There is something fun for everyone this week, whether single, partnered-up, teenaged, over the hill, angsty, romantic, wild, timid, rich or counting pennies— from live action films and punk rock music to painting exhibits and poetry-songs. There are Mardi Gras and Valentine’s masquerade balls and fundraising parties. Also, an imaginative theater production for youth, and a make & take art project, designed with parents’ bottom dollar in mind.
This weekend, the University of Central Oklahoma theater department presents Still Life with Iris, a fantastical, award-winning play designed for audiences aged 9 thru 13. New UCO professor and director Emily Heugatter modernized the adventurous production by incorporating the digitization of everyday life. The protagonist Iris, played by senior Juliette Lloyd, searches for home, from the land of Nocturno to the Great Island and back again.
The 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk offers performance or visual art at nearly every stop. The Norman Arts Council and Guestroom Records present Random Noise from 7 to 9 p.m. Steady-rockin’ Norman musician Ben Carter fronts the band SK Love, joined by Limp Wizurdz, carrying the torch for Norman punk rock.
Beginning at 8 p.m., the Opolis presents Beau Jennings in concert. Sherree Chamberlain, Samantha Crain and Tyson Meade join Jennings to celebrate the recent release of his long-awaited album The Verdigris.
Meanwhile, the Norman Music Festival’s annual Stupid Cupid Pub Crawl lurks Main Street from 7 p.m. to midnight, at the Bluebonnet Bar, Bison Witches, Red Brick Bar, the Garage, the Brewhouse, and the Opolis. Purchase a ticket at any of the participating venues, to benefit the NMF.
Just South of Main on Crawford, Corpus Christi artist Ricardo Ruiz opens his exhibit at the community arts space, the Dope Chapel, with over 75 original paintings available for purchase.
Further north in Oklahoma City, SixTwelve, the newly renovated community arts and education center on the Paseo, hosts a Mardi Gras Ball. White-tie is optional, beads are encouraged, and you can make your mask at the event. Long-time New Orleans resident and SixTwelve volunteer BC Summers and Mardi Gras King Lance McDaniel and Queen Joy Reed Belt know how to bring the party. Picasso’s provides dinner and Grammy-winning Chubby Carrier plays zydeco music, so you can dance all night with the spirit of New Orleans.
Saturday afternoon, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center invites the public to Give Love Away. The arts center provides supplies for visitors to make personal Valentine’s, using a variety of techniques. The Make & Take art program happens every second Saturday from 1-4 p.m., with a different theme and project.
The Norman Mardi Gras Parade struts its stuff Saturday evening beginning at 7:00 p.m. You can watch the parade along Main, Comanche, Crawford and Jones, or from the Jazz in June fundraiser Meet Me on Bourbon Street at Shevaun Williams and Associates. MMOBS offers a variety of wines, finger foods, fine chocolates and music by Justin Witte and the Brass Beats.
Also Saturday evening, the Lilies & Reeds Society of Oklahoma City presents Lovable, a masquerade ball, at the Metro Tech Spring Lake campus. The black tie affair features music, ballroom dancing, dinner, giveaways and a silent auction. Lilies & Reeds Society’s aims to lower teen pregnancy statistics through mentoring, volunteer work and fun-filled activities. It is a social network dedicated to empowering young families, and helping at-risk youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Noble Theater promises patrons a cozy, lazy Sunday afternoon of film screening. Scheduled are this year’s twelve Academy Award nominated short documentaries and live action films, from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Monday begins a fresh week of Art Moves, an Arts Council of Oklahoma City initiative to bring lunch-hour music, performance, film and art demonstrations to downtown. This week includes jazz bassist Eric Harris, jazz vibraphonist Clayton Stroup, painter Tom Stotts and acoustic acts Aaron Newman and Than Medlam, performing at various downtown locations from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. each business day.
Tuesday at the University of Oklahoma’s Catlett Music Center, poet-professor Honoree Jeffers performs Langston Hughes’ poems with soprano Donna Mitchell-Cox and pianist Lorne Richstone. Tickets are available through the Fine Arts Box Office.
Wednesday, the Dope Chapel hosts “Kick It and Create”, a weekly event to foster community amongst artists. An encounter with this unique collective arts space and music venue will set your mind to ponder collaborative possibilities.
Our calendar of community events features many more choices for arts and entertainment, along with information about educational, outdoors and personal development activities in your community. You may submit your own event for listing on the calendar, for a chance to be announced on air at KGOU. There is so much to do, see and experience in central Oklahoma, but only 168 hours each week. Let the good times roll!
