Palmer museum to preview new event during Saturday art walk

WASILLA — There’s something “wine-derful” coming to the Palmer Art Walk this summer.

Palmer Museum Director Selena Ortega-Chiolero said this month’s walk is about “all things agricultural.” Participants will have the opportunity to compile a free garden herb kit by visiting each of the eight stops, as well as enjoy environmentally friendly projects that discourage unnecessary or harmful waste — and offer a taste of what’s to come.

At the museum from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, Ortega-Chiolero and other staff will provide clean (and empty) wine bottles and various supplies with which visitors can decorate their chosen bottle, transforming it into a flower vase for freshly blooming buds. The activity also foreshadows the upcoming “Wine Walk,” a July 8 prelude to the 2016 Midsummer Garden and Art Faire scheduled for Saturday, July 9.

In the same format as the art walk, the wine walk will feature seven Palmer businesses, with each offering a taste of fine wines from the Pacific Northwest.

“It’s kind of a rare opportunity to try wines that you can’t get in Alaska,” Ortega-Chiolero said.

Participants will receive a one-of-a-kind wine glass for the taste testing, hand-painted by members of the Valley Fine Arts Association, as well as a custom wine yolk (which is “basically a necklace for your wine glass,” Ortega-Chiolero said). The event will also feature live music by percussion expert Meggie Aube at the museum and wearable art models from the Valley Arts Alliance at each stop.

Tickets for the Wine Walk — a fundraiser for future Midsummer Garden and Art Faires — can be purchased at the museum’s annual celebration on Saturday, May 21 from 7 to 9 p.m.

The celebration will include food, a beer garden hosted by Arkose Brewery, a silent auction, games, a preview of the Faire’s musical performers and announcement of the museum’s workshop schedule. Admission is free to all museum members and $10 for non-members, and can be purchased at the Palmer Museum now and can also be purchased at the door on the day of the event.

The art walk, wine walk and Garden and Art Faire are all examples of the museum’s effort to “be more immersed in the community,” Ortega-Chiolero said.

To stay updated on Palmer Museum events, visit palmermuseum.org.

May Art Walk stops

• Arkose Brewery (650 E. Steel Loop): As usual, brewery co-founders June and Steve Gerteisen will host their “Beer Meets Canvas” event from 2 to 4 p.m. Cost is $35 for one pint and all art supplies needed. Must be 21 years or older. Pre-registration is encouraged and can be done by calling 746-BEER (2337).

• AK Frayed Knot (550 S. Alaska St., Suite 104C): The featured artist at this fiber arts co-op is Kay Coulson, whose her pastel works will be on display.

• Cover Ups (840 S. Colony Way, #102): An eclectic, up-cycled furniture store that will host a terracotta painting demonstration from 2 to 4 p.m.

• Fireside Books (720 S. Alaska St., unit B): Bonnye Matthews, author of the “Winds of Change” novel series on the peopling of the Americas, will sign books here from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, after which ticket-holders may join her for dinner at the Independence Hotel (formerly the Eagle Hotel) from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.goodbooksbadcoffee.com.

• Magpie Clothing Exchange (1901 N. Hemmer Rd., Suite 108): This eco-friendly women's resale boutique will feature Palmer encaustic artist Camille Hurst. Hurst draws from the landscapes and seasons of Alaska for inspiration, using color, movement and intricate detail to create her abstract works of art.

• Palmer Museum (723 S. Valley Way): Decorate wine bottles as flower vases here from 2 to 6 p.m.

• Palmer Picasso (301 Outer Springer Loop, Unit B2): The newest addition to the art walk, this bistro-style studio will offer a “Ladies Night Out” painting session with complimentary coffee, tea and cupcakes from 4 to 6 p.m. Class registration fee is $43 for this alcohol-free version of Arkose Brewery’s “Beer Meets Canvas.”

• Shane Lamb Gallery (Downtown Palmer Plaza, 550 S. Alaska St., # 107): Shane Lamb’s recently released, new prints and images will be on display for the May art walk, and the gallery will host a drawing for pottery from Girdwood artist Leola Rutherford from 2 to 5 p.m. Drawing winner will be notified by phone after 5 p.m.

For a schedule of other summer events from Valley Arts Alliance, visit valleyartsalliance.com.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.