Laura Lee Gulledge dares you to draw

With her new book, Sketchbook Dares: 24 Ways to Draw Out Your Inner Artist, artist, writer and teacher Laura Lee Gulledge challenges anyone of any skill level to draw. The former Louisa County art teacher says, “It’s the sort of book I wish I’d had starting off as a teacher but also as a creative […]

ARTS Pick: Evening of Romance will keep you on your toes

The dreamy magic of romantic ballet melds with technical prowess in Charlottesville Ballet’s Evening of Romance. Performances include a tongue-in-cheek princess battle for the eye of Prince Charming, the dramatic pas de deux from Le Corsaire and an intriguing original work titled :dôgm: by Steven Melendez. Friday, February 9 and Saturday February, 10. $15-21, times vary. CB Studio Theatre, 1885 […]

ARTS Pick: Zephyrus conquers powerful works

As religious war ravaged central Europe in the early 17th century, cultural establishments in Germany suffered great losses including gigs for musicians and venues for performances—so, it’s no wonder that powerful works were composed in respite during this time. Small ensemble Zephyrus captures the mood 400 years later in Da Pacem Domine: Music from the […]

ARTS Pick: Marc Broussard keeps it authentic

Since the day he ripped through “Johnny B. Goode” at age 5 while sitting in with his father’s band, people have had their eye on Marc Broussard. His ability to blend classic R&B, rock and soul is enriched by his unique musical style, fueling a loyal fan base since the release of his debut album […]

ARTS Pick: Declan McKenna pops with political message

Since his early teenage years in suburban England, Declan McKenna has had a rebellious streak. Now, at 19, he blends his own brand of indie pop with politically charged issues to make his views known through music. Influenced by David Bowie and The Beatles, his melodies are making a massive splash around the world, including […]

Screens: We can’t separate art from the artist

The rise of Time’s Up, the movement challenging sexism, harassment and abuse against women in the entertainment industry, has led to a tone deaf, contemptible yet predictable backlash. Spend enough time on social media and you’ll see two main counterarguments: There’s a witch hunt by women seeking fame and money, or we should focus on […]

Review: Women work their way up in Live Arts’ Top Girls

Enter: a lively dinner party. Lots of crosstalk. Women in a startling array of historical costumes. There’s Isabella Bird, a 19th-century globe-trotter and well-educated author. There’s Joan the Pope, a ninth-century intellectual who lived as a man and briefly became the pope. There’s Dull Gret, a sword-wielding peasant and army leader lifted from the Bruegel […]

Noah Gundersen considers the distress of modern times

Noah Gundersen recently saw the world’s largest easel. He says that the roadside attraction, located in Goodland, Kansas, is a whopping 80 feet tall with one of Vincent van Gogh’s sunflower paintings stretched across it. That stop, like many, is just one of the perks of having a good tour manager, he says. There’s little […]

A View From Some Broads breaks with casting tradition

In “Bosom Buddies,” the famous duet from the Broadway musical Mame, eccentric bohemian and title character Mame Dennis gives her friend, actress —and famed lush—Vera Charles a bit of advice: “I feel it’s my duty to tell you it’s time to adjust your age / You try to be Peg O’ My Heart, when you’re […]

ARTS Pick: Bill Staines is a real hoot

Folk singer Bill Staines has been playing around the country for more than 40 years, from coffeehouses to nature centers. The New England native has blended subtle wit and imagination with the beauty of rivers, mountains, highways and backroads, over an impressive 26 albums. And if the mood strikes, the 1975 national yodeling champion might […]