Joe Autry

•GARDENZART

Saturday, May 18 

Hidden Hill Nursery & Sculpture Garden

1011 Utica-Charlestown Road, Utica, Ind.

812-282-0524 • hiddenhillnursery.com

Free; 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

I’m stating the obvious when I say gardens consist of plants, flowers and shrubs. But any respectable garden should have a bit of stone, metal or glass for decoration … in addition to gnomes, of course. Hidden Hill has an 8-acre abundance of the former as well as a good amount of work by area artists. In celebration of local art, they are holding GARDENZART. The highlight of the day will be an onsite chainsaw sculpture by Joe Autry. He’s transforming a lightning-killed oak tree into a flower that will be unveiled at 2 p.m. during the festival. There will also be glass by Chad Balster, ceramics by Jennifer Martin and Caren Cunningham’s garden-worthy stone sculpture, just to name a few of the other works to be on display. —Jo Anne Triplett

Bianca Spriggs

•KY Women’s Book Fest

Saturday, May 18

U of L Ekstrom Library

2301 S. Third St. • 852-6083

louisville.edu/womenscenter/kwbf

Free; 9:30 a.m.

The seventh annual Kentucky Women’s Book Festival at U of L will have more than a half-dozen authors, representing a diversity of successful voices. All workshops and readings, as well as the luncheon (only non-free item on the agenda), take place at the Ekstrom Library. The opening session has Judith C. Owens-Lalude describing how she drew upon sources to compile the stories that inspired her Underground Railroad novel, “The Long Walk: Slavery to Freedom.” Other presenters include journalist Sarah Garland and poet Bianca Spriggs. Through the day to the concluding poetry slam, the presenters will be looking to inspire fellow writers as well as readers — so that women’s voices might find themselves on the published page instead of being, as Spriggs’ verse describes, “What slumbers in an attic or basement/beneath several layers of dust, dreaming/of what it means to remember the light.” —T.E. Lyons

•Bardstown Bound

Saturday, May 18

Highlands

bardstownbound.com

Free; noon

To celebrate its 10^th anniversary of encouraging people to frolic up and down Bardstown Road in the Highlands, the folks behind this month’s Bardstown Bound are going all out with an official Bambi Walk, a sanctioned chicken dance, and a beer and music fest on Saturday. As always, the stores and restaurants along Bardstown Road will offer sales and samples, and there will be a trolley running from 2-10 p.m. The Bambi Walk starts at 1 and is celebrating anyone who graduated high school in 1983, but all are welcome. The chicken dance begins at 5 p.m. at Bardstown and Eastern Parkway. And the beer fest is hosted by Valumarket from 5-9 p.m. Ladies and gentlemen, start your livers. —Sara Havens

Jeff Walz

•Gilda’s Night of a Thousand Laughs

Saturday, May 18

Actors Theatre

316 W. Main St.

gildasclublouisville.org

$75-$125; 6 p.m.

It’s always refreshing when the rich and famous can take a joke at their own expense. Ratchet that respect up a few notches when said VIPs intentionally put themselves in the line of comedic fire for a good cause, which is exactly what Gilda’s Night of a Thousand Laughs is all about. Comedian Tom Mabe will lead a crew of local celebrities in an array of onstage antics to raise money for Gilda’s Club of Louisville, a nonprofit that provides support and services for those battling cancer. In addition to a live comedy show, the event includes an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and after-party. It’s a fitting fundraiser for a charity whose namesake is the great Gilda Radner, the “Saturday Night Live” comedian who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. —Sarah Kelley

•‘More from the Street’ 

Through May 18


Galerie Hertz


1253 S. Preston St. • 581-8277

billyhertzgallery.com

Post-Derby, as our city fades out of the sports spotlight, there is something left behind: garbage. Thankfully, after seeing the show at Galerie Hertz, you may see the refuse from a new and charming angle. Tom Pfannerstill creates detailed paintings on carved wood, replicas of rubbish found by the artist. Simultaneously, you’ll admire Pfannerstill’s painting expertise and the power of packaging design. An entertaining way to question value, Pfannerstill’s striking results will have you yearning to take one of these treasures home. —Mali Anderson

•WonderFest 2013

May 18-19

Crowne Plaza Hotel

830 Phillips Lane

wonderfest.com

$25; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Perhaps it’s the “Big Bang Theory” effect, or perhaps it’s just natural selection, but whatever the case, nerd culture seems to be at its zenith. Suddenly, it’s cool to be uncool. (Shame this couldn’t have happened when I was in seventh grade.) WonderFest, which happens this weekend at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, is a shining example of nerd culture at its best. From artists to writers to designers to actors, you can rub elbows with folks such as visual effects artist Lee Stringer, who has worked recently on “Iron Sky” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Also scheduled to appear are Lee Meriwether, who played Catwoman in 1966’s “Batman: The Movie,” and Sara Karloff, granddaughter of Boris Karloff, will show rare home movies and behind-the-scenes footage of the man who brought Frankenstein’s monster to the big screen. There will also be vendors, workshops and much more. —Kevin Gibson

Catherine Irwin

•‘Vera Causa — From Nick With Love’

Sunday, May 19

Irish Rover

2319 Frankfort Ave. • afsp.org

$8; 3 p.m.

The fourth annual “Vera Causa” (“true cause”) fundraiser to benefit suicide prevention, education and awareness features some great music, food and drinks, in addition to a silent auction and raffle. The music starts at 4, with performances from Oscar Parsons, Scott Carney, Catherine Irwin, Silver Tongues and the Junk Yard Dogs (and sound by Zanzabar’s Joe Seidt). Money raised will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which places educational materials and programs in Kentucky schools, in tribute to the life of Irish Rover server Nick Weisen. So head down to your local tavern to enjoy some of the finer things while also making an impact on this otherwise uneventful Sunday afternoon. —Peter Berkowitz

•Mary Gauthier

Sunday, May 19

Uncle Slayton’s

1017 E. Broadway

uncleslaytons.com

$15; 8:30 p.m.

Singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier counts the likes of Bob Dylan and Tom Waits as fans of her work, and with one listen you know why — her music carries incredible emotional weight, often speaking to us collectively as much as individually. And then there are her characters: “nuns in blue jeans” (“Drag Queens in Limousines”), murderers (“Karla Faye”), orphans (“Blood is Blood”) and bums (“The Last of the Hobo Kings”), all of whom are featured on her latest release, Live at Blue Rock. She’ll have the whole lineup with her, along with her own searing voice, topped off with some “Mercy Now.” Just be sure to bring your hanky (and an extra for the poor wretch next to you who forgot his) — and better make that G&T a double while you’re at it. —Jason Howard

•Buy Local Fair

Saturday, May 11

Louisville Water Tower

3005 River Road

keeplouisvilleweird.com

Free ($5 parking); 2-8 p.m.

Louisville is lucky to have an impressive local arts scene and a thriving farm-fresh foods movement, two assets that will be celebrated Saturday at the fifth annual Buy Local Fair. Spearheaded by the Louisville Independent Business Association and Grasshoppers Distribution, the fair will include more than 150 booths showcasing goods and services from this city’s finest local artists, farmers, businesses and community organizations. And no Louisville-centric event would be complete without a hefty helping of food and drink, including a craft beer tent featuring 10 local brewers. Local bands Gideon’s Rifle, Thirty Spokes and Nerves Junior will provide entertainment to round out this much-deserved Louisville love-fest. —Sarah Kelley

•Paul Kelly

Saturday, May 11

Zanzabar

2100 S. Preston St.

zanzabarlouisville.ticketfly.com

$15-$20; 9 p.m.

Paul Kelly has been called the “Bruce Springsteen of Australia,” but truth be told, Kelly, like Bruce, transcends regional labels; he’s one of the preeminent songwriters of our time. As a lyricist, Kelly is literate (he adapted Raymond Carver’s harrowing short story “Everything’s Turning to White” into an exquisite song); idealistic (witness “From Little Things Big Things Grow,” a stirring anthem co-written with the great Aboriginal singer Kev Carmody); evocative (his moody “Gathering Storm” is a minimalist masterpiece); and witty (check out “Every Fucking City,” his funny backpacker ballad on YouTube). And his love songs are as sly as can be. Kelly’s career has fused rock, R&B, bluegrass and country, but nowadays, he prefers life as an acoustic troubadour with a guitar. For his Zanzabar show, he’ll be joined by guitarist (and nephew) Dan Kelly. —Marty Rosen

•‘Fire Under the Snow’

Sunday, May 12

The Clifton Center

2117 Payne St.

cliftoncenter.org

$5; 7 p.m.

In 1959, Buddhist monk Palden Gyatso was arrested by the Chinese Communist Army and spent the next 33 years in prison for crimes of peaceful demonstration. He was tortured, starved and sentenced to hard labor, but says his faith in Buddhism helped him survive. While imprisoned, the mere existence of the Dalai Lama inspired Gyatso, and he eventually got to meet him after he was free from Tibet. “Fire Under the Snow” documents Gyatso’s life from childhood through his imprisonment and his current role as an activist, and it will be shown Sunday as part of the Wild and Woolly Film Series at the Clifton Center. “Palden Gyatso’s life story transcends notions of religion or political movements,” says director Makoto Sasa. “He accommodated suffering but did not capitulate to it.” —Sara Havens

•Emily Wells

Sunday, May 12

Zanzabar

2100 S. Preston St.

zanzabarlouisville.com

$8-$10; 9 p.m.

Emily Wells made her lively household debut at the age of 4 on a small, plastic violin purchased from Michaels. And while she has since expanded her instrumental range, she has not necessarily outgrown toy instruments — she has performed on a toy piano during her concerts. Her songs show no lack of maturity, however, and instead offer a haunting, crystalline quality, accompanied by her violins, piano and a deep, electronic beat. Her style has been described as folk and hip-hop, as intricate and humble; her newest album, Mama, was recorded entirely through voice and guitar. Wells has claimed a style that speaks to her honesty and shows off the simpler facets of life. —Natalie French

Thursday, May 2

Baxter Avenue Theatres

1250 Bardstown Road

secretariat.com

$50-$100; 6:30 p.m.

Secretariat is arguably the best racehorse of the 20^th century and by far the most popular. Now, on the 40^th anniversary of his Triple Crown win, the Kentucky Derby Museum and Secretariat.com present a documentary about the other half of Secretariat’s team: his jockey, Ron Turcotte. The film’s world premiere, timed perfectly to coincide with Derby week, is a celebration of Turcotte’s career; it will share his memories and tell his stories, including his 16-year career and beyond. During the premiere, the audience at Baxter will be joined by Turcotte himself, and before the movie begins, there will be a cocktail party and the opportunity to meet Turcotte and several other racing celebrities. —Natalie French

Monday, April 22

Clifton Center

2117 Payne St.

cliftoncenter.org

$10; 7:30 p.m.

Ever wonder what became of that VHS tape of your second-grade talent show in which you dressed as a Smurf and sang “Walk the Dinosaur”? Let’s hope it won’t be on display Monday night at the Found Footage Festival, which showcases clips of videos found at garage sales, thrift stores, warehouses and Dumpsters across the country. It began in New York City in 2004, and this particular tour is hosted by Joe Pickett of The Onion and Nick Prueher of “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Sponsored by the Clifton Center and Wild & Woolly Video, this fest also celebrates an important milestone. “Since Wild & Woolly has been around since the VHS days, and we’ve always been such fans of the odd and unusual, it made sense to bring in the Found Footage Festival to help us celebrate our 16^th anniversary,” says W&W owner Todd Brashear. —Sara Havens

March 21-24

U of L’s Gheens Science Hall
106 W. Brandeis Ave. • 852-8976
Free; 12:15 p.m. (March 21), 6 p.m. (March 22), 3 p.m. (March 24)

“Girl Rising” is an independent film that tells the stories of unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances. Playing this weekend at U of L’s Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium, the film spotlights young women from Nepal, Peru, Haiti, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, India and Cambodia who have overcome obstacle after obstacle in pursuit of an education. Actresses Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, Meryl Streep, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett and Selena Gomez narrate the film, which is directed by Academy Award-nominated director Richard E. Robbins (“Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience”). The film is part of a social action campaign by 10×10 to promote education for girls around the world. Admission is free. —Kevin Gibson

Saturday, March 16

Brown Theatre
315 W. Broadway
kentuckycenter.org
$15; 2 p.m.

The annual beginning of spring is magnificent for oh-so-many reasons. For local lovers of music and/or education, it means it’s also time for the Louisville Leopard Percussionists’ annual “Big Gig” — and this year is an even bigger celebration, their 20^th anniversary! Founded by award-winning educator Diane Downs, the ever-evolving group of more than 60 7-12-year-old students from over 25 schools has been featured in a fun and inspirational documentary, “The Leopards Take Manhattan: The Little Band That Roared,” which airs often on HBO, and one graduate, Hannah Ford, recently earned a job as a drummer in Prince’s band. Having opened for My Morning Jacket (at Waterfront Park) and Chick Corea, these kids remind adults how un-self-conscious and fun music can be. —Peter Berkowitz

•‘The Silent World’

Sunday, March 17

Clifton Center
2117 Payne St.
cliftoncenter.org
$5; 7 p.m.

The French documentary “Le Monde Du Silence (The Silent World)” was one of the first films to use underwater cinematography. Co-directed by oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Louis Malle, the film won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 1956. Shot aboard the ship Calypso, Cousteau and his team filmed for more than two years in the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Indian Ocean. New Albany resident Bob Braunbeck accompanied Cousteau on several ocean exploration trips as his director of aerial photography and helicopter pilot from 1975-90. He’ll present the screening of “The Silent World” Sunday at the Clifton Center, as part of the Wild and Woolly Film Series. —Sara Havens

Saturday, March 2

Clifton Center
2117 Payne St. • 589-8008
wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
$15-$25; 6 p.m.

Tom Fitzgerald, executive director of the Kentucky Resources Council, will emcee a screening of six films focused on environmental issues at the fifth annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival in the Clifton Center’s Eifler Theatre. From “Wonder,” which follows a couple as they build their own home and live without the aid of any modern convenience, to “Let Our Rivers Flow,” which portrays the history and present plight of Maryland’s key eastern shore rivers, each film will aim to inspire viewers to make a difference in the environment. A VIP reception will be held before the festival at 6 p.m., which will include local beverages and fare, along with a raffle to win a kayaking trip courtesy of Quest Outdoors. And hey, at the very least, this film festival will provide a nice preview of spring. —Kevin Gibson

•Matmos

Saturday, March 2

Zanzabar
2100 S. Preston St.
zanzabarlouisville.ticketfly.com
$8-$10; 9 p.m.

Matmos are a highly overeducated yet delightfully playful duo who have added much to the vocabulary of experimental, electronic, art and dance music throughout the past 20 years. In that time, the now-Baltimore-based couple, Louisville native (and early scene contributor) Drew Daniel and M.C. Schmidt, has collaborated with Bjork, visual artists, choreographers, playwrights and Rachel’s; recent albums have included mind-control experiments and the sounds of liposuction surgery. Their music is fun and appropriate for a Saturday night out at Zanzabar, which is a true testimonial to their skills. Presented by Cropped Out and The Other Side of Life, with avant-rockers and fellow Baltimorans Horse Lords and locals Parlour (the latter of which has added two new members, on drums and synths). —Peter Berkowitz

Friday, Feb. 15

Dreamland Film Center
810 E. Market St.
louisvillefilmsociety.org
$5-$8; 7 & 9 p.m.

Peter Brötzmann has been a defiant giant of improvised music for decades. To label it as “jazz” would be much too limiting; he’s also made some of the heaviest noise known to humankind along the way. Friday, the Louisville Film Society’s Dreamland Film Center will present two screenings of “Soldier of the Road: A Portrait of Peter Brötzmann,” co-presented by the adventurous Astro Black record store. The documentary was filmed by Gerard Rouy, a photojournalist who has been examining Brötzmann’s work since the 1970s. The doc also includes appearances by notable collaborators like Han Bennink, Mats Gustaffson, Evan Parker, Ken Vandermark and more. A free after-show at Nachbar at 11 p.m. features younger avant-gardist Jason Ajemian performing with Tim Barnes, Jim Marlowe and Jordan Richardson. —Peter Berkowitz

Feb. 15 & 22

Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
kcaah.org
Free; 7:30 p.m.

Forty percent of the Africans sent to the Americas during the slave trade landed in colonial Brazil. The 1986 film “Quilombo” tells the story of a group of them who escaped to form a remote settlement in the hinterlands and fight off their Portuguese masters. The Palmares, as they were known, went on to become an autonomous republic, peaking at 20,000 members before ultimately being suppressed in 1694. The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage will present “Quilombo” (Feb. 15) as part of a Black History Month film series. “The Last Supper,” a 1976 Cuban film, will also be shown (Feb. 22). In it, a plantation owner attempts to direct 12 of his slaves in his own rendition of Jesus’ last supper. — J. Christian Walsh

Thursday, Jan. 24

Decca — The Cellar
812 E. Market St. • 749-8128
$50; 6:30 & 9:30 p.m.

“Hollywood is a place where the stars twinkle until they wrinkle,” the actor Victor Mature has said. If this is true, the Shelby Park resident must have kept himself in pretty decent shape, landing his first role in 1939 and working into the early ’80s. Billed as the “rugged romantic” in 1952’s “Million Dollar Mermaid,” one can safely assume Mature was quite the heartbreaker, marrying five times and starring opposite legendary femme fatales like Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable. After WWII, his roles took a hard-nosed turn toward noir and Westerns, as well as biblical sagas like “Samson and Delilah.” Mature was lured out of retirement with a chance to show his funny side, starring with Peter Sellers in 1966’s “After the Fox.” This week, the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation will screen “My Darling Clementine” in tribute to the centennial of Mature’s birth. —J. Christian Walsh