Community Arts Classes Are A Big Success

A total of 14 people attended the leather mask making class held November 6-7th. They created some amazingly beautiful and exotic masks. Due to demand, a second class was held two weeks later.

The stained glass students who attended Debbie Ackerman's class Nov 27-28 created some beautiful works of art. There are plans for another class soon.


If you would like to be part of the fun, check this web site for information on future classes. Contact the Skagway Arts Council by email here.

Blue Feather Music Festival, Whitehorse

The annual Blue Feather Music Festival 2010 is happening this weekend in Whitehorse!!! It's too late for the Arts Council to organize a group trip to this event, but if you happen to be in Whitehorse this weekend, you might want to catch some of the acts. Or make a special trip to enjoy the whole weekend!!! Below are the details.

What: Blue Feather Music Festival 2010 - Decade of Dedication

When: Friday, 11/5/10 and Saturday, 11/6/10; Doors open at 6 pm, Feast begins at 6:30; Show starts at 7:30 (all Yukon time)

Where: Yukon Arts Center, 300 College Drive, Whitehorse

How Much: Adults $20; Students/Elders $15; Kids $19; Weekend pass $30.

Who: Friday's show includes Electric Cheese, Singlestream, Common Knowledge, Trigger and Marija. Saturday's show includes Nicole Edwards & the Joyseekers, Klukshu Flats, Kevin Barr & Blue Eagle, Diyet, and Deering & Down. Featuring: Groundwork Session Crew.

For more info: Call the Blue Feather Music Society at 867-334-3313 or visit their website at www.bluefeathermusic.ca

Leather mask-making workshop

The leather mask making workshop scheduled for last weekend didn't happen AGAIN because of the supply order. But we're not giving up. It has been re-scheduled for THIS WEEKEND!! Same place (Skagway School Shop), same time (Saturday (11/6) and Sunday (11/7) from 1pm to 3pm, same price ($10).
If you signed up for last weekend and still want to attend this weekend, you are already on the list so do nothing but show up on Saturday the 6th at 1pm. If you haven't signed up yet, we have exactly two spots left -- either reply to this email or call Kathy at 983-3650.

The details:

The Skagway Arts Council is offering a 2-day workshop on creating molded leather masks. This is open to all adults plus junior and high school students. The workshops will be held on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, November 6 and 7 in the shop at the school. Tegan Baldwin and Kathy Wassman will guide you in designing, cutting and molding your mask; all tools and materials will be provided to decorate with paint, string, glitter, fur, feathers and other items. There will be a materials fee of only $10 per person and you will leave the class with your own mask to wear and/or hang on the wall. Space is limited so please reserve yours ASAP by responding to this email or calling Kathy at 983-3650.

Please join us for this creative fun!!!

Sept 23rd Gordie Tentrees and Sarah MacDougall in concert!!

links: Gordie Tentrees Sarah MacDougall

African Children's Choir

The choir will be performing three times in Skagway during Labor Day weekend - September 4, 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, September 5, 10 a.m. at the church, and 7 p.m. at the Skagway School. All concerts are free admission. The choir will be selling cds and accepting goodwill offerings. Thanks to the Tronruds and other local volunteers and sponsors for initiating and supporting this event.

The African Children’s Choir™ is made up of some of the neediest and most vulnerable children in their countries. Many have lost one or both parents to poverty or disease. The African Children’s Choir™ helps these children break away from the everyday cycle of poverty and hopelessness. Before being selected to join the Choir, children, generally aged between 7 and 11 attend Music for Life camps. These camps are fun and stimulating environments that provide a break from the daily hardships the young children face at home.Children selected to tour will spend approximately five months at the Choir Training Academy in Kampala, Uganda. Here the children learn the songs and dances, attend school, play and attend Sunday School at a local church.

Check out their website: http://www.africanchildrenschoir.com/ for more information.

Southeast Alaska State Fair

The 2010 Southeast Alaska State Fair runs July 29 to August 1, and this year’s theme is “Magic Happens at the Fair.” The four-day event features athletic and music contests, great food booths, and more than 28 entertainment acts, including North Carolina-based funksters Yo Mammas Big Fat Booty Band, San Francisco hula dance artist Spiral, Alaskan Inuit tribal funk group Pamuya, and many more.

Talent Show
The Fair will host a regional, all-ages talent show, “Southeast’s Got Talent,” at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, the first day of the four-day fair.

Entry costs $10. Entry forms can be printed online at www.seakfair.org, and should be mailed with a check or money order to P.O. Box 385, Haines, AK, 99827 by the July 26 (extended) registration deadline.

The contest winner will receive a $500 prize and $250 travel stipend to travel to the statewide “Alaska’s Got Talent” competition Sept. 6 at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.

Fiddle Contest
Saturday, July 31, 2:15 PM
Bring your favorite fiddle (or violin) and join in the fun. Stomp your feet and clap your hands and get ready for a good time! Thank you to Constantine Mine for sponsoring this event.

Singer/Songwriter Competition
Friday, July 30 3:00 PM
This competition has been a Fair favorite for several years. Country & bluegrass, blues & folk, and pop. This event will be judged live in Payson's Pavilion.

Fair Exhibits
Photographers, knitters, bakers, and candlestick makers, your products could earn you fair prize ribbons and the admiration of your work by your friends. If you would like to submit items for fair exhibits, pick up an exhibit book at the library, AB Hall, or view it online at the SE Alaska State Fair website. Submissions from Skagway are due to our town representative, Donna Snyder, on August 20 or 21 (NE corner of Alaska and 6th Streets). She will be shipping them to the fair. For perishable items (e.g., food, flowers, drinks) contact Donna (983-3222) for information and due dates.

For complete contest guidelines and talent show entry forms, see the fair website www.seakfair.org. See you there!

Tucson Girls Choir to Perform in Skagway

Founded in 1985, the Tucson Girls Chorus is recognized as an outstanding choral education program working with young ladies from 2nd through 8th grades and up through high school in five choirs. The choirs present concerts locally, nationally and internationally, tour regularly, have produced CDs and hold an annual singer summer music camp.





Artistic Director


Ms. Marcela Molina (began as Artistic Director in the fall of 2006)
A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Marcela Molina is currently completing her doctoral studies in choral conducting at the University of Arizona. She holds a master’s degree in choral conducting and a bachelor’s degree in theory and composition from the University of Arizona and Westminster Choir College, respectively.
From 2003-2006, Ms. Molina was the assistant conductor of the prestigious Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. In addition, she has conducted numerous performances and rehearsals at the University of Arizona—including the University Community Chorus, the women’s choir of the Vocal Arts Festival and the Arizona Choir—as well as the Tucson Masterworks Chorale and the semi-professional choir, Tucson Chamber Artists, where she was guest conductor for the 2005 Holiday Season. In 2002 Ms. Molina was on the theory faculty for the select Young Artist Certificate Program at the Westminster Conservatory, the community music school of Westminster Choir College.

Skagway hosts inaugural North Words Writers Symposium June 3-6

Several recognized authors from the 49th State are coming to beautiful and historical Skagway, Alaska on June 3-6 to launch the first-ever North Words Writers Symposium.
Keynoter speaker will be best-selling mystery writer Dana Stabenow, who will lead panels along with several writers, historians and editors from around the state.
They include Nick Jans, Sherry Simpson, Kim Heacox, Kaylene Johnson, David Hunsaker, Andromeda Romano-Lax, Daniel Henry, Elizabeth Dabney, Nita Nettleton, Peggy Shumaker, and Tim Woody.
Local color and story ideas will be offered by historian Karl Gurcke and editor-publisher Jeff Brady, along with conference coordinator Buckwheat Donahue of the Skagway Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In addition to engaging in panel discussions about writing and publishing, registered symposium participants will get to travel to Lake Bennett on the White Pass & Yukon Route and float through Dyea on a raft tour.
Registration information and a complete list of panel topics and activities may be found at www.nwwriterss.com – there also is a link to a great interview with Donahue and Henry on the popular 49 Writers site about how the symposium came to be.
The event is sponsored by the Skagway CVB with generous support from Alaska Magazine, The Skagway News Co., and Sgt. Preston’s Lodge.

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For more information:
Buckwheat Donahue, 907-983-2854, or carlin_donahue@hotmail.com

John (Johnnie B) and Sharon Bushell

An exciting, family entertainment evening for all ages is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 14th at the Skagway School. Homer performers, John (Johnnie B) and Sharon Bushell have been amazing audiences for 30 years with their upbeat program of live recitation by author Sharon from her "Trouble with Bernie" book series and imaginative piano accompaniment by Johnny B. Johnny B will also be solo for some boogie-woogie, toe tapping, Alaska dreamscape songs. The couple will present an all-school assembly at 12:30 that afternoon at the school followed by two workshops;  Sharon conducting a writing workshop for grades 3-8, and Johnny B giving a music performance workshop for junior and high school students. The school performances are free of charge and for the evening performance we are asking for a donation if you can; suggested price is $5 per person or $10 for the whole family or whatever you like. The Arts Council is collaborating with the school on this event. For more information about the Bushells, go to their website: www.roadtunesmedia.com

Second Annual Spring Show of Winter Work

A Celebration of Creativity in our Community

APRIL 16th & 17th, 2010

CALLING ALL SKAGWAY RESIDENT ARTISTS!

Poets, storytellers, musicians, painters, sculptors, carvers, jewelers, bakers, candlestick makers, quilters, photographers, potters, cake decorators, knitters, textile sculptors, visual, poetic, performance, and literary artisans of all kinds.

You are personally invited to submit your art.

Submission forms are available at the Skagway Library and online by clicking here.
Click on form name, and then click on the "download" button. Form can then be printed out.

You may also want to print out the cover letter. It can be accessed and printed by clicking here.


Submission Form Deadline: Friday, April 9, 2010

For more information call Tegan (603-493-7655) or Dawn (907-983-3302).

Stewart Ely & Keith Heller in Concert March 21 at 7:00pm

A co-founder of the legendary Pelican Boardwalk Boogie, Ely has performed as a solo artist, as the singer and guitarist with the bluegrass group the Starr Hill Billies and in a duo with guitarist Keith Heller.

Juneau singer Collette Costa said that Ely has introduced her to some of her favorite songs, by songwriters she would otherwise never have known.

"He has a gift for finding these amazing songs that you would never get a chance to hear, I go to hear Stewart because he manages to excavate these songs from God knows where that are masterpieces of songwriting."

Keith Heller, an accomplished fingerpicking guitarist, is also a Pelican resident and favors the ragtime and blues styles.

This promises to be a memorable evening of folk music and it is being held in Skagway's premier acoustical setting, the First Presbyterian Church at 5th and Main.

You don't want to miss this one!

February 27 - The Pied Piper of Hamlin, puppet show by Gepetto's Junkyard

The Skagway Arts Council will be presenting a marionette/puppet show this weekend on Saturday evening at 7:00 pm at the Eagles. The puppeteers are a group of 12 artists and musicians called Geppetto's Junkyard from Haines and they'll be presenting The Pied Piper of Hamlin, plus several other short acts. They have written this play for adults but it is delightful for children as well. This troupe sold out all of their performances in Haines and ended up scheduling additional performances based on demand. They have created all of the puppets and marionettes for the show, some of which took almost 5 years, and they built a beautiful set which includes a whole village.

MEET THE PUPPETEERS!!! --- Potluck
We want to show Geppetto's Junkyard some true Skagway hospitality so we're hosting a potluck dinner for them just prior to the show. It will start at 5:30 at the Eagles. Please join us!!!! Bring a potluck dish to share and spend time getting to know the puppeteers and musicians.

Admission is $8 adults, $4 students/seniors, Under 5 are free.

2nd Annual Winter Weekend Film Festival

February 19-21 at the AB Hall, Skagway, Alaska.

The theme is "Exploring Art, Music, and Dance through Film". Ticket cost is $5 per film or $18 for a weekend pass to all the films. At each film, weekend pass holders will get a chance to sit in the VIP Recliner (winner drawn at random). Refreshments will be available for purchase. Advance tickets will be available for purchase at the News Depot, Glacial Smoothies, and You Say Tomato.

Friday, 2/19/10

• 7:30 p.m. August Rush (PG)

Saturday, 2/20/10

• 4:00 pm. Animated Worlds (11 animated shorts from the NW Film Center)
• 7:00 p.m. Man on Wire (PG-13, documentary)
• 9:00 p.m. Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? (PG-13, documentary)

Sunday, 2/21/10

• 4:00 pm Best of the 35^th Annual Northwest Film and Video Festival Tour (12 short films from the NW Film Center, Portland festival)
  
• 6:00 p.m. War Dance (PG-13, documentary)

Film Descriptions:
August Rush
Freddie Highmore, Liv Tyler, Keri Russell, Robin Williams
Warner Bros.; Directed by Kirsten Sheridan 100 minutes; 2007
Two young musicians have a chance encounter but when they are torn apart they leave an infant in their wake. Young August Rush, orphaned by circumstance, uses his unique inherited musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.

Man on Wire
Magnolia Pictures; Directed by James Marsh 90 minutes; 2008
This is the true story of Philippe Petit who, in 1974, committed the artistic crime of the century. He had done many illegal high wire walks before including between the towers of Notre Dame and across the Sydney Harbor bridge but it was his walk between the then unfinished World Trade Center towers that brought him the most notoriety. He remembers the fateful day along with his crew who helped him pull off this once in a lifetime event. (In English and French with English subtitles)

Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock?
Hewitt Group; Directed by Harry Moses. 74 minutes; 2006
This documentary follows a woman named Teri Horton, a 73-year old former long-haul truck driver from California, who purchased a painting from a thrift shop for $5, only later to find out that it may be a Jackson Pollock painting; she had no clue at the time who Jackson Pollock was, hence the name of the flick.

War Dance
ThinkFilm; Directed by Andrea Nix and Sean Fine. 105 minutes; 2007
Set against the backdrop of Uganda's twenty year civil war during which over 30,000 children have been abducted by a rebel army, this film tells the story of schoolchildren Dominic, Rose, Nancy as they take an historic journey to compete in their country's national music and dance festival. Amidst the tragedy that surrounds them just being asked to compete brings pride to their tribe.

Call for Artists

The Dahl Memorial Clinic Board is pleased to announce an open call for submissions for artwork to create a welcoming environment for the new E.A. and Jenny Rasmuson Community Health Center. We would like to see work from artists at all stages of their careers and from all Alaskan and Yukon communities. The art selection committee is seeking both existing artwork and concept proposals. Submission forms and instructions may be downloaded from the Notices tab at Municipalitity of Skagway

Gordie Tentrees Trio pictures

Jan, Cara, and crew did a great job inflating the "acoustic enhancing" balloons. What a great idea, it really
worked! (Photo by Jeff Brady, Skagway News)


Lucas Heger got the concert started with some beautiful songs.

Then, Gordie, along with Ken and Jenny gave us a great concert. You can check out their upcoming schedule at: Gordie Tentrees Trio They are playing 50 cities in 52 days! Skagway was their first stop.

Gordie Tentrees Band In Concert January 21st