Unalaskans proudly embrace their inner tackiness

VICTORIA BARBER

February 29, 2008 at 8:58AM AKST

Unalaskans put the ease in cheesy at this year’s 20th annual Aleutian Arts Council Tacky Party on Saturday, Feb. 23.

The party was a fund-raiser for the Aleutian Arts Council, which awards a scholarship to an adult and a high school student each year for continuing their art education.

Colored flamingo and boot-shaped lights lined the walls of the Margaret Bay Caf’e9 at the Grand Aleutian, which was transformed into a tacky paradise of tinsel, Southwest tapestry art and inflatable cactus.

Disco and funk, apparently musical genres most amenable to tackiness, thumped the dance floor. A hot dog buffet and snack bar of Hostess Ho Hos, aerosol cheese and assortment of chips were on hand for the peckish.

Jerah Chadwick has been organizing tacky parties since 1986. He said that Unalaskans have been known to comb eBay and second-hand stores off island for months advance of the event, searching for suitably tacky attire.

"I’ve seen people (in Unalaska) outbidding each other on eBay, unbeknownst to either, for the same pair of platform shoes," Chadwick said. "For some of us, it’s the one night we get out and truly live."

Tacky fashion of all eras was on display, from plaid bell bottom suites to velour leisure wear and gold lam’e9. Improbable displays of chest hair sprouted from the buttoned-down synthetic shirts of men and women alike.

Jaime Robinson sported a sizable, cushion-shaped bump under her lacy, royal purple shirt. She said that she dressed as a pregnant woman in order to express her support of "inter-species dating."

"My coworkers (at the Museum of the Aleutians) said ‘We need news stories, and one of them needs to be about you,’" Robinson said. "I can honestly say I’m having a whale of a time."

This year featured a "gong" show – the gong being in this case being a large, metal mixing bowl that Chadwick banged with a spoon.

Highlights included a rendition of "Johnny Angel" sung by Linda Ellsworth to her husband and a high-tech, yet nearly inaudible video of two women’s chins talking to each other.

Susan Lynch, who DJ’d the event, sang a moving version of Aretha Franklin’s "A Natural Woman." Chadwick then added revised verses of his own composing , which could not be printed in a family newspaper, to another tune.

While "local celebrity judges" were promised, prizes of flamingo lights and gold- and silver-sequined visors appeared to be awarded at random.

"Everyone’s a winner," Chadwick said. "You know? It’s like a kid’s birthday party."

Chadwick said that past awards, which are typically about $500, have sent students to the Summer Fine Arts Camp in Fairbanks, funded pottery workshops and allowed adults to writing classes, among other artists.

The council selects applicants based on the feasibility and scope of their projects and their commitment to giving back to the cultural life of Unalaska.

Victoria Barber can be reached at (907) 342-2424 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 424.