Staffpicks
Thursday, Feb. 22
Vincent Harding lecture
Bellarmine University’s Thomas Merton Center welcomes Vincent Harding to speak Thursday evening. Harding was an associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the first director of the Memorial Center named after the civil rights icon. He is currently a professor emeritus of Religion and Social Transformation at Illiff School of Theology and has written numerous books, including “Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero.”
Before the speech, Harding will appear on WFPL’s “State of Affairs,” which will be broadcast from Bellarmine University at 11 a.m. The speech, titled “The Tragedy and Hope of America,” is free and open to the public. Come out and be part of a social movement dedicated to peace and justice — or at least hear it out. —Claudia Olea
Frazier Hall, Bellarmine
452-8177
Free; 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 22
Ut Gret
The experimental and ingenious Ut Gret land once again, this time at The Rud with Mt. Gigantic and Litany’s Last Call. Ut Gret recently completed a tour of the Southeast, and this show promises to be a stunner thanks to belly dancer and frequent collaborator Ruric Amari. —Mat Herron
The Rudyard Kipling
422 W. Oak St.
636-1311
$5; 10:30 p.m.
21+
Friday, Feb. 23
Mini-KISS
“You wanted the littlest, you got the littlest!” Since the band’s first show at New York City’s Lava Lounge on Oct. 30, 1996, when the band lip-synched to a KISS CD, and played inflatable guitars, Mini-KISS has become a far-reaching phenomenon. See what it’s all about when the show stops in Louisville. —Mat Herron
Coyote’s
116 W. Jefferson St.
589-3866
$15 adv., $20 door; 7 p.m.
21+
Friday, Feb. 23
Jean-Michel Pilc & Ari Hoenig trios
Double-bills are the biggest benefit of the Jazz Factory. That, and the fact that you don’t have to come out smelling like an ashtray. Owners Ken Shapero and Dianne Aprile have stacked this coming Friday night. First, there are the trios of French pianist Jean-Michel Pilc and drummer Ari Hoenig, who happen to be members of each other’s touring groups on this tour. Pilc has played with Harry Belafonte, among others, while Hoenig has shared the stage with Pat Metheny and Wynton Marsalis.
Stick around for the Late Night Salon (at 11 p.m.) featuring Nashville pop songstress Kristen Cothron, who’s supporting her album, Love Letters from a Fool. —Mat Herron
The Jazz Factory
815 W. Market St.
992-3242
$15; 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
21+
Feb. 23-25
‘The Vagina Monologues’
The theater department at Bellarmine University will perform Eve Ensler’s award-winning feminist play “The Vagina Monologues” this weekend. The indomitable work centers on a tapestry of issues relating to the place where the sun doesn’t shine — rape, love, mutilation, masturbation and more. There will be 20 monologues performed by 25 actresses (some monologues will be in groups), including the controversial “Coochie Snorcher” that has previously been banned at some Catholic universities.
The theme this year is Reclaiming Peace, so the famous transgender monologue that was performed last year has been replaced with one underscoring women and war zones. All proceeds will benefit The Center for Women, The Healing Place and the National V-Day Campaign’s Women in Conflict Zones. —Claudia Olea
Cralle Theatre
2001 Newburg Road
(812) 360-1466
$7 (students), $10; 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24
‘Cross-Cultural Encounters’
Aegis, the U of L fine arts graduate student association, is presenting its inaugural symposium of what promises to be a biennial event. Focusing on the art history and visual culture of many countries, the topics include such globetrotting subjects as recent Russian art, depictions of women in modern Chinese art and Islamic art patronage presented by graduate students from Temple University, University of Michigan, Indiana University, Northwestern University, University of Cincinnati and U of L.
The symposium, which is free, presents the keynote address, “Medieval Encounters: Christians, Muslims and Jews in Ramon Llull’s ‘Book of the Gentile,’” by Dr. Pamela Beattie of U of L’s Division of Humanities at 1 p.m. The event opens with a continental breakfast and closes with a reception at the Hite Gallery in Schneider Hall. —Jo Anne Triplett
Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library
University of Louisville
852-1550
www.art.louisville.edu
Free; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 25
Classical music overload
Two interesting classical music concerts Sunday afternoon. Pick your poison:
The Louisville Bach Society presents sopranos Kendra Colton and Julianne Baird singing a program of Bach, Mozart and Hugo Distler. Tenor Daniel Weeks and bass Alexander Redden also appear. That’s at 3 p.m. at Holy Spirit Church.
At 4 p.m., the Speed Art Museum presents the mother-son team of Miriam Fried, violinist, and Jonathan Biss, pianist, as part of the Hattie Bishop Speed Concert Series. Works by Mozart and Bartok will be featured. —Bill Doolittle
Bach Society:
Holy Spirit Church
3345 Lexington Road
893-3982
$TBD; 3 p.m.
*
Speed Series:
Speed Art Museum
2035 S. Third St.
634-2700
$10 (free for mem.); 4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 25
Oscar Night America party
So, Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t ask you to be his date at this year’s Oscars? He didn’t invite me, either. But don’t fret. You can still participate in all the Hollywood glamour right here in Louisville, while supporting a good cause at the same time. The Oscar Night America party Sunday at the Olmsted is one of only 49 “official” parties commissioned to celebrate the 79th Academy Awards. Proceeds will go to Family & Children First, which provides counseling and support to individuals and families of abuse.
During this elegant evening, you will be treated like a celebrity as you shimmy down the red carpet, posing for photographers and signing autographs for star-struck fans. Other perks include a copy of the authentic Oscar program, catering by Masterson’s, a live and silent auction and watching the award show on big screens throughout the Olmsted.
The only concern now should be: Who are you going to wear? Does Mall St. Matthews have a Badgley Mischka outlet? —Lindsey Kleyer
The Olmsted
3701 Frankfort Ave.
893-3900 ext. 260
$175; 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 27
‘The Houses of Frank Lloyd Wright’
I confess I am a Wrightian, a devotee of Frank Lloyd Wright. As America’s leading architect of the 20th century, he left a legacy of office buildings, museums and houses, including 17 buildings that the American Institute of Architects designate as important to American culture, more than any other architect.
Robert McCarter, a Visiting Morgan Professor at U of L, will lecture on Wright’s home designs, which ranged from the soaring Fallingwater to his economical Usonian houses. Unfortunately, Kentucky has only one Wright design, the Ziegler house in Frankfort (many erroneously believe Kaden Towers is by Wright, but it was actually designed by one of his students). No worry — Chicago, with its many Wright buildings, is close enough to make anyone a Wrightian. This lecture will certainly help as well. —Jo Anne Triplett
Speed Art Museum
2035 S. Third St.
634-2700
www.speedmuseum.org
Free; 6 p.m.
