Ammon Swenson, Alaska Public Media

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Ammon Swenson is Alaska Public Media’s Audio Media Content Producer. He was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He graduated from UAA in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and integrated media. He’s previously worked for KRUA radio, the Anchorage Press, and The Northern Light.

State of Art: Saying goodbye to retiring Hometown, Alaska host Kathleen McCoy

Kathleen McCoy spent decades as a journalist before joining Alaska Public Media as an original host of Hometown, Alaska. After years behind the mic interviewing local leaders and community members, she’s stepping down to enjoy retirement. We look back at McCoy’s career and what comes after public radio.
“Shin-chi’s Canoe” by Nicola Campbell, “Not My Girl” and “When I Was Eight” both by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and “My Name is SEEPEETZA” by Shirley Sterling will be available in fourth grade classrooms and elementary school libraries. (KTOO file photo)

Hometown Alaska: Alaska Center for the Book is working to increase awareness of Native authors

Alaska Native authors have written hundreds of books ranging from children’s stories to novels to memoirs and history books. Have you read any? Do you want to? This week on Hometown Alaska we’re exploring a new project created by the Alaska Center for the Book focusing on increasing awareness and readership of Alaska Native authors and talking about why sharing these works is so important.

State of Art: Looking back at 60 years of artist Garry Kaulitz’s work

This week on State of Art we hear about artist Garry Kaulitz's retrospective at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art. Kaulitz worked as a professor at the University of Alaska where he taught printmaking and his works have been featured in hundreds of exhibitions. The show features a diverse range of prints, paintings and drawings spanning six decades with a concurrent exhibition in Kaulitz's adopted home of Cuenca, Ecuador.

State of Art: The 34th annual Anchorage Folk Festival

This week on State of Art the Anchorage Folk Festival returns with in-person performances, workshops, and more. We hear from Johnse Ostman, president of the fest’s board of directors, to find out about the local and featured acts, volunteer opportunities, and what to expect.

State of Art: Artist Meg Anderson and RKP Production’s ‘Out to Lunch’

This week on State of Art we meet artist Meg Anderson. Her show "Yellow Skies and Black Birds" will be on display at Cyrano's Art Gallery from January 6 through February 26. Originally from Wisconsin, Anderson spent 24 years as an interpretive graphic artist and illustrator for Alaska State Parks. We discuss her work for the parks, her show and her many other creative projects. We also hear from RKP Production's Audrey Weltman Kelly and Dick Reichman about the new original play "Out to Lunch: A Political Comedy."

Hometown Alaska: Making housing accessible to everyone

Alaska’s statewide affordable housing crisis has many causes and many solutions. This week on hometown Alaska hear from housing experts who are working to make housing accessible for everyone and from one new homeowner who helps use understand why it matters so much.

State of Art: Alaska Playlist Project makes it easier to find homegrown musicians

This week on State of Art we're hearing from Juneau-based singer-songwriter Marian Call. As part of the Alaska Independent Musician Initiative and a new endeavor called MusicAlaska, Call tells us about the work being done to compile playlists of Alaska musicians to help paint a more complete picture of the state's music scene. We hear about the working musician's grind, the benefits of these playlists and plans use them.

State of Art: The Anchorage Community Concert Band explores ‘Reverence’ in upcoming winter concert

This week on State of Art we're hearing from Dr. Mark Wolbers, director of the Anchorage Community Concert Band. Their free winter performance, "Reverence," will take place on Sunday, December 4 in the Discovery Theater in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Wolbers tells us about being in the band, managing the wide range of skill levels and what to expect from the concert.

State of Art: Preserving Alaska’s music with Jimmy Riordan

This week on State of Art we're hearing from local artist and the mastermind behind the Alaska BookMobile, Jimmy Riordan. His current work is focused on digitizing analogue Alaska music. He got his start working in Bethel and preserving recordings found around the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, but has branched out to more of a statewide focus. We hear about how he got started, what he's found along the way and what comes next.

State of Art: Anchorage Museum’s Seed Lab is a space of endless possibilities

This week on State of Art we're learning about Anchorage Museum's Seed Lab. The black building covered in murals is located across from the main museum facility on the corner of 6th and A in downtown Anchorage. In addition to supplementing other museum programming, they hold a variety of workshops on topics ranging from climate to repair and reuse and other events and conversations focusing on community and the environment. They also support artists in residence in addition to things like housing a tool library and a newly built podcast studio.

Hometown Alaska: Answering your questions about this year’s election

With Election Day coming up fast on November 8 and early voting already underway, we want to answer any of your last minute questions about this year's election. Gail Fenumiai, the state's head of the Division of Elections will be able to answer any of your questions about ranked choice voting, ballot security, when and where to vote, and more. Jeannette Lee, a researcher with the nonpartisan think tank Sightline Institute, can field questions about voter strategy and things to consider when voting.

State of Art: Tent City Press zine fair and Anchorage Community Theater’s ‘Constance and Sinestra and the Cabinet of Screams’

This week on State of Art we're hearing from the owner of Tent City Press, Bryce Fredrick. Along with the Anchorage Public Library and the Seed Lab, Tent City Press will be hosting a zine fair and swap on Friday, November 4. We also hear from Anchorage Community Theater's Executive Director Matt Fernandez about their current production of spooky musical "Constance and Sinestra and the Cabinet of Screams."

State of Art: ‘The Alaskan Blonde’ and Anchorage Opera’s ‘The Pirates of Penzance’

This week on State of Art we're hearing from James Bartlett, author of true-crime book "The Alaskan Blonde: Sex, Secrets, and the Hollywood Story that Shocked America." The book examines the murder of wealthy Fairbanks businessman Cecil Wells on October 17, 1953. We'll also hear from the conductor and stage director/choreographer from Anchorage Opera's production of "The Pirates of Penzance."

State of Art: Talking with Joy Harjo, 23rd poet laureate of the United States

This week on State of Art we're hearing from Joy Harjo. She served as poet laureate of the United States from 2019 to this year. As the first Native American to hold the position, she made it her goal to lift up the voices of indigenous poets. We discuss her relationship to Alaska, her time as poet laureate and her new work.

Hometown Alaska: Staying active in recovery as winter approaches

This week on Hometown Alaska Tiffany Hall, executive director of Recover Alaska, and Dr. Vivian Gonzales, professor of psychology at UAA, join host Justin Williams to discuss the realities of Alaskan sobriety, and what it looks like to face recovery in the harsher months of the cold, dark winter.

Hometown Alaska: Telling Alaska’s story

This week Hometown Alaska hosts three writers telling significant parts of Alaska’s story. We're joined by Alaska's writer laureate Heather Lende and authors Leigh Newman and Laureli Ivanoff.

State of Art: Anchorage Community Theater’s ‘The Sensuous Senator’

This week on State of Art we're hearing from Marrin Eighinger, director of Anchorage Community Theater's production of "The Sensuous Senator." The fast-paced comedy follows a presidential candidate running on a morality platform, his indiscretions and the fallout of his secrets. The final performances are Saturday, October 1 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 2 at 3 p.m.

State of Art: Talking shop with restaurant consultant Steph Johnson

This week on State of Art we're hearing from Steph Johnson. She was an early hire when the Bear Tooth Grill was first opening, eventually becoming general manager of the Bear Tooth Theatrepub and Grill. After two decades with the company, she's helping other restaurants find their way. We discuss her work as a consultant, what makes a good dining experience and the un-sexy side of the business.
Man taking picture of himself with the "Visitor Information Center"

Hometown Alaska: Alaskan Footprints food tours and Anchorage Independent Worker Alliance

This week on Hometown Alaska host Justin Williams is joined by two local entrepreneurs who are dedicated to changing the business landscape. We have the owner of Alaskan Footprints, “Sourdough” Dan Morris offering humor and treats in his food tours and we have the founder of Anchorage Independent Worker Alliance, Atlas Katari, committed to helping develop like minded entrepreneurs.

State of Art: On the cusp of 80 Linda Lucky celebrates milestones with ‘Loose Ends’

When you walk into the International Gallery of Contemporary art in downtown Anchorage, you'll be greeted by a painting of a woman. She's sitting on a chair, wearing nothing but a sheer scarf and hat that says "Art Slut." It's a self-portrait by artist Linda Lucky, inspired by Alice Neel who painted herself in the nude at 80. Lucky's show at IGCA called "Loose Ends" is a journey through a diverse selection of work showing the fun and whimsy of youth, the sophistication of midlife and the nostalgia of looking back.