Boxley gets top honors in Sealaska art show

David Boxley picked up a total of four awards at the Sealaska Heritage Institute's eighth biennial Juried Art Show and Competition. A painted drum by the Tsimshian artist won Best of Show and Best of Formline honors. In addition, the piece also earned Best of Division among two-dimensional entries and another best in the Painting and Drawing Category,

"I have worked for a very long time to understand formline," Boxley said at the awards ceremony in Juneau last week. "I believe it is the most beautiful thing in the world."

Alison Bremner, whose work is included in the upcoming show of contemporary Alaska Native art in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, took second place in the Formline Division with her quirky "Cat Lady" print, which also won the prize for Best of Print.

In the Carving and Sculpture Division, Jennifer Younger's bracelet titled "Hungry Sea Lion" was named Best of Division and Best of Metal Category. Art Nelson, better known as "Bugs," won the Best of Wood Category with a raven mask.

Work by Kandi McGilton was judged best in the Sewing Division and also named first in the Best of Beadwork Category. Jennie Wheeler won the Skin and Fur Category with a sea otter coat. Clarissa Rizal took top prize in the "Other" Category.

Rizal also won Best of Division in the Weaving Division and Best of Chilkat Category. Tiffany Vanderhoop placed first in the Ravenstail Category and Merle Andersen won the Basketry Category.

Jurors Stephen Paul Jackson and Nicholas Galanin selected a total of 36 pieces by 22 artists for the show, which will be on display in the Walter Soboleff Building through Sept. 30. It is being presented along with the "Exemplary Works" show of features by major Northwest coast artists, including Delores Churchill, Robert Davidson, Nathan Jackson and Preston Singletary.

The Institute also unveiled its Juried Youth Art Exhibit during Celebration. First place in the Middle School Division went to a group of sixth-grade students in Juneau's Dzantik'I Heeni Middle School, who created a reimagined version of traditional warrior armor with a helmet. Jeanette Kaleikau-Buxton of Metlakatla won first place in the High School Category with acrylic work. Several other students received honorable mentions in the event, which was adjudicated by Juneau artist and teacher Lance Twitchell. The show will remain on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center through June 30.

Jewish films to be screened

Cinema fans take note: The Alaska Jewish Museum is presenting a "mini film fest" on Wednesdays this month at the Alaska Jewish Campus, 1117 E. 35th Ave. "Ushpizin" ("Holy Guest"), an Israeli film about what happens when you pray for a miracle and something unexpected happens, will show at 7 p.m. on June 22. The classic silent film, "The Golem," will be shown at 7 p.m. on June 29.

Made in 1920, "The Golem" is famous for its remarkable special effects and darned terrifying story, sometimes cited as the origin of the "Frankenstein" franchise. The movie has recently been restored.

Popcorn and cookies are provided. Admission is a suggested donation of $5.

Met summer season starts

Speaking of cinema, the summer encore presentations of Metropolitan Opera productions will start up on Wednesday, June 22, with what musicologist Joseph Kerman famously called a "shabby little shocker" by Puccini, "Tosca." Showtime is 7 p.m. at Century 16. Diva Patricia Racette has the title role and tenor Roberto Alagna is her incautious boyfriend. Baritone George Gagnidze of Georgia — the one in the Caucasus, not the one north of Florida — will sing the villainous part of Scarpia. The rest of the season will include "L'Elisir d'Amore" (June 29), "La Boheme" (July 13) and "Cosi fan tutte" (July 20).

Tours of the trove

The University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks holds more than 1.5 million specimens and artifacts — fossils, weapons, clothing, plants, artworks, animals and more — only a fraction of which are on display. Through August, visitors will be able to take "behind the scenes" tours of the labs and work spaces where scientists, historians and other researchers are working on the material, ask about what they're doing and take pictures. The tours cost $10 and take place Fridays at 2 p.m., but can also be arranged at other times for groups of four or more. To book a space or set up a special visit in advance, call 907-474-7505.

The French are different

After writing an article about the show of Alaska art at the museum in Boulogne-sur-Mer I can't quite shake the detail that deputy mayor Claude Allan holds the "culture portfolio." It says something about the difference between Alaska and France that a city with fewer than 50,000 people has a deputy mayor with official responsibility for the arts.