PRATT MUSEUM

Denali: Artists Respond to Composers

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February 4 – May 25, 2020

DENALI Artists Respond to Music Inspired by Wilderness was conceived at the confluence of two languages-music and visual art. Elements Artist Group, six artists anchored in Alaska, created eighteen pieces of art in collaboration with nine composers from Composing in the Wilderness 2017. Each piece of art is a personal response to a musical composition. Composers from Denali National Park’s Composing in the Wilderness program shared their music scores, ideas, and information about specific locations that kindled their inspiration. Elements artists have all experience the transformative potency of living, working, traveling, or being an Artist in Residence in Denali Park. Their connections to this rare wilderness, alon with knowledge of specific places influence their responses–the colors, textures, shapes, and images they chose.

Each visual work in the show is accompanied by a musical score and QR link to audio of the composition by which it was inspired.

Kathy Smith: Rivers of Ice

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October 4 – December 28, 2019

Kathy Smith is a painter and a long time resident of Homer, Alaska. She can see Grewingk Glacier from her house, and has been watching glaciers retreat since visiting Portage Glacier as a child. Her new paintings are a record of visits to various glaciers in Alaska, and a testament to the effects of a changing climate on the northern landscape. Her work is represented in the Pratt Museum’s permanent collection.

Gull Island Cam

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Gull Island Camera is online! Feel free to watch on YouTube, or come in to the museum to control the camera view. Thanks to SpitwSpots for providing discounted wireless service to transmit the signal from Gull Island to Homer!

Officially Renovated!

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Wow! What a party! Thank you to everyone who came to the Museum on Saturday and helped us celebrate our Grand Re-Opening! We hope you had as much fun as we did! Thank you, also, to all the amazing performers who shared their talents, and our community partners who brought discovery lab materials! Missed Saturday? Don’t worry– we’re open 10am-6pm daily all summer, so you can come see the renovations in person someday soon!

Renovation Progress 2/7/19

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People keep asking what’s going on with renovation–it’s mostly been on the inside, and it’s been busy! Wall framing is complete in almost all areas, as well as rough-in for systems. Shafts sites are prepped for both elevator lifts (front entrance and interior). Things will start looking very different when drywall arrives next week! Work has also resumed on the re-vamped front entrance. Although glass windows, doors, and siding will be installed near the end of the project, interior space, steps and roofing are coming together!

*If youwould like a special sneak peak, call the museum to book your own Hard Hat Tour! These one-hour behind-the-scenes tours (including hors d’oeuvres and a beverage) are $50 per person, $175 for a group of 4, or $250 for a group of 6 (max tour size). Call the museum at 235-8635 to schedule!

All Alaska Biennial

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“Grandma” by Christopher Judd. Oil on Linen, 5′ x 3′. All Alaska Biennial, Honorable Mention

All-Alaska Biennial features contemporary work by Alaska artists. This juried exhibition is a continuation of the museum’s All-Alaska Juried and Earth, Fire & Fibre exhibitions, which began more than 30 years ago to encourage creation of new works in all media by Alaska artists. Guest juror Candice Hopkins is a citizen of Carcross/Tagish First Nation in Yukon, Canada, and is an independent curator and writer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The exhibition’s call for entries drew 634 submissions from 161 artists. Works include drawing, painting, mixed media, craft, jewelry, fiber art, visual art, metalsmithing, printmaking, encaustic, ceramic, book/paper arts, photography and sculpture.

Hopkins selected Anchorage artist Kristy Summers’ mixed-media piece Descend for the Juror’s Choice Award, with honorable mentions going to Anchorage artist Christopher Judd’s oil on linen on board painting, Grandma; and Anchorage photographer Mark Stadsklev’s photography giclée print No Way Out. The exhibition opened in Anchorage and travels to other Alaska locations throughout Fall 2019.

All Alaska Biennial is organized by The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Support for this traveling exhibition has been made possible with the support of: Alaska State Council on the Arts, a federal Agency; the Municipality of Anchorage, the Anchorage Museum Association and the Anchorage Museum Foundation Alaska Airlines Silver Anniversary Fund.

Membership amid Renovation

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As you may know, the Pratt Museum is currently under renovation and closed to the public. Our grand-reopening is scheduled for May 3, 2019, so what should our Members do in the meantime?
Now is a great time to become or renew your membership status with us, here’s why:
     We are honoring all current and new memberships with an extension on all annual membership levels per your renewal date. Renew before December 31, 2018 and your membership won’t expire for 20 months. What a great deal to make the most of your membership! 
     Here are some other ways to keep connected with the Pratt while we are closed:

     To add ROAM to a current membership, subscribe to our e-newsletter, or if you have any questions, contact us at 235-8635 or email. All current and soon-to-expire members will be receiving letters with their membership information in October.
     We look forward to seeing you at the Pratt soon and showing off our improvements and new programs when we open the doors next May!

Renovation Progress 10/9/18

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Things are moving quickly along! Since September, museum staff and volunteers have relocated the whole of collections storage into the former store and special exhibits gallery, which won’t be affected during this phase of construction. Beachy Construction has begun work to renovate the front deck and entry, and erected a dust barricade to protect the permanent gallery (and overflow storage) from their work to install a new ramp to the marine gallery. The downstairs is completely gutted and preparing for a whole new life as dedicated storage and classroom space! Walls are going away upstairs as we get a glimpse of a new, wide open gallery space!

Landfalls

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Dedications to Alaskan Women Writers and Storytellers

“With it, we are joined, and continue” Joan Naviyuk Kane. Found images, photographs, blueberry-dyed paper and gauze, fish leather, and encaustic on hand-cut scrap metal Words from her poem, “Anchorage,” in The Cormorant Hunter’s Wife. 8″ x 10″

How do we know, relate to, and narrate the complexities of living in the North? What words resonate with us when we talk, hear, or read about the place we call home? What sparks us to learn more, change our behavior, and show empathy towards a place and its people? These questions inspired Haines artist Katie Ione Craney to create a new series of work based on deciphering the roles of women within the literary and physical landscape.

Opening reception: Friday, August 3, 5-7 p.m.

Reflecting Upon 50 Years of the Pratt Museum

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The Pratt Museum has been a part of the Kachemak Bay region for 50 years! Do you have a fond memory or story of the Pratt Museum that you’d like to share? We’re collecting reflections in any form: stories, poems, haiku, et cetera!

Compiled contributions will be gathering into a publication to debut in 2019.

Please complete the following form with your story. If you’d like to add more, or send a flashback photo, send to info@prattmuseum.org.

Thank you for being a part of the Museum!