By Chase Berenson

TNews Staffwriter

While a new public art piece was under construction this summer just outside Glacier City Hall, many people stopped by to talk to the artists and ask questions about it. According to Tommy O’Malley, one of the organizers of the project and better known in Girdwood as Tommy Salami, the most common question they’ve received from passersby is, “What is it?”

The short answer: the 28-foot-long undulating wooden sculpture is the body of a dragon. But the long answer is even more complex.

There has long been public art in Girdwood Park near the playground. In the early 2000s a community mural was installed. One year kids would paint one side of the mural, and then the next year kids would paint the other. Each image would stay up for two years, and it was an interactive art piece despite knowing that each image would eventually disappear. Mr. Salami says, “Kids art is temporary, because kids grow up and move on.”

The original community mural was built using untreated lumber, and after several years it fell apart.

The next iteration of interactive art at the playground was the First Amendment Chalkboard. This was made of treated lumber with sheet metal for the other side. This project was supported by the Rotary Club. The premise of the First Amendment Chalkboard was that children (or any members of the public) could write or draw whatever they wanted without fear of censorship.

Mr. Salami said, “People were concerned that we would get bad messages, but it was mostly people writing ‘I was here.’” Girdwood resident Carolyn Seramur took on the task of erasing the board every so often so that new drawings could be added, and an anonymous Girdwood resident donated chalk so artists always have supplies to add more art.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/dragon-takes-flight-in-girdwood-park

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Artist: Kevin “Kc” Crowley

Parked on the end of a row of vendors selling glitter and hoodies, cannibus merch and fair food Kc Crowley's booth gives pause to the revelor. 

Prints display images in cut from woodblock, art made by carving away "negative space" with ink applied to the raised surface.

Crowley's work is deeply personal and potent:  a salmon appears to twist to the surface of the print. Black lines swirl and ripple with a sense of depth, as if looking at the surface of a river, stripped of its negative space by dappling sunlight, revealed by shades of leaves.

We begin a monthly artist feature with Kc's print and words. Each month, Kc will help curate an artist feature while sharing his own prints and poetry. TNews hopes the feature sparks a deeper dive into local, Alaska art. We will continue to feature full articles and photos of our local artists doing their thing (yo, Tommy!), and want to open this section to anyone with creative ideas and imaginings.

By Kc Crowley

Artist Statement

As a kid I guess the whole art thing really started with comic books, I grew up loving comics (especially the black and white indie comics of the 80's ) and this love naturally sort of grew into tattooing and then eventually into the carving and designing woodblocks. Most of my inspiration comes from my time in the mountains or on the water. I never went to art school or took any classes so my process for printmaking is very circuitous and self taught, I have relied heavily on the local library for instructional guides but mostly just learned from my mistakes. 

Read and view the entire series of poems and art

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/crowley-kicks-off-tnews-artist-feature

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Once you hear the flavors of cookies arranged neatly on three trays, you're tempted to pluck a free sample.

"Rolled Oats Pumpkin Tahini", "Wild Blueberry", and "Savory Sesame with Seaweed."

Ah. But wait.

These are treats for the four-legged grazers at Girdwood's Sunday Market. And though the snacks sound delicious, Mountain Mutts owner Gus Brewer has local dogs in mind.

"Dogs are addicted to my ingredients," says Brewer, who started making his dog treats four years ago and is a regular vendor at the market.

The lucky guinea pigs for Brewer's recipes are Betty and Marley, his boxers. 

"They are addicted to the treats," he says. 

A booth or two down, a poodle sniffs at a table, a two-legged leashed to her. 

Before the eager future Mountain Mutt junkie approaches, Brewer is saying that though the business takes up much of his time, it's a side hustle. He has a winter gig at the Resort. ("I learned I'm a natural teacher," he says.)

"Mountain Mutts is more than a dog business," Brewer says, lifting a brochure. Proceeds help the Food Pantry and Friends of Pets.

"We like giving back to the community," he says.

Along comes the poodle. Look out! One Mountain Mutt treat disappears. She's addicted.

Mountain Mitt treats can be found locally at The Grind, Alyeska Resort and Mother Hubbard's.