Wearable Arts Show
Dear Editor: I would like to offer up the annual Greater Sitka Arts Council Wearable Art show report.
What I liked best was the smiles on the audience faces – they beamed about as bright as the two spotlights. It is heartening to have two seats-filled shows. Why? Because so many people are involved in putting on this show – artists, models, backstage crews, front of house crew, ticket takers, dressing room help, lights sound, reception crew and the bakers of 100s of savory cookies, more people I am sure I have left out.
The old show business adage “the show must go on” is true, but it is a lot more fun if there are people watching the show. Thank you, Sitka, for your enthusiastic welcome for each model, all-around support of the variety of ages, and just being so darn nice and letting your good will shine through.
The Centennial Hall staff once again was super to work with and their help cannot be measured. And it goes without saying you cannot have a runway show without a runway, so thank you, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, for the loan, and Arrowhead Transfer for moving it back and forth. Mr. Ray Majeski was the emcee and did the job with aplomb; he was unflappable.
Thank you to the shops that allowed us to put past wearable art displays in their windows and also flyers for the event. Thank you to the Sitka media for their gracious help with letting Sitka know about the event: KIFW, KCAW, The Soup and the Daily Sitka Sentinel.
Thank you to our primary sponsor Guardian Flight and the others: Wells Fargo, RurAL CAP, City of Sitka, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, UAS, ALPS, Sitka Seafood Festival, the White Elephant Shop, the Backdoor, Neurobehavioral Consultants, Allen Marine, Sea Mart, Waddell and Reed, Harry Race and Harry’s Custom Services - Living Local, Old Harbor Books, and the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Thank you too for help from the Jesuit Volunteers, AmeriCorps, and the American Field Service students. Let us not forget our SURPRISE! Guests. Finally, a special thank you to Kenyatta Bradley for his emotive sign language interpretation. To paraphrase Vern Culp, Sitka has the lowest rate of cabin fever in Alaska, and this is part of the reasons why. Thank you.
Jeff Budd for the
Greater Sitka Arts Council
Wearable Arts Reception
Dear Editor: Last Thursday and Friday nights the Greater Sitka Arts Council hosted the fifth annual Wearable Arts Show and Runway Extravaganza.
After each show the Sitka Arts Council also hosted a reception for the audience and artists. On behalf of the arts council I would like to thank all of our kind, generous volunteers who helped by baking fabulous cookies in great quantities. Also those who helped serve punch and set up. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Cleo Brylinsky for the
Sitka Greater Arts Council
Cancer Society Relay
Dear Editor: This will be the first year Sitka will host the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event this summer. It is a powerful community event that honors cancer survivors.
I love that people walk together, united by hope and gratitude. I am a Sitka girl, having graduated from Sitka High years ago. Although I have left Sitka, it will always be considered home. I am now the only patient navigator for the American Cancer Society in the state and I am based in Anchorage. I have worked with many Sitkans who need support when seeking treatment. I am a phone call away. I will do my best to help. It is hard to be from a small town and be overwhelmed with a cancer diagnosis; there are so many overwhelming issues to face.
My own mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she lived in Wrangell. I know she would have loved the help of a navigator and would be proud of the work I do. I am your American Cancer Society. Please join your Sitka Relay for Life and walk this July 14-15 at the Lower Moller Football Field, come rain or shine. You can get more information at www.RelayForLife.org/SitkaAK.
Debbie Phelps-Jaso,
Patient Navigator,
American Cancer Society
In Response
Dear Editor: I was a little offended by the condescending tone of Sen. Stedman’s (Sentinel March 8, 2013) lecture on ‘‘Fairness to the Oil Producers.’’
Someone pointed out to me that three years ago the price of crude oil was $140 per barrel for crude oil. And, gas was $2.50 at the pump. Today oil is $98 a barrel; and gas retails at $4.25 a gallon.
All of which calls into question the entire premise of incentivizing the drilling industry during an unprecedented boom in the industry.
It seems farcical, to me, this ‘‘good cop-bad cop’’ facade that the senator adopts toward the Gov’s oil give-away plan. There is no real basis for any compromise of ACES. Shame on anyone who tells us otherwise.
Sigurd D. Rutter, Sitka
