By Mike Dunham

The Rambler is heading to Alaska Pacific University on this First Friday — the primary assignment being to review the first night of the Alaska Airlines Winter Classics chamber music series in Grant Hall. But while there, we hope to get a good look at the “Compilations” show by Garry Kaulitz and, in the nearby Carr Gottstein Building, some new landscape work by David Rosenthal; the latter painter is far more traditional than the former, but both have exhibited excellent work in their respective realms in the past.
Copper River Sunset: By David Rosenthal, at APU's Carr Gottstein Gallery
If you can get downtown, the first place to check is the “Fif Tee Tee” show at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, at Fifth and D St. This is “a presentation of 50 years of Alaskan T-shirts” curated by Mike Mense. It’s part of the gallery’s “Object/Runway” fashion show. Items for that are previewed starting tonight, but the real action kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, at the Anchor Pub, 712 West 4th Avenue.
Artsy fashion by Mary Hertert: See more at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art.
Special guest Christopher Straub from “Project Runway Season 6,” who has joined three Alaskans in picking the winning ensemble from submissions that have come in from artists spread from California to Fairbanks. The happening will feature music, three rounds of judging, a multi-media show and an audience award. Being as it’s at a bar, this is a 21-and-over event. Tickets are $20 at the door, if there’s room. Or try to get one tonight at the gallery for $15. Find out more about guest judge Christopher Straub at mylifetime.com.

Also downtown, oil painter Steve Gordon has new landscapes on display at Artique, Ltd., 314 G St. and Roger Silook, Jr. has ivory carvings at Autora Fine Art, 737 W. Fifth. There are receptions for both artists.
Masi Elephant: By Brian Montablo, at Cafe Felix.
Off the beaten path, a reception for Brian Montalblo’s photos of Africa, the Amazon and Alaska is taking place at Metro Music and Books, 530 Benson Blvd. And a curious three-person show titled “Chaos & Creation” by Meg Fowler, Gideon Gerlt and Sandra Talbot is on display at Out North, 3800 Debarr Rd. It’s not a First Friday reception for the latter, but the gallery is open due to the play, “The Afterlife of the Mind” going on there this weekend. (Review elsewhere on this site.)
Riding into town: Q'orianka Kilcher in "Barbarian Princess." No, it has nothing to do with Conan.
And don't forget, Q'orianka Kilcher will appear at the Indigenous World Film Festival on Saturday night at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The Festival itself has a free reception tonight and films running all day Saturday.

A list of First Friday openings and other ongoing art shows can be found at play.adn.com along with a downloadable map of sites where these things usually happen; click on “arts.”

Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.