Arts and Culture

Local Tlingit beader Jill Kaasteen Meserve is making waves as her work becomes more widely known, both in Juneau and the Lower 48. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Old styles in new ways: beader talks art and octopus bags

She’s been selected for both a local collection and a major Indigenous art market.

Local Tlingit beader Jill Kaasteen Meserve is making waves as her work becomes more widely known, both in Juneau and the Lower 48. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Zuill Bailey, who is a Grammy Award-winning cellist and artistic director for the Juneau Jazz & Classics festival, will be among artists to perform in the six-day event. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Jazz & Classics)

Sweet sound of freedom: Juneau Jazz & Classics’ 1st post-pandemic festival features 27 visiting musicians

Event includes two military ensembles and first music cruises in four years.

Zuill Bailey, who is a Grammy Award-winning cellist and artistic director for the Juneau Jazz & Classics festival, will be among artists to perform in the six-day event. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Jazz & Classics)
Lisa Kron, who wrote the lyrics and book for the musical "Fun Home," sits in Perseverance Theatre's take on the Bechdel's house on Maple Avenue. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘This is exactly the size of a story of a lesbian’: A QA with ‘Fun Home’ lyricist and playwright Lisa Kron

The transformative power of theater and a difficult adaptation.

Lisa Kron, who wrote the lyrics and book for the musical "Fun Home," sits in Perseverance Theatre's take on the Bechdel's house on Maple Avenue. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A 22-foot healing totem pole carved by master carver Wayne Price, who is Tlingit, is now being installed next to the fishing dock at Twin Lakes (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A long road toward healing: Totem pole depicting tale of overcoming domestic violence now being installed at Twin Lakes

It’s expected to debut during Celebration.

A 22-foot healing totem pole carved by master carver Wayne Price, who is Tlingit, is now being installed next to the fishing dock at Twin Lakes (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) reacts to a memory from her childhood during rehearsals for "Fun Home." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Review: ‘Fun Home’ is where the heart is

Much better than “not too bad.”

Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) reacts to a memory from her childhood during rehearsals for "Fun Home." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / capital city weekly Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) watches Small Alison (Fiona McFarlin) join in a family cleaning frenzy ahead of an important visit during rehearsal for “Fun Home.”

Let the ‘Fun Home’ begin

Long-awaited musical is set to open soon.

Ben Hohenstatt / capital city weekly Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) watches Small Alison (Fiona McFarlin) join in a family cleaning frenzy ahead of an important visit during rehearsal for “Fun Home.”
Nora (Ginger Patterson) and the Proprietor (Adara Allen) stand at the forefront of a wide assortment of critters, including, a macaw (Georgia Post) and a donkey (Elizabeth Eriksen). (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Dance Theatre’s showcase is ready to spring

Animals big and small will gather in one place. Critters from the depths of the sea to not-quite-outer space — are all part of Juneau… Continue reading

Nora (Ginger Patterson) and the Proprietor (Adara Allen) stand at the forefront of a wide assortment of critters, including, a macaw (Georgia Post) and a donkey (Elizabeth Eriksen). (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Featured artist Jill Kaasteen Meserve designed the logo gracing the front of Tidal Echoes’ 2022 edition. (Courtesy photo / Tidal Echoes)

Loss and birds: UAS releases annual literary journal

Eased restrictions streamlined the production, but the release event will still be online.

Featured artist Jill Kaasteen Meserve designed the logo gracing the front of Tidal Echoes’ 2022 edition. (Courtesy photo / Tidal Echoes)
This December 2021 photo shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau. Heist's debut album "From the Land of Rusted Dreams" is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)

Roots music: New album draws from memories and connections made in Southeast Alaska

Steel (pedal) yourself for new music.

This December 2021 photo shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau. Heist's debut album "From the Land of Rusted Dreams" is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
The Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa totem pole was re-installed at its new home in the attrium of the State Office Building on Friday, March 11, 2022. Workers from Alaska Electric Light and Power helped install the pole. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Totem pole rededication ceremony emphasizes tradition, togetherness

“It represents history.”

The Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa totem pole was re-installed at its new home in the attrium of the State Office Building on Friday, March 11, 2022. Workers from Alaska Electric Light and Power helped install the pole. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Capital City Weekly Sarah Davidson and Kevin Jeffrey, Annie Kaill’s featured artists for the March 2022 First Friday, stand by a display of their work at the store on Wednesday.

The feel of water: Artists work to rethink mental health and waterways

In addition to being cofounders of the project, they’re featured artists this First Friday.

Michael S. Lockett / Capital City Weekly Sarah Davidson and Kevin Jeffrey, Annie Kaill’s featured artists for the March 2022 First Friday, stand by a display of their work at the store on Wednesday.
Courtesy Photo Juneau Artists Gallery will hold a Unique Boot-Ique that feature a silent auction fundraiser for local nonprofits for the month of March.

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

A boot-ique, new exhibits and more

Courtesy Photo Juneau Artists Gallery will hold a Unique Boot-Ique that feature a silent auction fundraiser for local nonprofits for the month of March.
Delia (Vivian Melde) is illuminated by a flashlight's beam following a frightening encounter with a ghost during a rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre's "The Brothers Paranormal." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Review: ‘The Brothers Paranormal’ blends frights and fun

O, ‘Brothers’ scare art thou.

Delia (Vivian Melde) is illuminated by a flashlight's beam following a frightening encounter with a ghost during a rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre's "The Brothers Paranormal." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Arias Hoyle, a 20-year-old Afro-Indigenous musician from Juneau, makes music as Air Jazz. "I feel like there’s instances where even the Afro-Indigenous people themselves feel like they have to choose one to move towards more than the other," Hoyle said. "And I don’t think that’s necessary. If you want to really embrace your full self, for as long as you shall live, just let it all be known." (Courtesy Photo)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Arias Hoyle on Afro Indigeneity, rap, and the ‘new wave’ of Indigenous expression

“From Oppression to Expression.”

Arias Hoyle, a 20-year-old Afro-Indigenous musician from Juneau, makes music as Air Jazz. "I feel like there’s instances where even the Afro-Indigenous people themselves feel like they have to choose one to move towards more than the other," Hoyle said. "And I don’t think that’s necessary. If you want to really embrace your full self, for as long as you shall live, just let it all be known." (Courtesy Photo)
Max (Mike Rao), Felix (Eddie Jones) and Visarut (Phai Giron) consult a book containing information that attempts to rationalize an apparent uptick in sightings of “Asian-looking” ghosts. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Perseverance prepares ‘Paranormal’ play

A ghost story is born.

Max (Mike Rao), Felix (Eddie Jones) and Visarut (Phai Giron) consult a book containing information that attempts to rationalize an apparent uptick in sightings of “Asian-looking” ghosts. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
African-American soldiers of Company L, 24th Infantry, famously known as "Buffalo Soldiers" on parade on 5th Avenue in Skagway, between Broadway and State streets, in front of the Daily Budget newspaper on July 4, 1899. A recent book from a University of Alaska Anchorage history professor traces the long history of Black Americans in Alaska. (Courtesy image / Alaska's Digital Archives)

Book traces over 150 years of Black history in Alaska

Before the gold rush.

African-American soldiers of Company L, 24th Infantry, famously known as "Buffalo Soldiers" on parade on 5th Avenue in Skagway, between Broadway and State streets, in front of the Daily Budget newspaper on July 4, 1899. A recent book from a University of Alaska Anchorage history professor traces the long history of Black Americans in Alaska. (Courtesy image / Alaska's Digital Archives)
Vladimir Alexeev in Norway while teaching summer school in 2017. Alexeev is a climate scientist who recently worked with local composer Michael Bucy to create a song about climate change. (Courtesy photo/Vishnu Nandan)
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Sounding a warning

Local composer writes song about climate change

Vladimir Alexeev in Norway while teaching summer school in 2017. Alexeev is a climate scientist who recently worked with local composer Michael Bucy to create a song about climate change. (Courtesy photo/Vishnu Nandan)
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Siblings Lea Skaggs, left, and Drake Skaggs, right, show off work by their brother Avery Skaggs at the opening night of a show at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum featuring a selection of work Avery Skaggs created during the pandemic lockdown. The exhibition is titled “Home: Disability Creativity in a Pandemic Lockdown.” (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Creating without community

‘Capitvating’ new exhibit contains artist’s lockdown work

Siblings Lea Skaggs, left, and Drake Skaggs, right, show off work by their brother Avery Skaggs at the opening night of a show at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum featuring a selection of work Avery Skaggs created during the pandemic lockdown. The exhibition is titled “Home: Disability Creativity in a Pandemic Lockdown.” (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
This picture shows the playbill for "A Tlingit Christmas Carol", which is presented by Perseverance Theatre and is now streaming online at https://www.ptalaska.org/. (Screenshot/Perseverance Theatre)

Tlingit-themed holiday classic streaming on a screen near you

Free, holiday offering from Perseverance Theatre

This picture shows the playbill for "A Tlingit Christmas Carol", which is presented by Perseverance Theatre and is now streaming online at https://www.ptalaska.org/. (Screenshot/Perseverance Theatre)
Franz Felkl, concertmaster and artistic director for the Juneau Symphony, leads a rehearsal at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Dec. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Juneau Symphony prepares to share holiday cheer

‘I hope it becomes a staple’: Concertmaster

Franz Felkl, concertmaster and artistic director for the Juneau Symphony, leads a rehearsal at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Dec. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)