Arts Planner: New Michaela Pilar Brown exhibit, Vista Queens, Fireflies
Who’s the boss? Michaela Pilar Brown
Columbia artist Michaela Pilar Brown is taking over if Art with a gallery-wide installation exhibit.
The exhibit, called “i’m boss my house,” features collages, large three-dimensional constructions of a wide variety of materials, photography and film.
In her work, Brown make statements about the black body and its relationship to larger cultural themes of age, gender, race, sexuality, history and violence.
“I use racially identified signifiers to twist and turn mythologies about the body and the spaces that it occupies,” Brown says in her artist statement. “The work is at once confrontational and seductive,”
“i’m boss my house” opens Thursday with an artist’s reception from 6-9 p.m. Other exhibit events include a performance by Brown at 8 p.m. on April 22 and a gallery talk at 7:30 p.m. on April 27. The exhibit runs through May 7 at if Art Gallery, 1223 Lincoln St. ifartgallery.blogspot.com/
How I Go Columbia: Michaela Pilar Brown
OTHER ARTS EVENTS AROUND THE MIDLANDS
Vista Queen 18: Best in Class
Trustus' famous drag pageant returns for its 18th year to raise money for the theater.
7 p.m. Monday at Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St. $35-$50. trustus.org
“Ingrained” by Caley Pennington
Caley Pennington’s MFA Thesis exhibition comprises about 20 small-scale portrait drawings comprised on wood panels. In each work, Pennington explores how relationships evolve, from initial impacts to intimate lifelong connections.
April Monday through Friday. Opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Thursday at McMaster Gallery, 1615 Senate St. artsandsciences.sc.edu/art/mcmaster_gallery
“A Raisin in the Sun” at Benedict College
The Benedict College Theater Ensemble presents “A Raisin in the Sun.” The play reveals a brief moment in the life of an African-American family living in the slums on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s.
Shows are 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3 p.m. on April 16 and April 17 at the Henry Ponder Fine Arts/Humanities Center, 1600 Harden St. (803) 705-4392.
Cake Wars: AP Lit version
South Carolina State Library will host a showcase of literature-inspired cakes Tuesday in honor of National Library Week. Cakes can be decorated to represent a character from a favorite book, children’s book cover, or anything book related. Library visitors will be able to vote for their favorite cake 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Attendees will be able to enjoy the cakes following the competition.
Registration required to enter the contest. Cake drop off will be between 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the State Library, 1500 Senate Street. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CakeContest2016
Songversations with CJ Mack
This week’s featured Songversations artist at Tapp’s Arts Center is blues and jazz musician CJ Mack. Listen to Mack, a Cheraw native and cousin to the late Dizzie Gillespie, play and talk about his music.
7-9 p.m. Tuesday at Tapp’s Arts Center Skyline Room, 1644 Main St. $5-$20. www.tappsartscenter.com
Columbia Fireflies seek national anthem singers
The Columbia Fireflies baseball team is looking for singers, musical artists or instrumentalists to perform the national anthem prior to each home game. Fans can send pre-recorded renditions of the national anthem to Fireflies Promotions and Community Relations Manager Kyle Martin. Audio or video files are accepted. There is no guarantee that every performer will have the chance to perform.
Call (803) 888-3009 or email, kmartin@columbiafireflies.com for more information.
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This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Arts Planner: New Michaela Pilar Brown exhibit, Vista Queens, Fireflies."