Sitka Is...
A Perennial Garden of Artistic Expression
In Sitka, “bloom where you’re planted” takes on a life of its own. While some may view the long, dark winter as a time to hibernate, Sitkans know better. Winter is when creative energy begins to stir. Beneath the rain and overcast skies, the community becomes a fertile ground for imagination, collaboration, and artistic risk-taking.
Rather than quieting down, the arts in Sitka push through the winter soil like hardy perennials. Writers gather to shape poems and stories. Dancers cultivate new choreography. Musicians jam, collaborate, and compose. Visual artists and crafters dig into fresh techniques. What emerges is a thriving ecosystem of creativity - layered, alive, and constantly evolving.
Rather than quieting down, the
arts in Sitka push through the
winter soil like hardy perennials.
Just as Sitka’s rich, damp soil nurtures the promise of spring, its community nourishes creativity year-round. A great example of this unexpected cross-pollination is the collaboration between Pacific High School students and the Wearable Arts Show. Under the guidance of Andrea Fraga from Middle Island Gardens, the students have been managing a campus greenhouse. This winter, their learning branches into the culinary world as they team up with the Wearable Arts crew to explore the craft of charcuterie.
The project will culminate in students designing, preparing, and presenting their handcrafted boards at the Wearable Arts Show. These edible creations will grace the VIP tables and be available for purchase, blending food, art, and community into a celebration of creativity and growth.
In Sitka, no talent lies dormant for long. Even in the darkest season, unexpected ideas take root - and what blooms is always something to savor.
More Articles From This Issue
Belly Meat
200 Years of Making Music
At the center of Sitka’s vibrant music scene, three men carry a sound as local as the tide and as timeless as a good story. Belly Meat, the trio of Ted Howard, Ernie Eggleston, and Gary Gouker, has been playing together for about 15 years. They blend blues, rock and roll, and folk with Southeast Alaska humor to make a uniquely homegrown sound.
Christian Litten
An Artist Profile
When Christian Litten walks into a room, the temperature changes. The laughter loosens. Nerves settle. Ideas multiply. Again and again, those who know him use the same words: generous, passionate, fearless, kind.
The Art of the Unexpected
Zeke & Cassidy Present Two Nights of Improv
“Just so you know – this is insane, what I’m about to tell you,” warns Cassidy Russell, long-time improv and sketch comedy teacher at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, recounting an absurd and memorable performance at camp this summer.
Art in Your Backyard
The Watchman Kootéeyaas – Part II
In the summer 2025 issue of the Sitka Arts Guide, we introduced the story of two remarkable totem poles taking shape right here in Sitka – The Watchman Kootéeyaas. Featured under the “Art in Your Backyard” banner, these poles were actually born in our neighbors’ backyard.