Arts and Entertainment

World-class photographer tapped for first Photo Fest

One of America's top nature photographers, Eddie Soloway, will be the keynote speaker and instructor at the first Alaska Photo Fest, a weekend of classes, seminars and portfolio reviews sponsored by the Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers and scheduled for Sept. 9-11.

Soloway, who headquarters out of New Mexico, is probably best known to most readers for his images in National Geographic. He'll speak on the topic of "Memories, Moods and Imagination" on Friday, Sept. 9. On Sept. 11 he'll discuss the art of nature photography.

Sessions will include topics like: "Bringing your work into the world," "If it's complex, something's wrong: Foundational skills made simple" and "How come mine don't look like that?"

Several of Alaska's best-known photographers will also be involved, including Charles Mason of Fairbanks, winner of numerous national and international awards; Michael Conti; Hal Gage; and Jeff Schultz.

The sessions are said to be suitable for photographers with all levels of experience. Early registration is particularly recommended for those hoping to have an appointment for a review of their work. More information and registration is available at jackiekramerphotography.com/akphotoregistration.

Ehling died in Seattle

Our obituary for former Anchorage music director Dewey Ehling, who died on Aug. 7, contained dueling places of death due to conflicting information from different sources. We included both but have since been able to ascertain that Ehling did, in fact, pass away in Seattle.

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Streever gets breezy

Alaska author Bill Streever, whose previous works include well-received popular science books "Cold" and "Heat," has released his latest, "And Soon I Heard A Roaring Wind: A Natural History of Moving Air" (Little, Brown and Co.; $26).

With the national success of "Cold" and "Heat," biologist Streever has been able to spend time on his sailboat, Rocinante, and was in Central America last we heard. We suspected that the wind-powered ship, named for Don Quixote's horse, may have had something to do with his choice of the new book's topic and, indeed, found the following in the press release accompanying "Roaring Wind."

"Bill Streever will go to any extreme to explore an idea. So, after a three-day sailing course, this novice sailor set out on a 50-year-old sailboat … sailing east from Texas to Guatemala over a period of 43 days, covering over 1,000 miles. Where better … to explore the winds that built empires and the storms that wrecked them, and to celebrate the surprising history and science of weather forecasting, than at the helm of his own ship?"

Trapper Creek author getting good reviews

Forrest Leo, formerly of Trapper Creek, has just published his first novel, "The Gentleman" (Penquin Press, $26). The deliciously snarky story of a Victorian poet who can't write after he marries a woman he doesn't love and, perhaps inadvertently, chums up with the Devil, is told in a pseudo-period style of language that is as entertaining as the tale itself. I'm reminded of Glen David Gold's "Carter Beats the Devil" and W.E. Bowman's classic parody "The Ascent of Rum Doodle," although for my money, Leo's writing is even more hilarious.

Such a volume is not necessarily profound, but, as the bubbling reviews of various readers say, "effervescent," a "nutty and delightful romp (told) with perfect pacing and aplomb," "a bonbon of liberated Victoriana, a Faustian tale of poetic innovation and ineptitude."

None of that would necessarily have me commenting on "The Gentleman" at this moment were it not for the fact that Leo is the son of the late ADN columnist Richard Leo, who wrote about life at his cabin sort of off the road system for several years. It was a place of hauled water and sled dogs; it was where Forrest grew up. Not that you can tell from the novel, which has nothing to do with Southcentral Alaska, though it does have an Arctic connection. Put it on your reading list for this winter.

The author is now living out of state, Hollywood, we hear, which is a good place for a writer with such a gift for catchy dialogue.

Kane appointed contest judge

Alaska poet Joan Naviyuk Kane has been selected as one of three judges for the 2017 Griffin Poetry Prize. The award, presented by the Canada-based Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry, bills itself as "the world's largest prize for a first edition single collection of poetry written in English." Judges select one Canadian and one non-Canadian author, each of whom receives $65,000 Canadian.

Kane notes that she is the first Native American judge selected for the prize. Her fellow panelists include Sue Goyette of Canada and George Szirtes of England.

Fear of tryouts

Stage fright is the occupational disease of performers, but as bad as choking in front of a live audience is the dread of choking at an audition. With that in mind, Anchorage Community Theatre is presenting a class on audition techniques led by director Colby Bleicher. Find out what directors want to see in the couple of minutes you have to show 'em what you've got, what to do and what not to do, how to approach cold readings, the importance of headshots and resumes, etc. It will include a mock audition with feedback.

Classes take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 29 and Friday, Sept. 2. You can enroll at app.arts-people.com/index.php?class=act. For more information email info@actalaska.org or call 907-344-4713.

Denali seeks artists

2017 will be the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Mt. McKinley National Park, now known as Denali National Park and Preserve. To celebrate, the National Park Service is looking for a variety of artists to participate in its artist-in-residence program. There are hundreds of applications each year from painters, writers and composers seeking to spend time in a patrol cabin. But since getting to the park is the awardee's responsibility, Alaskans may just have a leg up. NPS spokesperson Katherine Belcher writes that "Alaska Native artists and artists between the ages of 16 and 25 are strongly encouraged to apply."

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Note, however, that successful applicants under the age of 18 will be required to have a parent or chaperone during their stint in the park.

The application process is handled online at callforentry.org and submissions for next year are being taken through Sept. 30. Those with difficulties in using computers can contact Cinnamon_Dockham@nps.gov or call 907-683-9580. More information about the program is available at www.nps.gov/dena/getinvolved/arts-program.htm.

Patterson shows up in Indiana

The press release about Indianapolis Opera's world premiere of "Happy Birthday, Wanda June" seemed too outside to share, but we saw in the fine print that the company's general director is Kevin Patterson, former director of Anchorage Opera.

Patterson, reads the press release, "is doing some really interesting things to engage audiences with more unique experiences — including staging operas such as "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat," a one-act by composer Michael Nyman that is, in our opinion, somewhat less musically enthralling than hearing a computer text-to-speech program read from the book by the late Oliver Sacks on which it is based.

"Wanda June" the opera is based on the only play ever written by the late Kurt Vonnegut, a Hoosier by birth. It was recently presented in Anchorage by Cyrano's. Vonnegut was said to be collaborating on an operatic adaptation of it with composer Richard Auldon Clark prior to Vonnegut's death in 2007. Under their agreement, Clark was allowed to delete words from the libretto but he could not add anything. Someone must have added something, however, because the piece is said to have a "surprise ending."

The new work will be presented as part of a festival titled "Vonnegut's World," Sept. 7-11, where it will receive a dress rehearsal. The formal debut will take place Sept. 16-18, part of the 200th anniversary of Indiana statehood.

 

Mike Dunham

Mike Dunham was a longtime ADN reporter, mainly writing about culture, arts and Alaska history. He worked in radio for 20 years before switching to print. He retired from the ADN in 2017.

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