Sharing Wasilla: Even though he jokes about once being the most famous person from Wasilla, Chad Carpenter readily admits that Sarah Palin's attachments to Wasilla have helped him sell his cartoons to Outside newspapers.Besides curating the student show, cartoonist Chad Carpenter delivered a public talk at UAA one evening this spring. Since he was speaking at a university, he framed his career experience for budding artists and cartoonists who might have questions about how to get started or where to find ideas. You'll be surprised to learn where he does the actual work! It IS a level surface, but not the one you're thinking of.

Highlights of the talk by the creator of "Tundra" happen when he shares some of his favorite work and shows the cartoons that got him into the most trouble. He also describes his activities going overseas with the USO to support troops in the field with some well-deserved humor.

Here's his audio paired with his slideshow. He's funny, self-deprecating, and says he still works too hard.

Occasionally the screen will be black between slides, though Chad is still talking. He speaks for about an hour, with some interesting Q and A at the end. Find these and other videos at UAA's You Tube channel.

Note: Chad spoke at UAA on April 18. He was also recorded that day for the KAKM/KSKA 1 on 1 interview program. That program airs on KAKM at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 20.

Cool stuff to stop by and see:
The UAA Student Union Art Gallery opens a community and student exhibit on 'The Working Poor' May 17-June 7.

I'll get over to the gallery next week and share some details. The Student Union Gallery is located in the Student Union near the UAA Campus Bookstore in the complex that is labeled with the Wells Fargo Sports Complex sign.

Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information and to confirm these hours for summer, call the gallery at 786-1052 or email gallery@uaa.alaska.edu. Entry is free. Parking is free every Friday.

Juror for 'Working Poor' exhibit: Sonya Kelliher-Combs

The Working Poor exhibition is a collaboration between the UAA/APU Books of the Year Program and the UAA Student Union Gallery. The two books this year are "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis and "The Working Poor" By David Shippler.