Arts Scene: Children's author visits Palmer, Anchorage

Dinner with Dan

Author Dan O'Neill is best known for serious adult nonfiction like "The Firecracker Boys" and "A Land Gone Lonesome." But his new book, "Stubborn Gal: The True Story of an Undefeated Sled Dog Racer," is a foray into children's literature. O'Neill will have a book signing at Fireside Books in Palmer at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. At 6 p.m. he'll be the guest of honor at the next Dinner with the Author event at Turkey Red, also in Palmer. At 1 p.m. Sunday he'll give a talk at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, room 307. The signing and talk are free. The dinner is $30 and tickets are available at goodbooksbadcoffee.com.

Visual emotion

Painter Graham Dane says he strives for visual art that draws the same immediate visceral response as music. His show "Last Chance to See" features recent drawings and paintings in acrylic and mixed media and is on view at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, 427 D St. Look to see how Dane uses classic paintings by old masters to inform his abstract work. The show will remain on display through Aug. 27.

Party like Zorba

The Alaska Greek Festival takes place 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 2800 O'Malley Road. Traditional food, music and dancing are on the schedule along with vendors of books, jewelry, pottery and other items. There's a bouncing house for the kids. Adults can enjoy beer and wine at the Taverna. Parking is available across the street at Abbott-O-Rabbit baseball field and at Hanshew Middle School on Lake Otis Parkway, which will connect with the church via a free shuttle. The festival is also free, by the way.

In the pink

Painter Marianne Elson and potter Janet Elson have been active on the Anchorage art scene for several years. You can now find their work at Pink Raven Studio, 135 Christensen Drive. Marianne's oil paintings treat a variety of subjects, from nostalgic images to fanciful figures in which the color pink, not surprisingly, plays a significant role. Janet's hand-thrown work includes practical plates, cups and bowls as well as purely artistic pieces.