This weekend in the arts: "Sugar Houses" at ArtPower; UCSD MFA Open Studios; Xavier Foley at La Jolla Music Society; a book art group show at Cannon Art Gallery; "Expressions of Black Joy and Unity" from Coronado Playhouse and TYPA Theatre; and Camarada delivers tango, tacos and Irma Sofia Poeter at Bread and Salt.
Rosanna Gamson/World Wide: 'Sugar Houses'
Dance, Music, Literature
Horror, contemporary dance, traditional American folk songs, reinvented Brothers Grimm tales and the delightfully dark mind of writer Brian Evenson come together in "Sugar Houses." Rosanna Gamson/World Wide will perform two shows this weekend with ArtPower at UC San Diego, rescheduled from the original January dates.
Brian Evenson served as script consultant and also contributed some witches spells. Evenson is author of many books, including the novel "Father of Lies," and the incredible short story collection "A Collapse of Horses," (and you can read the titular story as published in The American Reader here, which is one of the more unsettling but masterful short stories I've read).
The story is rooted in a retelling of "Hansel and Gretel," but also pulls from other historic sources (including Anne Sexton) as well as new writing from Evenson. The music will feature arrangements of traditional American music by Fahad Siadat and Tomasz Krzyzanowski, and the sets, choreography, costuming and multimedia elements are all inspired by the horror genre.
Details: Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25-26, 2022 at 8 p.m. This one is recommended for audience members ages 12 and up. Mandeville Auditorium, 9500 Gilman Dr., UC San Diego. $9-$25.
UC San Diego Visual Arts Graduate Open Studios
Visual art
The on-campus Open Studios event is back for UC San Diego's visual arts graduate and MFA students. It's a hybrid event, so you can also view the online studio portfolios for each artist beginning Saturday. But if you've been meaning to dip your toes back in the campus art world, or maybe even try the new Blue Line Trolley, it'll be held on campus as well.
Included in the event are MFA theses and also first year reviews, both of which offer a chance to see emerging artists at their best.
Registration is required, but free. Register here.
Details: Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 from 2-6 p.m. or online all day. UCSD Visual Arts Facility, 252 Russel Ln., La Jolla. Free.
Xavier Foley on the Double Bass
Music
The La Jolla Music Society welcomes Xavier Foley to the Conrad on Sunday for an afternoon performance. Foley is a celebrated young bassist and composer, based out of Georgia, and he will be touring several middle schools and libraries when he is in San Diego. At the Conrad, he'll perform two classical works that are transposed for solo double bass — Bach's "Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor), and Vivaldi's "Cello Sonata No. 1 in B-flat Major" (transposed to G major). He'll also perform several of his own compositions: "Always on the Move," for double bass and piano, performed by Angie Zhang, and "Lost Child," "Etude No. 11: The Singer," "Untitled" and "Latin Paradise."
"Lost Child" is a stunning solo, and Foley plays the double bass like it's a delicate, melodic instrument.
Details: Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022 at 3 p.m. Conrad Prebys Performing Art Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $51.
More music: Check out my feature on Pacho Flores' appearances with the San Diego Symphony, beginning Saturday evening at the Civic Theatre.
'Reimagined: The Artist's Book'
Visual art
I have a vague memory of a long-ago online debate over whether cutting up old books to make art was some sort of literary sacrilege. To me, it would be the highest praise, and I'd say it infers a sort of devotion to literature, rather than any sacrilege. And fortunately, you can form your own opinions at Cannon Gallery in Carlsbad this weekend. The civic art space will open a new exhibition, "Reimagined: The Artist's Book," and it's a not-so-subtle nod to the gallery's building-mate, the library.
Each work is created from or inspired by books, and it includes the work of fourteen world-class book art artists — plenty of them locals, including Sage Serrano, Elena Lomakin, Viviana Lombrozo, Amandine Nabarra, Judith Christensen and Gina Pisello. You'll find conceptual works, incredible works of bookbinding, book-inspired ceramics and of course sculptures made out of actual books and pages.
An opening reception on Saturday evening will be held in the outdoor courtyard. In April, Serrano will also be leading a bookmaking workshop (details forthcoming).
Details: Opens Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. and is on view through May 14. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Cannon Art Gallery, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad. Free.
Coronado Playhouse + TYPA: 'Expression of Black Joy and Unity'
Theater
Kimberly King, managing director of TYPA (Teenage Youth Performing Arts Theatre Company) and teaching artist at The Old Globe, along with Imahni King-Murillo and Kandace Crystal have curated an evening of performances that showcase Black creativity, subtitled "All Our Black Lives: Forging Unity." The creative team is joined by choreographers Zack King and Nhu Nguyen King and a full cast of performers at Coronado Playhouse, who partnered with TYPA for this event. It's part of their new Co-Production Partnership Program, which offers resources and performance space to theater groups.
This is a free show, though donations are accepted. Seats are assigned so reserve your spot in advance.
Details: Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 at 7 p.m. Coronado Playhouse, 1835 Strand Way, Coronado. Free.
'Something's Brewing: Tango & Tacos'
Music, Dance, Visual art, Food
Saturday night in Logan Heights, you'll find a merger of Bread and Salt's current exhibiting artist Irma Sofia Poeter, Mujeres Brew House and local music ensemble Camarada.
Dancers Carolina Jaurena and Marcelo Mesa will perform tango dance alongside pieces by traditional and "nuevo" tango composers Astor Piazzolla, Andrés Martín, Raul Jaurena and more.
Beginning at 5:30, you can buy taco flights at Mujeres next door, then at 6 p.m., Bread and Salt will open their doors for a gallery viewing with artist Irma Sofia Poeter. You'll also have a chance to tour the art and sample beer during intermission.
RELATED: Artist Irma Sofia Poeter is turning the male gaze around
Details: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (concert begins at 7 p.m.). Bread and Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. $35-$65.
For more arts events, and daily editor's picks (or to submit your own), visit the KPBS/Arts calendar here. Be sure to sign up for the weekly KPBS/Arts newsletter here.
