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Your weekend arts forecast: A cinematic salute to Alvin Ailey
The documentary film Ailey opens Friday at Greenlight Cinema. Director Jamila Wignot’s acclaimed film delves into the background, ambitions, desires and visions of the towering American creative Alvin Ailey (1931-1989).
The first choreographer to address Black life and feelings in his work, the founder of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was a multi-faceted pioneer, and very much a keystone of contemporary dance as we know it today.
“He never really made us feel that we couldn’t do anything we wanted to do when we got on stage,” recalls Judith Jameson, the company’s artistic director emerita, in the film. “We were there to be excellent in whatever we were doing. And he gave us such a variety of things to do that it was called dance.”
Raved the New York Times: “Wignot layers images, video and — most important — voice-overs from Ailey to create a portrait that feels as poetic and nuanced as choreography itself.”
On Aug. 31, Greenlight will screen Lydia Lunch: The War is Never Over, a documentary about legendary New York punk provocateur Lydia Lunch. And the singer/spoken word artist herself will be in attendance (more on this coming soon).
Elsewhere in the arts
From “The Road Less Traveled”: Debra Moore’s “An Untrodden Land.”
Making its debut during Saturday’s Second Saturday ArtWalk is The Road Less Traveled, an all-new show of work by members of the Warehouse Arts District Association. The objective here was: “Celebrating the return to travel. Where are you going? A big city, a cabin in the woods, a remote landscape? Let us follow you on your journey.”
Approximately 30 works were chosen for the exhibit, at the Burka Member Lounge, at the ArtsXchange, and most if not all will be there for Saturday’s opening reception.
In the Arts Xchange’s Tully-Levine Gallery, meanwhile, the Hoopla! exhibit continues through Aug. 30.
The Central Arts District, Edge District, Grand Central District, Warehouse Arts District, Uptown Arts District and downtown Waterfront District join hands and sim Kum Bay Yah Saturday for the monthly ArtWalk event – more than 45 studios and galleries, and something like 200 artists welcome visitors with new stuff, interesting stuff and yes, even fun stuff.
Official ArtWalk hours are 5 to 9 p.m., but in this time of continuing uncertainty, some keep different hours. Check here for the August details.
At Mize Gallery, It’s a Vibe opens Friday and runs through the 31st. Chad Mize’s description reads thusly: “Selected artists will create their own VIBE in the gallery for the month of August 2021.” Check out gallery info and show details here.
A Sunday concert from jazz trumpeter Duane Eubanks and his Quintet is just past of a big Palladium Theater weekend. St. Petersburg singer/guitarist Kid Royal and his ban are onstage Friday, with Saturday taken over by comedians Scott Novotny, John Carfi and Bob Burr with a show called Kick the Bucket List: The World According to AARP.
Find all ticket information here, and check the Catalyst Friday for a conversation with Duane Eubanks.
Get you theater kicks not on Route 66 (sorry, couldn’t help that one) but at freeFall, where the interactive The Rose and the Beast continues, and over the bridge at Stageworks, where the comedy Sylvia is in its final weekend.
Please put us on your mailing list – send all press releases and event info to bill@stpetecatalyst.com.
