State of Art

Meet local artist and zoo fan Jason Vukovich. Proceeds of his work featuring Grubby the Opossum will be donated back to the zoo.

Conductor Dr. Mark Wolbers discusses the upcoming concert "Autumn Airs." The performance takes place Sunday at the Discovery Theater.

Encouraged and inspired by her beloved artist grandmother, Munoz forged a path of her own.

"Come From Away" is a true story of humanity about a tiny community in Newfoundland taking in thousands of passengers stranded after 9/11.

1,476 responses were submitted from 53 different communities around the state. Find out about the census, what comes next and why it matters.

"MANA: The History We Inherit" hopes to preserve Filipino Alaskans' legacies for future generations.

Anchorage resident Sabrina Kessakorn's winning design was inspired by her work as a wildlife and ecology technician and a love for the state.

The company's new general director discusses "The Elixir of Love" and performing Donizetti's famous compositions while dancing like MC Hammer.

This week on State of Art we're joined by Ava Earl. Her newest album "Too Much" came out in September and and is a bit of a departure from her previous work. While her other three albums were a bit more straightforward folk-tinged acoustic Americana, this new album finds more room to explore with some pop influence while maintaining her signature lyrics and style. She tells us about reflecting on her previous work as a very young musician, the new album and coping with sudden deafness in one ear through the song "Ears Bleed."

The one-man show depicts the life of Ted Stevens who served as a U.S. senator for Alaska from 1968 to 2009 and had its world premier last month. The play was written by Alaska State Senator Gary Stevens (unrelated) and is directed by Kalli Randall. We’re joined by Randall and visiting actor Dan Morrison to find out more.

The series of events celebrating writing and writers in Alaska runs from Sunday October 1 to 8. There will be live events and virtual presentations featuring everything from poetry and romance to nonfiction and children's books. Professor of English and Book Week coordinator, Trish Jenkins, joins us to tell us all about it.

The 1923 film "Scaramouche" is a story of love and revenge during the French Revolution. Director Rex Ingram' 100-year-old masterpiece is filled with historic details, massive sets and action that holds up today. Anchorage Festival of Music will host a screening of the film and will be scoring the film live with period correct instruments.

This week on State of Art we're joined by the founders of Wild Shore New Music. They perform modern chamber music that explores place and environment while collaborating with a variety of other artists. The group will be performing in Anchorage on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in the UAA Recital Hall.

On this episode of State of Art we're discussing the Alaska Writers Guild and their upcoming conference. The guild connects Alaska writers and provides educational opportunities for things like business and marketing. Their annual conference for writers and illustrators will be held on Friday and Saturday the last weekend of September at UAA's Rasmuson Hall. We're joined by Alaska Writers Guild board members Laura Carpenter and Brooke Hartman to find out more about the guild, what to expect from the conference and more.

This week on State of Art we're joined by "Arsenic and Old Lace" director MaryAlice Larmi to discuss the fast-paced farce. It centers on Mortimer Brewster and his maniacal family including spinster aunts who have a habit of murdering lonely old men, a brother on the run from the law and one who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt. She tells us about what to expect, casting the right performers, and acting icon Boris Karloff's contribution to Anchorage Community Theater's 1957 production of the play.

This week on State of Art we're hearing from filmmakers Kendrick Whiteman and Logan Smith. They're both products of Alaska Teen Media Institute and are peer mentors with the youth media training organization. Whiteman was featured at the Anchorage International Film Festival in 2022 and leans toward a surreal atmosphere with his work while Smith likes to blend the weird with comedy. We discuss what got them into film, their previous work and what comes next.

This week on State of Art we're discussing an upcoming benefit concert to help the Qargi Academy Tribal School in Wainwright. We're joined by longtime musician and Marketing Manager for the Arctic Slope Community Foundation, James Dommek Jr., who is organizing the show. He tells us about what makes the Qargi Academy unique, including indigenous performers as the opening act and more.

This week on State of Art we meet an Anchorage winner of the "Hamilton" creative competition organized by the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts and BroadwayBoundAK. Students from across Alaska going into grades 7 through 12 were invited to make and submit an original creative piece that was inspired by the hit musical. Winners were chosen from across the state and get to see "Hamilton" for free in September. Sam Beesley is starting his freshman year at West High and was chosen for his song called "Don't Wait For It."

This week on State of Art we're hearing all about Galway Days Irish Festival. It takes place on Saturday, August 12 at Town Square Park. There will be vendors, food, music and more. Irish Club of Alaska President Dawn Berg joins us to tell us about the festival, the club and she even sings us a song.

Ketch Secor first visited Alaska when he was 14 and it made a lasting impression on him. He traveled the Alaska Railroad, bought chewing tobacco in Sitka and kissed a girl in Fairbanks. The singer and fiddle player for the long-running, high-energy folk band Old Crow Medicine Show joins us this week ahead of the group's Salmonfest appearance. He tells us about their upcoming album "Jubilee" that celebrates a quarter century as a band, the finer points of playing street corners and more.