Living legacy. The Bucks County Sculpture Show is an annual reminder of the large impression left by founder Dr. Selma Burke, an illustrator, painter and pioneer sculptor. The New Hope-based artist created the imprint of FDR that’s used on the dime. Over the course of her storied career, she sculpted a number of legendary figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Pearl S. Buck. As passionate as she was about art, she was every bit as committed to education. She taught at several institutions, including the Solebury School. The sculpture show furthers that particular aspect of Dr. Burke’s legacy, drawing awareness and providing a platform upon which local artists can learn from each other. The Bucks County Sculpture Show, September 18 through October 8, the Health and Wellness Center by Doylestown Hospital, Warrington; 215-348-3913; www.centralbuckschamber.com.

Art therapy. Have the terms Futurism and Vorticism thrown at you and in no time you will be searching the Internet for their meaning — after, of course, acting like you already knew what they mean. But the ideas that inspired the two art movements between World Wars I and II are not all that complex. The emergence of technology in Britain at the time at once terrified and excited the general public. Artists, specifically, showed their conflicted emotions through their prints by way of distorted imagery and unique plays on light and color. The Met offers an exhibition of British prints from 1914 to 1939 that provide further insight into the intriguing expressions. Futurism and Vorticism inspired the 14 artists showcased here, but it’s not that clear cut. Because change rarely spurs an entirely positive reaction — or a negative one, for that matter. “Rhythms of Modern Life: British Prints,” 1914-1939, September 23 through December 7, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, 1000 5th Avenue, New York City; 212-535-7710; www.metmuseum.org.

Treasure hunting. In an area where antiques are as serious a business as they are here, a lot is required to stand out from the crowd. The Historical Society of Princeton Fall Antiques and Fine Arts Show is worthy of such attention. Last year’s show drew over 1,500 guests, creating instant credibility — and buzz — among a very knowledgeable group of modern day treasure hunters. This year, over 50 premier dealers from Britain and the United States will be gathered at a hanger at the Princeton Airport with an intriguing array of collections, from rare books and vintage posters to fine European furniture and even antique cars. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Lambertville-based Rago Arts & Auction Center will offer an appraisal clinic for potential treasures. The Princeton Fall Antiques and Fine Arts Show, September 27, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Princeton Airport, 41 Airpark Road, Princeton, NJ; 609-921-6748; www.princetonhistory.org.

Simply stunning. There is a mysterious simplicity to the 35 mm camera and black-and-white film. A statement made without the luxury of color lends emphasis to the contrasts of the aspects of the subject that are not necessarily visible otherwise. During a trip to photograph Havana, Susan S. Bank took a slight detour and visited the Valley of Vinales in the Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba. There she came across farmers who lived well outside the world she knew. For them, the means are every bit as simple as the needs. The land upon which they live provides the essentials — food, water and shelter. Ultimately, she felt the best way to translate the experience was through black-and-white images, which lends an other-worldly quality to them. “Cuba: Campo Adentro,” continues through November 30, James A. Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown; 215-340-9800; www.michenermuseum.org.

Sewn together. The everyday quilt has many uses. We wrap ourselves in the colorful fabric collage on a frigid day and lounge on it in a park with a glass of lemonade in hand as the sun shines during midsummer afternoons. But in rural Alabama, quilts speak to a greater artistic and cultural purpose that is woven into their patterns. An exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art displays the history of one small town, Gee’s Bend, as told through a collection of about 65 quilts created there. Started by early descendants of the slave community, quiltmaking developed into a strong tradition that continues through the present day. The museum’s exhibit begins in the early 20th century and extends to 2005. The designs vary — extensively in some cases — but they all speak to small-town life in some fashion. “Gee’s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt,” September 16 to December 14, Phila. Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia; 215-763-8100; www.philamuseum.org.

Street scene. New Hope is full of niches large and small, all showcasing art in some form, from six-figure paintings to crafts by the casual hobbyist. It’s simply a matter of finding a piece that speaks to you, which oftentimes requires a bit of digging. But over the last weekend in September, the search gets a lot easier. Artists from the tri-state region and beyond take over downtown New Hope by way of the 15th annual New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival. As with the eclectic nature of the riverside town’s array of artistic outlets, the juried festival will reach all tastes with a media medley that includes photography, paintings and furniture, among others. To smooth the transition from booth to booth, sample the other flavor of the town — the food. A number of local restaurants will have stands. The New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival, September 27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., North Main and Perry streets, New Hope; www.newhopechamber.com.

Flying solo. For most, performing before an audience is a bit much to ask. Consider doing it alone — and acting out 11 separate characters. It’s a death sentence for the faint-hearted. We have a difficult enough time keeping track of our own phone numbers, which is why we have deep admiration for B.D. Wong, the one and only star of the play Herringbone, a comical but creepy story fueled by an ample dose of murderous rage. At the heart of the play is a young tap dancing prodigy who is possessed by the spirit of a violent midget — the perfect platform upon which to access all genres, as Wong does. He dances and sings along with vaudeville musical numbers as the plot thickens. Herringbone, September 5 through October 12, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton; 609-258-2787; www.mccarter.org.

Don’t go there. A sense of humor has many degrees. There are the universal laughs — knock-knock jokes, getting hit in the groin by an errant football or wiffle ball bat — and then there are the ones where people pause and look around at each other to make sure it’s okay to laugh. The Hothouse will require a lot of looking around. An early play by the renowned dramatist Harold Pinter, The Hothouse follows the action at a state-run rest home, where the staff is in far greater need of care than any of the patients. After writing The Hothouse in 1958, Pinter put the play on the backburner before finally returning to it about 20 years later. It debuted in 1980 and continues to find new life in an ever-indulgent society that increasingly prefers to find its humor in the darkest of situations. The Hothouse, September 12 through October 12, St. Stephen’s Theater, 10th and Ludlow streets, Philadelphia; 215-829-0395; www.lanterntheater.org. 

Hold it in. Urinetown. The title is enough to make anyone laugh, but what is even more uncomfortably humorous is the plotline: Following a 20-year drought, the government bans all private toilets and charges an admission fee for public restrooms. (The mere thought is enough to make us squirm in our seats.) But, as is to be expected under such conditions, a revolution is underway. We would love to have been there for the brainstorming sessions from which the notion of singing about peeing emerged. But that day has long since passed for the Tony Award-winning musical, which hits the Town and Country Players stage in October under the direction of John Zimmerman (Pictured, in chair). Urinetown: The Musical, October 10 through Oct. 25; Town and Country Players theater, Route 263, Buckingham; 215-348-7566; www.townandcountryplayers.org.

 Living off the land. Another year of autumn bliss: Pumpkins, candy, more pumpkins, caramel apples and pumpkin pie. What better way to celebrate the season’s bounty — and the dramatic landscapes that fall ushers in — than with an outdoor festival at one of the region’s most well-regarded vineyards? The winery at Alba, a Milford, NJ, vineyard, is housed in a converted 200-plus-year-old barn that’s surrounded by acres of lush grape vines that run in rows deep into the horizon. During the first weekend in October, Alba hosts its annual Grand Harvest Festival, a family friendly event that offers ample opportunities for play for both children (a moon bounce, for starters) and adults (a craft show, live music and a wine tasting). Grand Harvest Festival, Oct. 4 and 5, Alba Vineyard, 269 Route 627, Milford, NJ; 908-995-7800; www.albavineyard.com.

Red carpet treatment. This is not the Oscars, not even the Golden Globes. But everyone’s dreams begin somewhere. And for a handful of talented filmmakers around the Greater Bucks region, that somewhere is the Bucks Fever Filmfest. The winners of this year’s competition will be celebrated during an awards ceremony and reception October 7 at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown. The Filmfest is open to emerging filmmakers. The entries are limited to 30 minutes and span the categories of documentary, animation, narrative, experimental and music video. A three-member panel comprised of people currently working in The Industry is responsible for spotting the next Martin Scorsese. Awards are given to the best in each category as well as the entire festival. The winning films will be screened at the County Theater, Doylestown, Oct. 19, 7 p.m., which we know isn’t exactly the same as Universal plucking a movie from obscurity at Sundance, but, again, it’s a starting point. Bucks Fever Filmfest awards ceremony and reception, Oct. 7, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street, Doylestown; 215-348-3913; www.bucksfeverfilmfest.org.

A travelin’ gal. You don’t need to be a nomad to appreciate the refreshed perspective that comes with relocating. It can be as simple as loading up the car and driving across this great expanse of a country to the free-spirited music of Willie Nelson. But for one with wanderlust, the road feels more like home than any town or city ever will. It’s a way of life that’s easy to dream about, but difficult to pull off. The Spitfire Grill, which opens September 23 at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, follows Percy, a classic vagabond, into a classic small town. A match made in hell, right? Actually, they end up being the perfect remedy for what ails one another. Percy finds the inner peace that eluded her on the open road and, along the way, she breathes new life into the town. The Spitfire Grill, Sept. 23 through October 12, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol; 215-785-0100; www.brtstage.org.

 

 

 

 

Section: Art + Culture • BL LIFE • Sept/Oct 2008

Tagged with: alba • alba vineyard • art • Art + Culture • art therapy • bristol • Bristol Riverside Theatre • buckingham • bucks county sculpture show • bucks fever filmfest • camp adentro • cuba • culture • doylestown • doylestown hospital • exhibit • feature • films • futurism • gee's bend • grand harvest festival • health and wellness center • herringbone • hothouse • humor • john zimmerman • lantern theater • mccarter theatre center • mercer museum • Met • metropolitan Museum of Modern Art • Michener art museum • milford • musical • new hope • new hope outdoor arts and crafts festival • New Jersey • New York City • performance • Philadelphia • philadelphia museum of art • pinar del rio province • princeton • Princeton Fall Antiques and Fine Arts Show • quilt • sculpture • spirits • spitfire girll • st. stephen's theater • street fair • susan s. bank • the architecture of the quilt • the hothouse • town and country players • urinetown • valley of vinales • vorticism • warrington • winery