Artists Bios
DISCOVER THE STORIES BEHIND THE ARTISTS
Storytelling, The Good Years Worldwide
SAT Sept 13, 8 pm
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Geo Beach is an award-winning NPR commentator. He grew up on the New England coast and moved to Alaska on the darkest day of the year, the winter solstice. Since then, he's worked as an Alaskan logger, firefighter and medic, and commercial fisherman — including winter crabbing on the Bering Sea.
Alaska World Arts Entertainment Spectacle of Short Performances
SUN Sept 21, 7 pm
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Rich Chiappone is the author of three collections of stories and essays. They have been published in national magazines and literary journals, including Alaska Magazine, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Playboy, the Sun, Catamaran Literary Reader, Fiction Southeast, The Missouri Review, and others. Visit Online âžž
World Arts Opening Reception
FRI Sept 12, 4-6 pm
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Sharlene Cline playfully responds to the complicated world around her. She achieves this through layers of Chinese brushwork, decorative paper, acrylics, and found objects. Sharlene studied Chinese brush painting in Taiwan under internationally renowned Yang O-Shi, and has shown her paintings, mixed media works, and installations across America. She has curated exhibits and is represented in private and permanent collections in Canada, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan, and the United States. Visit Online âžž
Alaska World Arts Entertainment Spectacle of Short Performances
SUN Sept 21, 7 pm
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Stephanie Cortez has fifteen years of theater and circus production experience. She has a bachelor’s in physics and a Master’s in astronomy and teaches Astronomy & Physics. Her production, Exist, is an astronomy-inspired circus performance that takes the audience on a journey through the cosmos, exploring what it means to be alive and present in the “age of science.”
World Arts Opening Reception
FRI Sept 12, 4-6 pm
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Born and raised in Fairbanks, AK, Homer artist Jeff Dean has professionally created sculpture and metal art since the late '70s. He uses decorative grinding and a large propane torch to make heat-colored steel engravings, resulting in unique visual effects. The Dean Homestead and Art Studios offer a heartfelt, handmade, one-of-a-kind experience and a peek into this artist’s family life of art, animals, gardens, and architecture. Visit Online âžž
Mural Meeting of the Minds
SAT Sept 13, 11-12 am
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Kathleen Dose-Koehl is a Chicago creative who paints murals, model railroad backgrounds, faux walls, canvases, and other stationary objects. Her art is inspired by the art and culture she encounters in her world travels. Raising alpacas, riding horses, and gardening are her therapy after art and her excuses for not cooking for her family. Visit Online âžž
Storytelling, The Good Years Worldwide
SAT Sept 13, 8 pm
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Bringing Your Stories To Life
SUN Sept 14, 2-4 pm
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From Irish myths and Russian fairytales to Mexican fables and lively participation stories, William Kennedy Hornyak weaves a wide web of tales, poems, songs, and lore into thoughtful, well-crafted, spellbinding performances. The Oregonian says, "Storyteller par excellence…transports audiences young and old into an amazing world of imagination.” Visit Online âžž
Live-at-Lunch
SAT Sept 20, 12/noon
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Born in Homer, Alaska, 15-year-old Zephan Jones has been playing piano since he was eight years old. He began composing his own music at ten and often opens for show for his big brother Silas Jones. Zephan recently traveled to Peru on a church mission and taught music, launching the fulfillment of his dream to travel the world and sharing his music.
Krambambuli Puppet Theatre
SAT Sept 13, 12-12:45 pm & 3-3:45 pm
3 pm BUY TICKETS âžž
Family Puppet Making Workshop
SUN Sept 14, 11-1 pm
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Salila Kubitza studied puppet design, construction, and manipulation in the Czech Republic. She lived and worked in India, focusing on ancient tales of wisdom from Zen, Sufi, and other spiritual traditions. She has presented puppet shows and workshops for all ages in Australia, Germany, India, Japan, and the USA.
Old Time Radio Theater
SUN Sept 14, 8 pm
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The Wizard of Odds
FRI Sept 26, 7 pm, SAT 27, 7 pm, SUN Sept 28, 4 pm, WED Oct 1, 7 pm, FRI Oct 3, 7 pm, SAT Oct 4, 7 pm
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Michael McKinney is an actor, comedy writer, musician, auctioneer, emcee, and set builder for Pier One Theatre and Homer Nutcracker Productions. He has co-written a dozen musical comedies for stages across Alaska for small acting troupes and large community theatre productions.
Elton John – The Early Years
FRI Sept 12, 7 pm and 10 pm
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Kenny Metcalf is an experienced studio engineer, musician, singer, and songwriter. In the 1980s, he toured with the rock group Stryper, using his talents as their stage keyboardist. Over the years, Kenny Metcalf as Elton John, has played in large venues, theaters, concert halls, and arenas.
World Arts Opening Reception
FRI Sept 12, 4-6 pm
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Lynn Naden has been a self-employed Alaskan artist since 1990 and known for her multi-media work and teaching. She has facilitated numerous art installations in schools and museums. Lynn Marie is passionate about sharing her depth of knowledge and talent in multiple art forms to encourage self-exploration and to create more beauty in the world through art. Visit Online âžž
World Arts Opening Reception
FRI Sept 12, 4-6 pm
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Long time Homer resident originally from the Puget Sound Seattle area, Cindy Nelson is a painter and a self-taught mosaic artist, primarily working in glass. Her studio is organized in colors or textures of the glass, and she incorporates fused pieces within the mosaics, making each piece unique. Visit Online âžž
Stand-up Comedy at Alice's Comedy / Storyteller Nancy Norton
SAT Sept 20, 9 pm
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Tromedy: The Power of Humor Workshop with comedian Nancy Norton
SUN Sept 21, 2-3:30 pm
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Nancy Norton is the first female to win the Boston Comedy Festival and Champion of the Seattle International Comedy Competition. Her credits also include an Evening at the Improv on A&E and on Amazon Prime, Nickmom Night Out on Nickelodeon, Super Dork on Dry Bar Comedy Special, and The Yellowish-Green Girl on PBS.
Old Time Radio Theater
SUN Sept 14, 8 pm
BUY TICKETS âžž
The Wizard of Odds
FRI Sept 26 & 27, 7 pm, SUN Sept 28, 4 pm, WED Oct 1, 3, & 4, 7 pm,
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Sally Oberstein is a novelist, playwright, performer, director, and producer who has worked on stages around the world. She directs the Nutcracker Ballet in Homer, produces the Alaska World Arts Festival, and owns a worldwide travel company guiding adventurous travelers off the beaten path. Visit Online âžž
World Arts Opening Reception
FRI Sept 12, 4-6 pm
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Jan Peyton has been drawing and painting since she was 10 years old. Raised in Washington state, Jan moved to Alaska in 1978 for a job using her degree in Russian language and started painting watercolors then. She has taught watercolor workshops at the Kachemak Bay Campus and has been featured in numerous juried art shows. Visit Online âžž
World Arts Opening Reception
FRI Sept 12, 4-6 pm
Alaska World Arts Entertainment Spectacle of Short Performances
SUN Sept 21, 7 pm
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Jake Schlapfer is a talented local Homer guitarist, singer/songwriter multi-instrument performer with more than 40 years experience performing on stage in Alaska. For many years, his musical passion was playing in bluegrass bands. “Because bluegrass just makes the heart glad”. Lately, his musical journey has now settled on American Folk and ballads.
Lights, Camera, Action!
FRI Sept 12, 6 pm
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48-Hour Film Slam Jam!
FRI Sept 19, 7 pm
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Mike Selle is a film and stage actor, writer, filmmaker, director, and musician. His work history includes thirty years of arts administration, stage production, and performance. He studied film & Animation at Minneapolis College of Art and Design and has an MFA in directing and screenwriting from California College of Arts in San Francisco. Visit Online âžž
Storytelling, The Good Years Worldwide
SAT Sept 13, 8 pm
BUY TICKETS âžž
Bringing Your Stories To Life​​
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1960s Counter-culture author Jim Stearns, producer of Alaska’s Salmonfest Music Festival, shares stories about working with the Grateful Dead, Ani DiFranco, Jason Mraz, Emmylou Harris, Jewel, and the Indigo Girls. Jim also rubbed elbows with Ken Kesey, Nelson Mandela, Jane Fonda, and Timothy Leary.
Alaska World Arts Entertainment Spectacle of Short Performances
SUN Sept 21, 7 pm
The Alaska Japanese Club Homer Taiko Drumming Group was established in 2024 when Homer celebrated its 40-year Sister City anniversary with Teshio, Hokkaido in Japan. The group has performed in and around Homer since then. The club's leader, Megumi Beams teaches students about Japanese language and culture. Taiko is a traditional style of Japanese drumming and can also refer to any drum in Japan.
Storytelling, The Good Years Worldwide
SAT Sept 13, 8 pm
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Originally from New England, David Webster moved to Alaska in 1981 and has been a local creator ever since. He is a multitalented playwright, musician, builder, husband, father, stage director, soundman, and former KBBI Public Radio news director.
Lights, Camera, Action!
FRI Sept 12, 6 pm
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48-Hour Film Slam Jam!
FRI Sept 19, 7 pm
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Susannah Webster and Nate Spence-Chorman are the creative team behind the wildly successful Porcupine Theater, as well as numerous other lesser-known endeavors/projects/flops and tomfoolery. With backgrounds in film, game design, sculpture, writing, real estate, psychology, carpentry, conceptual art, natural history, and sanitation, the two are basically good at everything worth being good at.
Stand-up Comedy at Alice's
SAT Sept 20, 9 pm
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Angie Wellborn is a massage therapist by day and a quick-witted standup comedian by night. Her humor is clever and addresses real-life experiences about parenting, past relationships, shopping, and being single. Her dating stories will make your dad blush and your friends laugh.