PRATT MUSEUM

established in 1968

cARTography

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August 4 – October 20, 2017

Exploring maps, wayfinding, and related artworks from the Pratt Museum collections, along with recent geospatial and interactive products of Kachemak Bay.

Opening reception: Friday, August 4, 5-7 p.m.

Logo feedback and roll-out

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Thank you to the 40-plus members who provided feedback on the Pratt Museum’s new logo! The clear favorite was the logo “with bones,” as it celebrates the Museum’s extensive natural history collection. A number of comments suggested that the word “dialogue” in the tagline was too abstract, academic, or trendy. With this feedback in mind, we are in the process of finalizing the graphic files and revising the tagline. A young fish-feeder drew three lucky names to receive free logo T-Shirts from our upcoming order.

With the start of summer season, we’ll be phasing this new logo into use. We’re excited that this new image conveys a sense of the present and past as well as conversation and gathering–with a touch of class as well as whimsy. Stay tuned for the first run of T-Shirts and other merchandise!

Gull Island 2017

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It must be Spring! At the end of April, Museum staff journeyed across the thankfully calm waters of Kachemak Bay to install the seasonal camera on Gull Island. We also took the opportunity to replace the batteries, re-position (and clean) the solar panels, and upgrade microphones, which should all make for better quality and consistency throughout the summer. The camera is operated by joystick in the Pratt Museum’s Marine Gallery, so if you’d like to “drive,” come on by! If you can’t make it, enjoy this live stream!

Jubilee

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The Art Gallery currently features “Jubilee Festival of Student Art.” This annual exhibit features works by Kachemak Bay’s budding artists. The 2017 show includes works from students at McNeil Canyon, Fireweed Academy, Paul Banks and West Homer Elementary Schools, as well as Chapman School.

David Rosenthal: Art and Science on the Katmai Coast

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June 2 – July 30, 2017

In July of 2015, David Rosenthal was artist-in-residence for Katmai National Park. Oil and watercolor works and studies from the ten-day research expedition, as well as images and background to the scientific surveys, draw viewers into the landscape and ecology of one of our nearest national parks.

Opening reception: Friday, June 2, 5-7 p.m.

Qena Sint’isis by Argent Kvasnikoff

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April 7 – May 29, 2017

The Kachemak dialect of the Dena’ina language now only exists in fragments of historical records. Contemporary descendants, many of whom are lineally affiliated to the Ninilchik and Seldovia tribes, reflect the rapid cultural diffusion as diverse Native and non-Native cultures have contributed elements into local family traditions. This lack of cultural continuity, compounded by a lack of academic attention and public discourse, have left a significant gap in public understanding of the Dena’ina language and related issues particular to the Southern Kenai region.

Qena Sint’isis presents a unique form of cultural expression that describes a new take on the indigenous culture of the southern Kenai Peninsula using the universal experience of language.  This visual representation of the Dena’ina language will convey the importance of people’s relationships with all language, and how cultural information can be found within visual language. The goals of this program series and its future applications are to both share information about the Dena’ina language using visual elements, to share information about traditional Dena’ina culture, and to encourage people to explore language through the lens of a different writing system in order to experience how cultural information can be transformed in front of their eyes.

Opening reception Friday, April 7, 5-7 p.m.

Special Presentation: Seeing Language: Writing in Art & Design with graphic designer Erico Nascimento. Friday, May 5, 2pm.

Funded in part by The CIRI Foundation, Ninilchik Traditional Council, Ninilchik Natives Association Inc., Alaska State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and City of Homer.

Don Henry: Bikes By the Bay

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Sculpture and Drawings

February 1 – April 1, 2017

Featuring five full-size art bikes exhibited together for the first time.

Don Henry began doing metal art in the early sixties. He entered his first competition in 1966 and took Best of Show. He moved to Alaska in 1974 and then to Homer in 1984.

Don has donated many pieces to benefit local non-profits and has work in the Bunnell St. Gallery and the Fireweed Gallery, both in Homer, Alaska. You can also find some of his pieces in prominent public places such as the Pratt Museum, the Homer Airport, Homer City Hall, Homer Public Library, and various parks and at the Public Works department.

He has shown works at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art and the House of Harley in Anchorage as well as the Cabin Fever Gallery in Anchorage and at the Capitol Building in Juneau.

His unique art has been featured in the Homer Tribune, Homer News and on KTUU Channel 2 News (NBC). Commissioned pieces are in private collections and public facilities in California, Louisiana, Alaska and Montana.

Bikes by the Bay will be open to the public on Feburary 1, with an official opening reception on Friday, February 3 from 5-7 p.m.

2016 Quilt Raffle Winners Announced

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Congratulations to Billie Fischer of Glendora CA, winner of “Alaskan Treasures”, the large quilt.
AND Corey Mohan of St Paul, MN winner of “Imagination”, the bonus wall hanging quilt.
Thank you to the Kachemak Bay Quilters, who create and donate the large raffle quilt each year; and the Patrons of the Pratt Society (POPS), for administering the raffle. We appreciate all who purchased tickets. Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets benefit museum programs.

Holiday Hours

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Due to observance of federal holidays, the Pratt will be closed Friday, December 23 through December 26; and closed Friday and Saturday, December 30 and 31.

We will be open especially for the Holiday Recital, new staff Reception, and Quilt Raffle on Sunday, December 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.  Visit us during open days starting on the 11th to enjoy discounts and free gifts in the museum store!

The Pratt Museum will be closed during the month of January.

Wish wish all of our community a safe and joyous holiday season, and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Inspired by Diaries

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November 11 – December 29

Have you ever kept a diary or journal? Had the opportunity to peruse the personal writing of your ancestors? Several diaries and journals are held in the collections of the Pratt Museum: their stories range from weather reports and moose sightings to extended narrative and personal reflection. Often the written word leaves much to be imagined, and could serve as a jumping-off point for something more.

The Pratt Museum is excited to present Inspired by Diaries, featuring artwork inspired by personal and historical diaries. Also on exhibit will be numerous excerpts and original historical diaries from the Pratt Collections.