixed things up in its "New Dances 2012" concert. The college-aged performers have been known over the years for their contemporary, even post-modern, take on this art. Symbolism -- verbal and kinetic -- runs through much of their past works.