On the First Friday of each month the local art galleries hold their opening receptions for new exhibits. There was quite a repertoire to choose from last night. Taz Tally was showing his photographs of the Kenai Peninsula at the Art Shop Gallery. Jo Going had created a sacred grove, "Stones, Poems, and Angels," as a full gallery installation at the Bushnell Street Arts Center. Michael Murray was presenting his watercolor series "We're Traveling Musicians" at the Fireweed Gallery. Two contemporary Aleut artists, David Groat and Patrick Lind were being showcased at Picture Alaska. And there was more...There was too much to meander through in one evening. In the end, I opted for The Homer Film Society's showing of 14 animated short films from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States at Cinema 127. It would be a one time showing, and I could catch the other presentations sans artists over the course of the month.
Cinema 127 sets unnoticed, just off of Bishop's Beach, in a warehouse tucked away at 127 Bunnell Ave. Thus the name. It is art nouveau of a different bent - it's all very Homeresque. The icy path leading to Cinema 127 was only subtly marked, with a small handwritten sign highlighted in the darkness by two brown paper bags with candles in them. Still, there was a full house of aficionados in attendance.
During the course of the evening we were treated to an array of films from the Anchorage International Film Festival that ranged from entertaining (the womencentric series "Teat Beat on Sex" by Signe Baumane), to enlightening (the fluid brilliance of "Symphony" by Erik Oh), and from the too real "Pac(hyderm) Attack!!") to the surreal ("The Misadventures of Moon Kitty"). "Codswallop" by the The Brothers McLeod, and "Yellow Sticky Notes" by Jeff Chiba Sterns, were two other notable entries. Follow the links provided off the titles for samplings, and perhaps a smile for your day. Let me know your faves.
Enjoy your weekend!
(photo - stills from "Symphony by Erik Oh)