<ART>
Thursday, April 6 & Friday, April 7
‘Aesthetics of Large Format Photography’
As part of the show “AZO>CONTACT>PRINT,” photographers James Shanesy, Scott Killian, Steve Sherman and Joe Freeman (fellow exhibitor George Provost is unable to attend) will present the history and process of large format photography at U of L’s Ekstrom Library auditorium Thursday from 7-9 p.m. The artists will also be at the Paul Paletti Gallery during the First Friday Gallery Hop on April 7 from 5-9 p.m.
“AZO>CONTACT>PRINT” is an exhibition of photographs produced from large format contact prints on Azo paper (it runs through May 31). Paletti originally curated the show for the Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts in Rockville, Md. —Jo Anne Triplett
Paul Paletti Gallery
713 E. Market St.
589-9254
Free; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
<FILM>
Friday, April 7
‘Metropolis’ as intended
Every self-respecting sci-fi enthusiast and cinemaniac knows that Fritz Lang’s 1927 futurist, expressionist nightmare “Metropolis” is one of the most wondrous — and at that time, most expensive — films ever made. Most also know that this masterpiece of visual composition and social criticism was meant — in all its stark silent glory — to be heard accompanied by a live orchestra. Without a violently vivid score, one fails to see Lang’s stalwart repertory player Rudolph Klein-Rogge as one of the very best villains of the early cinema.
The inventive folks down at the U of L film department have found a way to provide the authentic experience this week (with a sparkling new 35mm print) at the Floyd Theater. The live music will be handled by local improv guerillas Ut Gret, who are just imaginative enough and just creepy enough to set the appropriate mood of Teutonic gloom. They will be augmented by the Renegade String Quartet and an assortment of electronic musicians. If the participants manage to meld, this could be monstrous. —Paul Kopasz
Floyd Theater
2100 S. Floyd St.
852-6691
Free; 8:30 p.m.
<SPORTS>
April 7-28
College Scholarship Day at Keeneland
Over the years, thousands of Kentucky college students have matriculated at Keeneland Race Course. Furthering their, uh, equine education. So it’s a natural to kick off the 15-day spring meeting with College Scholarship Day on Opening Day this Friday at the Lexington track. Full-time college students will be admitted free with a valid college ID and can register to win 10 $1,000 scholarships. The grants, sponsored by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland, will be given away after each of the day’s races. (No, you can’t cash them at the $50 window.)
The Ashland Stakes, a prep for the Kentucky Oaks, is Saturday, April 8, with Kentucky Derby contenders in the spotlight in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, April 15. The spring meet runs April 7-28, with racing Wednesday through Sunday (except Easter). Post Time 1:15 p.m. —Bill Doolittle
Keeneland Race Course
4201 Versailles Road, Lexington
(800) 456-3412
<BOOK>
Saturday, April 8
Jeff Biggers on Appalachia
There are few higher compliments than those bestowed by the working-class hero Studs Terkel, who said of Jeff Biggers’ book, “… it should be a bestseller immediately. It is a ‘how-to’ book — how to assert your fundamental rights and how to speak out in the manner of the American Revolution footsloggers, whose descendants they are. Read it and your faltering hopes will rise.” These are inspiring words indeed, and more may follow when Biggers reads from his book “The United States of Appalachia” at Carmichael’s on Frankfort Avenue. The word “Appalachia” is seldom uttered in the same sentence as the word “enlightenment.” More likely, images of the film “Deliverance,” corncob-chomping grannies or bonafide gun-toting hillbillies come to mind. However, in truth, Appalachia has been a cradle of U.S. freedom, independence and enlightenment, as well as a region of progressive social history, literature and music.
This fall the History Channel will air a two-hour special about the myths and realities of Appalachia, and Jeff Biggers will appear on the program as an expert on the region. —Paul Kopasz
Carmichael’s Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Ave.
896-6950
Free; 7 p.m.
<MUSIC>
Saturday, April 8
KT Tunstall
Think of this Scottish singer-songwriter as the female James Blunt. Both hit the scene at about the same time, and both are jockeying for position in America’s Top 40 pop charts — both a much-welcomed change to the Beyoncés and Nickelbacks currently taking up space. Tunstall’s Eye to the Telescope is certainly a breath of fresh air, mixing it up with catchy beats and sassy lyrics (“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”) then slowing it down with ballads that would make Jewel jealous (“Heal Over,” “Through the Dark”). We’re lucky we can catch acts like Tunstall on their way up — so get your tickets now, or forever regret it. —Sara Havens
Headliners
1386 Lexington Ave.
584-8088
$10 adv./$12 door; 9 p.m.
<MUSIC>
Saturday, April 8
Trio Joubran
Palestinian musical group Trio Joubran, said to be masters of the oud, an ancient instrument that is ancestor to the guitar, closes this season’s Fifth Third Bank World Rhythms series Saturday evening. The trio of brothers, headed by Samir Joubran, has been touring Europe the past year, introducing thousands to their musical heritage. Along with dozens of awards bestowed upon the group, Samir was the first musician ever to receive a two-year grant from the International Parliament of Writers in Pontedera, Italy. Talk about chops. —Tytianna Wells
Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center
501 W. Main St.
584-7777
$23; 8 p.m.
<FESTIVAL>
Tuesday, April 11
IUS International Bazaar
As much as we’d love to, making that trip to a foreign country isn’t always feasible. IU Southeast realized this nine years ago and decided to hold an International Festival each year to help ease the pain. Sampling international cuisines and ogling live dancers are just part of the fun. Booths representing internationally focused local organizations will be alongside an International Bazaar offering gifts for those “hard to buy for” friends. Last year’s festival attracted 300 people, so stop by while there’s still some sway in the dancers’ hips. Enjoy the sounds, glimpses and tastes of McDonaldless cultures for a nice price. —Matt Mattingly
IU Southeast Hoosier Room
4201 Grant Line Road, New Albany
(812) 941-2333
$7 adults, $5 students, seniors; 5-8 p.m.
<HISTORY>
Through April 15
Underground Railroad exhibit
In the mid-19th century, there was a bustling public slave market on First Street in downtown Louisville, just between Market and Jefferson streets. Traders inspected, bought and sold blacks into slavery on a regular basis in our city streets. Just across the Ohio River lay the northern territory, where slaves had a much better chance of escaping into the promised land of freedom: Canada. As a result, New Albany, Ind., and the surrounding towns became important milestones in the famed Underground Railroad movement. All this is documented with amazing clarity and comprehension at an exhibit titled “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: The Men and Women of the Underground Railroad.” The exhibit is now open to the public at the Carnegie Center in New Albany. The exhibit and accompanying video presentation focuses on Floyd County, Ind., which spans 13 miles along the Ohio, and details the stories of slaves who went to any length to make it across the river — some of whom succeeded and some of whom failed. Not to be missed. A concurrent art exhibit titled “Threads of Strength and Fortitude: Penny Sisto’s Slavery Series” is also on display. —Kevin Gibson
Carnegie Center
201 E. Spring St., New Albany
(812) 944-7336
www.carnegiecenter.org
Free; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tue.-Sat.
<ART>
Through May 15
‘Celebrating the Center’ by Robert Halliday
Robert Halliday surprised the Kentucky Center, something that has to be hard to do. During the past year, he did 16 new works “as a tribute to this beautiful place, to the community leaders and artists of the early years, to great performances and the artists who share their talent with us today, and to the grateful audiences whose enthusiastic support is vital to its ongoing success,” he says. And they didn’t know anything about it.
During the First Friday Gallery Hop on April 7, the exhibit will be accompanied by live music and complimentary hors d’oeuvres from Jarfi’s Bistro from 5:30-7:30 p.m. —Jo Anne Triplett
Gallery at the Kentucky Center
501 W. Main St.
562-0159
www.kentuckycenter.org
Free; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 12-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.