April’s First Friday celebration will feature creations ranging from whimsical to decorative. The monthly art walk starts at 5 p.m. April 7.
The Alaska Arts Confluence will display the work of Jim Wilson, who describes himself as a “scrounger-upper” from jobs to art as he collects and repurposes items on his travels.
Confluence creative director Carol Tuynman describes Wilson as “a resourceful person who collects twisted, weathered driftwood along beaches for walking sticks or for some future project. And it’s an unusual lawn maintenance approach to create the gravity-defying rock garden at 9 Mile Lutak Road,” Tuynman said.
For his First Friday display, Wilson assembled “dead bonsais” from shriveled scrub brush found on the beach or in the Nevada desert last year.
The Skipping Stone will display skis, snowboards and mountain photography from Graham Kraft, owner of Fairweather Ski Works.
Kraft said he’s been building skis since 2008, and started his local business in 2012.
His handcrafted skis and snowboards are a collaboration, he said. “Some of the art on the skis are original works, designed and painted specifically for the skis. Other pieces are printed digitally. Folks can also paint their own graphics if they like.”
Kraft brings a camera along on his ski trips, taking photos of mountainscapes.
The Port Chilkoot Distillery will feature watercolor and line drawings of flowers and plants by Elizabeth Jurgeleit in a new botanical series.
Haines Brewing Co. said Melissa Ganey and sister Kaitlin Combs will display paintings, photographs and clothes from 907 Clothing Co. for First Friday patrons.
The Haines Sheldon Museum also will have a “White Fang” photo booth with a themed backdrop and costumes, said community coordinator Madeline Witek.