THURSDAY, NOV. 20
‘The Grand Tour: British Collecting and Travelling in the 18th Century’
Kentucky Center
501 W. Main St., 584-7777
kentuckycenter.org
$10, Speed members free; 6:30 p.m.
If you were anybody, it used to be de rigueur that you visited Europe. The “Grand Tour” let wealthy young men (and occasionally women) wander the cultural centers of Italy and France as a rite of passage and part of their formal education. The first speaker in the Speed Art Museum’s “Global Speed Series: The United Kingdom” is Lord Anthony Crichton-Stuart, director of the fine art firm Thos. Agnew & Sons. He will discuss the Grand Tour, English gentleman style. The British knew what guides to use, sites to visit and objects to buy, including paintings of themselves posed in front of famous sites, to hang alongside their ancestors’ similar portraits. —Jo Anne Triplett
FRIDAY, NOV. 21
The SteelDrivers
Zanzabar
2100 S. Preston St., 635-9227
$15 – $18; 9 p.m.
To understand the versatility and level of talent possessed by the boundary-pushing bluegrass band The SteelDrivers, look no further than their famous fan base: Vince Gill called them “an incredible combination,” Adele sometimes covers one of their songs during her shows, and they were the band in the Robert Duvall-starring indie flick “Get Low.” It’s not a secret that the roots have been making a serious comeback, but when mountain music is your currency, it’s still pretty hard to make a living ... or really even make a splash. But, when you’re basically a collective of virtuosos, the rules don’t really apply. —Scott Recker
Friday, Nov. 21
A Family Affair
Copper & Kings
1121 E. Washington St., 561-0267
rsvpafamilyaffair.eventbrite.com
$10 suggested donation; 6 – 11 p.m.
Family Scholar House and Copper & Kings are a couple of the city’s most productive and interesting spaces, albeit in very different ways. Family Scholar House helps break the cycle of poverty by providing family housing and other services that support single parents who are pursuing a college degree. Copper & Kings, which produces pot-distilled brandy finished in oak barrels, is throwing a party at their Butchertown distillery in support of Family Scholar House parents and children. You and your family are invited to partake in an evening of drinks, dining, music and special kid-friendly treats. Come bearing gifts for Family Scholar House residents — cash or seasonal gifts — and leave with a full heart and belly, having feasted on a bounty.—Laura Snyder
Friday, Nov. 21
‘A Night of Art’
Tim Faulkner Gallery
1512 Portland Ave., 389-0347
ky4mm.org
$5; 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
One reason Tim Faulkner moved his gallery from Butchertown to Portland was to take advantage of more space and fewer zoning restrictions so that he could host some of the best events in the city. One such event — a benefit for the nonprofit Kentuckians for Medical Marijuana (KY4MM) — will take place Friday with art vendors and live music by The Tunesmiths. Eric Crawford founded KY4MM after a car wreck rendered him quadriplegic. Testifying in Frankfort, Crawford said, “In 22 states, I could get marijuana with my doctor’s recommendation, but I would not leave this state!” Instead, he is advocating for “common-sense, compassionate reform” of state law. If you’re over 21, you can show your support for the movement for medical marijuana and the local arts scene too.—Laura Snyder
SATURDAY, NOV. 22
Cornmeal
Diamond Pub (Concert Hall)
630 Barret Ave., 690-7040
$12 – $15; 8 p.m.
Cornmeal is a band built to be heard live. With in-the-moment energy that seems to gain steam as the show goes on, matched with a variety of influences scattered throughout the band that somehow mesh together, the Chicago-based outfit wields the weapons of bluegrass, but has the attack of rock ‘n’ roll, the thoughtfulness of folk and the backbone of the blues. There’s a clear respect given to tradition, but at the same time, Cornmeal has no problem stepping outside the lines.—Scott Recker
SATURDAY, NOV. 22
Tim Carroll & Midnight Orange
The New Vintage
2126 S. Preston St. 749-4050
$5 – $8; 9 p.m.
A hardworking veteran with country inclinations and a punk ethos, Tim Carroll is a songwriter’s songwriter. A staple of the underground Nashville scene, he can sometimes be found playing the nation’s biggest stages, like the Grand Ole Opry; at others, he can be spotted in the corner of small dive bars — which is a good indication of the type of scrappy and down-to-earth, yet heavily respected, troubadour he is. But, I suppose the bottom line is that John Prine recorded one of his songs, and I can’t think of anything that I can say that is a better recommendation than that.—Scott Recker
Wednesday, Nov. 26
LEO’s First Saintsgiving
Saints Pizza Pub and Sky Bar
131 Breckenridge Lane, 891-8883
Free!; 9 p.m.
LEO wants to thank you for being keeping Louisville eccentric. To show our thanks, we’re throwing a free party at Saints and Sky Bar, Wednesday, Nov. 19 — Thanksgiving Eve. All your friends and family are coming back to town, and there’s no work or school for like ... four more days. Spend Wednesday night with your LEO people. Drink specials, giveaways and DJ jams ... all for the price of FREE! All you have to do is show up. (You can lounge with your family on Thursday.) Four Roses and Old 502 Winery are bringing their fun and spirit of giving thanks, furnishing Saints with drink specials and free samples. You’ll also have exclusive “Saints-giving” opportunities to win concert tickets and other giveaways. Second only to St. Paddy’s Day, this is the biggest night of the year. Just show up … we’ll take care of the rest! —Aaron Yarmuth
THROUGH DECEMBER 5
‘Blossom and Decay’ by Kathleen Lolley
WHY Louisville
806 E. Market St., 290-7778
whylouisville.com
It starts with a whisper. A small, barely audible voice exhales gently close to your ear and begins to tell a story. It is a tale of nature and innocence that is touched with a hint of the macabre. This is what it’s like to view the artwork of Kathleen Lolley. Inspired by the art of John James Audubon and Edward Gorey, Lolley creates “worlds that are whimsical and dark, but not obvious.” It is a combination you would not expect to work, but like when peanut butter met chocolate, Lolley has crafted a delicious treat. It’s this mixture that creates a rich and inviting visual narrative that makes her art speak without ever saying a word. Go see Lolley’s new show, and see what story it whispers to you. —Chasson Higdon
THROUGH JANUARY 10
‘The Party in My Head’ by Kent Epler
Arts Council of Southern Indiana
825 E. Market St., New Albany, 812-949-4238
artscouncilsi.org
With a website called The Laughing Boy and an exhibition titled “The Party in My Head,” I would say fiber artist Kent Epler is one happy man. One of the reasons he’s joyful is that he makes his living creating soft sculpture from recycled materials. An early interest in sewing led him to work in the theater. “Because of my background in scene and costume design,” says Epler, “manipulating fabrics and found objects into sculptures comes second nature to me. A name, a piece of fabric or a discarded brooch can be the basis of a character. Each one has its own voice, its own story.” His contentment extends to where he lives: Silver Hills, Indiana. “Our neighborhood is filled with all kinds of characters. It is a great place to create.”—Jo Anne Triplett
THROUGH MARCH 15
‘Poking the Lilies Pad’
Asia Institute – Crane House
1244 S. Third St., 635-2240
cranehouse.org
It’s all about the mud. While we Westerners may have difficulty understanding the exhibition’s title at first glance, “Poking the Lilies Pad” is a play on references. Clay is fancy mud. Then there’s the classic Asian symbol, the lily pad. One of the things needed to grow lily pads? Mud! The curator and local ceramicist Sebastian Moh cleverly combined the two for his show of nationally emerging Asian-American artists. “I chose the name ‘lilies’ versus ‘lotus’ because ‘lilies’ is a general term that describes both flowers,” Moh explains. “The exhibition at Crane House is a great way to teach others the heritage and identity of [the Asian-American] culture. However, it is the choice of the artist whether or not they show their heritage and identity in their work.”—Jo Anne Triplett
