Thereäó»s a heck of an election coming up next week! If youäó»re too close to the edge of your seat, it might be time to distract yourself. Here are the five choicest creative events in and around Pinellas County in the coming week!
Palehorse Lucha: Through the Darkness–Rialto Theatre–Friday, November 4, 8 p.m.
St. Pete-based Palehorse Design has cooked up an event that forces us to endorse the rare ceremony known as Crossing the Bridge. As an illustrator, Palehorse (a.k.a. Chris Parks) mixes and matches iconography from myth, religion, and pop culture. Heäó»s also a complete pro-wrestling freak, often popping up at local events like Shine. Now heäó»s brought his weird imagination into the third dimension, launching his own artsy, ominous pro-wrestling promotion, in the Mexican Lucha Libre tradition. Expect high drama, high-flying grapples and highly mind-bending imagery.æInfo and tickets here.
Moliereäó»s Tartuffe –American Stage–Wed-Sun, Various times
Running through November 20th, American Stageäó»s original adaptation of Tartuffe transports the titular deceiver into the modern era, and transforms what was a parable of religious corruption into a political allegory. The language has been modernized, but the production has lost none of its legendary and enduring bite.æInfo and tickets here.
äóìJoys to the World,äó and äóìSynesthesiaäó–Dunedin Fine Arts Center–Saturday November 5æthrough December 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. most days.
Artists from around the Bay have crafted holiday ornaments, most priced at $5-20, to give your tree a unique dash of creativity. Curated by Catherine Bergmann, the selection will include contributions from Barbara Grazul, Illy Florida, and Dacota Maphis. Opening the same day is Synesthesia, described as an exhibit about äóìvisual music,äó with contemporary art from Trisha Brown, Kate Cummins, and Elisabeth Condon. Condon in particular has been on a huge run lately, crafting paintings inspired by her recent residency in China, so this is a chance not to be missed. More info here.
DJ Abilities–Dunedin Brewery–Sunday, November 6, 8 p.m.
Abilities was half of the early-2000s indie-rap group Eyedea and Abilities, making beats that echoed the traditions of the 1990s, but with a spritz of skewed-weirdness. They were contemporaries of fellow Minnesotans Atmosphere, and the broader leftfield clique including Aesop Rock and Dose One. Then, in 2010, his partner in rhyme passed away tragically, at the age of just 29. Abilities has stayed on the road, but this is a rare Florida chance to catch him behind the ones and twos. The show also features a solid collection of central Florida hip hop talent, including Orlandoäó»s E-Turn äóñ and itäó»s free.æMore info here.
Afternoon with Author Ben Montgomery, The Leper Spy–Clearwater Main Library–Thursday, November 10, 12:30-2 p.m.
Montgomery, the same Tampa Bay Times reporter who in 2010 broke the story of decades of abuse at the Dozier School for Boys, is out with a new book about an unlikely hero. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Josefina Guerrero carried messages to underground operatives and aided saboteurs. She managed to evade detection because she had Hansenäó»s Disease, or leprosy, and the Japanese were afraid to search her. Montgomeryäó»s book explores her nearly-forgotten story, against the broader backdrop of the war in the Pacific. This reading and meet-and-greet, which benefits the Clearwater Library Foundation, also includes a gourmet lunch. Info and tickets here.
