Events Today – CL Recommends
Paramore, Kitten
Mon., May 20Pop/Rock
KITTEN
Fronted by precocious 17-year-old Chloe Chaidez, Kitten is aptly named. The band’s electro-punk attack is more New Wave than riot grrl, and Chaidez’s impressive vocals trend more toward a breathy purr than the lioness roar of Karen O, though both extremes are well within her range. Chaidez and her band-mates have an impossibly trendy image, but they back up it up with atmospheric, ’80s-infused, candy-coated pop that hews closer to the angst and urgency of Blondie than the chirpy robo-dance of Missing Persons. Kitten knows its ’80s influences backwards and forwards, but the band builds on them, dipping into the fractured funk of Public Image LTD, the jagged electronics on Crystal Castles and the soaring melodies of M83. Scrapping promising careers in acting and gymnastics to follow her muse, Chaidez seems to have benefited from a musical Head Start program — her father drummed for ’80s East L.A. hardcore punk band Thee Undertakers — but she doesn’t come off as an irritating over-achiever. Live, Chaidez thrashes, writhes and whirls with the wildest of the dervishes. She’s a striking, charismatic force of nature, and it’s a good bet she and Kitten will upstage headliners Paramore.
Sold out
15 Year Anniversary Group
Through May 31Visual Arts
With gallery closings on the rise, we’re especially pleased to announce a reopening. Hidell Brooks Gallery, which closed its doors back in November of 2012 to renovate and expand its quarters, is back in the game with three distinct exhibition spaces and more storage space. The new floorplan is credited to Lindsay Smith — who also designed the gallery back in 1998 — of Dimcheff Smith Studio. To celebrate, Hidell Brooks will be having a reception for its 15 Year Anniversary Group. The exhibit will showcase artwork by 34 different artists of varying styles and mediums. They include works by artist Sherrie Wolf, who combines detailed still lifes with a backdrop of whimsical landscapes, portraiture and scenery; Selena Beaudry, who uses cut-up pieces of painted paper to intricately layer her colorful, funky compositions; and Miranda Lake, who uses wax and collage to create psychedelic nature displays. Katherine Ace, Philip Geiger, Johan Hagaman, David Kroll, Rana Raochet, Amanda Talley, and many others will also be sharing.
Free admission
Wit & Whimsy
Through May 31Visual Arts
It's no big surprise that Vicki Sawyer grew up with a family that loved nature or that it rubbed off on the Tennessee-based artist, who frequently paints portraits of animals and surrounding aspects of the wilderness. Her acrylic works are realistic, yet somewhat unnatural in appearance. Having worked closely with painting birds, Sawyer deviates by painting on accessories like hats and masks to her feathered and/or furry subjects. Her latest exhibit at Lark & Key features paintings like these, in addition to others — some of which include a sheep with an assortment of birds nesting in its fur and a child clothed in vines with a bird sitting on his shoulders. It's all just too cute to be true. With pottery by Paula Smith. Opening reception on April 5, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Free admission
Connectivity
Through June 15Visual Arts
Exploring a rather broad topic that's open to plenty of interpretation, this new exhibit at McColl Center for Visual Art features a variety of artists, all of whom have created artwork with their own ideas of "connectivity" in mind. It's described as exploring "the underlying threads of connection found in natural, social, and technological systems." Curated by the folks at Cynthia-Reeves, a contemporary art gallery in Manhattan, the exhibit will feature works by 10 emerging artists — Janet Echelman, Yizkah Elyashiv, Beth Galston, Beth Ganz, John Grade, Daniel Kohn, Jonathan Prince, Shuli Sade, George Sherwood, and Claire Watkins.
Free admission
Etched in the Eyes: David Herman, Jr.
Through June 15Visual Arts
Photographer David Herman Jr. uses his lens to document his roots. A South Carolina native, his subjects are the Gullah people, a small and fascinating African-American ethnic group from the low country and sea islands along the eastern coastline of South Carolina and Georgia. Herman's upcoming exhibit at the Gantt Center will reveal aspects of that culture through photography, video and writing, while examining younger and older generations. Other newly opening exhibits: Jonathan Green: A Spiritual Journey of Life and I Got Freedom Up Over My Head: Portraits by Julie Moos.
$5-$8; Free for members and children 2 years old and under
551 South Tryon St.
Uptown
704-547-3700The World Is Bending
Through June 15Visual Arts
Bending wood is one of those art techniques that I don’t understand — I’ve never witnessed it or been overly interested to read about it. It looks complicated and I kind of enjoy keeping its twisted process a mystery. Folks who share a view similar to mine or who appreciate the craftsmanship of this art form will want to visit New Gallery of Modern art for sculptor Rick Lazes’ The World Is Bending exhibit. Lazes, better known as CEO of the N.C. Music Factory, has been sculpting for three decades. The latest exhibit, filled with sleek, curvy, sharp designs and wood work is described as making “a social statement about the changes and challenges that people around the world are encountering during the early part of the 21st century.” Opening reception with complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres catered by Bernardin’s on May 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free admission
Sociales: Debora Arango Arrives Today
Through June 16Visual Arts
Colombian artist Débora Arango wasn't exactly what you'd consider "popular" in her native land when her artwork first surfaced there. That's not because she wasn't a gifted artist — using vibrant brushstrokes and zesty figurative detail, her paintings pop with expressionist flair — but rather because of the controversial political and social context that they carried. The Medellín-born artist specifically focused on women's rights and the injustices associated with Colombia's unofficial civil war (known in Spanish as "la época de La Violencia") that occurred from 1946 to 1963. Arango's works cross the U.S. border during Sociales: Débora Arango Arrives Today, an exhibit at Mint Museum Uptown.
$5-$10
Appetite for Risk: Works by Emilio Stanzani
Through July 1Visual Arts
They say you are either remembered or forgotten after death. But Emilio Stanzani falls somewhere between those lines. A renowned Swiss sculptor and artist (1906-1977), his abstract works continue to circulate the globe, yet little seems to surface about Stanzani himself (try a quick Google search and you'll see what I mean). That makes the new exhibit of his works, Appetite for Risk: Works by Emilio Stanzani, at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art all the more curious. Though small, the exhibit only contains 12 works created by Stanzani between 1956 and 1968, it provides insight into the styles of his works, which vary from abstract drawings, sketches and paintings that are polychromatic and shape shifting, to more representational sculptures of wood, stone and bronze. While you're there, be sure to check out the museum's main exhibit, Artistic Relationships: Partners, Mentors and Lovers, as well as other collections of mid-20th century artwork by big name artists. $4-$8 (free for members and children ages 10 and under)
F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design)
Through July 7Visual Arts
In recent years, objects used for eating and drinking have taken interesting new turns — rubber ducky tea infusers are plenty proof of that! Mint Museum Uptown's newest exhibit F.O.O.D (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design) takes this concept a step further by showcasing innovative objects that are used to prepare, cook or present food. Antoni Miralda, an artist from Spain, curates the exhibit with products showcased from Alessi and black+blum. The exhibit is comprised of appliances and devices spread out among four categories: table, kitchen, pantry and garden. While you're there, be sure to check out two other new exhibits, Sociales: Debora Arango Arrives Today and Return to the Sea: Saltworks by Motoi Yamamoto.
$5-$10
Carolina's Got Art
Through July 27Visual Arts
Just because you live in NoDa doesn’t mean you support the arts scene. That’s because to really support the Carolina arts scene you’d have to venture outside of the Q.C. to spot the works of other artists who are doing things with canvas, ceramics or whatever other mediums they fancy. That’s where the folks behind Carolina’s Got Art comes in. Created in 2009 by Elder Gallery owner Larry Elder, CGA rounds up artists, both professional and non, from North and South Carolina for a competition and exhibition that brings their works into the public eye — and to Charlotte, where they showcase at Elder Gallery. This year, more than 1,000 artists submitted 2,800 different pieces of work, which is more than the gallery has room for. Not to worry, the entries are all being shown in three different exhibitions of work. The juried portion of the exhibition opens on May 3 with an awards presentation. This specific exhibit concludes on June 1 and will be followed by two more, June 7-29 and July 5-27. For more information, visit www.carolinasgotart.com. Free admission. Opening and award presentation on May 3, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Juried exhibit continues through June 1.
Free admission
Artistic Relationships: Partners, Mentors, Lovers
Through July 29Visual Arts
It's not an exaggeration to say that love is in the air at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. The museum's latest exhibit showcases more than 50 pieces by some of modern art's most renowned figures including Joan Miró and Alexander Calder. Artistic Relationships digs deep to expose the ways these artists were connected to one another through shared passions and more personal circumstances. Many of them shared friendships, love affairs (ooh la-la!) and teacher/student relationships. Think of this as the closest you're ever going to get to a Midnight in Paris-type experience. $4-$8
Lights. Camera. NASCAR
Through Oct. 1Museums
Just because you live in the south doesn’t mean that you like NASCAR. Watching loud cars drive around and around and around just isn’t for everyone. What you may find more interesting is the huge influence that racing has had on film. In NASCAR Hall of Fame’s newest exhibit you’ll get to see the ways the sport has influenced blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Days of Thunder. Artifacts include items like the Cole Trickle car from Days of Thunder, the Doc Hudson car from Cars, the Wonder Bread car from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and other objects from movie sets. $19.95-$12.95; free for members
Monday Funday
MondaysNightlife
Mondays suck. The beginning of the work week comes much too fast after a weekend of drinking and hanging with good peeps. You can extend your weekend fun a bit with karaoke, turtle racing and drink specials at Dixie's Tavern every Monday. And who doesn't love a little off-key singing to start the week off right?
Find Your Muse Open Mic
Mondays, 7 p.m.Festivals/Events
It's Find Your Muse open mic night at The Evening Muse this and every Monday. Musicians, grab up your music gear and head over to perform one of your own creations in front of a crowd. No one can guarantee they'll be liked, but constructive criticism is always helpful! Get there early to snag a performance spot. And, if you don't play, come out to watch. You never know who might show up.
$3
