Weekend Arts Agenda: Terry Kearns to Mo Willems May 28 2015

Plus, more from Mac Stewart, MomoCon, Lit Atlanta, and the Hambidge Auction


Blogger and photographer Terry Kearns wears many hats, one of which is being a curator. For the exhibition Venacular Cracker, Kearns brought together William Mize, Heather McPherson, and Joe Dreher to Vintage ATL in East Atlanta. The show’s been running since April 23, and tonight is the closing party, from 6-9 p.m. It may be one of the last chances you have to see the mural bearing Kearns’ likeness. Details here.

THURSDAY
Lit Atlanta, the monthly reading series going down at Edgewood Speakeasy in Old Fourth Ward, is rocking with the theme of “Crime” for its fifth edition. The event invites 10 folks out to read from their favorite books as they relate to the month’s theme. It’s all going down at 8 p.m. Chances are the RSVP list to read is full, but if not, throw your name and book in the hat, here.

FRIDAY
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Local visual arts wunderkind http://www.macstewartartworks.com/” rel=”external”>Mac Stewart is doing his first solo show at Metro Gallery and Framing in Old Fourth Ward. Dubbed Art is Nothing, the exhibition features new works from the young, promising painter and muralist. It’ll be on view through June 30, with an opening reception, Fri., May 29, from 7-10 p.m.======

Local visual arts wunderkind Mac Stewart is doing his first solo show at Metro Gallery and Framing in Old Fourth Ward. Dubbed Art is Nothing, the exhibition features new works from the young, promising painter and muralist. It’ll be on view through June 30, with an opening reception, Sat., May 29, from 7-10 p.m.The Atlanta Opera is presenting their production of Three Decembers this weekend, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The story focuses on the struggles of an American family dealing with the loss of the patriarch, spanning 1986 to 2006 in Connecticut, New York, and San Francisco. CL’s theater critic Keely L. Herrick caught up with Atlanta Opera’s General and Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun to discuss how productions like Three Decembers are part of his long-term plan to build the company’s audience. Opening night is Fri., May 29, at 8 p.m. Get tickets here.

SATURDAY Marketplace 120 is unveiling their new OTP gallery space this weekend, and it’s a celebration of some of the local art community’s brightest young minds. Titled Figure and Fragments, the exhibition, like most of the works to be displayed in the space, are comprised of pieces from Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University students. This exhibit involves a mix of watercolor, clay, and acrylic pieces come from Lucas Jankovsky, Michelle Laxalt, Aryn Rosenbum, Kristina Hamm, and Tori Tinsely. An opening reception is from 4-7 p.m., at the OTP gallery, located in the School of Art and Design’s Art Career Mentoring Service at KSU. Get more info here.

The Goat Farm Arts Center will play host to the Hambidge 2015 Art Auction and Performance Gala. The skinny? Over 150 works will be on display as part of the silent auction, plus a new performance element will be added to the program. The performance will highlight the five finalists for the Goat Farm and Hambidge Center’s Field Experiment. The projects from the finalists will be revealed, giving audience members a chance to vote on the one that deserving the Field Experiment’s $20,000 commission. You can get all the details, including a tour compliments of Michael Rooks, on the auction website.

ONGOING Ten years ago MomoCon was viewed as niche event at Georgia Tech for gaming and animation lovers. Today, the four-day convention, now held at the Georgia World Congress Center, is one of the fastest-growing all-ages affairs in the country. From Thurs., May 27 to Sun., May 31, attendees can brush shoulders with their favorite writers, animators, celebrity voice actors, and game designers. There’s also a cosplay contest, night at the Georgia Aquarium, and workshops for days. Costumes aren’t required but heavily encouraged. Get your nerd on, here.

Through January 2016, famed writer and animator Mo Willems will make his presence felt at the High Museum of Art. The exhibition, Seriously Silly: A Decade of Art and Whimsy by Mo Willems, includes both completed and preliminary sketches spanning the past 12 years and 40-plus children’s books in the artist’s career. Along with the visual art, the Alliance Theatre is putting on productions — Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical and Play the Play with Cat the Cat — this summer and fall. There’s also some family-oriented programming thrown in there as well. For all things Mo Willems at the High, check this out