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| Courtesy of Rob Korpela |
 Acrylic explosion: Rob Korpela of VisionKraze International will show his latest acrylic paintings at Artist AmongUs Gallery, Suite 211 on the second floor of the Emporium Mall, above Heritage Coffee. |
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Though not new to the capital's art scene, Monica O'Keefe recently joined the Juneau Artists Gallery, which features the work of almost 30 local artists year-round. As a newly minted member, the accomplished landscape painter is the gallery's featured artist in January.
Having lived in Alaska for more than 20 years, O'Keefe is a relative newcomer to the capital, moving from Anchorage in 2005. But in that time she has logged a few exhibits, and last July her acrylic painting "Favorite Channel" won best of show out of 28 pieces in the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council's first-ever juried art exhibit.
"My paintings are intended to convey a peaceful or contemplative feeling of being along the coast or looking out from a mountainside," O'Keefe stated in a press release. "I hope that these paintings let the viewer remember some similar scene or imagine being there."
O'Keefe first moved to Alaska in the early 1980s to work as a geologist, exploring minerals in the remotest areas of the state. The artist credits her background in geology with her appreciation for landscapes.
O'Keefe's display at the Senate Mall Building at 175 S. Franklin St. is one of many art exhibits to open Friday, Jan. 4, kicking off the new year's cycle of First Fridays.
The following is a roundup of First Friday shows and events that are open to visitors from 4:30 to 7 p.m.:
Alaska State Museum, 395 Whittier St.: This Friday will give art aficionados a good opportunity to catch "Art for Alaskans, the Alaska Contemporary Art Bank" and "Earth Fire and Fiber XXVI" before they close Jan. 15. The "Art for Alaskans" exhibit is a survey of artwork created by Alaska artists over the past 30 years. "Earth Fire and Fiber XXVI" is a juried art exhibit originating from the Anchorage Museum of Art and History. For more information, call 465-2901.
Artist AmongUs Gallery, Emporium Mall: Rob Korpela of VisionKraze International will show his latest acrylic paintings at the gallery in Suite 211 on the second floor of the Emporium Mall, above Heritage Coffee.
Back Room at the Silverbow Inn & Bakery, 120 Second St.: The downtown bakery will hold a reception from 4:30 to 7 p.m. for Brenda Stearns' "Exploring Italy" exhibit. For more information, call 463-3329.
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| Courtesy of Juneau Arts & Humanities Council |
| Fine Art painter: Dan Fruits will be displaying his landscapes at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center at 350 Whittier St. |
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Downtown library, 292 Marine Way: Sarah Brooks will host a First Friday literary teen and adult program starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call 586-5267.
Juneau Arts & Culture Center, 350 Whittier St.: Expressionist Dan Fruits will show his latest Southeast Alaska landscapes, as well as his Yukon Kuskokwim Delta village paintings and a few pieces from a recent stay in Florida. The reception will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Following the reception, the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council will hold its second "rent" party with an all-ages contra and square dance with the Grateful Celtics and caller Tom Paul. The dance is a pay-as-you-can fundraiser to help the arts council pay for the costs of operating the culture center. It's an alcohol-free, smoke-free event. Snacks and refreshments will be for sale. For more information, call 586-2787.
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| Monica O'Keefe |
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Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Fourth and Main streets: The museum will be showing the 2004 winter installment of the Juneau Underground Motion Picture Society Film Festival from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visitors to the gallery also can check out the museum's permanent exhibit "Playful Pastimes." For more information, call 586-3572.
Ruby Room, Emporium Mall: The gallery behind Heritage Coffee will host a group exhibit on perspective. For more information, call Sarah Asper-Smith at Lucid Reverie, at 586-3440.
Zephyr, 200 Seward St.: The 11-year-old phenom who made a splash on Juneau's music scene last year will play a gig at 7:30 p.m. following First Friday at the downtown restaurant. The singer, who goes by the stage name Kit, will perform as Kit and the Kaboodles, with Steve Wilde on guitar, Doug Bridges on saxophone, Simon Taylor on bass and Doug Fanyak on drums. The band will perform music ranging from country and rock to folk and jazz. Kit says she hopes to perform once a month this year as well as put out a CD, before taking the summer off to commercial fish with her family.
