amycondra@gmail.com – Amy Condra

New York theater artist to perform in Juneau

Performance artist Penny Arcade will be presenting her one-woman show, “The Girl Who Knew too Much" in Juneau. (Bobby Miller)

“What raises Arcade to the level of greatness is her insight into the collapsing soul of America.” by Amy Condra This article was originally published in the Juneau Empire. Perseverance Theatre’s Artistic Director Art Rotch was thrilled when he found out that playwright and performance artist Penny Arcade was coming to Alaska for a visit.… Continue reading New York theater artist to perform in Juneau

Historical play ‘Libby’ makes its Juneau debut

Elizabeth Ware in the title role of “Libby.” (Courtesy of Edgeware Productions)

A story of Libby Beaman, who ventured to the remote Pribilof Islands This story first appeared in The Juneau Empire by Amy Condra In 1879 Libby Beaman boarded the S.S. St. Paul to venture across the Bering Sea toward the Pribilof Islands. Her presence there wouldn’t be by accident; Libby had asked President Rutherford B. Hayes,… Continue reading Historical play ‘Libby’ makes its Juneau debut

‘Writing Eden:’ Featuring poet Emily Wall

University of Alaska Southeast Writing Professor Emily Wall read her poetry at the university’s Wildlife Wednesday series (Courtesy of Emily Wall)

This article first appeared in the Juneau Empire. by Amy Condra Alaska attracts adventurers, people who come for the tall mountains and the deep rivers, who envision themselves discovering something new even as they lose themselves in an ancient wilderness. Among these dreamers from down south are the artists who want to capture the less… Continue reading ‘Writing Eden:’ Featuring poet Emily Wall

Coats of many colors: Woodford to speak on Alaska’s bears

A grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. Grizzly bears are called brown bears in SE Alaska, but are the same animal. (Courtesy of Terry Tollefsbol / USFWS)

This article was originally published in The Juneau Empire. by Amy Condra How do you coax out the crowds on a chilly Friday evening in Juneau? Laurie Craig, an interpreter at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, cites one topic that tends to pack the house: Animals. “I call it ‘charismatic fauna,’” said Craig, who has… Continue reading Coats of many colors: Woodford to speak on Alaska’s bears

Packing a digital punch

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Director Ron Marvin adjusts a telescope that will transmit images of wildlife, such as far away mountain goats, to a 55-inch screen mounted in the visitor center. (Amy Condra)

This article was originally published in The Juneau Empire by Amy Condra Across the lake from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, a mountain goat forges a slow and steady path up a cliff that rises far above the center’s standard vantage point. “Many of our visitors couldn’t see them,” said the center’s director, Ron Marvin. “So… Continue reading Packing a digital punch

Uncover mysteries of region’s bat species

California Myotis bat is one of the five species of bats found in Southeast Alaska. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Local biologist hopes to engage community in citizen science This article first appeared in The Juneau Empire by Amy Condra Fruits and flowers ripen into lush, succulent shades, bodies of water, gleaming and still, trees swaying rhythmically across a sultry twilight — such images are the stuff of holiday brochures and postcards. These scenes also depict… Continue reading Uncover mysteries of region’s bat species

Southeast energy challenges lead to interest in biomass

Wood pellets from Sealaska’s boiler supply. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Increasing diesel costs, shortage of hydro storage lead to talk of shift toward biomass to ease southeast Alaska’s energy demand This article was originally published in The Juneau Empire. Article cited in Ecology and Society, Volume 18, Issue 3 by Amy Condra Water is abundant in Southeast — it falls freely from the sky throughout the summer… Continue reading Southeast energy challenges lead to interest in biomass

The strange case of Anjette Lyles

News coverage of Anjette Lyles' trial often included details of the accused murderer's clothes and hair styles. (The Telegraph archives)

“One of the most scheming women that anyone could imagine.” This article was originally published in The (Macon) Telegraph. by Amy Condra Anjette Lyles’ influence still lingers in this lush Southern town. Beneath the pink blossoms of cherry trees and in the shadows of stately homes that escaped the wrath of Sherman, lurks a seamy… Continue reading The strange case of Anjette Lyles

Reincarnation of Stories: New play, to be performed in Tlingit

Playwright Ishmael Hope (left), director Flordelino Lagundino and composer Edward Littlefield have collaborated on The Reincarnation of Stories, which tells the story of the origin of the killer whale. (Amy Condra)

This article first appeared in The Juneau Empire by Amy Condra When Ishmael Hope’s grandfather died, his family and friends gathered to pay tribute. As they stood to share their stories, they spoke in a language that had, for thousands of years, served Alaska’s Native people: They spoke in Tlingit. “My dad said, ‘Man, when an… Continue reading Reincarnation of Stories: New play, to be performed in Tlingit

Commuting by snowshoe

Gary Gillette and Renee Hughes at the Last Chance Mining Museum where they have lived for twenty years. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

How long does Hughes, a New Orleans native, plan to live among these gold rush artifacts, in the restored ruins of a turn-of-the-century mining camp? by Amy Condra This article was originally published in the Juneau Empire. On those Juneau mornings when the snow falls with a denser-than-usual determination, slipping out of the seductive comfort… Continue reading Commuting by snowshoe