April 29, 2015 Community Happenings

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Created on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 11:07

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Sitkans Invited to Watch

Birds at City Hall Show

By Megan Pasternak

Special to the Sentinel

What prompted artist Norm Campbell to curate an art show featuring birds?

“The inspiration came from Mark Gorman,” Campbell said. “I was at a meeting in his office and on the wall were a poster for the University of Alaska fish tech program for which I did the artwork and one of my paintings he’d purchased several years ago.”

“Why not have Mark make that wall available to rotating artists to hang their works,” he thought. After some discussion, Gorman suggested using the lobby on the second floor of the city building as a gallery and “Sharing Our Community with Birds of Sitka” was born.

Campbell added, “At first it was a monster of a problem, how to turn the space into a gallery. But I love the idea of the city supporting arts in a tangible way.”

Campbell is kicking off the Greater Sitka Arts Council and City and Borough of Sitka collaboration with a group show. The opening reception with refreshments is 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 1. The show will hang at least through the end of the month. Campbell said the location lends itself to viewing by lots of people at their convenience which will help “get the word out that this would be a place to come see art.”

Even though it’s on the second floor, the space is handicap accessible via an elevator and the door from the parking lot in back of the building.

And why did Campbell choose birds for the first show?

“I discovered Ryan Kauffman’s little bird gems and thought they needed to be shown.”

Kauffman said he was “really flattered” by Campbell’s invitation. “It is both an honor and a privilege to be invited to share my series of pen and ink bird images, alongside some of Sitka’s most reputable and talented artists” his statement reads. His series includes a puffin, Steller’s jay, wren, murre and hummingbird which were created between 2005 and 2010 as holiday gifts for his father.

Laura Kaltenstein is known to many as a beader, painter and quilter. She created four bird paintings in acrylic “just for fun” this winter. She has a friend in Montana who takes many photos of birds and e-mails them to Kaltenstein on a regular basis and the paintings are based on some of them.

“It’s Norm’s fault,” Kaltenstein said about her involvement with the show. She has been instrumental in the show with logistics, making the poster and helping hang.

Neither Kauffman nor Kaltenstein consider themselves birders but are very enamored with and appreciative of them. 

“I’m just a bird watcher,” Kaltenstein said. “It’s good to know birders out there. You can ask them questions.” 

She participates in the annual Audubon bird count and Matt Goff’s This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. blog. She doesn’t have a favorite bird, but does nurture them with a couple of bird feeders and a nesting box in her backyard with chickadees. “They’re all good,” she said. “I even have pigeons hanging out.”

Other artists in the show – utilizing paint, drawing materials and fabric – are Campbell, Steve Lawrie, Sarah Lawrie, Gracia Hardcastle, Ashia Lane, Lucy Pizzuto-Phillips, Sandra Fontaine, Dan Bennion, Kija Rowe, Marcus Gruber and Megan Pasternak.

Campbell said the list is in no way comprehensive of the many artists in town but he and Kaltenstein needed to come up with a small group as quickly as possible. He added there will be more shows of community art in this free space and those wishing to participate should contact GSAC to arrange a showing. Its website is thinkartthinksitka.com and the phone number 747-2787.

Campbell believes the opening reception and Sitka Historical Society’s concurrent reception can be treated like a mini art walk and that viewers will flock to both events.

 Piano Students Audition

For National Group

Local piano pupils from the class of Jammie Wileman, NCTM, have registered as candidates for membership in the National Fraternity of Student Musicians, sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers, Teacher Division of the American College of Musicians, of which their teacher is a member. This group of pianists will perform in the National Piano Playing Auditions, to be held at Wileman Music Studio, May 4 and 5.

Students will strive for Pledge, Local, District, State, National, International, Hobbyist, Duet and Ensemble honors. The American College of Musicians will evaluate the students’ performances based on their presentation of baroque, classical, romantic and modern works. This is the ninth year Sitka will be recognized as an official audition center. Julia Kruger, vice president of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, will be the judge.

Students participating for honors are: Zia Allen, Mia Anderson, Slater Nova Anderson, Tessa Anderson, Delayna Barry, Jaira Jade A. Costelo,  Kira Jaydelyn Davis, Sydney Davis, Booklyn Sudnikovich-Eddy, Isabella Reneé Eddy, Autumn Elsner, Kimber Elsner,  Evangelina Estes, Connor Fulton, Owen Fulton, Mecca Goldsberry, Tomas Harris, Alyssa Kae Henshaw, Emma Heuer, David Lee Hill, Emily Gail Hill, Katherine Anne Holmgren, Brayden Massey-Jones, Isabella Minh Laybourn, Liam LeRoy Laybourn, Delaney Jayne McAdams, Kasiana M. Mork, James Morland, Katheryn Morse, Ashlyn Nutting, Virginia Christine Pearson, Lea Angela P. Ramil, Audrey Saiz, Sophia Schwantes, Mekenna Smith, Jeanne Stolberg, Emma Warren, Rebecca Warren, Taya D. Warren, Kayaani Rae Weathers and Rewl Weathers. 

Sitka Trail Works

To Offer Hikes

Sitka Trail Works’ volunteer board members will lead weekend public hikes throughout the summer. Hikes help familiarize users with the different trails in the area and are an opportunity to meet others who enjoy hiking. First aid supplies, VHF radios and touring poles are provided.

On May 9 hikers will meet at Sitka High entrance to the Cross Trail for a short fun introduction to geocaching. Hikers will learn about discovering hidden caches while exploring and take an easy hike on the Cross Trail.

On May 16, at Old Sitka State Park,  hikers will meet at 9 a.m. for a hike around all three Starrigavan trails.

The annual Allen Marine/Sitka Trail Works fundraiser hike to Sea Lion Cove will be May 24. Call 747-7244 to make a reservation.

Hikers will meet at 9 a.m. on May 30 at the Mt. Verstovia Trailhead on Sawmill Creek Road for a hike to Picnic Rock.

Hikes that begin at trailheads on the Sitka road system are offered to the public free of charge. Hikes that require marine transportation do require reservations and a suggested donation in support of Sitka Trail Works. More information is available at www.sitkatrailworks.org or by calling 747-7244.

BP Recognizes

MEHS’ Hunter

For Excellence

 Matthew Hunter, a Mt. Edgecumbe High School teacher, is one of two Southeast Alaska teachers among the 32 Alaska teachers honored this year as a BP Teacher of Excellence.

The other Southeast teacher is Mary Jean Duncan, Angoon Elementary School.

Hunter teaches math, science and emergency trauma technician classes at MEHS. A lifelong Sitka resident, he also serves the community as a member of the city Assembly and is the city deputy mayor. Hunter is a volunteer EMS lieutenant and EMT 3 instructor for the Sitka Fire Department Search and Rescue. He is a former board member for the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society.

The BP Teachers of Excellence program is open to all Alaska school districts, recognizing teachers for their dedication to teaching and inspiring students. Celebrating its 20th year in 2015, the program attracted about 1,200 nominations.

“We are thrilled to recognize those teachers who make a lasting impact on the next generation of Alaskans by educating our children and who make our communities better places to live,” said Janet Weiss, BP Alaska regional president. “BP is honored to continue supporting this great program. It’s another way we are showing our commitment to Alaska.”

Each BP Teacher of Excellence will receive a $500 gift card and a $500 matching grant to their school. The program honors kindergarten-12 teachers from public or private schools who have made important contributions to education and their communities.

Since the program’s inception in 1995, BP has recognized 650 Alaska teachers. For the complete list of winners across the state visit: BPteachers.com.

Playgroup Canceled

The Teach Your Children Well Playgroup is canceled for Thursday, April 30. 

By Sitkans Against Family Violence

Girls on the Run is an empowerment-based program for girls in third-fifth grades, currently in its seventh season at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School. GOTR is more than an after-school activity; it is a program designed to bring girls together with strength and resilience and prepare them for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. 

To wrap up the GOTR season, participants have been focusing on the concept of community. Girls learned about different kinds of communities and the valuable role they each play in creating those communities through their own unique gifts and strengths. Then each team planned and carried out a community impact project: one team held a bake sale to benefit the Sitka Animal Shelter, and the other made posters to thank organizations like the fire hall and hospitals in Sitka for their service. Here’s what participants said about communities: 

–“A community is people that look after each other.”

–“It’s important to give back to your community so they can help you through tough times.”

–“After our project of making posters it felt really good because we thanked people who helped us. “Giving back to our community felt great, proud, creative, and fun.”

GOTR believes it’s important for young people to recognize they can make a positive impact on their community. Here are some conversation starters for talking with youth in your life about giving back to their community: 

–What is a community?

–Everyone is unique and we each have strengths in some areas and struggle in others. What is a strength you can use to positively impact your community?

–How does it feel when you give back to the community by helping another person or group of people?

The Girls on the Run One in a Million Fun Run is this Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m.-noon with the start and finish line at the basketball courts along the Seawalk. Community members are welcome to join in the 5K or be cheerleaders along the course. We are also looking for volunteers to help with this final celebration.

Register as a volunteer at: tinyurl.com/Sitka5K2015. For more information, please contact Elena at 747-3370 for more information.

Girls on the Run of Greater Alaska is brought to you in Sitka by Sitkans Against Family Violence.  

T’ai Chi Chih

Practice Listed

T’ai Chi Chih Practice by the Sea will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at Crescent Harbor shelter.

All are invited to participate.

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