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www. MAKEASCENEAK .com JAN 2017
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Non-Profit Directory Families & Children: March of Dimes Alaska Chapter
Non-Profit Organization? Join our growing list for as little as $15.00/mo! Non-Profit’s Help Our Community!
www.makeasceneak.com/nonprofitdirectory Families & Children: Family Promise Mat-Su www.familypromisematsu.com (907) 357-6160 A community response for families without housing. Family Promise Mat-Su, “FPMS” uses area churches for shelter while providing meals and case management to help homeless families move back into housing and self-sustainability. In addition we provide state funds(BHAP) for homeless prevention.
OTHER Mat-Su Health Services, Inc. www.mshsak.org (907) 376-2411 Dedicated to improving the health of our community, one person at a time – through affordable medical, dental and behavioral health care.The clinic is a Federally qualified Health Care Center and we accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most other third-party insurances. For those who qualify, there is a sliding scale payment, based on household income. We offer early morning and evening appointments appointment. You can also contact our 24/7 behavioral crisis intervention line by calling the main number: 376-2411.
JAN 2017
Valley Fiber Arts Guild www.valleyfiberarts.org The Valley Fiber Arts Guild began in 1983. Our purpose is to provide educational and cultural enrichment for the community by promoting a greater interest in the fiber arts. Fiber arts include spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, dying, felting, lace making, and more! Monthly gatherings are held at the Palmer Public Library on the first Saturday of the month from September-April at 10am-11:30am. Tuesday is UnFinished Objects Night. Join us every Tuesday night 5ish-8pm at Vagabond Blues Cafe in Palmer! Come spin, knit, crochet, or visit while having some coffee and getting some free instruction!
www.marchofdimes.org/alaska (907) 276-4111 Join the March of Dimes for our annual High Heels for High Hopes this fall. To become a model or participant, call 276-4111. The March of Dimes helps moms have fullterm pregnancies and healthy babies. And if something goes wrong, we offer information and comfort to families. We research the problems that threaten our babies and work on preventing them. About 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. The March of Dimes: working together for stronger, healthier babies.
ARTS: Valley Arts Alliance www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com Valley Arts Alliance, bringing the community together through the arts... We are a place for both new and established artists of all types— painters, sculptors, musicians, and those involved in the performing arts—to network and to experiment with new ideas and media. We work with local libraries, schools, museums, art councils, and music and art groups to create more venues for the arts, and to help promote art related events. Join us at our informal weekly meetings, every Thursday @ 11 at Sophia’s Cafe, 9191 E Frontage Road, Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Check out our archives www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com
CONSERVATION: Mat-Su Health Foundation healthymatsu.org (907) 352-2863 The Mat-Su Health Foundation offers financial and strategic support to well-managed 501(c)(3) organizations that offer services and practical solutions to significant health-related problems impacting the citizens of the Mat-Su Borough. The foundation also offers academic and vocational scholarships to Mat-Su residents who wish to pursue health and wellness related careers.
Pets & Animals: Alaska Animal Advocates www.alaskaanimaladvocates.com (907) 841-3173 Alaska Animal Advocates is a non-profit group of dedicated volunteers who are devoted to enriching the lives of companion animals in Alaska. In order to do this, we will place homeless pets in loving environments, address medical concerns, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinate, and offer training as is needed. We believe that every animal deserves a loving home, for his/her entire life and Alaska Animal Advocates will provide the resources to make this happen. In order to make this mission possible, we need the help of volunteers and foster homes.
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions www.valleyrecycling.org (907) 745-5544 RECYCLING – It’s not just for hippies anymore!! Everyone in the Mat-Su valley can recycle. Drop your stuff off Tues – Fri 10:30 to 6 and Sat 10:30 to 3:30. Recycle cardboard, magazines, this newspaper and more at your community recycling center. Remember to REDUCE, REUSE, and then RECYCLE! Your community recycling center is located at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle, next to the MSB Animal Shelter at the MSB Central Landfill. Volunteer opportunities available. Make a difference in your community! Check out our website for details, follow us on Facebook. www.valleyrecycling.org - Call us at 907.745.5544 with questions or comments.
Families & Children: March of Dimes Alaska Chapter www.marchofdimes.org/alaska (907) 276-4111 The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. About 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. The March of Dimes: working together for stronger, healthier babies.
HOMELESS YOUTH: Mat-Su Youth Housing (MY HOUSE) myhousematsu.org (907) 373-4357 MY House is a homeless youth drop in center with two for-profit businesses that train and employ homeless youth. Gathering Grounds Cafe is a coffee shop with homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and baked goods. Steamdriven is a trendy thrift shop featuring Steampunk items made from repurposed donations by our youth designers. Fiend2Clean and Young People in Recovery offer support for substance abuse recovery with activities and events. We offer transitional housing for qualified 18-24 year olds, Outreach services to connect homeless youth, organizations and groups to services, and access to Public Health and NineStar job/education services on site.
SOCIAL ADVOCACY: Wasilla Homeless-Committee
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: Mat-Su Regional Adult Basic Education (Nine Star) MatsuAdultEd@ninestar.com (907) 373-7833 Mat-Su ABE provides basic education in math, language arts and English as a second language (ESL), aiming to raise student skills beyond the high-school level in order to pass tests like the GED, enter training programs or college, and advance on the job. Enrollment is open to all adult residents of Alaska, year-round. Youth Employment for ages 16-24 not in school -- get a job, keep a job, advance on the job. Nine Star 300 N Willow 373-3006 (in the MYHouse building)
www.wasillahomeless-committee.org (907) 521-2949 Wasilla Homeless-Committee is a 100% volunteer organization funded by private donations and regular fundraising events. Our sole purpose is to assist the homeless, those at risk of homelessness, and others who do not meet the criteria for help that is required by other advocacy agencies in the valley. Wasilla Homeless-Committee provides case management, housing search assistance, move in assistance, job search assistance, clothing, furniture, help with transportation, and resource guidance for homeless and disenfranchised in the Mat-Su Valley. Visit our website for application, or call 907521-2949. Find us on Facebook facebook.com/ wasillahomelesscommitteepage
TOASTMASTERS Occurs Every Tuesday 6:50PM Toastmasters International, Palmer FREE Event www.palmer. toastmastersclubs.org BOEING BOEING January 13-29, 2017 Fridays & Saturdays @7PM, Sunday @2PM Valley Performing Arts, Wasilla Tickets: $18 Students/ Seniors, $20 Adults www.valleyperformingarts. org
PRINCIPALITY OF OERTHA WINTER CORONET & INVESTITURE January 20-22, 2017 - 12PM SCA Kingdom of the West St. Therese’s Camp Alaska, Wasilla Cost: $8-$25 www.westkingdom.org 2017 ALASKA STATE ARCHERY ASSOCIATION 5-SPOT SHOOT January 21-22, 2017 Alaska State Archery Association Multiple Locations www.akstatearchery.net
CINEMA KABUKI’S “KAGAMIJISHI - LION DANCE” 1/21/2017 – 1PM Cinema Kabuki Valley Cinema, Wasilla FREE Event
DENALI DESTROYER DOLLS UPCOMING EVENT 1/28/2016 – 3PM Denali Destroyer Dolls MTA Event Center, Palmer Tickets: $10-$125 www.denalidestroyers.org
BRAZILIAN PERCUSSION WORKSHOP WITH CAMERON CARTLAND 1/21/2017 - 2:30PM Percussion in the Valley, Palmer Cost: $20 - (907) 631-8079 percvalley@gmail.com www.percussioninthevalley. com
PERCUSSION IN THE VALLEY NEW STUDIO OPEN HOUSE 1/28/2017 - 4PM Percussion in the Valley, Palmer FREE Event - (907) 631-8079 percvalley@gmail.com www.percussioninthevalley. com
LEWIS BRICE AT KLONDIKE MIKE’S IN PALMER 1/26/2017 - 7PM Klondike Mike’s, Palmer Tickets: $18-$40 Check us out on Facebook ALASKA TREATMENT-FREE BEE KEEPING SYMPOSIUM 2017 III January 27-28, 2017 - 8AM Alaska Bee Club Glenn Massay Theater, Palmer Tickets: $93-$186 www.glennmassaytheater. com LEARN TO SQUARE DANCE Starts 1/27/2017 - 7PM Paws & Taws Square Dance Club United Protestant Presbyterian Church, Palmer Cost: First Lesson is FREE! (907) 631-0944 or (907) 745-4914
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION BANQUET 1/28/2017 - 5PM Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Menard Sports Center, Wasilla Tickets: $45-$2,000 www.rmef.org/alaska BEAR PAW RIVER BREWERY ART SHOW 1/31/2017 - 4PM Valley Fine Arts Association Bear Paw River Brewing Company, Wasilla FREE Admission - (907) 6312584 michellec@pobox.com VALLEY FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL GROUP SHOW 2/1/17-2/28/17 Valley Fine Arts Association Town Square Art Gallery FREE Admission
DEADPHISH ORCHESTRA SHOW 2/2/2017 - 6PM Deadphish Orchestra The Fishhook Bar, Palmer Tickets: $10 www.deadphishorchestra. com TARZAN: THE STAGE MUSICAL February 3-11, 2017 - 7PM Colony Drama Glenn Massay Theater, Palmer Tickets: TBA glennmassaytheater.com VALLEY FIBER ARTS GUILD MEETING 2/4/2017 - 10AM Valley Fiber Arts Guild Palmer Library Free Event www.valleyfiberarts.org FREE HEARING TESTING 2/4/2017 - 10AM Mat Su Sertoma Club Wasilla Physical Theropy FREE Event - (907) 414-1571 www.matsuhearing.org PUTTIN’ ON THE GLITZ: MASQUERADE 2/4/2017 - 7PM United Way of Mat Su Best Western, Lake Lucille Tickets: $50 Each, $350 for Eight (907) 745-5822 give@unitedwaymatsu.org AK TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2/7/2017 - 7:45PM AK Tuesday Night Fights Menard Sports Center, Wasilla Tickets: $15-$65 aktuesdaynightfights.com ALASKA RAILROAD KID’S VALENTINE TRAIN 2/11/2017 - 10AM Alaska Railroad Anchorage Historic Depot
Cost: $34 Children, $59 Adults - (800) 544-0552 reservations@akrr.com www.alaskarailroad.com 8TH ANNUAL MVS GUN SHOW February 11-12, 2017 - 10AM Matanuska Valley Sportmen’s Range Raven Hall, Palmer Cost: $5 www.matvalleyrange.org SECOND SATURDAY EVENT ARTISTS RECEPTION 2/11/2017 – 12PM Valley Fine Arts Association Town Square Art Gallery FREE Admission CELESTE: THE ROCKET GIRL 2/11/2017 - 2PM Alaska Junior Theater Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Discovery Theatre Cost: $12-$27 (907) 272-7546 marketing@akjt.org www.akjt.org THE HUNGER VOW 2/11/2017 - 6PM MatSu Food Bank Menard Sports Center, Wasilla Tickets: $50-$65 www.eventbrite.com SWEET SOUNDING SYNERGY 2/12/2017 – 3PM Matanuska Susitna Orchestra, Mat-Su Community Chorus Glenn Massay Theater, Palmer FREE Event glennmassaytheater.com
JAN 2017
KEEP COLLECTIVE SPRING RALLY 1/21/2017 - 10AM Destiny Hornstein, Jessica Brooks - MY House, Wasilla FREE Admission www.eventbrite.com
COMMUNITY DRUM WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS 1/28/2017, 2/4/2017, 2/11/2017 - 2:30PM Percussion in the Valley, Palmer Cost: $30 - (907) 631-8079 percvalley@gmail.com percussioninthevalley.com
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FREE KID’S MUSIC CLASS January 16, 23, 30, 2017 6PM Timbre Music Turkey Red, Palmer FREE Event - (907) 231-7606 Timbremusicak@gmail.com timbremusicstudio.com
33RD ANNUAL GUN AND OUTDOOR SHOW January 21-22, 2017 – 10AM Wasilla High School Hockey Blue Liner Booster Club Wasilla High School Cost: $5 General, FREE Ages 0-5 whsblueliners@gmail.com
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Calendar of Events
Music / Community
Contributed by Hillary Saffran Do you love music? Are you wondering where to find an enjoyable and convenient concert to attend after the hustle and bustle of the holiday festivities? No need to drive to Anchorage! The Mat-Su Valley is filled with eager musicians who love to make music that enriches our lives in this picturesque community. On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 3:00pm, the music of the Matanuska Susitna Orchestra and the Mat-Su Community Chorus will be presenting a concert at the Glenn Massey Theater. Each group will perform separate repertoire and will join forces for two combined numbers. The Choir will be presenting spirituals, Brahms, a 1920’s swing piece, a fun Bach fugue and more. The Orchestra will be performing Holst’s Moorside Suite, the brooding Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber, the lovely melodic Last Spring by Edward Grieg and more. The two groups will combine forces to
Magician & Edu-tainer To Visit The Mat-Su According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 16% of teens vaped in 2015 and 10% of teen males used smokeless tobacco in 2015, and these numbers continue to climb. Magician and “edu-tainer” Robert Hackenson Jr. is slowly changing statistic by allowing students to “See Through the Smoke”. Robert’s amazing skills and presentation style has allowed students across the country, in 46 states and counting, to see through certain illusions
present Choose Something Like a Star. One of seven songs from Frostiana is a piece for mixed chorus and piano composed in 1959 by Randall Thompson. The finale will be Music Shall Live by James Curnow. Come hear this wonderful concert and let the music of the Matanuska Susitna Orchestra and the Mat-Su Community Chorus live in you. Both groups, comprised of dedicated and enthusiastic singers and musicians, as well as the directors of the Matanuska Susitna Orchestra and the Mat Su Community Chorus are delighted for this unique opportunity to share their talents with each other as well as with the Mat Su Community. There’s something for all musical tastes. You will truly enjoy a lovely Sunday afternoon at the beautiful Glenn Massey Theater. The concert is free, but we will be asking for donations to support the Palmer Arts Council Summer Arts Camps. See you there!
and misperceptions that surround teen substance use. His presentation helps students think differently and sparks conversation amongst students about teen vaping and tobacco use. Hackenson will be presenting several shows January 24th and 25th: January 24th: Wasilla High School (7:45 – 9 a.m.), Houston High School (9:45-11 a.m.), Su Valley High School (1:30-2:30 p.m.), and an evening presentation TBA. January 25th: Wasilla High School (7:45 – 9 a.m.), Burchell High School (10-11 am.)
Contributed by Michelle Cornelius Valley Fine Arts Association’s Annual Group Show 2/1/17-2/28/17 Valley Fine Arts Association Town Square Art Gallery FREE Admission Second Saturday Event Artists Reception 2/11/2017 – 12PM - 3:30PM Valley Fine Arts Association Town Square Art Gallery FREE Admission
This Second Saturday Art event was created to support local artists in the Mat-Su Valley and showcase their diverse works of art - watercolors,
pastels, acrylics and oils. Purchasing from local artists and artisans benefits your community and enriches the spirit and lives of all. And coincidentally, the reception precedes Valentine’s Day… art from the heart is a memorable gift for Valentine’s Day! Participating Artists: Laurie Cartwright, Rusty Clark, Michelle Cornelius, Karen Crandall, Anna Folsom, Martha Happs, Pat Jones, Jim Leach, Diane Paoletti, Linda Peters, Cathy Poppert, Susan Sinclair, Judy Vars, Ursula Zimmer. Please join us Saturday, Feb. 11th, from 1-4 and enjoy the art, refreshments and conversation with these amazing artists and remember… Art is for everyone!
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Town Square Art Gallery in Wasilla is proud to host Valley Fine Arts Association’s Annual Group Show for the month of February and featuring an artists’ reception on Saturday, Feb. 11th from 1-4. Town Square Art Gallery, the Valley’s oldest art gallery since 1984, is located in the Carrs Wasilla Mall.
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Contributed by Carmen Summerfield 11th Annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show 2/18/2017 – 3PM & 7PM Valley Arts Alliance Palmer Train Depot Tickets: $15 The Valley Arts Alliance is proud to host their 11th Annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show at the Palmer Depot on February 18, 2017. This year we will present two identical performances: a matinee at 3pm and an evening performance at 7pm. Wearable Art refers to hand crafted and one of a kind pieces of artwork designed to be worn by the human body as an artistic expression. Using their knowledge of color, fabric and non-traditional materials, artists create unique, wearable garments which they (or their models) wear while parading down an authentic “fashion runway”, accompanied by narration and music. For our 11th year we’re using the theme “Odyssey” for staging the show, and we’re encouraging artists to use the same theme for their creative inspiration. To view exciting scenes from years past, visit our Wearable Art archives pages at www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com/archives. To become a part of the 11th Annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show, download our application package, which contains the 2017 Entry Form, along with criteria, guidelines and tips to make your entry a smashing success! Then return the completed application to us by Friday, February 10, 2017. Due to the overwhelming success of this show, we must limit entries to the first 25, so we urge you to submit your completed application early.
JAN 2017
The ticket price is $15 per person for each performance. For the 3pm Matinee only, children 12 years old and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are on sale now in Palmer at Fireside Books and Non-Essentials, in Wasilla at the Town Square Art Gallery and in Big Lake at Top Drawer. We expect both shows to sell out, so please purchase your tickets early. The 11th Annual Valley Arts Alliance Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show will be an exquisite evening of art and entertainment, in what has become a well-loved winter tradition in our Valley. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the arts in the Valley!
As we begin 2017, the Palmer Museum is making preparations for another exciting year. The Museum has several projects planned and will continue to present new in-house and traveling exhibits, fun educational programs and plenty of opportunities for you to grab some friends to get together and celebrate! In November of 2016, the Museum received funding that allowed it to invite designers from ExhibitAK in Juneau, to come to Palmer. During their visit, they evaluated the Museum’s exhibit displays, and met with museum staff and several community members to help them develop and create a new museum design schematic that will allow the Palmer Museum to update and renovate its permanent collection displays. The redesigned exhibitions will allow the Museum to have a new look and will provide multiple levels of engagement so that locals as well as visitors will be able to participate. The project is supported by a Grant-In-Aid from the Alaska State Museum. All those interested in helping the Museum with this endeavor should contact Executive Director, Selena Ortega-Chiolero via e-mail at: director@palmermuseum.org. The Museum hopes to secure funding this year so that the next phase can begin in Spring 2018. Another exciting project that the Museum is currently undertaking is its historical collections reinstallation project. Due to lack in funding, the Museum, up until now, has not been able to properly store all of its collections in a manner more conducive to museum standards. However in December, the Museum began purchasing new storage racks, archival materials and coverings that will allow staff to reorganize and reinstall all the objects in its collections storage. The project is being made possible by a grant
from the Collections Management Fund of Museums Alaska, with the generous support from the Rasmuson Foundation. The Museum hopes to complete the project in early March. Although several projects are currently being undertaken, it hasn’t stopped the Museum from continuing its temporary exhibit schedule and hosting public programs. Continuing on exhibit through the beginning of March is Apron Strings: Ties to the Past. The exhibit reviews the apron’s role as an emotionally charged vehicle for expression with a rich and varied craft history that is still viable today. To help visitors connect with the exhibit, the Museum will be hosting a special evening reception with guest speakers from a variety of professions that require the use of aprons. They will share the stories of their aprons and guests are encouraged to wear their own aprons and likewise, share stories. The event will be held on February 19th from 6:30PM – 8:30PM at Vagabond Blues in downtown Palmer. Tickets for the event are by donation and can be purchased at B Bella Hair Salon or at the Palmer Museum. All proceeds will go towards supporting the Museum’s 2017 Temporary Exhibit Program which includes the potential traveling Smithsonian exhibit, I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story. With plenty of activities in motion, the Museum is also looking forward to the summer and is beginning preparations for this year’s Palmer Wine Walk which will be held on Friday, July 7th with tickets going on sale in May and the 2017 Palmer Midsummer Garden and Art Faire which will be held on Saturday, July 8th with vendor applications becoming available at the end of January. For more details on either event please visit our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ palmer.vic as we post updates when they become available. For more information about any of the Palmer Museum’s exhibits or events, please visit the museum website at www. palmermuseum.org or contact a member of the museum staff at 746-7668.
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Community
Gregory Douglas Gusse died January 5, 2017 at his home in Palmer, Alaska after a five-year journey with cancer. He was 65.
After graduating from CHS in 1969, Mr. Gusse was accepted to CalTech on a physics scholarship. He didn’t like the atmosphere, though, so he moved to Santa Cruz after only a day at the school. While in the Central Coast, he audited a photography class at Cabrillo Junior College and picked peas in Watsonville. He decided to pursue photography further and spent the end of 1969, living in cars and often hitchhiking as he photographed winter scenes throughout the country—from Los Angeles to Portsmouth, New
Never one to sit still, Mr. Gusse also worked as a silversmith and jewelry designer at Great River Crafts and, in 1972 and 1973, hired on with local rancher Harold Law. “I did the jobs that a cowboy does; mended fence, wrangled doggies, branded and castrated, but, mostly I just rode, and sang, and thought,” Mr. Gusse explained in a colorful online resume. In 1976, Mr. Gusse moved to New York, planning to study architecture at Cooper Union. After noticing the number of architects with degrees
From 1976 through August 1978, Mr. Gusse returned to the classroom, auditing courses in cultural anthropology and feminist studies at the New School. He completed all of his coursework for a master’s degree and was offered it with the proviso that he pay for his schooling. He passed. He was soon commissioned to design and display furnishings for the new Makers Gallery on Spring Street. In 1979, Mr. Gusse and his friend Craig Murray formed a design company called Art Resources. They were commissioned to design and build a new gift shop for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Gregory was subsequently appointed the cathedral’s architectin-residence and designed the Vance-Kennedy Peace Library. He managed a job-training program with the Theater for the Forgotten and obtained a faculty position at Pratt Institute. During his New York years, Mr. Gusse also designed many art exhibitions.
JAN 2017
“Gregory Gusse could have been anything, and he was... Greg could have done anything, and he did. Shaman, sage and coyote trickster, he lived with curiosity and courage, adhering to the motto in his high school year book, ‘To thine own self be true.’ With deep reserves of decency and compassion, mixed with indignation and a sense of the absurd, he fashioned a unique space in a mixed-up world, with moral constancy, a ready smile, and a helping hand.”
Through a Pomona College classmate, he became interested in radio, working at KSBC and then, after receiving a radio engineering license, KPPC in Pasadena. He also made a foray into print media, working as a driver for the Claremont Courier newspaper and landing a gig at Hole Publishing, focusing on the photo printing process.
He next moved to New Mexico where he lived through 1975, living much of the time in the unincorporated community of Embudo, whose population currently rests at 354. In 1972, Mr. Gusse got a job driving the fire bus for the South West Forest Fire Fighters, transporting the first responders to 180 fires as well as other emergencies. At the same time, he served as a bus driver for the Española School District.
who were unemployed or trapped in boring jobs—and the number of unlicensed architects making a nice living—he decided to make his own way. He and a friend opened a cabinet shop called Greene Street Cabinetmakers and he later launched a design-build company with two partners: Gusse, Crettier and Smozcynski.
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Longtime friends David and Val Cressy wrote a tribute to Mr. Gusse that they posted on Facebook, excerpted below...
He was born April 7, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Donald William Gusse (and Mona Angela (Mastrapaolo Gusse). His family moved to Claremont, CA in 1966. Gregory was in a pilot program where he took courses simultaneously at Pomona College, where he studied computer science and programming, and at CHS where he busied himself with classes in comparative religion, philosophy and ceramics.
Hampshire and from Baltimore to Mt. Shasta. He returned to Claremont in 1970, working washing dishes at Pitzer College before returning to his Courier and Hole Publishing posts in 1971. He also worked as a driver and assistant to Richard Chase. Mr. Gusse accompanied the folklorist on grade school tours around the state and performed with Mr. Chase’s English country dance group. In his free time, Mr. Gusse focused on writing, with he and a friend producing a 300-page novel using a stream-ofconsciousness technique.
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Film & Culture Contributed by Carla Swick
JAN 2017
www. MAKEASCENEAK .com
Cinema Kabuki’s “Kagamijishi Lion Dance” 1/21/2017 – 1PM Cinema Kabuki Valley Cinema, Wasilla FREE Event If you are interested in Japanese culture, music, or theater but don’t have the money to fly to Japan, then here is your chance to immerse yourself right here in Alaska for free. On Saturday, January 21st there will be a free screening of Cinema Kabuki’s “Kagamijishi Lion Dance” at Valley Cinema in Wasilla. The film event will begin at 1 pm and includes special Japanese music by the UAA String Club.
Ishiguro. Wasilla and Uchiko, on the island of Shikoku, became official sister cities in 2015, thanks to the legacy of Jujiro Wada, an Iditarod Trail pioneer. Wasilla High School and Takefu Higashi High School, on the island of Honshu, have been sister schools since 1997. Japanese language classes are offered at Palmer High School, Colony High School, Wasilla High School and the Mat-Su College. Kabuki Cinema will be a great way to celebrate Japanese culture and bring old friends and new friends together. Please save the date and consider attending! A special thanks to all the sponsors who made this screening possible:
Kabuki is classical Japanese dance-drama, known for the stylization of its drama, impressive stage sets and for the elaborate make-up and costumes worn by its performers. Cinema Kabuki offers English speakers the experience of full-scale Kabuki performances on the big screen with English subtitles, by some of Japan’s biggest stars. High-definition (HD) images and 6-channel sound highlight the authenticity of Kabuki.
> Japan Foundation, Los Angeles Provided the movie at no charge.
There are only three screening in the entire U.S., so this is a very unique and special opportunity for Alaskans. Valley students and citizens have had a strong connection and friendship with Japan for decades. Palmer and Saroma, on the island of Hokkaido, have been sister cities since 1980.
> AK Association of Teachers of Japanese - Provided logistical support.
This friendship began through Ham Radio conversations between Ed Holmes and Hiro
> Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage - Provided liaison with Japan and the Japan Foundation on showing the film. > Coming Attractions Theatres, Valley Cinema - Provided the venue. > Shochiku Co. Ltd. - Produced the movie.
> Palmer Saroma Kai - Worked to bring the movie to Alaska; provided logistical support and promotion. There are 230 general admission seats; tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, firstserved basis. We hope to see you there!
Contributed by Meggie Aube With the start of a new year, resolutions are always inevitable. Maybe this year you should consider taking on the hobby of drumming!
With a new building and almost double the space of the previous location, Percussion in the Valley can offer even more classes and workshops in 2017! To celebrate in the new space, there will be a special workshop offered by an outside guest each month. The first workshop will be a one-time Brazilian Percussion Workshop taught by the talented Anchorage-based drummer, Cameron Cartland. Cartland is a performer and music educator who has studied percussion in Brazil and will share his knowledge with our community. The class will be held January 21st from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
In March, there will be a drum building workshop where participants will have the chance to build their own hand drum. All of these workshops are appropriate for all levels of experience and are for students in middle school through adults. In addition, there will be two community drum workshops offered this winter by Percussion in the Valley’s director, Dr. Meggie Aube. The workshops are for adult beginning level students who wish to learn proper hand drumming technique, while learning grooves and making music in a group setting. The workshops are both a series of classes offered on three consecutive Saturdays. The first winter workshop will be held on Saturday, January 28th, February 4th, and 11th from 2:30- 3:30 p.m. To register for the upcoming classes and workshops or to sign up for private percussion lessons contact Dr. Meggie Aube at 631-8079 or percvalley@ gmail.com. For more information, you can also visit the website at: www. percussioninthevalley.com. Whether it is a skill you wish to improve or something new you would like to start in your life, start off your new year with a resolution to do more drumming! The teachers at the studio look forward to grooving with you in 2017!
JAN 2017
The second workshop will be the return of the very popular Japanese Taiko Drum Workshop taught by Erika Ninoyu on February 18th. Ninoyu has been teaching Taiko drumming in Anchorage and the Valley for
numerous years, and will be sharing her love of these ancient drums and rhythms.
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The new year marks a lot of new beginnings for Percussion in the Valley. The studio, which has been operating since 2011 in Palmer, has a new home. Moving from the downtown Palmer location in November 2016, the studio now is housed in a 1,400-square foot building that is dedicated to percussion and other musical and creative endeavors. The studio unofficially opened its doors to current students in mid-November of 2016. The grand opening of the studio will take place on Saturday, January 28th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Everyone from the community is welcome to attend and check out the new building! The new location can be found at 13372 Crowther Rd.
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JAN 2017
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Mr. Gusse got married and with the birth of his first son, Travis, decided to slow the pace of his life a bit. He bought a farmstead in the town of Nichols in upstate New York and he and his wife welcomed a second son, Walker. As he tells it in his resume, 1982 through 1984 “were primarily spent with my sons raising cattle and making hay.” Soon, however, he had returned to designing and building homes along the coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, this time actually licensed as a construction manager with a crew of 25. He also opened a support office in Owego, The Owego Design Center for the interiors and a shop in partnership on Ludlow Street in New York. In 2000, Mr. Gusse traveled to Alaska to spend time with his son Walker, a pilot with the National Park Service. He met and fell in love with Julie Hopkins, who also worked with the NPS and, on January 8, 2003, the couple were married. While he continued visiting friends in Claremont and traveling the United States, photographing sights like the country’s national parks, Gregory became a permanent denizen of The Last Frontier. He and Julie settled in Palmer after a few years adventuring in Kotzebue. Mr. Gusse continued his interest in writing, working on novels, short stories and poems and contributing stories and photographs to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman and The People’s Paper. He also kept a blog called “Alaska Times.” Music was a lifelong passion for Gregory and he and Julie performed in an ensemble called The Feral Cats, he on guitar and
she on dulcimer. Mr. Gusse also threw himself into the local art scene, working in the gallery and framing shop called Madd Matters. He served on the Palmer Arts Council, helping launch a monthly Art Walk, and was on the board of the Palmer Museum of History and Art. He also spent hours taking photographs of the wildlife, landscape and cultural history of Alaska. One of the finest examples of Mr. Gusse’s photography, a shot of a flock of snow geese flying over Palmer, is in the museum’s permanent collection. Examples of his photography can be viewed on his website Arctic-Exposure.com. In 2013, Mr. Gusse was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder and prostate cancer. He had traveled far and wide but he returned to southern California for some months while undergoing treatment. He is survived by his loving wife Julie Hopkins; by his son and daughter-in-law Walker Gusse and wife Loki Tobin of Anchorage, Alaska; by his son and daughter-inlaw Travis Gusse and wife Jennifer Gusse of Owego, New York, and their two children, Travis Jr. and Katlyn; and five siblings, Donald Gusse, Carl Gusse, Walter Gusse, Barbara (Gusse) Johnson, Susan (Gusse) Poulsen. He also leaves Jamie (Julie’s son) and Carol Hushower and their two children Tobin and Jesse, and many other loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donation checks made out to Mat-Su Hospice and sent to: Mat-Su Home Regional Home Care & Hospice, 950 E. Bogard Road, Ste. 132, Wasilla, AK 99654.
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Poetry
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Arts & Photography
The core lesson at the heart of my art education is the act of seeing. Seeing is not as passive as we may think, it is a very engaged and active part of the human experience. You and I may look at the same scene, and both of us will take away completely different things from it depending on what we are paying attention to. Before my art classes, I was a very careless person when it came to seeing things. When I looked at something, I saw only what was important to me (as we all do). Having to compose an image in the viewfinder of a camera, or compose a scene for an oil painting forces you to be much more analytical of what you are looking at. Contributed by Ed Petersen My name is Ed Petersen. I am 24 years old, born and raised in Wasilla. I am currently an art student at UAA and MatSu College. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Painting and Photography. Growing up, I never thought of art as something important or serious. I had always assumed that strong artistic ability was inherent, and was reserved for an elite group of individuals. Being born in the early 1990s, I was constantly exposed to mass amounts of media and programming that was created by artists. Every television show, illustrated book, advertisement, piece of clothing and nearly every manmade object in my world was created by other people just like me. As a child and teenager, it never occurred to me that I had just as much potential and could be just as capable as any artist out there. When I was 19, I took my first photography class at Mat-Su College and things started to change. It was in this classroom that I began looking at the world in a very different way.
This process breaks down visual space and made me have a much more heightened awareness of what I was visually experiencing in the world. My new way of seeing the world has lead the direction of my artwork ever since. In my paintings, I tend to showcase things that you may see as ordinary, but present them in a way that shows how engrossing they can be. For example my recent oil painting “Reenie� is of a family cat sitting below a lamp with colored lightbulbs illuminating her. This painting originated from a moment when a cat at my family’s house came and sat next to me under a lamp. Looking at the scene with an analytical eye, I immediately saw potential for a piece of artwork. Another painting I did recently is of a simple coffee pot. I had purchased a coffee pot to share with other art students in the studio. While looking at it, noticed the range of light values and reflections to be very visually enticing, and so it lead to a painting. Suddenly something as boring and simple as
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Arts & Photography
a coffee pot becomes beautiful and interesting when looked at with the right perspective. Beauty and visually pleasing things are all around us at all times, and it’s our perspective on them that dictates how we feel. What’s important to remember is that your visual perspective can be changed and influenced, it is not a static thing.
If you have any questions for me, would like prints of paintings or photos, or would like to commission a painting please feel free to contact me directly. Ed Petersen Waxbeetle@gmail.com
“With just a quick glance, these may seem like just ugly trashed cars laying in dirt, snow, and ice. But if you have the right eye or imagination, you can actually pull a vast amount of ideas, stories, and feelings from the images...”
JAN 2017
My new series of photographs titled “Trashed, Frozen, & Forgotten” expands upon the idea of seeing beauty in an unlikely subject. It is centered around a scene of old vintage cars and vehicles that were disposed of near the Knik River. Despite seeming simple and straightforward, there are a lot of
With just a quick glance, these may seem like just ugly trashed cars laying in dirt, snow, and ice. But if you have the right eye or imagination, you can actually pull a vast amount of ideas, stories, and feelings from the images. There is a certain visual beauty in the way the cars appear in the winter landscape, even though they may be very ugly and unsightly. Without being very purposeful with my visual perspective, I would have never thought that old trashed cars could make a good fine art photography series.
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different ideas and stories that you can synthesize. You can imagine the many years ago when these were running cars that belonged to people. Then consider the image of them being disposed of, thrown out with little concern about environment around them. Time passes, they get covered in trees, dirt, and plants. Years go by as nature begins to try and take them back. Some of the cars are covered with graffiti, giving the viewer another layer of time and interaction to ponder.