I was going to write a quick post about two upcoming events at the Polk Theatre, and then I glanced at Art-i-Facts and realized that there’s a lot going on this week arts-wise! In reality, it all started this weekend with the Downtown Art Walk this past weekend, which I heard was really nice — particularly since the weather was so beautiful. But this week will continue to offer something for every arts and culture lover in town!
Tomorrow night, November 17, Polk Theatre will host the next installment of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. This week, Producer/Director Katrina Brown will be in town for the screening and talk-back of her film Traces of the Trade. The film tells the story of Brown’s ancestors, the largest slave-trading family in New England, and how her family is now struggling with taking public action given what they now know. The film starts at 7:30, and regular film admission prices apply.
At the same time, for you classical music lovers, Imperial Symphony Orchestra will present its Symphonic Reflections Masterworks concert at the Lakeland Center’s Youkey Theater. The concert will feature the I Vespri Siciliani Overture by Giuseppi Verdi, Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra by Claude Debussy featuring the ISO’s own Ann Satterfield on clarinet, and Rustic Wedding Symphony by Karl Goldmark. Contact the ISO for ticket information: 834-8111.
Thursday, the 19th, is a crazy arts day.
The first event is Polk Museum of Art’s Gems & Jewels Artist Market. This event runs 10am – 4pm in the Museum’s lobby and student gallery, and will feature seven local and regional jewelry and wearables artists. Stop by on your lunch break to shop for gifts for the jewelry lovers in your life. Admission is free.
That evening, you music lovers have two choices. The Bacon Brothers Band will be performing at Polk Theatre, and local band Juniper RED will be the opening act. In case you haven’t heard yet, the Bacon Brothers are actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael Bacon. This is your chance to discover your own Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, so take advantage of it! Tickets start at $25, and the performance starts at 7:30.
At the same time, the Harrison School for the Arts will present its Fall Symphony Orchestra Concert. Contact the school’s box office for tickets: 499-2939 or visit their website.
On Friday, Polk Museum of Art will have a Curator Tour of the exhibition The Surreal Photography of Jerry Uelsmann, 12:15 – 1:00pm. Daniel E. Stetson, the Museum’s Executive Director, will lead the tour, which is included with Museum admission. Later that evening, the Museum will host its quarterly View & Review. This time, the event is geared toward middle and high school students who are preparing their portfolios for art school admission. Artist Rick Olivo will be the guest critic. Young artists should pre-register by calling the Museum’s Education Department at 863-688-5423. The cost is $15 for the artist, and $5 for audience members.
Saturday will be hopping as well. Polk Museum of Art will be hosting two children’s events: Breakfast with Santa, and the Elves Shelves Gift Shoppe. Breakfast with Santa is an opportunity for the kids to literally have breakfast with Santa, and then enjoy a fun art workshop afterward. It starts at 9:00am and costs $15 per person. Children must be accompanied by an adult and pre-registration is required. The Elves Shelves Gift Shoppe will be open throughout the day. This special secret shop is just for kids and will feature low-cost gifts that they can pick out for family and friends. They’ll also have the opportunity to make their own wrapping paper to wrap their selections. The Shop will be open 9:00am 3:00pm and admission is free.
Explorations V will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday with their Pilgrim Day. Bring the kids for early American activities like rope making, candle dipping, butter churning, quill writing, and building tin can lanterns. Pilgrim Day is included with regular admission.
Whew!! What an art-filled week! It’s going to be fun.
Bio: Meredith Spresser is the Public Relations & Marketing Manager for Polk Museum of Art. She has been with the Museum since 2000, and was initially hired as the Curatorial Assistant (not to be confused with the Assistant Curator). In January 2007, she was promoted to her current position.
Bev
9 months ago
Looks like everyone is revving it up before a relaxing Thanksgiving week.