Staffpicks

If you haven’t heard of the films “Reversal of Fortune” and “Discompter Faux,” it’s because three weeks ago they didn’t exist. These are two of 30 offerings that emerged from this year’s 48 Hour Film Project, a competition where groups write, shoot, edit and score a short film in just one weekend. Groups were assigned a genre and required to have a character named Lefty or Lucy Ellsworth (a pro athlete), use a slice of pizza as a prop, and incorporate the line “How was I to know?” This week, Village 8 Theaters will show all of the films, and the public is invited to vote on their favorites. The films aren’t masterpieces, but it’s pretty damn cool to see how much can be accomplished in one weekend. For those who can’t make it to this midweek event, a “best of” screening featuring the judges’ and public’s favorites will be held August 16. —April Corbin

 

Aug. 6-9

Sculptural fragments are intriguing because of what is there as much as what is not. Mike McCarthy likes to portray the human figure, with a focus on the face but specifically the eyes. So if you feel you’re being stared at when visiting his solo exhibition “Through My Eyes,” that’s why. “The eyes convey much about a person’s thoughts and feelings,” he says. “I love the shape of the eye, and in this selection of work, I wanted to explore that and to bring out the sensations and feelings that the eyes reveal about each person.” McCarthy carves in stone, wood and metal. But stone is his passion, stating he “loves to explore the dichotomy between the rigid physical nature of the rock and the softness and fluidity in the pieces … “ —Jo Anne Triplett

 

Thursday, Aug. 7

Ashley Farmer was raised in Louisville, getting her undergraduate degree from U of L, before leaving for the greener literary pastures of New York and California. She served as an editor for many publications, including Juked, for which she is currently managing editor. Now the writer hath returneth to Louisville, joining fellow author Alan Grostephan to read from her debut collection of short stories, “Beside Myself,” listed on Buzzfeed as one of 2014’s “15 Highly Anticipated Books From (Mostly) Small Presses.” The collection is Farmer’s sophomore published work, following her illustrated chapbook “Farm Town,” and preluding her upcoming poetry collection. Grostephan will be reading from his novel “Bogota,” which was named one of the 10 best novels of 2013 by The Wall Street Journal. — Matthew Adams

 

Thursday, Aug. 7

I know you want to have a sore neck for your Friday morning commute. You want to be in pain from the heavy duty rocking you did the night before, still smelling of sweat from all the headbanging in the front row. Turbo Fruits can do that for you. The Nashville quartet, who have recorded albums on the labels of both Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and, more recently, Spoon’s Jim Eno, says their goal is to leave “a wake of blown minds and melted faces. Y’know, like a rock record is supposed to.” With tickets that will run you fewer than 10 dollars, there’s no reason for any rock-loving soul in town not to have a brew or two and check these guys out. Local White Stripes-influenced Discount Guns will open. —Ian Ording

 

Aug. 7-16

If there’s anything the “Star Trek” franchise has more of than fans, it’s movies and television episodes.  The vast array of screen appearances the various crews have starred in have spawned the aforementioned droves of fans and make for plenty of parody fodder. That’s where Alley Theater comes in. Having parodied other Hollywood and pop culture standbys such as “Star Wars,” “The Evil Dead” and “Point Break,” this cast and crew are more than capable of taking on one of the oldest still-running science fiction franchises. They claim it will boldly go where “no man, woman or theater has ever gone before,” so set your phasers to stun, give your car all she’s got and beam up to the show. Just don’t wear a red shirt. —Ian Ording

 

Aug. 7-17

To kick off their 100th season, CenterStage will be performing the Broadway hit 'Spring Awakening.' The Tony Award-winner follows a group of teens as they come of age and begin dealing with their sexualities. Using rock music, the musical changes things up from your typical musical, gaining the title of being a "new musical." Considered slightly edgy to some, the musical was adapted from a 19th century German play of the same name. The original play was banned in Germany due to its open discussion of a smorgasbord of controversial topics: homosexuality, rape, etc. Adding to the themes of teen angst and everything that comes with it, CenterStage will host an open conversation facilitated by therapeutic professionals to see what it is like to be a teenager in 2014 after the 2 p.m. performance on Aug. 17. —Olivia Krauth

 

Saturday, Aug. 9

If it were up to me, dogs would be allowed everywhere. Think of how much better waiting in line at the DMV would be if you could bring your chubby pug along to use as a pillow! Unfortunately for crazy dog ladies, you cannot bring your furry friends everywhere. Instead, you must cherish all the dog-friendly special events that pop up — like this Saturday’s Dog Day at Douglass Loop Farmers Market. Rocko’s Rewards hosts this daylong event, which is in its third year. Barkstown Road and Four Spoiled Dogs will offer locally made products. Pet owners can also snag important info on pet emergencies and end-of-life care from experts on hand. Bring your (leashed!) pets. Don’t forget to bring an extra buck or two for Derby City Dog Rescue, a local nonprofit that will be accepting donations for their worthwhile cause. —April Corbin

 

Saturday, Aug. 9

It seems there’s a festival for music of every stripe in Louisville. Thanks to local drummer A.J. Lucas’s efforts, fans of death metal have a day to call their own with Louisville Deathfest. Like all live musical celebrations, dancing is common — the metal varieties referred to as moshing and slam dancing, poetic feats where one fights the air fueled by breakdowns and heavy riffs, though most attendees are content to headbang or cross their arms and nod approvingly. This years line-up consists of numerous national acts, including Indiana skullcrushers Dawn of Dementia, Chicago’s rising star Warforged, Baltimore’s Visceral Disgorge, New Orleans swamp monsters Thy Devourer, hard-hitters Kamikabe, black metal destroyers Hate Meditation and a bevy of excellent local acts. Legendary Texas sewer-dwellers Devourment are the ugly headlining cherry on top. Don’t forget your black t-shirt. —Austin Weber

 

Saturday, Aug. 9

For fans of the delightfully deranged. Comprised of ex-members of U.S. Maple and Cheer-Accident, two of the most bizarre and challenging bands out of the Chicago indie scene, Dead Rider blend their disparate interests for an undeniably catchy, if entirely offbeat, brand of pop that defies any type of traditional comparison. Take “Blank Screen,” the second track on their third full-length Chills on Glass, which culminates in a blistering melodic climax — a stuttering, brain-breaking glitch, like the CD is skipping — without missing the timing. Whether this is a feat of musicianship or just a clever production trick, here lies evidence that Dead Rider knows how to warp your perception of reality while playing a pop- inflected indie tune. Opening is the always intense Tropical Trash, who never fail to entertain. —Syd Bishop

 

Through Aug. 30

Just in time for me not wanting to go see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson play Hercules, the Palace is hosting its annual summer movies series. After a five-year hiatus, the “Monsters: A Celebration of Horror Classics from Universal Studios” series is creeping back out of its tomb, or, you know, casket or whatever. The season features notable horrors such as “Frankenstein” and “The Mummy” this weekend, followed by “The Invisible Man,” “The Black Cat,” “The Raven,” “The Bride of Frankenstein,” “The Wolfman” and the still creepy “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their “ghoulish finest,” which I assume is somewhere between zombie and “Teen Wolf” — you make the call. The ticket itself is the same price as the popcorn you’d eat before The Rock even takes down that lion with his bare hands. —Matthew Adams

 

Through Sept. 27

“You don’t expect carpet to be part of glass sculptures.” How true. That statement by Flame Run gallery manager Tiffany Ackerman explains how unusual the works by Michael Amis are (it’s Flame Run’s first time exhibiting mixed media). He’s not above mixing glass with carpet, fake fur or doll hair, assembling what he calls his “little critters.” While he’s a glass artist with an MFA, his first career was in industrial design. That helps to explain his love of “things” and his no-hold-barred attitude toward mixed media. This frees him, so much so that he says, “(I) never really know what (my) sculptures will look like until (I’m) finished assembling them.” He’s also continuously (re)creating, sometimes rearranging a so-called finished piece while setting up for an exhibition. —Jo Anne Triplett