Another pandemic month down means another month of constantly reevaluating how to safely and authentically experience or share art. But, there's something relatively (dare I say) normal in the air this weekend. Based partly on a general sense of vibrancy and partly on the to-do list on my desk, events are happening. Lots of them, in many shapes and forms. Here are my picks for the weekend ahead, featuring museums, outdoor film screenings, activist dance, virtual jazz, filmed theater and much more.
'Donna Orbits the Moon': A Filmed Reading
Theater
Combining motherhood and Stepford wives with space travel, "Donna Orbits the Moon" by Ian August is a simple set up — one actor plus narrator. It's directed by Kandace Crystal and features Susan Clausen as Donna and Eric Poppick as an omnipresent, time and space-transcendent voice. Two community theater groups, Scripps Ranch Theatre and Oceanside Theatre have paired up to pull off this filmed reading, and it's available to stream on demand throughout the weekend. There's a Zoom-based talkback with the cast and crew on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Details: Friday at noon through Monday at noon, with a talkback Sunday at 5 p.m. Online. $20.
More theater: Have you experienced the Old Globe's weekly Word Up! Program yet? The virtual event is part master class, part comment-section mad libs and a really great way to learn about the performing arts and connect with other people in the arts community. This week features Tulengua, a cross-border hip-hop band featuring KPBS' Port of Entry (previously known as Only Here) podcast host, Alan Lilienthal. Friday at 6 p.m., free.
Garden Film Screening of 'Move American' by Disco Riot
Dance, Film
Local dance collective Disco Riot has launched a new dance film series, "Move American," a weekly virtual release of a short piece featuring new choreography, often using cross-disciplinary artists to provide original music and poetry. Each work is centered around issues of voting and inequity not just in civic decision making, but also in the dance world. You can read my feature here.
The project includes work by Derion Loman, performed by Loman and Simon Greenberg, called "By Any Means Necessary." It features spoken word as well as music by Geminelle and Charlotte Douglas and highlights the obstacles many communities, especially people of color, face when casting a ballot.
You can catch this film, and the eight others in a series of small, outdoor screenings on Saturday evening at Art Produce in North Park. The series is paired with another dance film project, the interactive, holographic "MULTICHANNEL_CHATROOM: A Transmedia Duet."
Details: Saturday at 6:30-9 p.m, played on loop with half-hour seatings, or online through election day. Art Produce, 3139 University, North Park. Free.
More film: The GI Film Festival — produced by KPBS — takes place Thursday and Friday. Check out Beth Accomando’s preview here.
Jazz at the Athenaeum Livestream: Mike Wofford, Rob Thorsen and Jim Plank
Music
The Athenaeum has brought back their popular jazz series with a monthly livestream. This Monday, catch a trio led by San Diego pianist Mike Wofford who has been involved with the Athenaeum's jazz series since they launched over thirty years ago. He'll be joined by Rob Thorsen on bass and Jim Plank on drums, and they'll perform from the lovely music room on Monday evening.
Here's a track Wofford recorded in the Athenaeum's space in 2004, "Take the Coltrane."
Details: Monday at 7 p.m. Online. $12 for members, $15 public.
More music: Dani Bell and Low Volts — who just collaborated on a cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry" — will livestream Saturday night from the Casbah. Bell, of Dani Bell & the Tarantist, just put out a solo single, "Got You," which was featured in our 5 Songs To Discover In San Diego In October. Saturday at 8:30 p.m. via Twitch.
Even more music: The San Diego Master Chorale performs Zanaida Robles' arrangement of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," which Robles describes as the Black national anthem. She'll join the SD Master Chorale in this virtual offering to perform the soprano solo, and then will discuss her work and the piece in a panel afterwards. Sunday at 2 p.m.
Rembrandt and Printmaking in the Netherlands
Visual Art
San Diego Museum of Art has reopened, with COVID safety measures in place and just 25 percent capacity. And one of the first exhibitions they're sharing is a series of etchings and engravings by Rembrandt. There's about 20 of these works in total, plus a large oil painting, a self-portrait, on loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. You can also see several of these works online, or listen to an episode of the museum's Masterpiece Minute podcast on the subject of Rembrandt and his printmaking.
Details: "Rembrandt and Printmaking in the Netherlands" is now on view on the second floor of SDMA. 10 to 5 p.m. most days, except noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Closed Wednesdays. 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.
More visual art: It's your last chance to check out Gisela Colón's sculpture, "Rectanguloid (Gold Spectrum), 2020," on display now at Quint One in La Jolla through Tuesday. The gallery is appointment only. In addition to the Colón work in the main space, be sure to peek into the back room for an eccentric collection of contemporary works, many of them local.
For more arts events, check out the KPBS/Arts calendar and sign up for the weekly KPBS/Arts newsletter.
