Since 2005, Homer Council on the Arts has presented the annual Community Arts Awards as a way to support local artists. These awards not only recognize individuals who do SO much for the community, but also advocate for the arts as a powerful local force for community economic and educational development.
Over the years, many of the awards have been named in honor of individuals whose lifetime of work embodies the spirit of that award.
2022 Community Arts Award Recipients

Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement Award
DANIEL PERRY
Daniel Perry is deeply involved in the Homer community’s education and has been a prominent creative force in music locally. He was the face and original classroom teacher for the Paul Banks Elementary “Preludes” violin music program, working collaboratively with Linda Reinhart, Lyn Maslow, and other influential local educators. He formerly directed the Homer OPUS youth string programs and is currently an active board member, helping to place and transition the current music director, assuring the programs maintain the highest educational standards. Daniel is also a prominent violin teacher and maintains a vibrant private studio. Besides his work in Homer, he was a founding instructor for the Sun Valley Music Conservatory in Idaho and taught at the Birchwood Music Camp in Alaska.
As a performer in Homer, he has collaborated in a number of local chamber music concerts including those for the Homer Council of the Arts, the Bunnell Street Art Center and the Pratt Museum. He also performed with the Devil’s Club Orchestra, which opened for Pink Martini at the Mariner Theater in Homer.

Artist of the Year
BRIANNA ALLEN
Brianna Allen has fostered her artwork in Homer since the summer of 2008 when she arrived during a road trip with a friend. During her first summer in Homer, she painted portraits of locals from the back of her truck – bars, cab drivers, pool players – whatever inspired her in this hamlet by the sea. Since 2011, she’s participated in exhibits, taught classes, produced performances and events, and served on the board at Bunnell Street Arts Center where she has been the Marketing and Development Lead since 2016.
When she became a mother in 2018, her art practice adapted. She solicited for stories about the challenges and joys of motherhood and shared them anonymously through her social art project called “The Momologue Collective.” When Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Brianna called for stories about choice. Knowing it was a critical time to amplify voices, she self-published the collection of 100 stories The Momologue Collective: An Anthology by Self-Identifying Mothers and released it in conjunction with her fellow artist mother cohorts in the Bunnell Street Arts Center exhibit MOTHER in December of 2022.

Arts Advocate
MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
In May of ’99 Michael was hired as an editorial assistant for the Homer News. In 2003, there was an opening for a reporter. Then around 2006 he started writing the art scene. He would do one story a month about a visual artist and covered the local galleries. He loved going to First Friday openings where he would encounter a broad range of visual artists, take some photos, and follow up. He especially liked writing about emerging artists. Those were the fun ones because they were fresh and excited. He loved interviewing artists on the cusp of making a career or developing a passion that enriched their lives, always trying to find a different angle to the stories.
What most people don’t know about Michael: he started as a science fiction writer, and once wrote a story that was challenged to be banned from a New Jersey library. HCOA thanks you, Michael, for your 23 years of advocating for the arts in our community. We look forward to reading your next science fiction or ‘challenged’ book!

Mary Langham Volunteer of the Year Award
CATHY STINGLEY
Cathy Stingley was born in Portland, Oregon. She married in 1968 and moved to Georgia and then New York before coming to Alaska in 1973. Her years have been filled with music and theater, punctuated with three seasons on a Forest Service lookout tower, operating Homer’s first preschool, co-producing a children’s radio program, 11 years as a firefighter/EMT with Homer Volunteer Fire Department, work with the Homer Mental Health Clinic and managing her business providing neurodevelopmental therapy for the past 25 years.
She is the current president of the Board of Directors for Pier One Theatre, Inc., has participated with many hats in the theatre program, played fiddle in several bands, and presently teaches an online movement class and leads a weekly musical jam session at HCOA. Being part of an event brings her joy and satisfaction that she is contributing in some way to help bring pleasure to others.

Jill Berryman Art Educator Award
KRISTA ETZWILER
Krista worked as an elementary school teacher and the Artist in the Schools assistant coordinator from 2007-2015 at McNeil Canyon. She credits Debbie Piper as a mentor over those years. In 2015 she moved positions to West Homer Elementary where she continued weekly art as well as organizing and coordinating their Artist in the Schools programs, Art Fair, and school-wide art projects through 2022. Krista crammed all those organizational details into before- and after-school hours. But she notes that the energy required was far surpassed by the energy from the kids and parents. Energy in return makes it worth it.
Krista plans to continue teaching art in the new HCOA ceramic studio along with some other visual arts. Project Grad has hired her as a visiting artist for their summer institute. She also hopes to pursue art for her own personal interest.

Diane Borgman Youth Artist of the Year Award
LEAH DUNN
Homer High School senior Leah Dunn has been dabbling in art her whole life. It started with cutting things while living in Aniak as a young girl, and became more in depth the past couple of years during summer downtime at her family cabin in Little Tutka Bay and as a deck hand in Kasitsna Bay. Leah painted many acrylic landscapes from across Kachemak Bay and entered them in Homer Council on the Arts group exhibits including Landscapes and Fun with 5×7. Her work has technical skill and wisdom of place beyond her years. The past few months she has expanded into watercolor and carries a pocket palette for landscapes and self-portraits.
Leah looks forward to building upon her high school art education with Olivia Philpot into college studying Art and Environmental Science.

Kathy and Mike Pate Business Award
GRACE RIDGE BREWING
Don & Sherry Stead opened Grace Ridge Brewery in May of 2016, intending to be a community gathering spot. They knew from the start they wanted to have a place to showcase local artists, focusing on emerging artists. The first artist to grace their walls was Jen DePesa, who had just moved down from Anchorage and wanted to share her art with Homer. Since then, she has become a friend and has had a yearly showing at the brewery. The Steads enjoy always being surprised and amazed at what shows up for the monthly display. The 8×8 cooler with wood slats has been a perfect platform- there are quite a few screw holes but it allows the artist to display their unique work. Being part of First Friday has given the brewery the opportunity to really embrace Homer’s art scene, with visitors and locals enjoying the local art.
Past Community Arts Award Recipients
2021 WINNERS
Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement
PAUL DUNGAN
Artist of the Year
KIM MCNETT
Art Advocate
LITTLE FOOT
Mary Langham Volunteer of the Year
ABE ABRAHAMSON
Jill Berryman Arts Education Award
CARLY GARAY
Diane Borgman Youth Artist of the Year
MARIAH MCGUIRE
Kathy & Mike Pate Business Award
BODETT & CO.
2020 WINNERS
Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement
BRAD HUGHES
Artist of the Year
DEBORAH POORE
Art Advocate
RIKA MOUW
Mary Langham Volunteer of the Year
CINDY NELSON
Jill Berryman Arts Education Award
ALAYNE TETOR
Diane Borgman Youth Artist of the Year
ELLA BLANTON YOURKOWSKI
Kathy & Mike Pate Business Award
KACHEMAK BAY BROADCASTING INC.
2019 WINNERS
Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement
JOY STEWARD
Artist of the Year
LYNNE BURT
Art Advocate
LINDA REINHART
Mary Langham Volunteer of the Year
GUNDEGA ŠNEPSTE
Jill Berryman Arts Education Award
KYLE SCHNEIDER
Diane Borgman Youth Artist of the Year
KATIA HOLMES
Kathy & Mike Pate Business Award
KP BRASS BAND – ALIBI BAR & GRILL
2018 WINNERS
Mary Epperson Lifetime Achievement
MARK ROBINSON
Artist of the Year
JENNIFER NORTON
Art Advocate
DANIEL PERRY
Mary Langham Volunteer of the Year
N LYNN WHITMORE
Jill Berryman Arts Education Award
SHARLENE CLINE
Diane Borgman Youth Artist of the Year
FALCOM GREEAR
Kathy & Mike Pate Business Award
MEL STRYDOM – THE GROG SHOP
2017 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
ANNETTE BELLAMY
Artist of the Year
DANA STABENOW
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
HOMER OCEAN CHARTERS
Volunteer of the Year
LYNN SPENCE
Arts Education
LISA SHALLOCK
Youth Artist of the Year
CHLOE PLEZNAC
Business Arts Patron
HARBOR SCHOOL OF MUSIC
2016 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
EVA SAULITIS
Artist of the Year
JIM REARDON
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
ED HUTCHINSON
Volunteer of the Year
MIKE PATE AND HAL SPENCE
Arts Education
ROSANNA MOYER
Youth Artist of the Year
FELICITY JONES
Business Arts Patron
TWO SISTERS BAKERY
2015 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
JOHN BUSHELL
Artist of the Year
SALLY OBERSTEIN
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
HOMER ARTS & CULTURE ALLIANCE
Volunteer of the Year
MARY LANGHAM
Arts Education
LISA AND KIRK OLSEN
Youth Artist of the Year
LINDSEY SCHNEIDER
Business Arts Patron
HOMER PHYSICAL THERAPY
2014 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
TOBY TYLER
Artist of the Year
TOM KIZZIA
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
PETER SWANSON
Volunteer of the Year
TIM QUINN
Arts Education
CODY DAVIDSON
Youth Artist of the Year
PATRICK LATIMER
Business Arts Patron
QUIET PLACE LODGE
2013 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
GAYE WOLFE
Artist of the Year
MARIAN BECK
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
BUNNELL STREET ARTS CENTER
Arts Education
CAROL SWARTZ
Youth Artist of the Year
DREW TURNER
Business Arts Patron
ERA ALASKA
2012 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
PAULA DICKEY
Artist of the Year
MAVIS MULLER
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
KEN CASTNER
Volunteer of the Year
RACHEL BILBO
Arts Education
CAROL COMFORT
Youth Artist of the Year
MARIAH STUART
Business Arts Patron
WELLS FARGO INSURANCE
2011 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
DIANE TILLION
Artist of the Year
RON SENUNGETUK
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
PRATT MUSEUM
Arts Education
CHERISH MCCALLUM
Youth Artist of the Year
RUFARO
Business Arts Patron
HOMER BOOKSTORE
2010 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
RHENDA HORN
Artist of the Year
NANCY LORD
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
MAVIS MULLER
Arts Education
DEBBIE PIPER
Youth Artist of the Year
OCEANA WILLS
Business Arts Patron
MIKE WARBURTON – OCEAN SHORES RESORT
2009 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
LANCE AND BARB PETERSEN
Artist of the Year
LYNN MARIE NADEN
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
JOY STEWARD
Arts Education
PAUL JONES
Youth Artist of the Year
MARC OLIVER
2008 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
LORRAINE HASS
Artist of the Year
ASIA FREEMAN
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
LAURA NORTON
Arts Education
RENEE JAHNKE
Youth Artist of the Year
ELYSE CARTER
2007 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
KARLA FREEMAN
Artist of the Year
RIKA MOUW
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
GAYE WOLFE
Arts Education
JILL BERRYMAN
Youth Artist of the Year
CASUALTIES OF THE CAUSE
2006 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
MARY EPPERSON
Artist of the Year
GAIL BAKER
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
MARK ROBINSON
Arts Education
JOCELYN WESTPHAL
Youth Artist of the Year
MADALYN WIARD
2005 WINNERS
Arts Lifetime Achievement
HOWARD HEDGES
Artist of the Year
SHIRLEY TIMMRECK & TOBY TYLER
Arts Leadership / Advocacy
LANCE PETERSEN
Arts Education
RHENDA HORN
Youth Artist of the Year
JESSICA SHALLOCK & KATIE MILLER