5 things to do in the Mat-Su: Weekend of Sept. 15

Hatcher Alpine Xperience Blueberry Ball

On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hatcher Alpine Xperience will host its inaugural Blueberry Ball to welcome the change of seasons. It’s an all-day, family oriented event that will have food trucks, live music, a bouncy house, contests, art projects, bubble blowing, hula hooping, a silent auction and other activities.

Hatcher Alpine Xperience is group of local volunteers working to establish a downhill skiing area in Hatcher Pass. According to their mission statement, they aim to “promote safe outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyles.”

The event will be a chance to check on their progress by checking out their maintenance building and see the site of the future ski area.

Schedule of events:

12 p.m. — Group hike to the top of the future triple chairlift

2 p.m. — Pie eating contest ($10 to enter- register at www.skihatcherpass.org)

3 p.m. — Egg toss

4 p.m. — Pinata breaking

3 p.m. — Live music from the Triple Black Diamonds

5 p.m. — Silent auction closes and raffle draw

For more information, call 746-7277 or visit www.skihatcherpass.org

Native film, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” premiers at Valley Cinema

WASILLA — Starting Friday, the Valley Cinema will start showing “Neither Wolf Nor Dog,” a Native American film based on the award-winning novel by Kent Nerburn. The plot follows a white writer that becomes enthralled with Native culture after a Lakota elder asks him to make his box full of notes into a book. The character, Dan, was played by David Bald Eagle, who was 95 years old during the filming. He passed after the film was released. According to an article from Indian Country Today, he said, “it’s the only film I’ve been in about my people that told the truth.”

According to Film Distribution & Media Coordinator for InYo Entertainment, Omotola Lajubutu, the movie’s success is “very much a David vs. Goliath story.” Lajubutu said it is likely to be the most successful “non-Hollywood,” Native American film since “Smoke Signals.” The film was shot with a crew of only two people. It has premiered in theaters across the country. In Alaska, it’s playing in four theaters.

“It is unheard of for a small self-distributed independent film to be competing with Hollywood blockbusters during the summer season and even more remarkable is that it is outperforming many as well,” Lajubutu said.

Show times at Valley Cinema:

Fri (9/15): 12:05 4:25 7:05 9:40

Sat (9/16): 12:05 4:25 7:05 9:40

Sun (9/17): 12:05 4:25 7:05 9:40

Mon (9/18): 12:05 4:25 7:05 9:40

Tue (9/19): 12:05 4:25 7:05 9:40

Wed (9/20): 12:05 4:25 7:05 9:40

Thu (9/21): 12:05 4:25 7:05 9:40

Diana Z and Sidewalk Flowers

PALMER — This Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. is the Diana Z and Sidewalk Flowers Concert at the Musk Ox Farm.

Diana Z is a local singer/songwriter who “lifts spirits and inspires great dancing with her lovely voice.”

Born and raised in Toronto, Diana Z now resides in Hatcher Pass. The Sidewalk Flowers band is combination of three eighth grade girls from Birchtree Charter School: Stella Adamczak, Katey Houser and Skylar Jones. There will be a baked potato bar run by Birchtree’s two fifth grade classes, serving local, loaded potatoes, baked goods and herbal tea.

Funds from the concert will go to the Birchtree. This will cover the students’ overnight field trip expenses. Each year the two fifth grade classes go to Seward and visit the Sea Life Center, and board a research vessel. The two eighth grade classes spend a week in Washington D.C. in conjunction with their American history unit.

This is a rain or shine event. Visitors are asked to bring a chair, blankets, a raincoat, and their own tea mug.

“We hope this will become an annual fundraising event, so please join us to be part of the start of the tradition,” said event coordinator Kimbrough Mauney.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 5 and Up, or $30 for a family pass. Ticket prices will increase $5 on the day of the event and can be purchased on-site. To purchase tickets online, visit: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3067122

Free Sumi-e art class at Mat-Su College

PALMER — Local artist Suzanne Bach Edwards will be leading an Oriental brush painting class this Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. The demonstration will be at the Mat-Su College FSM 212. It is a part of the Valley Fine Arts Associations’ regular meetings at the college. Members and non-members alike are welcome to attend the free class. Materials such as brushes, paper and ink will be provided.

“It’s an opportunity to learn something new. There isn’t that many people who teach this out here,” Edwards said.

The style of art is called Sumi-e, which is the Japanese word for “black ink painting.” According to Edwards, the technique is centuries old and has been referred as “the art of inking” or “ink-pictures.” She said that traditionally, there are four different plants used to paint. This class will be covering the orchid. The goal is not to exactly replicate the subject, rather, students will be taught to relax and express themselves.

“It’s almost like a dance step,” Edwards said. “You can never do the same line twice; each stroke has its own personality.”

Students will practice on newsprint before they attempt to fill their canvases. The finished product will reflect the “spirit” of the plant, a more abstract and expressive interpretation. Like meditation, each brush stroke is meant to be deliberate. The pressure determines width of line.

“You spend a lot of time thinking about the stroke before you make it, so you learn concentration and you learn creativity, you learn focus and you learn to relax and be one with the brush. That’s why I would suggest people try it. It’s kind of a total body experience,” Edwards said.

The class is designed to evoke mindfulness and clarity. Each painting should reflect the inner state of the painter. More advanced students may bring their “pan paint” watercolors, if they would like to add color.

“It’s kind of fulfilling to your person. It kind of makes your soul feel fulfilled to create something in one sitting, without having to go over and labor over it again and again and again,” Edwards said.

Edwards Solo Art Show by Suzanne Bach continues at Espresso Cafe (across from Walmart) though the end of the month of September.

See original contemporary watercolors, of which many are painted on a plastic substrate called “Yupo.”

For more information Suzanne can be reached at (907) 301-5308.

Untold Stories: “Reunions, Revivals and Redemptions”

PALMER — This Sunday at 6 p.m., Untold Stories returns to the limelight at the United Protestant Church, located at 713 S Denali Street in Palmer. A variety of local storytellers will share their experiences on stage. The series draws inspiration from storytelling platforms from the likes of the local Arctic Entries series and national podcast, the Moth. Downtown Deli will be serving food and refreshments. Typically, local musicians perform in between performances.

According to the event page, “Untold Stories brings Mat-Su Valley residents to the stage to share their personal stories: funny, sad and sweet.”

There will be three total events each year. Seven people are chosen to tell a seven-minute long, true story. Each event has a theme and Valley bards relate their tales based on the theme. This Sunday’s theme is Reunions, Revivals and Redemptions. According to the event page, this episode showcases “heartfelt stories that are sure to engage you.”

All Untold Stories events benefit the Palmer Museum of History and Art. Tickets are $15/person and $10/student with I.D. Tickets can be purchased in advance at B Bella Hair Salon and the Palmer Museum of History and Art. Remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door on the night of the event. For more information, call 746-7668.

Storytellers line up:

Gillian Moon

Janet Aslin

Vicki Randolf

Teresa Roy

Butch Hallford

Kendra Zamzow

Emily Forstner

Betty Pierce

Potential storytellers are invited to submit their stories through the Palmer Museum website.

Here are some guidelines from the museum’s website:

“What makes a good story? Every story is different, but here’s a few suggestions to get you started:

Your grade school teacher was right! A great story has a clear beginning, middle and end. Does yours?Stakes: Be sure what happens in the story really matters to you, it’s not just something that happened. That you had something to lose or to gain.Timing: Seven minutes is short. Stories about well-defined events in which you know every detail translate well. Stories that span multiple years where you could talk for hours can be very difficult to pare down.End strong: Be prepared and hit it. Walk off to applause. Be very careful using the “moral of the story” ending. The audience is smart, and no one likes to be preached at.”