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Festival Guide

2020 EVENTS
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LIVE on December 19, 2020

This FREE feel-good event brings thoughtfully-selected worldwide performers to the virtual stage.
Live  performance - Dec. 19, 4 pm Alaska Time
Recorded performance -  Dec. 20, 12 am Alaska Time  
World Clock Converter
Watch for details here.

Alaska World Arts Festival - September 11-23, 2020

Choose from a wide variety of local events and unprecedented virtual performances, workshops, classes, films, and panel discussions brought to the comfort of your home by worldwide artists during the ​Alaska World Arts Festival - Friday, September 11-23, 2020.
Alaska World Arts Festival
Complete Festival Guide

Friday, September 11

4-6 pm LOCAL EVENT - HOMER, ALASKA
Welcome Gala at Homer Council on the Arts
Welcome to the opening of the Halibut Cove Clan art exhibit and the Alaska World Arts Festival Opening Gala. The gallery will be open with limited capacity while speakers and live music entertain you under an outdoor canopy. This in/outdoor social-distance gathering of art lovers celebrates the beginning of the two-week Alaska World Arts Festival. Speakers include author Nancy Lord, Mayor Ken Caster, Directors Scott Bartlett and Brad Anderson, and Festival producer Sally Oberstein.LIVE MUSIC entertainment will be by Rosy Kauffman and Daniel Christ of Homer Youth String Club. Masks are required for indoor gallery viewing. Masks and distancing are recommended for outdoors. This event is hosted by Homer Council on the Arts, Homer Chamber of Commerce, and the Alaska World Arts Festival. The Festival is sponsored by Land's End Resort, the Homer Foundation, the Atwood Foundation, KBBI Radio, Alaska State Council on the Arts, Homer Chamber of Commerce, and Halibut Cove Live.

A Cappella 101 Workshop
6:30 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
A Cappella 101 Workshop
with A Cappella group Pipeline Vocal Project
This presentation/workshop addresses what a cappella is, the history/evolution of a cappella, what is “contemporary” a cappella, who is Pipeline Vocal Project in the context of a cappella, vocal music in Alaska and why is it important, with Q & A at the end. 

7:30 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Pipeline Vocal Project A Cappella Performance
This trio takes well-known favorite tunes and re-mixes them to bring you a fresh new perspective using only their raw and unique voices.

All times listed are Alaska time [AKDT]

Saturday, September 12

 
 
 
The Future of Travel Writing
12-1:15 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
The Future of Travel Writing, with Stephanie Elizondo Griest, David Farley, and Faith Adiele

Three esteemed travel writers explore how the genre could evolve to document our changing world in a way that is both environmentally sustainable and socially responsible.

Adult Silk Scarf Painting Class - Silk Gardens
2-3 pm VIRTUAL EVENT  Materials must be purchased in advance.
Silk Scarf Painting Class - Silk Gardens
Sunflowers, Poppies & Irises. Flowers and gardens are painted on white silk scarves using a primary color palette and household items, creating a unique one-of-a-kind wardrobe accessory. With over 30 years of fine arts experience, workshop leader Dessy (Desislava) Eason can’t wait to share her creative secrets with you. Supplies not included. Supply list provided after ticket purchase. All ages welcome.

2:30-3:30 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Music Composition Workshop

This Workshop with YNGVIL and Rick Zelinsky takes a look at various strategies of writing music. Learn how to get ideas on a page and get it to a playable composition. Space is limited.


YNGVIL
A Virtual Grand Kinetic Spectacle
4:30-5:30 pm VIRTUAL EVENT  
Sculpting Imaginations:
A Virtual Grand Kinetic Spectacle

This is a large-scale kinetic sculpture experience with interactive, larger-than-life, human-powered, amphibious, art vehicles, and a virtual adventure into the life of international kinetic sculptors Travis Bullock and Constance Titterton. Whether you are young or young at heart, these kinetic creations will make you smile, think, and be inspired to create something yourself. From Lionfish, Glass Snails, and Pigs with wings to Popcorn boxes, Madonna, and ABBA their sculptures have taken many shapes and forms. What is it like to operate the fins, mouth, and tail of a giant fish while simultaneously giving children rides? How does a 700 lb mechanical beast float and move in open water for miles? What is a Rutabaga Queen and what’s all this talk about the Glorious Founder? How do I become a badass woman welder in this world full of bias and gendered expectations? Don’t worry! All these questions and more will be answered in Constance and Travis’ Virtual Grand Kinetic Spectacle!

 
Global Acts of Kindness
7 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Global Acts of Kindness

In a world where drama dominates the headlines and its devastating effects are impossible to ignore, we’re taking time to share stories that restore faith in humanity and serve as a reminder of people’s capacity for love and generosity with host Shirley Mae Singer Staten. Storytellers include globetrotting author Stephanie Elizondo Griest, and National Public Radio host of the Moth, Peter Aguero.  Other storytellers include Bryan Carman, Kelsey Haas, Roger Lusby, Brenda Dolma, and Sally Oberstein, Produced by Koala Vandruff.

Sunday, September 13

Social Media for Artists
9-11 am VIRTUAL EVENT
Social Media for Artists

Audio-visual Media Producer and world-traveler
from Europe, Christin Maschmann will guide you through the different ways of utilizing Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and even Twitch or TikTok.

The Art of Stand-Up Comedy with Derrick Eason
4:15-6:15 pm VIRTUAL EVENT (1st of two sessions)
The Art of Stand-Up Comedy with Derrick Eason

Learn the tricks, tools and techniques of Public Speaking and Stand Up Comedy. Find your unique voice to create original comedic material suitable for performance. Your guide is Derrick Eason, a 35-year Professional Stand Up Comedian from Philadelphia. Ages 16 and up welcome. Space is limited.

Monday, September 14

 12 Noon-1 pm  LOCAL EVENT - HOMER, ALASKA
Live-at-Lunch at Land’s End Resort

Join us for Pier One Theatre's presentation of Pop-Up Scenes: A collection of stories, excerpts, and monologues from Shakespeare to Twain. Come in person to this social-distancing event on the deck at Land's End (weather dependant) or in Land's End Chart Room . 

Our Fascinating World
7 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Our Fascinating World  with Sally Oberstein

World traveler Sally Oberstein takes you on a virtual world tour across seven continents sharing what makes different parts of our world unique. Join Sally in this Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Monday night version of Tuesday Night Lights. All ages welcome.

All times listed are Alaska time [AKDT]

Tuesday, September 15

9:30-11 am VIRTUAL EVENT (1st of two sessions)
A Writing Workshop: Bearing Witness to Loss, Transforming Grief with Holly J. Hughes & Linda M. Robertson

This online, two-part workshop will consider a variety of elegies and provide short writing practices for exploring how the natural world can be both balm and metaphor for processing losses of all kinds. Poets and prose writers of all experience levels are welcome. Workshop details provided after registration. Maximum: Space is limited.

 
Fiona Rose, One-Woman Band - Performance
7 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Fiona Rose, One-Woman Band - Performance

Musician, juggler, burlesque performer, emcee, community circus organizer, extemporaneous songwriter, comedian, and educator Fiona Rose
(and her twinkle toes) will charm you with whimsical original songs, feats of multi-instrumentalism, juggling, and storytelling. Be prepared to smile, laugh, and sing along!

 
 
 

Wednesday, September 16

2-3:15 pm VIRTUAL EVENT   
Writing from Edge to Edge: When the Spirit of Place asks for You

Poets Tess Gallagher and Nessa O’Mahony in conversation with Danielle Vermette about the landscapes that inspire them. Two acclaimed poets, one from Ireland and one from America with a long history in Irish music and literature, will discuss the dimensions of place in their writing.

 
Dance Around the World
7 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Dance Around the World

Created for the Alaska World Arts Festival, friends from around the world share their unique cultures with uplifting, family-friendly mixtures of Eastern, Western, and everything in between dances. Modern and traditional performances include People of the Pacific Ocean, Club Culturel of Burundi (Africa), Khmer Dance of Cambodia, The Homer Dance Collaborative (modern), and dancers and troupes from Argentina, Bulgaria, Alaska, Spain, Nepal, Ireland, Kenya, and Kyrgyzstan.

Thursday, September 17

Td7 pm  VIRTUAL EVENT
A Cosmic Hamlet by the Sea powered by PechaKucha, sponsored by Bunnell Street Arts Center

20 slides x 20 seconds each / the art of concise presentation
Presenters include Kim McNett with The Seabird Memorial, Susan Houlihan with Plants to Products, Brian Partridge with Adolescent Brain Development, Amber Webb with The Giant Qaspeg, and Ginny Espenshade with The Kenai Peninsula Youth Court. 

All times listed are Alaska time [AKDT]

Friday, September 18

2-5 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Fundamentals of Watercolor with Don Kolstad

This class is designed to help you learn good techniques right from the start and improve on skills you’ve already developed. Together we will do a painting that incorporates brushwork, types of strokes, and other basic skills needed to create a piece of beauty. Supplies not included. Supply list provided after ticket purchase. Registration required in advance.

Icy Grooves
8 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Icy Grooves - Live in Concert with Alaskan jazz musicians

Composers and bandleaders Rick Zelinsky (sax, flute, EVI) and YNGVIL (trumpet, melodica, guitar) bring their new  Icy Grooves concept of Alaskan creative music to the rest of the World. Add three other amazing performers for a stunning mix of bluesy, funky, and jazzy sounds with many twists and turns, delivered with dexterity, cleverness, and deep spirit.

Saturday, September 19

Jeffrey Lee Mills in Concert
 12:30-1:30 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Jeffrey Lee Mills and the Baby Boomers in Concert - Live from Berlin

Jeffrey Lee Mills is a NY-born jazz pianist/composer based in Berlin, Germany. Enjoy an afternoon of his creative rock, jazz and groove, Beatle jazz and originals in this concert, live from Berlin, Germany with the Baby Boomers. 


2-4 pm VIRTUAL EVENT (1st of two sessions)
Acting Workshop for Teens
Plutus by Aristophanes

Plutus is a Greek comedy relevant in today’s world. A poor man befriends the blinded Plutus and encourages him to distribute riches to the deserving. Where will this lead? Come experiment, play, and learn in this acting workshop with the expressive and playful professional Greek director, Glyka Stoiou. Read the play online HERE  prior to our workshop. Ages 12-16 welcome. Younger actors are also welcome. ​



Approaches to Music Improvisation
4:30 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Approaches to Music Improvisation
Musicians Rick Zelensky and YNGVIL demonstrate three contrasting approaches to improvising: musical, visual, and “free”. Listening is essential to all three. Space is limited.


7 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
FisherPoets
FisherPoets is a creative celebration of the commercial fishing industry in poetry, prose, storytelling, and song. Fisherpoets from coasts east and west to Alaska and include Jon Broderick, Jay Speakman, Jay Speakman, John van Amerongen, Jon Campbell, Katrina Porteous, Geno Leech, Meghan Gervais, Steve Schoonmaker, Meezie Hermansen, Clark Whitney, Pat Dixon
Mary Garvey. Join these artists from the annual FisherPoets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, some of whom have attracted the enthusiastic attention of national and international media.

 
Late Night Aussie Acoustic
10 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Late Night Aussie Acoustic

This event beams live streams straight to you in your living room from Down Under. Last year’s AWAF headliner, Aussie singer/songwriter and actor Tom Carty will host a cross-section of mouth-watering Aussie acoustic talent from his Melbourne based talent agency Unplugged Entertainment including singer/songwriters Rhys Tolhurst, Angus Legg and Taylor Piggott.     
Offering a blend of contemporary acoustic folk/rock and pop/rock Late Night Aussie Acoustic shapes up to be a feature of the modified online Festival this year and a pathway for Australian talent to grace the Alaskan stages in years to come.

Sunday, September 20

10 am-Noon VIRTUAL EVENT
Storytelling through Video Blogs

There are as many different ways to produce video blogs, or vlogs, as there are human beings. Video blogs are personal documentaries of how YOU see the world. If you are looking to build a big following and get a lot of views on your produced content, you might want to focus more on your storytelling - yes, even in documentaries. In this 2-hour workshop Content Creator, Creative Solver & Audio-visual Media Producer Christin Maschmann will discuss examples of great vlogs and the different ways you can utilize your own video blogs for entertainment, business, or building a personal brand.

 
Bay Buskers
 12 Noon-1 pm LOCAL EVENT - HOMER, ALASKA
Live-at-Lunch at Land’s End Resort

This concert with the Bayside Buskers features local string players ages 7-14 playing classical Suzuki music intermixed with fiddle tunes. Violinist Maggie Mae Gaylord leads the group including Clyde Clemens, Lila Shavelson, Daniel Christ, Cecily Shavelson, and Declan Gaylord, all of whom play for tips and treat themselves to ice cream after their performances. Come in person to this social-distancing event on the deck at Land's End (weather dependant) or inside at Land's End Chart Room . ​ 

Acting Workshop for Teens
2-4 pm VIRTUAL EVENT (2nd of two sessions)
Acting Workshop for Teens
Plutus by Aristophanes

Plutus is a Greek comedy relevant in today’s world. A poor man befriends the blinded Plutus and encourages him to distribute riches to the deserving. Where will this lead? Come experiment, play, and learn in this acting workshop with the expressive and playful professional Greek director, Glyka Stoiou. Read the play online HERE  prior to our workshop. Ages 12-16 welcome. Younger actors are also welcome. 

4:15-6:15 pm VIRTUAL EVENT (2nd of two sessions)
The Art of Stand-Up Comedy with Derrick Eason

Learn the tricks, tools and techniques of Public Speaking and Stand Up Comedy. Find your unique voice to create original comedic material suitable for performance. Your guide is Derrick Eason, a 35-year Professional Stand Up Comedian from Philadelphia. Ages 16 and up welcome. Space is limited.

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7 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Pier One Theatre presents Drama Slam!

Writers and actors put the “pedal to the metal” and speed their way to performance! Enjoy this collection of short plays written, produced and performed in under a week! This performance is the culmination of their mad-cap efforts. Enjoy the ride! To participate as a writer or actor in the Drama Slam, visit PierOneTheatre.org.

Monday, September 21

International Comedy Showcase
7 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
International Comedy Showcase  

Enjoy an evening of stand-up comedy hosted by Philadelphia comedian Derrick Eason, sharing the stage with UK comedians Tom Elwes and Cally Beaton, and Alaskans Fiona Rose and Dawson Moore. This event may contain adult content and language.

Tuesday, September 22

A Writing Workshop
9:30-11 am VIRTUAL EVENT (2nd of two sessions)
A Writing Workshop: Bearing Witness to Loss, Transforming Grief with Holly J. Hughes & Linda M. Robertson

This on-line, two-part workshop will consider a variety of elegies and provide short writing practices for exploring how the natural world can be both balm and metaphor for processing losses of all kinds. Poets and prose writers of all experience levels are welcome. Workshop details provided after registration. Limited to 15 participants.

Wednesday, September 23

8-9 pm VIRTUAL EVENT
Spectacle of Festival Highlights

5-10-minute stunning performances by comedians, musicians, storytellers, actors, writers, and dancers from the 2020 Alaska World Arts Festival.
​Hosted by Alaska World Arts Festival producer/director Sally Oberstein.

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Special thanks to our Festival Supporters

2020 Festival Sponsors
2020 Festival Sponsors

Come for the Adventure, Stay for the Culture

Alaska International Arts Festival
Alaska World Arts Festival
Homer, Alaska USA
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
EIN# 83-1228025
Sally Oberstein, Producer
+1 (907) 235-2228
sally@alaskaworldarts.org

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