“Consumed” by Alysia Fischer at the Cressman Center

Posted: January 27, 2012 – 12:00 pm

“Consumed” by Alysia Fischer is at the Cressman Center, 100 E. Main St., 852-4483, from Jan. 27-Feb. 25. She will give a lecture on Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. during the First Friday Trolley Hop, with reception to follow.

By jtriplett | Tags: art, gallery | Comments (0)

Weekender: Jan. 28-29

Posted: January 27, 2012 – 11:57 am

•‘Blood, Bones & Butter’

Saturday, Jan. 28

Louisville Free Public Library

301 York St. • 574-1611

Sold Out

These days, can you turn around without bumping into a celebrity chef? How about a celebrity memoirist? Gabrielle Hamilton is both: winner of the James Beard Award and of one of the most memorable “Iron Chef” contests, as well as a stunningly good writer. “Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef” is just out in paperback, and Hamilton is coming to town for a reading/signing. Though the event is sold out, we recommend you check out the book nonetheless. Her story turns from an idyllic upbringing among artisans into demeaning work and life conditions. She works throughout Europe to eventual major success in New York — but she also faces challenges in sorting out her personal identity. The book draws readers in with the way Hamilton shares how she’s found insights over many years and in many kitchens. The new edition adds to this with Hamilton viewing divorce through the eyes of her mother-in-law. —T.E. Lyons

Read More »

By The Bar Belle | Tags: book, music, sports | Comments (0)

‘Almost, Maine’ @ KY Center

Posted: January 27, 2012 – 10:02 am

Jan. 27-29

Kentucky Center for the Arts
501 E. Main St. · 584-7777
$16; 8 p.m. (2 p.m. on Jan. 29)

This tiny, fictional town’s comic tale of love and loss in the chilly Northeast has charmed theater audiences almost everywhere: from Dubai to Korea, Australia to Germany, Canada to Mexico, and — you guessed it — five times in Maine. It also holds the crown for the play most produced in North American high schools, recently usurped from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Now, it’s Louisville’s turn. Actor and musician Neil Brewer directs the Wayward Actors Company in this seasonally appropriate assemblage of nine short plays. Seating is limited at the intimate MeX Theater, where the cast will be large for the script, and the scenery will be mostly left to the imagination. It’ll only serve as a constant reminder, though, that in “Almost, Maine,” almost anything is possible. —Simon Isham

By The Bar Belle | Tags: theater | Comments (0)

Louisville Experimental Fest @ various locations

Posted: January 27, 2012 – 9:59 am

Parlour

Jan. 27-29

Various locations
facebook.com/groups/157430154310896
Free; 9 p.m.

Escape the weird winter blahs with another weekend of outer sounds, featuring locals and travelers sharing free bills of exciting, freaky-deaky and possibly off-putting concoctions. Friday night kicks it off with The Tiles, Clarksmithy, Electric Inertia, and Parlour at Lisa’s Oak Street Lounge. On Saturday, the action moves to a possibly more appropriate venue, the Swanson Contemporary gallery in NuLu (aka GillVille), where Ghost Stripper, Mu and the Peeling Wallpaper Ensemble, and Stringtrek will art your heart. The heavy trip concludes at the Nachbar on Sunday with what might be the best buzz of the fest, as Chikamorachi — the duo of drummer Chris Corsano and bassist Darin Gray, known for their various work with Bjork, Jandek, Jim O’Rourke, Merzbow and Wilco’s Glenn Kotche — burn down the barn with locally beloved sound men Steve Good and Tim Barnes. —Peter Berkowitz

By The Bar Belle | Tags: music | Comments (0)

‘Alter Ego’ by Anthony Goicolea @ 21c Museum

Posted: January 27, 2012 – 9:57 am

Jan. 27-July 15

21c Museum
700 W. Main St. • 217-6300
21cmuseum.org

21c Museum has the largest collection of art by Cuban-American Anthony Goicolea in the USA. That’s our good fortune, for it gives us the opportunity to hear Goicolea speak in Louisville as part of the exhibition “Alter Ego.” The show of installations and photography is a collaborative effort of the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Telfair Museums and 21c. Because we live where we live, we get a bonus: 21c has added works not shown at NCMA and Telfair, resulting in 37 of the 62 works on display belonging to 21c. Goicolea will be doing an artist talk and dinner on Saturday, Jan. 28. The talk at 6 p.m. is free and open to the public. The dinner by Proof is at 7 p.m.; cost is $85 with reservations required. —Jo Anne Triplett

By The Bar Belle | Tags: art | Comments (0)

Jan. 27 FAT Friday Trolley Hop

Posted: January 27, 2012 – 9:00 am

FAT Friday — the Frankfort Avenue Trolley on the final Friday of the month, Jan. 27. Explore the art galleries, shops and restaurants along Frankfort, Story and Mellwood Avenues from 6-10 p.m. There’s free parking, then hop on and off the free trolley.

By jtriplett | Tags: art, food, gallery, music, shopping | Comments (0)

Carlos Gamez de Francisco at Swanson Contemporary

Posted: January 26, 2012 – 12:00 pm

“Black Portraits of Pomegranate Eaters” by Carlos Gamez de Francisco is at Swanson Contemporary, 638 E. Market St., through Feb. 18. There will be a reception during the Feb. 3 First Friday Gallery Hop as well as one on Feb. 17 from 6-9 p.m.

By jtriplett | Tags: art, gallery | Comments (0)

‘dirty sexy derby play’ @ The Bard’s Town

Posted: January 26, 2012 – 11:08 am

Jan. 26-Feb. 4

The Bard’s Town
1801 Bardstown Road • 876-0532
finniganbeginagain.org
$15; 7:30 p.m.

For a theater town obsessed with a certain annual horse race, it’s odd that there aren’t many plays written here about the Kentucky Derby. Thankfully, Brian Walker’s saucy “dirty sexy derby play” is back after a strong 2008 debut with a revised script and a mostly new cast. The play takes us back to 1974, a month after massive tornadoes ripped through Louisville, where hostile mates Vanessa and Carl have decided that the best way to cheer up their friends who lost everything in the storm is to invite them to a key party (you draw car keys to decide who goes home with whom) on Derby Day. Hi-jinks naturally ensue. The 2008 production was a delightful retro romp through the swinging ’70s with enough homegrown Louisville jokes to make any local crack a knowing grin, and a freshly polished script sounds promising. —Erin Keane

By The Bar Belle | Tags: theater | Comments (0)

Call for artists

Posted: January 26, 2012 – 9:00 am

In honor of Women’s History Month, Liberty Tattoo and Art Parlor, 2801 S. 3rd St., 637-4777, is seeking women artists for a group show in March. The show will run from March 3-31. All media are accepted.

By jtriplett | Tags: art | Comments (0)

‘Daily Paintings’ by Claudia Hammer @ Zurkuhlen Gallery

Posted: January 25, 2012 – 2:05 pm

Through March 1

Christy Zurkuhlen Gallery and Studio
Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center
1860 Mellwood Ave. • 777-1794

This is about persistence and second chances. Christy Zurkuhlen had a gallery/studio in Brownsboro Center that she closed. She’s now resurfaced in the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center with a small gallery in the courtyard. She’s chosen a great way to say “I’m back” with an exhibition of Claudia Hammer’s “Daily Paintings.” Many of the 32 paintings are as small as 6 inches square. Jewelry by Zurkuhlen is also on display. “I create a painting a day as a challenge,” Hammer says. “I started this series … as a daily practice and discipline in order to liberate my work … My other work takes days, weeks or months to complete one painting. The time constraint of producing a painting a day forces me to look for an essential truth.” —Jo Anne Triplett

By The Bar Belle | Tags: art | Comments (0)

Power2give

Posted: January 25, 2012 – 2:03 pm

Ongoing

Fund for the Arts
power2give.org

Select, click, give. Power2give is a direct way to fund local nonprofit organizations. It introduces projects to donors, with every dollar donated matched by Kentucky businesses, such as Republic Bank, the Kentucky Arts Council and LG&E-KU. As the brainchild of the Arts & Science Council in Charlotte, N.C., Louisville’s Fund for the Arts looked it over and realized it was something we would get excited about as well. The website currently has 28 visual art projects listed, from organizations including the Arts Council of Southern Indiana, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, and Louisville Visual Art Association. If visual arts isn’t your thing, how about music, theater or dance? Go to the website and select “Kentucky & S. Indiana” under “choose your location.” Proceed to “give to a project.” —Jo Anne Triplett

By The Bar Belle | Tags: art, benefit, community, fundraiser | Comments (0)

PosSOUPbility, a new food and art event

Posted: January 25, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Reservations required.

PosSOUPbility, a new art-based food event, is holding its first event on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Water Tower, 3005 River Rd. Visit www.facebook.com/posSOUPbility for more information or call 641-6674.

By jtriplett | Tags: art, food | Comments (0)

Actors Theatre’s Gallery presents African American Art Exhibition

Posted: January 24, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Actors Theatre’s Gallery, 316 W. Main St., 584-1205, is presenting the 18th annual African American Art Exhibition on display from Jan. 24-Feb. 19, featuring works from 22 artists from around the nation. There will be a reception honoring the artists on the Feb. 3 First Friday Gallery Hop.

By jtriplett | Tags: art, gallery | Comments (0)

Flame Run offering classes

Posted: January 23, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Flame Run, 828 E. Market St., 584-5353, is offering Beginning Paperweight and Introduction to Glassblowing classes. Visit the website for details.

By jtriplett | Tags: art, classes | Comments (0)

LVAA classes

Posted: January 23, 2012 – 9:00 am

The Louisville Visual Art Association, 3005 River Rd., 896-2146, is offering Adult Education Spring Series and Workshops:

One Day Workshops:

Sunday, Jan. 29, 1-3pm – Jen Grove, Intro to Calligraphy at LVAA

Sunday, Feb. 12, 1-3pm – Martin Edlin, Portrait Clay Vessels at LVAA

Ongoing Workshops meeting weekly:

Suzy Hatcher, Intro to Wheel Throwing. Six-week class meeting each Monday from 1/23 – 2/27, 6-8pm at artist’s studio: Suzy Hatcher Pottery, 308 S. Bayly Ave., Louisville

Claudia Hammer, Life Drawing. Eight-week class meeting each Monday at LVAA from 2/6 – 4/2, 6-8:30 at LVAA.(** class will not meet February 20.)

By jtriplett | Tags: art, classes | Comments (0)

Weekender: Jan. 21-22

Posted: January 20, 2012 – 4:06 pm

•Beer Chili Cook-off

Saturday, Jan. 21

Flanagan’s Ale House
934 Baxter Ave. • 585-3700
$5; 1 p.m.

I would argue that the combination of chili and beer is one of the best in the world. It certainly gives peanut butter and chocolate a run for its money. Wine and cheese? Eh, maybe. Lucky for cheer fans (get it? Chili + Beer = Cheer … or should it be billy?) Flanagan’s is hosting a Beer Chili Cook-off Saturday afternoon where more than 20 participants serve up their best chili/beer masterpiece. Flanny’s Beer Goddess Ashley Isaacs says some contestants are using the likes of Dogfish 90 Minute, Falls City and even Brooklyn Black Chocolate. Yum. A $5 cover will get you samples of all the chili and live music from Tim Morrow. There will also be Falls City specials all day long. See you there! —Sara Havens

•Truck Stop tribute

Saturday, Jan. 21

Headliners Music Hall

1386 Lexington Road • 584-8088

reverbnation.com/johnnyberryandtheoutliers

$12 adv., $15 DOS (general), $10 (with CDL); 9 p.m.

Big city Louisville has had an awkward relationship with some of the most fun rural music in the region. Our closed bridge isn’t doing much to help further relations with truckers and their songs, so Johnny Berry has brought together players, pickers and kickers to help solve this crisis. Berry tells LEO, “We’ll be doing nothing but truck driving songs and instrumentals. The show is going to be monumental, with nothing but the top honky-tonk talent in the area.” George Jones collaborator Ron Gaddis, fiddlers Michael Cleveland and Jeff Guernsey, guitarists Steve Cooley and Gary Stilwell, bassist Chris Douglas, drummer Bryan Aylor and vocalists Kricket Atwood, J. Glenn, Scott Mertz and Sarah Teeple Swain fill out the ’tributers. DJ Woodrow on the Radio spins honky-tonk tunes before, and truckers who show their CDLs will get a discount. —Peter Berkowitz

•‘The Animals in Us’

Jan. 21-March 16

Arts Council of Southern Indiana

820 E. Market St., New Albany

812-949-4238

artscouncilsi.org

It has been said we’re all animals. That point is explored in a two-part exhibition at the Arts Council of Southern Indiana. “Animals represent much to us,” says executive director Julie Schweitzer. “They are used symbolically and metaphorically to help us explain and understand ourselves, the world we live in, and the values we live by.” Work by 16 Kentuckiana artists are featured, including Brian Somerville, Shawna Khalily and Ken Hayden, as well as nine Southern Indiana writers. The Saturday opening is from 4-8 p.m. The second part opens on Feb. 11 from 3-6 p.m. at the Resch Building, 138 E. Spring St. in New Albany. It’s in conjunction with “Passion for Pets,” a benefit supporting area no-kill organizations. —Jo Anne Triplett

By The Bar Belle | Tags: art, food, fun, music | Comments (0)

Weekend visual art events

Posted: January 20, 2012 – 2:00 pm

On Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m., the Louisville Historical League will be handing out awards to individuals and groups who have contributed to Louisville history in 2011. Award recipients include Steve Porter, who will receive the LHL Founder’s Award; J. Blaine Hudson, Ken Clay, and Mervin Aubespin, authors of the new book “Two Centuries of Black Louisville;” West Main Street Revitalization LLC for saving the historic Whiskey Row Buildings on W. Main St.; Bryan Bush for his Civil War historical books and tours; Walter Hutchins for his African American history advocacy effort; and the Sons of American Revolution for their building renovation on W. Main St. The Water Tower, River Road and Zorn Avenue. This event is free and open to the public.

By jtriplett | Tags: book, historic landmark, history | Comments (0)

Pam Tillis @ Kentucky Center

Posted: January 20, 2012 – 9:44 am

Friday, Jan. 20

Bomhard Theater at Kentucky Center
501 W. Main St.
kentuckycenter.org
$25+; 8 p.m.

“Maybe It Was Memphis,” “Mi Vida Loca,” “Shake the Sugar Tree,” “Spilled Perfume” — these Pam Tillis hits were all over my mixtapes in high school, when I joined the populace in swapping flannel for a cowboy hat. Tillis topped the charts in the ’90s and earned lots of awards and acclaims, making a name for herself on her own merits, not just as “Mel Tillis’ daughter.” These days, Tillis runs her own label in Nashville and does intimate, acoustic shows like the one at the Kentucky Center on Friday. Tillis is currently working with Jamie Lynn Spears, who is dabbling in country music. “She’s an awfully nice girl, and I can kinda relate to the challenges of coming out from underneath a huge shadow,” Tillis says. “She’s really good — I hope she gets a break. Her heart is in country music.” —Sara Havens

By The Bar Belle | Tags: music | Comments (0)

Day Creeper @ Harley’s Main Street Tavern

Posted: January 20, 2012 – 9:43 am

Friday, Jan. 20

Harley’s Main Street Tavern
122 E. Main St. • 384-0151
daycreeper.bandcamp.com
$3; 9 p.m.

Ohio has always been a great source for rock ’n’ roll made by nice, polite people who are a little bit twisted, and Day Creeper is a worthy addition to that collection. The bi-gender trio from Columbus is young, hip and cute, the type who are young enough to be freshly inspired by ’90s indie rock and release new music on cassettes — though their danceable, jagged Modern Lovers-ish rock seemingly could have existed in any of the past five decades. Anyone looking for blues rock near the Yum! Center will have to look elsewhere tonight, as Day Creeper shares this bill with locals Gangly Youth, which features artist Skeleton Royal (formerly of the Kodan Armada) and slowcore folkies Tender Mercy in a battle of the well-educated bands. —Peter Berkowitz

By The Bar Belle | Tags: music | Comments (0)

‘The 7-Shot Symphony’ @ The Bard’s Town

Posted: January 20, 2012 – 9:42 am

Jan. 20-23

The Bard’s Town
1801 Bardstown Road • 749-5275
thebardstowntheatre.org
$20 ($10 students); 7:30 p.m. (Sat. matinee 2 p.m.)

Aside from the food, the best things Italy has given us since antiquity are clearly Commedia dell’Arte and the Spaghetti Western. Fans of both will find much to love in “The 7-Shot Symphony,” the award-winning original play by Minneapolis-based physical theater company Live Action Set, whose southeast tour stops at The Bard’s Town Theatre this weekend. Seven world myths collide against the backdrop of America’s Wild West in a show that’s been fondly described as “the love child of Quentin Tarantino and Cirque du Soleil.” Sheriff Odin keeps the peace in Deus County, where Orpheus plays piano at Hades’ outlaw hangout and a villain called The Wolf wreaks havoc. Call it frontier justice for the gods. The band Tree Party will accompany with original country music, promising alongside their mandolins and guitars “ol’-timey Western hoof sounds and chug-a-chugs.” —Erin Keane

By The Bar Belle | Tags: theater | Comments (0)