By Lori Evans

Homer Independent Press

Creativity, collaboration, climate, coastal contrasts and community are all part of a unique artists residency happening in Homer the last two weeks of March.

Homer artist Sharlene Cline is the energy behind the residency that involves the five women who comprise the National Climate Artists Collective. The group formed in the spring of 2025 through Netvvrk, a national online community where visual artists connect, critique each other’s work and share professional resources, Cline said. 

Caroline Anderson of Rhode Island put out the call for a small group interested in addressing climate change through art. Five artists, including Cline, responded. While the group has met via Zoom over the past year, the March events will be the first time they have met in person.

The artists are connected by several threads, including they all live near bodies of water — some pristine and some industrial — but their time in Homer will be split on two different community-centered projects: 

• “Sacredness of Place,” the creation of Wisconsin artist Rebecca Carlton, invites community members to make clay relief sculptures that reflect what is sacred about Alaska’s coast. It will be exhibited on the Pratt Museum’s grounds.

• “Coastal Contrasts” involves the other four artists in the collective and focuses on printmaking workshops using upcycled materials like foam trays and plastic bags. It also will include a print and photography exhibit.

Events kick off with an artist talk featuring Carlton at 6 p.m. March 19 at the Pratt Museum. Carlton, who is from Door County, Wisconsin, is known as “an environmental and social sculpture artist,” according to climateartists.net. Her installations and sculpture capture the often-unnoticed effects of human decisions on the environment.

Cline has been busy collecting cow patties (200 at last count), sawdust, coffee grounds, banana peels, seaweed and dog food which will help create and color “Sacredness of Place,” which has been described as “a community environmental land art installation.” 

Students from first grade through high school, as well as professional ceramic artists in Homer, are creating clay relief sculptures to be used in the temporary artwork. 

“Students were asked to answer the question ‘What’s sacred to you in nature?’ in their clay pieces so there’s a lot of fish,” Cline said.

While here, Carlton will work with high school students to create pieces for the project, which explores the themes of climate, place and community.

The clay works of students and others will be baked in a raku pit fire 10-feet square and 18 inches deep from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 26 at Bishop’s Beach.

Community members can volunteer for a two-hour stint to watch the fire. It’s just one of the many ways the March happenings will involve the public — you don’t have to be an artist to participate. To volunteer for fire duty, contact Cline at 907-299-7664 or clinehomer@gmail.com.

The “Sacredness of Place” installation opening combined with a community potluck will begin at 1 p.m. March 28 at the Pratt Museum.

While “Sacredness of Place” opens and closes the residency, Cline and visiting artists Anderson of Rhode Island, Rosemarie Gleiser of Colombia and New York, and Elaine Miller of Chicago will lead the three “Coastal Contrasts” printmaking events March 20 and 21 at Kenai Peninsula College Kachemak Bay Campus Printmaking Studios:

• Relief Printing on Fabric: 5:15-8:15 p.m. March 20. Workshop fee: $60 per person.

This is for anyone curious about printmaking. Participants will carve designs into upcycled materials like foam trays and plastics and learn to mix ink to the proper consistency. Designs will be printed on fabrics or clothing of one’s choice. 

• Monoprinting on Paper Using Upcycled Materials and Color Transparency: 5:15-8:15 p.m. March 20.  Workshop fee: $60 per person.

The workshop also is for anyone curious about printmaking and is suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience. Participants will bring home a print on archival paper and an expanded knowledge of printmaking and color.

• Flocking Art — Textured Printmaking: 1-4 p.m. March 21. Workshop fee: $60 per person.

Participants will learn stencil printing with flock for bold, raised designs; textured relief printing using reclaimed materials and plasticine; and spontaneous monoprinting with selective flock accents.

For all workshops, participants should wear clothes they don’t mind getting messy.

To register for the workshops, visit: kpc.alaska.edu/community courses or call 907-235-1674.

The artists also will exhibit Coastal Contrasts prints and photographs March 27 at the Kachemak Bay Campus. The opening reception will be at 5:30 p.m. followed by a printmaking artists’ talk at 6:30 p.m.

Cline said she is especially excited about reintroducing printmaking to the community. 

“Homer once had a vibrant printmaking scene, but opportunities have become rare. With access to the printing press at Kachemak Bay Campus and the range of media represented in our collective, this residency is a chance to reconnect people with that tradition while also exploring environmental installation and raku firing together,” Cline said.

For more information about any of the events, contact Cline at 907-299-7664 or clinehomer@gmail.com.

What’s Happening At A Glance:

Sacredness of Place

Thursday, March 19: Sacredness of Place Artist Talk, 6 p.m., Pratt Museum

Coastal Contrasts Printmaking With Upcycled Materials
(Each workshop fee is $60 per person; to register visit kpc.alaska.edu/community courses or call907-235-1674)

Friday, March 20: Relief Printing on Fabric, 5:15-8:15 p.m., KBC printmaking studios

Friday, March 20: Monoprinting on Paper Using Upcycled Materials and Color Transparency, 5:15-8:15 p.m., KBC printmaking studios

Saturday, March 21: Flocking Art: Textured Printmaking, 1-4 p.m., KBC printmaking studios

Sacredness of Place

Thursday, March 26: Raku Clay Pit Fire, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Bishops Beach, observe the National Climate Artists Collective team at work

Coastal Contrasts Prints and Photography 

Friday, March 27: 5:30 p.m., Opening Reception, KBC

Friday, March 27: 6:30 p.m. Printmaking Artists’ Talk, KBC

Sacredness of Place

Saturday, March 28: 1 p.m., Installation Opening and Community Potluck, 1 p.m., Pratt Museum

For more information about any of the events, contact Sharlene Cline at 907-299-7664 or clinehome@gmail.com.