Get Out! events, shows, things to do

"Simplified gestural figures continue to illustrate the wonder and the struggle of being human, and our hunger for validation.”– Intimacy Theories, by Polly Breckenridge

First Fridays. Walk around from gallery to gallery, have a little wine and cheese, see some friends you haven't seen in awhile, and enjoy some of the great art that is hanging around town. Truly, it's a monthly tradition not to be missed. Of course, first stop is always the McGuffey Art Center, the epicenter of the local art world, where over 45 local artists rent studio space. This month in the Sarah B. Smith Gallery, you'll find wonderful watercolors of birds by Salena Hitzeman alongside mesostic poems by Tracy Zeman. In the Lower Hall South is Polly Breckenridge's exhibit “Intimacy Theories,” a series of mixed media paintings, and in the upstairs galleries be sure to check out artwork from the Beverly Street Studio School of neighboring Staunton, Virginia. After that, well, there is a rich tapestry of local art galleries within a short walking distance.

McGuffey Art Center, 201 Second Street, 5:30-7:30pm

 

OPENING ACTS

El Paso in Cville

About ten years ago, Carolyn Rathbun George decided to paint the house she was living in. She'd had no formal art training, but her parents were collectors, and she'd been surrounded by paintings in her youth. Born in Charlottesville in 1957, she later moved to Texas and spent her early years in El Paso.

"Two colorful, unique, and vibrant cultures thrive there and they had a profound impact on my young spirit," she says,"and how I would perceive and navigate the world."

It took her about three years to finish painting her house, but through the process she realized she had found her calling. She began to experiment with acrylic, gouache, color pencil, and mixed media, and slowly began to develop a style she describes as a "primitive, colorful, spiritual representation of the world."

"Beauty need not be defined by complexity, but by the simple gifts that surround us every day - a breathtaking view, a beautiful bird or a radiant sunset," she explains. "The art world might describe it as ‘naïf art’, or folk art, because of the childlike simplicity and quality about it."

George's work is alive with her memories of growing up in the Southwest.  "Those colorful landscapes and icons have held a warm and comforting place in my soul for as long as I can remember," she says.
 

February 1-24, BozART Gallery, Friday reception 6-9pm

Innovative, passionate jazz

In 2002, reviewer Baul West called Patricia Barber's album "Verse" one of "unquestionable passion and power that would be foolish for any jazz fan to pass up." Indeed, Barber's repertoire seems to know no bounds, embracing classic rock standards like "A Taste of Honey," "Black Magic Woman," and "Norwegian Wood," as well as variations on Cole Porter and original songs based on Ovid's Metamorphoses. Creative covers of popular songs not usually associated with jazz became one of her calling cards. Now she's got a new album, "Smash," with a dozen new original compositions, and a new band: bassist Larry Kohut and drummer Jon Deitemyer, and John Kregor on guitar.

In addition to the concert at Old Cabell Hall, Barber will be conducting free workshops during her stay. You can also hear her talk about her music on WTJU, 91.1FM on Monday, February 4 at noon.  See Cvillejazz.org or call 434-249-6191 for more information. Tickets are available through the UVA Arts Box Office at artsandsciences.virginia.edu/boxoffice.

February 5, UVA's Old Cabell Hall, 8pm, $10-20

Film of a new generation

Take your lunch break at CitySpace on the 7th and join Piedmont Council for the Arts for Art21’s screening and discussion series called Access 100 Artists—a year-long celebration of 100 artists featured by Art21 in the past 10 years. This is the first screening in a monthly “brown bag” event as part of Art21’s Peabody Award-winning Art in the Twenty-First Century documentary series. Each screening will feature one-hour documentaries about contemporary artists and will focus on one guiding topic, followed by a group discussion. The first film discussion is of Play and features artists Ellen Gallagher, Arturo Herrera, Oliver Herring, Teresa Hubbard, and Jessica Stockholder. The post-screening discussion will be led by PCA staff.

Art21 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging audiences with contemporary visual art, with an aim to inspire creative thinking and educate a new generation about artists working today.

February 7, CitySpace, 12pm, Free.

 

 

THE LIST

January 31
Dance: Swing Swap, dancing for all levels. Murray High School. 7pm. Free.
Theater: American Shakespeare Center presents Julius Caesar. Blackfriars Playhouse. 7:30pm. $24-$35
Discussion: “Take Your Show to the Fringe,” guest panelists will show you what it takes to produce and perform your show at a Fringe Festival. Cityspace. 6pm. $0-$5
Reading: Cate Marvin Poetry Reading. UVa Bookstore. 8pm. Free

Theater: "Nunsense," revue packed with hilarious song and dance numbers. nTelos Theater in Staunton. 7pm. $10-$17

February 1
Dance: Basic Beginner Social Dance. Shergold Studio. 7pm. $10

FIRST FRIDAY EXHIBITS, February 1

Benessere Spa 208 W. South Street, Suite A (side entrance). A studio opening featuring the work of resident artist Barbara Trovillo's watercolor and oil paintings, and guest artist Sidney Lyda's oil pastel paintings. 6:30-8:30pm

The Bridge Progessive Arts Initiative 209 Monticello Rd. “Man v/s Nurture,” 12 drawings of Charlottesville men that have chosen careers or social roles that are nurturing, by portrait artist Spriggan. 6-8pm

BozART Gallery 211 West Main St. Acrylic, gouache, color pencil and mixed media by Carolyn Rathbun George. 6-9pm

Second Street Gallery 115 2nd St. “In Thunder, Lightning or in Rain,” an exhibition in the Main Gallery of paintings by Clay Witt. 5:30-7:30pm

C’ville Arts 118 E Main St. “Flowers from the Earth,” jewelry and gem art by Claire McIlvain. 6-8pm

The Honeycomb 310 E Market St. "Let's Get Weird," wood and paper using aerosol, acrylics, and inks by Daniel Suter. 5-9pm

Chroma Projects 418 E Main St. “The LOVE Show,” 25 Chroma artists make mailer-sized art to say how much we love our supporters, sized and priced to send your Valentine. 5:30-7:30pm

City Clay 301 W Main St. An exhibit by the non-profit Charlottesville-based organization PureMadi for their new and exciting development in water purification. 5-7pm

Warm Springs Gallery 103 3rd St. "Museum Studies," paintings by Bradley Stevens. 6-8pm

New Dominion Bookshop 404 E Main St. "The Shape of Space," paintings which dissect the anatomy of basic spaces in our lives by David Cook. 5:30-7:30pm

Theater: "Speech and Debate," a sharp, funny, and challenging play. Live Arts. 8pm. $20-$25
Art: “We Bury Our Own” opening reception. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum. 5:30pm. Free
Reading: Salman Ahktar, “From Delight to Wisdom: the Nature of Poetry and its Healing Effect.” Minor Hall at UVa. 2pm. Free
Reading: "Breaking The Chains" stage reading. V Earl Dickinson Building at PVCC. 7:30pm. Free

February 2
Dance: Fluvanna Flutterwheels, monthly square dance. Fluvanna High School. 7:30pm. Free
Sports: Blue Ridge Disc Golf Club Annual Frisbee Golf fundraiser to benefit First Tee Charlottesville and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. McIntire Golf Course. 9am. $25
Art: Australian Aboriginal Art Tour. Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum. 10:30am. Free

February 3
Sports: UVa Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia Tech. JPJ Arena. 1pm. $6-15
Sports: Charlottesville Derby Dames Fresh Meat Open Recruitment every Sunday. Charlottesville Key Center. 6pm. $5

February 4
Comedy: Improv Mondays with Hamner Improv Troupe. The Hamner Theater, Afton. 6pm. Free

February 5
Reading: Poetry Writing Contest. Milli Joe Coffee and Gelato. 6:30pm. Free
Games: The Price is Right Live. JPJ Arena. 7:30pm. $25-$55

February 6
Reading: Live Poets Society, the first Wednesday of every month. Gordon Avenue Library. 7pm. Free

Business: Tom Donaldson talk titled "Three Ethical Roots of the Financial Crisis." UVA Rouss and Robertson Hall 223, 6-7pm. Free

 

 

SOUND HOUND

January 31
Failure to Yield at Wild Wolf

Anatomy of Frank, Bombadil, Lorenzo Sevilla the Magician at The Southern $8                       

Mercutio at the Whiskey Jar

Crawford Smith at Fellini’s #9

February 1
Blue Rock at Wild Wolf

Marty Stuart at The Paramount. $30-$40

Robert Earl Keen at The Jefferson. $25-$30

Chickenhead Blues Band at Fellini’s #9. $5

Louis Smith at Durty Nellys

Cleek Schrey, Brittany Haas, Jordan Tice and Nic Gareiss at Random Row Books

Diane Cluck and Blue O’Connell at C’ville Coffee

Lively piano and accordion music, Whiskey Jar, 6-8pm

February 2
Richmond Symphony LolliPops at The Paramount. $10.50-$15.5

I'm bored!
Stuff to do with kids...

 

Kids get classical

Your kids might normally blast Flo-Rida, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, or Justin Bieber from their iPods, but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy a classical performance– especially one designed just for them. This week, the Paramount Theater presents the Richmond Symphony LolliPops!, a kids program that includes a chance for budding musicians to get up close with the instruments and enjoy a craft festival before listening to the pros play Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, a composition named for the wife of the Persian ruler Shahryar, who is a common thread in the stories of One Thousand and One Nights. The one-hour running time means little attention spans won't be tested, and Richmond Symphony Assistant Conductor Erin Freeman (pictured here) has won critic's praise for her charismatic leadership of the series. February 2, The Paramount, 6pm, $10.50-$15.50

Teen screen
Teens (and pre-teens) grades 6-12 can see how their favorite books translate to the screen in this Wednesday movie night held monthly at the Gordon Avenue branch of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library. This time it will be Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Those present will choose the movie for the March screening. Popcorn provided.  February 6, Gordon Avenue library, 6:30pm, free

Ski-fest
This might be the best weekend of the year to head up to Wintergreen. Not only have the last few weeks of bitter cold provided primo snow-making conditions at the Nelson County resort, but February 1-3 is the Family Fun Festival– a weekend long event that features races, games, campfires, live music, and more.  February 1-3, Wintergreen Resort, 434-325-8180

The Judy Chops at Wild Wolf

WTJU presents Robin and Linda Williams at The Jefferson. $25-$100

The Evens [Ian MacKaye (ex-Fugazi) and Amy Farina (ex-Ted Leo + The Pharmacists)] at Random Row Books

John D’Earth and Friends at Fellini’s #9. $5

The Pollocks at Plank Road Exchange

Magnus Music and Nationhitz present DJ B-Easy and DJ Flatline at Main Street Annex

February 3
Charlottesville Municipal Band Ensemble at Municipal Arts Center

Hogwaller Ramblers at Felini’s #9

February 4
Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel, Tall Firs at The Jefferson. $28.

Dane Alderson & Friends, DJ Williams at Rapture/R2

Andrew Gorski at Fellini’s #9

Luchadora at Blue Moon Diner

February 5
The Patricia Barber Quartet at Old Cabell Hall at UVa.

Trixie Whitley at The Southern. $10-$12

Travis Elliott at Fellini’s #9

Michael Mulvaney at Blue Moon Diner

February 6
Conspirator and Break Science at The Jefferson. $15-$17

The Shack Band at Rapture/R2.

Danny Barrale at Fellini’s #9.

Jim Waive at Blue Moon Diner

Open jam at Rapunzels, 7-10pm

Venues: Wild Wolf Brewing Company (434-361-0088), The Southern (434-977-5590), Devils Backbone Brewing Company (434-361-1001), The Blue Moon Diner (434-980-6666), The Whiskey Jar (434-202-1549), The Edge at Wintergreen Resort (434-325-8080), Rapture/R2 (434-293-9526), Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar (434-293-9947), Fellini's #9 (434-979-4279), Miller's (434-971-8511), Old Cabell Hall (434-924-3376), Main Street Annex (434-817-2400), Plank Road Exchange (434-823-2001), Random Row Books (434-295-2493), The Jefferson (434-245-4980)