Saturday art walk all about the women

WASILLA — This month, the Palmer Museum’s “Second Saturday” Art Walk will celebrate women in recognition of Women’s History Month.

The art walk runs from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, and includes a special scavenger hunt — for artists.

Each art walk stop will feature a live female model dressed and made up to look like a portrait of a woman by a famous artist. Participants will be challenged to identify the famous artist and the painting and provide proof of their visit — either a photo or an artist info sheet, which will be available at each stop. (For those who don’t consider themselves art history buffs, hints and help will be offered by the models.)

“The idea is for people to kind of see the painting in different way,” said museum director Selena Ortega-Chiolero.

Walkers who successfully identify all seven artists will be entered into a drawing for a variety of art walk-related wares. The drawing will take place at the end of the event.

The museum (723 S. Valley Way) will also offer visitors the opportunity to become their own works of art through six stand-in art displays, featuring famous portraits by artists like Rene Magritte and Edvard Munch.

Ortega-Chiolero said she hopes it’ll be a fun and educational experience.

“Everyone’s seen ‘American Gothic’ (for example) but not many people know what it’s really about,” she said.

Additional backdrops and props will be available to complete the “live” paintings. Museum staff will also take photographs by request of visitors in their stand-in scenes, which will be sent via email.

Participating shops

• Magpie Clothing Exchange (1901 N. Hemmer Rd., Suite 108): Students enrolled in Palmer High School’s Photo As Art class will present their work at this eco-friendly clothing store.

• 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).

• Shane Lamb Gallery (Downtown Palmer Plaza, 550 S. Alaska St., # 107): Shane Lamb will host Alutiiq artist June Pardue, originally from Kodiak. Pardue’s works of grass woven socks and baskets and beaded headdresses are in museums throughout Alaska. She also tans salmon skins for jewelry making and recently designed and created a salmon skin and sea otter fur jacket.

The gallery will also host a drawing for Lamb’s matted, mini-print, “Autumn Serenade,” from 2 to 5 pm.

• Fireside Books (720 S. Alaska St., unit B): The bookstore will display “book art” created by Mat-Su College students.

• AK Frayed Knot (550 S. Alaska St., Suite 104C): Art walkers can learn how to make wool dreadlocks at this fiber arts store on Saturday with owner Becky Oviatt, as well as peruse products from various Mat-Su Valley artists, such as: Arts of The Apocalypse, Grumpy Bunny Designs, Cathy’s Creations, Denali Knitworks, Dog Farm Fibers, Coyote Trail Farm and Fiber, Moose Wallow Yarns, Susan Designs, Stonekettle, Working Wood Productions and more.

• Cover Ups (840 S. Colony Way, #102): Staff will teach visitors how to stencil furniture using chalk paint from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, in turn educating people on the concept upcycling.