Local artists featured in ‘Second Saturday' event

May 8, 2007

By Will Elliott/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Valley art galleries are joining to feature local artists in a gallery walk series. The events will take place on the second Saturday of each month, with concurrent receptions at participating galleries.

This month's series will take place Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at most locations.

The Second Saturday Gallery Openings, organized by Wasilla's Fireflower Gallery owner Jeanne Phillips, will showcase local artists each month simultaneously at Valley galleries and businesses. Patterned after Anchorage's First Friday gallery walk, the event offers Valley art lovers a chance to meet local artists, view a large amount of each artist's work in a show setting, and enjoy an evening of gallery visits.

Gallery walks have long been a fixture of larger cities like Anchorage or Juneau, but the Second Saturday series is new to the Valley. The idea occurred to Phillips when she realized that Valley galleries were regularly hosting artists, but not in a coordinated way that would allow art lovers to experience the various shows as a cohesive event. Phillips contacted other galleries and businesses, and together the owners organized Second Saturday.

&#8220It's a social event for the Valley, and a way for artists to get some publicity,” Phillips said. &#8220Plus, it's fun.”

At each location, a featured local artist or artists will be present, usually from 2 to 6 p.m., to meet attendees and sell work. Most locations will serve refreshments, and there is no charge for admission.

&#8220It's an opportunity to have some culture and recognize the many talented artists in the Valley,” Phillips said. &#8220And for the artists, it's an honor to have a one-person show and add to the resume.”

Wasilla artist and Second Saturday participant Judy Vars agreed.

&#8220The time is ripe for all the artists working in anonymity to get their work out there and show off a little,” she said.

Additionally, Vars encourages local businesses to get involved with the art community and host shows.

&#8220I think it's a way to get people out and about and into new businesses,” she said.

The Loon Attic gallery, near Mile 10 Palmer-Wasilla Highway in Wasilla, is offering a variation for its part of the series. &#8220For the Birds,” a juried art exhibit and reception, will feature a number of local artists and raise funds for the Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center in Wasilla. A rehabilitated bird from the center will be present as well.

At Saturday's other openings, featured artists include Dee Tunseth, Sandra Fongemie, Douglas Girard, Suzanne Bach, Ilene Paulson and Patti Halley. The artists work in various media, from watercolor to acrylic to sumi-e.

For more information, contact Jeanne Phillips at 376-8137 or 376-2557.

Businesses and artists looking to be a part of the Second Saturday events can also contact the Valley Friends of the Arts Alliance, which maintains a Web site and calendar for Mat-Su arts at www.groups.yahoo .com/groups/vfaa.

Contact Will Elliott at

352-2250 or will.elliott@

frontiersman.com.