ARTS Pick: Philip Glass

Philip Glass, lauded by musical scholars and misunderstood by the sugary, pop-saturated mainstream, is certainly one of the most famous contemporary American composers.   Eschewing the minimalist label that is easy to ascribe to his music, Glass refers to himself as a “classicist,” citing his formal training at Juilliard in harmony, counterpoint, and in key […]

Film review: Society is divided in Divergent’s thin premise

It’s the distant future. The citizens of what was once Chicago live in a dystopian society—is there any other kind of post-apocalypse?—that is divided into five factions. Members of Erudite are intelligent. Amity are peaceful farmers. Candor speaks truthfully and handles the law. Abnegation is selfless and runs the government. And then there’s Dauntless, the […]

ARTS Pick: The Savages, Ginger & the Castaways, and Cashless Society

Revive your passion for American rock ‘n’ roll with three acts armed to the teeth with rhythm, twang, and pompadours. Tristan Thorndyke leads The Savages in self-described “psychobilly swing.” Ginger & the Castaways craft garage rock filled with bluesy soul, and Madison, Virginia’s Cashless Society rocks out family style with James Tamelcoff III sharing lead […]

ARTS Pick: John Lindaman

John Lindaman hasn’t lived in Charlottesville for years, but he’s fondly remembered by many for his seminal late-’90s band True Love Always,  a regular on the old Tokyo Rose stage (more recent Charlottesville transplants may recognize Lindaman for his central role in The Parking Lot Movie). Over the course of three albums (and one singles […]

ARTS Pick: Philip Seymour Hoffman film screenings

The glaring pomp and circumstance of Superbowl Sunday was saddened this year by the untimely death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. As an actor, Hoffman was unparalleled at imbuing his characters with humanity. He rendered misfits relatable, cretins compelling, and gifted artists attainable, and his passing left a void in the world of filmmaking. In tribute […]

ARTS Pick: Klezmer Ensemble with Alan Bern

The centuries old musical tradition of the klezmorim, professional Jewish instrumentalists of Eastern Europe, was brought to the states by immigrants at the turn of the last century, and Americanized under the influence of jazz and modern orchestration. The University of Virginia Klezmer Ensemble celebrates the music’s multi-cultural revival and honors its roots in medieval […]

ARTS Pick: Wild Horse, Wild Ride

Venture into the new West with a handful of horse trainers on a 100-day journey to select and tame wild mustangs for adoption in the poignant, award-winning documentary Wild Horse, Wild Ride. Directors Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus follow a host of colorful, true life characters ranging from Navajo grandfathers and grizzled cowboys, to blond […]

Les Yeux du Monde welcomes color in ‘Visions of Spring’

If you’re tired of grey skies and slush, you might want to visit Les Yeux du Monde before the end of March. “When you walk in the gallery, you see a lot of color,” said Lyn Bolen Warren, the curator of the space’s current exhibit, Visions of Spring. “You see these big painted urns reaching upward, […]

‘From Jackson 5ive to Boondocks’ explores African- Americans in animation

The word “animation” conjures up the glorious childhood routine of plopping in front of the television on Saturday mornings for hours on end. However, that’s just a small glance at an incredibly varied and ever-evolving genre. Early animation ranged from magic lanterns and zoetropes to flipbooks and silent films. Today, it’s a genre that holds […]

One-woman show could possibly save the world

If you’re reading this on your smartphone, and you’ve got Facebook, Twitter, and an appreciation for live comedy and action/adventure, you’re needed at the Helms Theater. There’s a world that needs to be saved, and only you can save it. In her one-woman show, Mission: Implausible!, veteran actor, director, writer, and UVA MFA student Sandi […]