Know an awesome artist, arts advocate or arts organization? Think they deserve an award?

Nominate them for the 2007 Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities.

The Alaska State Council on the Arts is taking nominations now. Any person, organization or institution that has made a significant contribution to the arts in Alaska is eligible. The only bummer is, you can’t nominate yourself.

Categories are:
Arts Advocacy Award: Recognizes individuals or organizations whose leadership promotes and champions the arts in Alaska.
Business Leadership Award: Recognizes businesses (profit or nonprofit) or individual business leaders whose efforts enhance and sustain the arts in Alaska, through donation or participation.

The Blue Rose Trio, pianist Rose Chen, cellist Lars Hoefs and violinist Audrey Solomon.
Blue Rose Trio at Anchorage Lutheran Church on July 9

By Mike Dunham

The multi-award-winning Blue Rose Trio displayed their classical music bona fides in a Monday night program that also foreshadowed the more radical concert coming up on Thursday.

The threesome closed their program with a particularly intense reading of Dvorak’s Trio in F Minor. Cellist Lars Hoefs plays with a large and passionate voice. In many trios, the cellist is relegated to the position of partner emeritus, rumbling under the real conversation and popping up on special occasions to smile and nod; but in this ensemble, one has the feeling that the cello is actually the group leader, driving the action as the others take their cues from him.

--Dawnell Smith

One of Heidi Reifenstein's pieces at the International this month

People couldn't help but pack the central room of the International Gallery of Contemporary Art (427 D Street) Friday night. Their awe and curiosity stemmed from a visual memoir by printmaker Garry Kaulitz whose ambitious, alarming and poignant stream of consciousness narrative speaks to war, loss, hope and the timeless trifles and turmoil of humanity.

Veronica Page and John Fraser perform at Wild Berry Theater in July. Photo: Wild Berry Theater

By Maia Nolan
Daily News correspondent

“You might recognize this next number.”

That was the mantra repeated throughout the opening night performance of “Veronica and John: Together Again” on Thursday night as local vocalists Veronica Page and John Fraser worked their way through a 12-song set of Broadway favorites ranging from Cole Porter classics to contemporary hits, accompanied on piano by Tom Bargelski.

The evening got off to a bit of a rocky start; the audience at first seemed unsure of how to react to Page and Fraser’s cabaret banter and the opening number, a cheeky rendition of Porter’s “You’re the Top,” was slightly off-key.

Nemo Art Gallery will close at the end of this month.

Owner Cathy Kerr has other interests she wants to pursue. Her design business, Spiral Designs, will remain in the Midtown space.

Nemo opened in May 2005, and over the last two years has consistently featured some of the most forward-thinking art exhibits in town. The gallery will close the same way it opened: With an exhibit by Don Weir. “A Painter’s Diary – New Work by Don Weir” features collage color studies and geometric interpretations of landscapes.

For those who want to say goodbye to the gallery, there will be a “last blast” reception noon-6 p.m. July 27.

Were you there?
The Last Frontier Theatre Conference has survived a lot of changes over the years. If you've made the trip to Valdez for this unique theater happening -- either this time around or in previous incarnations -- add your memories, observations and comments here. If you want to toss in some snapshots of the affair, send them to arts@adn,com and we'll try to include them.

Lydia(Theresa Reed) and Big Peter (Steve Mitchell) share a tender moment while their music therapist Larry (Shannon Luster)looks on in Ann Hanley's "The Sunset Clause," in Valdez on June 25, 2007. Photo: Colin Hussey, Last Frontier Theatre Conference.

By Sarah Henning
Anchorage Daily News

VALDEZ – In “The Sunset Clause,” Fairbanks playwright Ann Hanley embraces the invisibles: Old people waiting to die in a nursing home, their minds slowly softening like overripe fruit.

Rather than treating mental and physical deterioration solemnly, Hanley often chooses to turn the problems of aging into shimmering comic moments lightly frosted with pain. Her main female character, Lydia, jumbles up her words. When talking about her affection for a man, “like” comes out “lick,” resulting in a laugh. But as her verbal slips build, so do her frustrations until she resorts to animalistic behavior, biting and crowing to make certain she’s understood.

By Sarah Henning
Anchorage Daily News

VALDEZ -- Today I overheard someone talking about working on “CSI: Las Vegas” and, I’m ashamed to admit, my celeb radar started bleating.

Valdez playwright Ed Larson

There’s something intoxicating about being in the same room as people who’ve seen the other end of a Broadway audience. The 300-plus playwrights, actors, directors and techies at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference have acted on “My Name is Earl,” and presented plays at the Mark Taper Forum in L.A. and stood in the wings at the Kennedy Center. The tendency is to gravitate toward them and pump them for information, or possibly give them your card hoping their rubs with the Big Time will somehow endow you with some talent or prestige. Or even, you know, get them to friend you on MySpace.

By Sarah Henning
Anchorage Daily News

VALDEZ — Alan Strang blinded five horses with a metal spike.
In “Equus,” playwright Peter Shaffer tells us Alan is empathetic and logical. Enviable, even.

Shaffer’s disturbing psychological drama — coupled with Perseverance Theatre’s artful staging and spotless cast — created a mentally volcanic experience Sunday evening at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference.
The state’s only professional theater company, based in Juneau, boasts a fantastic roster including Broadway resumes and Juilliard pedigrees.

Yet it was a young actor with the shortest bio in the program who successfully carried the weight of 17-year-old Alan.

By Sarah Henning
Anchorage Daily News

VALDEZ -- The weather was chilly, but the reception was warm on the first full day of the 15th annual Last Frontier Theatre Conference.

After an afternoon of schmoozing and workshops, conference goers were treated to an evening of Alaska Overnighters and the one-act comi-drama “Grand Central & 42nd” by Anchorage playwright Arlitia Jones.

A theatrical quick draw, Overnighters specifies that short plays must be written, rehearsed and performed within 24 hours. The themes, announced last night, were four creepy, surreal illustrations for stories by cult sci-fi author H.B. Lovecraft.

By Laura Carpenter

Alaska playwright Brandon Lawrence’s collection of three plays, showing through July 1 at Out North, are witty, fun and entertaining.

The set is rather minimal — the plays are presented by No Budget Productions after all — and opening night had a few snags and simple plots. But the clever lines and several hilarious performances made it a very enjoyable evening.

With a title like “My Mother Never Bought Me Silly Putty,” we can expect silliness and angst and silly angst and we get them. Shakespearian villains gather to chug a few beers and brag about getting their friends to smother their wives with pillows and fathers to chase out the good son. But, wait, fastidious Don John, aka Johnny (played by Daniel Unruh), is a sensitive bad guy. He avoids the word “bastard” and prefers the term “illegitimate brother.” Is evil a choice, he wonders. No, no, says the smug Eddie (Micah Borer), it’s a lifestyle. As they — including also tough Iago (Zach Gowdy) — throw around lines not fit for a family newspaper, they explore their emotional baggage and reveal (sometimes too exaggerated) sides not seen before.

By Sarah Henning
Anchorage Daily News

More than half a million dollars in public art will adorn the new $107 million Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center.

Artists' sketch for "Constellation"

Two designs were unveiled Tuesday in what is likely the largest art commission in city history: $685,000. One work is a 50-foot-tall installation by an East Coast artistic duo. The other is a stained glass mural by a Native Alaskan artist from Fairbanks. Both concepts were selected in part because they evoke Dena’ina Athabascan people and the Cook Inlet region.

--Dawnell Smith

Love and culture war dominated the season finale of "Midnight Soapscum!" Friday night at Out North, but Maggie the elephant stole the show by conversing with the late Annabelle during a séance translated by the hot and fashionably clueless inhabitants of the Planet Barbarella.

If none of this makes sense to you, then you have probably missed all nine episodes of Alaska's first live soap opera, an outrageous and occasionally awkward satire about two film school graduates caught in the dubious world of porn. What began several months ago as the story of two buddies trying to forge film careers has transformed into a theater spectacle with 27 cast members, four space aliens, three hermaphrodite lovers, one hermaphroadite marraige, several bouts of gunplay and a live version of "Born Free" sung by Brie Savage (Veronica Page).

By Sarah Henning
Anchorage Daily News

The executive director of Anchorage’s largest performing arts nonprofit has resigned.

Lisette Miles, at a concert association fundraiser gala. 2005 ADN file photo.

For the past three years, Lisette Miles has led the Anchorage Concert Association, a nonprofit that brings a touring Broadway series and Outside musicians and dancers to the PAC.

Miles said her resignation was voluntary. She isn’t sure where she’ll end up next: All she knows is that it’s time for a change. “I’ve been working in arts administration for 18 years, so I’m just evaluating what the next stage for me will be,” she said.

--Dawnell Smith

If you like spontaneity, hilarity, loose plot lines and cross-dressing, then don't miss the season finale of Midnight Soapscum!, the first live soap opera to appear in town. The two-hour cliffhanger puts Maggie in the spotlight as porn stars, space aliens and serious filmmakers trapped in a world of questionable doings join forces to free an elephant from its sorrowful prison in the Far North.

The soap opera concludes tonight at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 10 p.m., both at Out North (2800 DeBarr Road). Tickets cost $16 online and $18 at the door, with discounts for seniors and students (279-3800, www.outnorth.org).

One of the artistic consequences of last week’s Susitna Valley High School fire is a destroyed music department.

We all know how expensive instruments are. Add on top of that replacing music stands, sheet music and band uniforms, and you’re talking about some serious cash.

If you’ve got an instrument that’s boxed up in your attic or gathering dust in your parlor, please consider donating it to the Susitna Valley Music Boosters.

The club is accepting donations at Susitna Valley Music Boosters, c/o Steffi Pijuan, P.O. Box 1125, Talkeetna 99676.

For more information, email music.from.ashes@hotmail.com

By Sarah Henning
Anchorage Daily News

Two Anchorage playwrights - Arlitia Jones and P. Shane Mitchell – have landed slots at a short play festival in New York City, hosted by the largest play publishing company in North America.

“To be able to go play with the big boys in New York City is a big deal to all of us,” said Erin Dagon Mitchell, associate director of TBA Theatre Company, which will stage the plays in New York next weekend.

--Dawnell Smith

If you head to Homer this weekend, keep in mind that Amy Tan's only public reading happens Saturday at 8 p.m. at Homer High School's Mariner Theater. If you want to hear more from Tan, you'll have to pay full fees for the Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference. There may still be room.

But wherever you hit the road and whatever you do along the way, let us know if you see art that catches the eye, whether good, bad or darn right strange.

Happy trails.

Anchorage's nonprofit arts sector is a $45.2 million industry, according to a national study released Wednesday.

Read the full story here.

Peruse the study here.

Then, tell us what you think of the study results in the comments section below.

"The Hub" by Eric Robertson

By Don Decker

The magic of “Changing Hands” is in the laborious craftsmanship that characterizes nearly every work in the show. The selected artifacts are sensitively and meticulously rendered. Yet this is far more than a “crafts show.” The theme of Native pride, communicated sometimes with humor and often with rancor, melds the individual pieces into a cohesive whole.

Curators sometimes separate Native art from work done by anyone else, contemporary from traditional, or crafts from other art for no higher purpose than categorization. But arbitrary labeling limits acceptance and understanding. Isolating or categorizing artists can create a chasm where a bridge should be. This show, while selective and restrictive, provides a vehicle for the meaningful communication of Native artists’ ideas and ideals, and it highlights the commonality among contemporary artists.