(SCENE) Metrospace

(SCENE) Announces "Epicenter," an exhibit of Lansing-Area Artists, Opening Friday June 27, 6-9 PM

2008-08-17T17:22:00.006-04:00

Thunderstorms, computer crashes, new art, oh my!

Despite some setbacks of the "life happens" variety, (SCENE) will unveil our latest exhibit "Epicenter" on Friday, June 27 with a public reception from 6-9 PM featuring new works by seventeen artists from the Greater Lansing area. Epicenter's call-for-entries resulted in a flood of excellent submissions, and the gallery is filled to the brim with the creative output of artists Josh Ardis, Juanita Baldwin, Dorothy Brooks, Tim Casey Jr., Kerry Clark, Chris Corneal, Jillane Dumdei, Jessica Klumpp Held, Jane Kramer, Tim Lane, Randy Maidlow, Alex Nichols, Tiffany Norman, Mike Pixley, Jules Schmuker, Sally Martin Stewart, and Krys Tourtois. Based on the number of overall artist entries, we could hold 2 or 3 area-specific exhibits like this in a row. It underscores our curatorial conviction that Lansing, despite its sleepy industrial surface, conceals an undertow of vision and talent we would be more than happy to drown in.

As such, we have appropriated and repurposed the image of a grenade to symbolize the exciting potential under our noses. This original graphic was created by Chris Van Wyck of Ciesa Design. Once an image of violence, the only violence this new right-brained grenade intends is against the notion that there is "no good art" in mid-Michigan. In fact, there is so much good art in mid-Michigan that we have no hope of fitting even a fraction of it in our gallery! Naysayers, receive your come-uppance!

The opening reception will feature musical performances by local folk-indie favorites Falcorps as well as turntable veteran DJ Chris Clark.

An Evening of Music featuring THE POOR SOULS / STEVE LEAF / DALI ROCKET: Saturday July 19

2008-07-19T20:00:00.000-04:00

THE POOR SOULS
STEVE LEAF
DALI ROCKET

SATURDAY JULY 19
8:00 PM
ALL AGES $5
(doors at 7:00)

An Evening of Music featuring FATHER TIME / THE NOVEL CITIZEN / ALTIMIRA: Saturday July 12

2008-07-12T16:37:00.001-04:00

FATHER TIME
THE NOVEL CITIZEN
ALTAMIRA

SATURDAY, JULY 12
8:00 PM
ALL AGES $5
[doors at 7:00]

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The City Of East Lansing’s alternative art and performance space (SCENE) Metrospace will host an evening showcase of music featuring Rochester, MI-based band The Novel Citizen, local post-rock instrumentalists Father Time, and Philadelphia-based experimental jazz artists Altamira.

The Novel Citizen plies a unique, trombone-augmented groove that falls between angular post-rock and funk, recalling The Pop Group on the one hand and Talking Heads on the other. This young band brings energy and chops to original compositions that suggest a midnight meeting between Joy Division and James Brown, steeped in indie-rock history and percolating with interlocking rhythms.

Father Time, a band that cut its teeth at (SCENE) Metrospace over a year ago, returns with a superb EP (the self-released “Married To The Sea”) and another one on the way. With hints of Explosions In The Sky and Godspeed You Black Emperor, Father Time’s compositional approach balances intrigue and textural darkness with melodic, chiming guitar lines and saxophone textures.

Altamira, an experimental indie-jazz outfit led by drummer Ricardo Lagomasino, combines “a flurry of touches that reminds me of Denardo Coleman with the impact of late 80's speed metal." (Mike Long, Black Lodge Productions) Lagomasino holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He is currently working with Joe Lally of Fugazi, when not helming Altamira or contributing to the like-minded combo Capillary Action.

More information can be found at http://www.myspace.com/ricardolagomasino, http://www.myspace.com/thenovelcitizen, and http://www.myspace.com/fathertimemusic.

An Evening of Music featuring THE HALLOWS / AMERICAN MARS / DRUNKEN BARN DANCE / SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE: Saturday June 28

2008-06-28T20:00:00.001-04:00

THE HALLOWS
AMERICAN MARS
DRUNKEN BARN DANCE
SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE

SATURDAY JUNE 28
8:00 PM
ALL AGES $5
[doors at 7:00]

(SCENE) Announces The "3D / 4D" Exhibit, Opening Friday, May 2

2008-06-15T11:39:00.009-04:00

East Lansing's alternative art space, (SCENE) Metrospace announces an upcoming exhibit of artwork which engages time and physical space.

The exhibit, which will be displayed May 2 - June 15, 2008, is titled “3-D/4-D,” and will focus on three-dimensional and four-dimensional works of art: shapes in time. The gallery’s interior space will be occupied by sculpture, kinetic artworks, and hybrid artworks that explore notions of time, change, and physical space. Sculptors and multi-media artists included in the exhibit include Steve Baibak, Mark Chatterley, Zabby Cox, Deon Foster, John Lindenmayer, Dan Marsh, Robert Park, Janel Schulz, Tom Sheerin, Craig Mitchell Smith, and Lisa Truax.

An Opening Reception will be held the evening of Friday, May 2, from 6-9 PM featuring food and refreshments by Mama Bear's Cafe and audio/visuals by djtor2.

slideshow

Limited Edition (SCENE) T-shirts Are Here!

2008-05-31T18:18:00.012-04:00

[above, Ande models (SCENE)'s new limited edition fundraising T in front of Ryosuke Cohen and Michael Mosher's "Brain Cell #693"]

(SCENE)'s community-based T-shirt design contest is still ON! Our idea to have online voting buttons is taking some time to implement. We sincerely thank all the T-shirt artists who've turned in designs and who've been patiently waiting to see the voting bgin. And while we wait for technology to catch up with our bold ideas, we've released a limited edition of 100 T-shirts featuring the "Return To Sender" exhibit on the back and a sharply inclined (SCENE) logo on the front. [actually there are only 99 available, I've reserved one for myself -- Peter] We hope to periodically release limited-edition commemorative shirts, and "Return To Sender" featured some world class postal artists so we've selected it to be the first of a series. [you can click on the image above for a closer look!]

The Return To Sender T is available on white 100% cotton in all sizes at (SCENE) Metrospace for $15, with all the proceeds benefitting (SCENE)'s mission to display cutting edge and emerging artforms. You can stop in to the gallery to get yours (cash or check only), or drop an e-mail to scenemetrospace [at] gmail [dot] com for further details!

Call-for-Proposals for "Epicenter:" An Exhibit Entirely Drawn From The Lansing Area

2008-05-30T16:35:00.002-04:00

(SCENE) Metrospace announces a call-for-proposals for an upcoming exhibit of artwork entirely drawn from the Greater Lansing area. All artists over the age of 18 are invited to submit proposals. Proposals will be accepted through Friday, May 30, 2008.The exhibit will be on display at (SCENE) Metrospace from June 27 - August 17, 2008. Artists are invited to submit any number of pieces for consideration.

Artists may submit works in any media including but not limited to: sculpture, performance, video, sound, graphic design, photography, collage, painting, installation, and drawing. Artwork in any media or any combination of media will be reviewed. (SCENE)’s focus will be on selecting an exhibit that represents the best in alternative and cutting-edge art the Lansing area has to offer.

Entry materials must include a current artist's biography and/or artist resume, as well as an artistic statement for the proposed artwork(s). Proposals should include photographs of actual or representative works, or digital images on a CD mailed to the address below. No slides please. There is a $10.00 entrance fee per proposal for this exhibit. Checks payable to “The City of East Lansing,” with “(SCENE) Metrospace” in the memo line are due with submission. Entry materials are due Friday, May 30, 2008 in order to be considered for the exhibit (submissions with missing information cannot be considered). Artists must also include a SASE for the return of their materials. Early submissions are encouraged.

For more information, contact Peter Richards at (517) 319-6832.

(SCENE) Metrospace
c/o Peter Richards, director
410 Abbot Road
East Lansing, MI 48823

Transparent Exhibit opens Friday, March 7

2008-04-20T16:00:00.009-04:00

EAST LANSING, Mich. - East Lansing's alternative art space, (SCENE) Metrospace announces an upcoming exhibit of artwork themed around the word “transparent.” Fifteen artists from the Lansing area and all over the United States responded to this word with over 40 works of art exploring all aspects of transparency, from the physical to the emotional.

The exhibit will take place from March 7, 2008 through April 20, 2008. There will be a public artists’ reception Friday, March 7 from 6-9 PM, featuring live musical performances from Dixon’s Violin and DJ FRESH:BACE.

Artists featured in the exhibit include Okemos-based photographer Juanita Baldwin, Pullman WA-based painter Brad Dinsmore, Nacogdoches TX- based printmaker Chad Erpelding, Chicago-based mixed media-artist Jennifer Hines, Big Rapids-based mixed media artist Jill Jepsen, Grand Rapids-based printmaker Kimberly Lavon, New York NY-based photographer William Linn, Pullman WA-based multimedia artist Heather McGeachy, East Lansing-based graphic designer Kelly Salchow, East Lansing-based photographer and printmaker Jules Schmuker, East Lansing-based painter and sculptor Cedric Tai, Lansing-based painter Krys Tourtois, Lansing-based painter Anthony Vasquez, Pullman WA-based photographer Tobias Walther, and Ann Arbor-based sculptor Adam Winnie.

(SCENE) Metrospace is located at 110 Charles Street, in the lower level of the colorful Division Street parking structure. (SCENE) is open Thursdays from 2-5 PM, Fridays and Saturdays from 2-9 PM, and Sundays from 12-4 PM during scheduled exhibits. For more information, please contact Peter Richards at (517) 319-6832.

ROBERT COLLAZO GRADUATE RECITAL, Sunday April 20

2008-04-19T18:21:00.002-04:00

(SCENE) is launching a Sunday Evening series: This time each week has been set aside for students of all levels from Michigan State University's Music College to perform recitals and conduct workshops. We are pleased to announce our first installment of this series:

Robert Collazo
in Graduate Recital, Saxophone

[2 part program that will explore the relationship between Jazz music and Motown. It will feature new arrangments and compositions by Robert Collazo, Stevie Wonder, and many others.]

Featuring:

Ben Williams on upright and electric basses
Mike Jellick on keyboards
Michael Zurmehly on drums
Andy Wilson on harmonica
Ashton Moore on vocals
John Cassidy on drums
...and others!

7:30-9:30 PM

Please join us in supporting the endeavors of MSU's music scholars.

An Evening of Music featuring HEY BURNER! Records, Saturday APRIL 19

2008-04-19T13:15:00.002-04:00

SATURDAY, APRIL 19
8:00 PM
ALL AGES, $5
[doors at 7:00]

SAM CORBIN / COLD MOUNTAIN CHILD / HEZEKIAH JONES / SPINNING LEAVES Saturday April 12

2008-04-12T14:52:00.003-04:00

SAM CORBIN
HEZEKIAH JONES
COLD MOUNTAIN CHILD
SPINNING LEAVES

SATURDAY, APRIL 12
8:00 PM
ALL AGES, $5
[doors at 7:00]

A Lansing favorite from his days recording hushed acoustic music in a Holt basement all the way up through a current Monday night residence at Old Town's Unicorn Bar, Sam Corbin's emotionally rich branch on the indie-folk tree might recall Elliott Smith or even Nick Drake. A frequent collaborator with the more traditionally folk-oriented local favorite Jen Sygit (who appears throughout Sam's debut CD "Goodnight Candlelight"), Sam's songs are spare without being sparse, emotionally open without being raw.

Joining Corbin will be two Philadelphia-based indie-folk ensembles, Hezekiah Jones and Spinning Leaves. Hezekiah Jones' music is of a cloth with artists like M. Ward, Iron and Wine, or Will Oldham, with live performances deemed "intimate and slightly unsettling" by the writers of PopMatters. Spinning Leaves occupy a slightly more psychedelic space while still remaining in the folk embrace. Featuring girl-boy call-and-response harmonies, songs lurch from humor-laced country and western to Dylanesque gypsy ballads -- a veritable mix-tape of styles -- without relying on decibels or cliches.

(SCENE) is also pleased to welcome back Cold Mountain Child, an acoustic guitar- and keyboard duo featuring the songwriting of Tyler Bradley. Cold Mountain Child's clear, unpretentious intricacy is firmly entrenched in indie-folk as well, yet conjures the word "timeless" without so much as a whiff of nostalgia.

NARC OUT THE REDS / A.M. SYNDICATE / IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING Friday, April 11

2008-04-11T04:25:00.003-04:00

FRIDAY, APRIL 11
ALL AGES, $5
8:00 PM [doors at 7:00]

NARC OUT THE REDS
A.M. SYNDICATE
IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING

Narc Out The Reds is a project of Lansing songwriter and guitarist Chris Baratono. Baratono, formerly of the bands Caustic Pop and Things Without Wings, writes literate rock that veers between the cathartic rush of 90s indie stalwarts like Archers Of Loaf and more melodic fare such as The Twilight Singers or Shudder To Think. Using the guitar as much for texture as for sonic crunch, Baratono says Narc Out The Reds has been years in the making. “It’s the band I always knew was in me” says Baratono, whose day job is music manager at Schuler books. April 11’s show will be the band’s live debut, and (SCENE) is honored to provide the stage.

Austin, Texas trio A.M. Syndicate’s dream-laced rock has no shortage of memorable songs, as evidenced by positive reviews of last year’s full-length CD “Liberation.” Featuring former Rhythm Of Black Lines guitarist Omar Chavez and the uniquely named multi-instrumentalist Golfball (her real name!), A.M. Syndicate began as a multi-member outfit a la Animal Collective with an original line-up boasting members of …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. Since paring down to a 3-piece, they have honed their sound into some of our favorite independent music of the last year.

Rounding out the evening will be envelope pushing Detroit-based band In Civilian Clothing, a band who’s been on our radar for some time now and who will be appearing at (SCENE) for the first time. The evening of music promises to reward indie-rock leaning listeners of all types – this is the sort of bill we daydream of!

A BENEFIT SHOW for OH MY GOD

2008-04-05T04:07:00.002-04:00

SATURDAY, APRIL 5
ALL AGES, $5
7:00 PM [doors at 6:00]

Last September, we got the bad news that Chicago-based organ-bass-drums trio OH MY GOD had been involved in a serious van accident while on tour, just days after playing two packed Lansing shows, including one at (SCENE). Ig, Bish, Billy and Matt have made Lansing a stop on their tours for years, cultivating friendships and fans from all over mid-Michigan through musicianship and good-naturedness. Now, in the wake of a near-fatal accident, they are faced with medical bills and lots of physical therapy. There were lots of broken bones.

April 5, (SCENE) will host a special benefit show featuring MY FEARLESS LEADER, THE CONCEPT, FREEL, THE PLURALS, and the CARTRIDGE FAMILY. The evening will feature these bands performing their favorite Oh My God songs, as well as a few surprises! All proceeds will go toward Oh My God's medical bills.

Fellow Chicago band Detholz has put up a site where you can contribute further to Oh My God, www.saveohmygod.com.

We wish Oh My God fast healing, and can't wait to see them again.

FLATFOOT / MICK BASSETT / DUTCH PINK

2008-04-04T20:00:00.002-04:00

Flatfoot
Mick Bassett
Dutch Pink

Friday, April 4, 8:00 PM
ALL AGES, $5
[doors at 7:00]

THE LISPS / HEAD AND TOE / LUKE WINSLOW-KING Tuesday, April 1

2008-04-01T04:32:00.002-04:00

THE LISPS
HEAD AND TOE
LUKE WINSLOW-KING

TUESDAY, APRIL 1
ALL AGES, $5
9:00 PM [doors at 8:00]

HEAD AND TOE will perform live on the air for Impact 88.9 FM's "THE BASEMENT" this Thursday, March 27, at 9:00 PM.

THE LISPS will perform live on the air for Impact 88.9 FM's "PROGRESSIVE TORCH AND TWANG" the night of the show, April 1, at 8:00 PM

(SCENE) hosts Three MO(VE)MENT Performances, March 29th and 30th

2008-03-30T16:46:00.006-04:00

Live Art Performance from The Netherlands:
Mo(ve)ment U.S. Tour

After 5 years of performing in the Netherlands and playing festivals in Israel and South Africa, the colorful, creative and improvisational performances of Mo(ve)ment will finally make its US debut.

Mo(ve)ment is a two act multi-discipline live on-stage performance that spotlights energetic dialogue between visual art and modern dance. Benno Hübner dances in front of a a large screen on which the paintings of Tali Farchi are projected, as they are being created live. The connection between the two disciplines develops a conversation that is a playful, passionate and at times intimate duet with music ranging from classical to hiphop. A rotating line up of jazz musicians featuring members of Lansing-area bands Folio and The Library join Mo(ve)ment for a session of total improvisation, opening a further dialog between music, painter, and dancer. Traverse City-based painter Royce Deans will join Mo(ve)ment for this special performance.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at http://www.bno-productions.nl/shop

March 29 8:00 $15 - Featuring members of Folio and The Library

March 30 2:00 $12 adult, $8 children under 12 - Family show without live musicans
March 30 8:00 $15 - Featuring members of Folio and The Library

A Letter To You, Making April, Our Film Star, Johnny Cut Corners

2008-03-28T20:00:00.006-04:00

A Letter To You

Making April

Our Film Star

Johnny Cut Corners

Saturday, March 28 @ 20:00
(doors @ 19:00)
$10 advance/$12 at the door
All ages-show

Tickets available through www.fusionshows.com

Nervous But Excited | The Marvins

2008-03-21T20:00:00.005-04:00

Nervous But Excited | The Marvins
Saturday, March 21 @ 20:00
(doors @ 19:00)
$5 at the door
All ages-show

Lansing natives Nervous But Excited (Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver) are thrilled to be returning home with good friends and fellow Lansingites, The Marvins (Carmen Paradise and Peter LeClair).

You can find more information about Nervous but Excited at nervousbutexcited.com and myspace.com/nervousbutexcited. Find The Marvins at myspace.com/themarvinsmusic.

Nervous but Excited plays what they like to call "Pleasantly Aggressive Folk." Two songwriters, two singers, two guitars, a mandolin, a violin, a few harmonicas, a barrel of harmony, some vaguely choreographed dancing and lots of laughter. Their songs range in topic from introspective narratives to the tactfully political… while still dabbling a bit into the love/non-love variety every now and then.
They’ve been touring semi-nationally for nearly three years, and have released 3 CDs, including their first full-length studio album "Once More… With Feeling."

They were recently featured in Curve Magazine and in March opened two shows for the legendary Utah Phillips. Nervous but Excited has shared stages with many established artists – including Melissa Ferrick, Ferron, Jim Post, Toshi Reagon, The Butchies, Alix Olson, Tret Fure, Bitch, Julie Wolf, Natalia Zukerman, Ember Swift, Ellis and Pamela Means.

Call-For-Proposals: 3-D and Time-based artwork

2008-03-18T12:27:00.003-04:00

(SCENE) Metrospace Announces a Call-for-Proposals for a Themed Exhibit of Sculpture and Time-based Artwork

East Lansing's alternative art space, (SCENE) Metrospace announces a call-for-proposals for an upcoming exhibit of artwork which engages time and physical space. All artists over the age of 18 are invited to submit proposals. Proposals will be accepted through Tuesday, March 18, 2008

The exhibit, which will be displayed May 2 - June 15, 2008, is titled “3-D/4-D,” and will focus on three-dimensional and four-dimensional works of art, in other words, the gallery’s interior space will be occupied by sculpture, kinetic artworks, and hybrid artworks that explore notions of time, change, and/or physical space. Artists are invited to submit any number of pieces that explore this theme.

The “3-D/4-D” theme may be interpreted through an assortment of medias and styles including but not limited to: sculpture, performance, video, sound, graphic design, photography, collage, painting, installation, interactive or kinetic works of art, and drawing. Artwork in any media or any combination of media will be reviewed. Artists of all types are invited to submit current, original works for this exhibit.

Entry materials must include a current artist's biography and/or artist resume, as well as an artistic statement to accompany proposed artwork(s). Proposals may include images (.jpegs or .gifs) of actual or representative works, either on a CD mailed to the address above, or e-mailed to scenemetrospace@gmail.com. All entry materials are due Friday, March 18, 2008 in order to be considered for the exhibit (submissions with missing information cannot be considered). Artists must also include a SASE for the return of their materials. There is no entrance fee. Early submissions are encouraged.

Rachael Davis, Band of Annuals, Double Saginaw Familiarity, WYCYWAM?

2008-03-15T20:00:00.008-04:00

Saturday, March 15
8:00 PM
ALL AGES, $5
[doors at 7:00]

Songstress Rachael Davis (who is also the frontwoman of Steppin' In It-backed Shout Sister Shout)has been singing on stage since she was 2 years old! And it shows. Her influences range from the jazz stylings of Ella Fitzgerald to the soulful pop vocals of Patty Griffin -- with many more in between. Songwriter Mary Lou Lord says, "[Rachael sings] with the voice of the most beautiful color you've never seen."

Ann Arbor Review: "Her music is built around her voice, a shimmering and versatile thing that trips lightly through Ella-esque jazz lines, growls and belts and glides."

Joining Davis will be Salt Lake City-based indie-country band Band of Annuals, who've made quite a name for themselves out West. This is their first foray through the Midwest, and we are honored that (SCENE) will be on their itinerary.

And it is (SCENE)'s distinct pleasure to welcome back two unique local songwriters, Dan Pechacek (a.k.a. Double Saginaw Familiarity) and Brad Stein (a.k.a. Would You Could You With A Mouse?) Both take the acoustic songwriter tradition and spin it on its ear, updating some lyrical tropes here, injecting some tasteful loops there.

Poetic Voices

2008-03-14T20:00:00.005-04:00

8:00 PM
Friday, March 14
$5 Suggested Donation
[doors at 7:00 PM]

In that vertical graveyard between Vesalius' prints,
a family composed of blood vessels smiled, the smallest
veins on the boy's lips visible as I followed you.
-
April Gosling, from "Orpheus & Eurydice Visit BodyWorlds"

And so working tonight I meet a woman
whose fiancé died in World War II, the sands
of some beach filling his mouth. On her hip,
an infant with aquamarine eyes.
I tell her about you, how scared I have been.

She touches my collarbone.

I know she will come home; wish her well for me, please.
-
Angela Vasquez-Giroux, from "Twelfth Letter to My Sister"

A woman, Mary, with cold hands
and sand in her voice
pushed a silver pin into my vein
and then, there it was
This body
stretched out across billions of years
taut and translucent as wax paper
the waterskin stillness
when Boreas has misplaced his breath
-
Ann DelMariani, from "Recollecting The Body"

featuring the music of Cold Mountain Child

The Michigan Organic Music Festival

2008-03-01T20:00:00.004-05:00

Featuring Chris Dorman and Laura Bates & Brandon Foote
Saturday, March 1
8:00 PM
ALL AGES, $5 advance tickets, $7 at the door
Tix available at Elderly Instruments, Everybody Reads or at chrisdormanmusic.com/tickets.htm
[doors at 7:00]

T-Shirt Design Contest to Benefit (SCENE) - DEADLINE EXTENDED!

2008-02-29T21:22:00.000-05:00

This year, artists with a knack for graphic design and illustration are encouraged to jump on computers and sharpen pencils to come up with a unique, one- or two-color design for new (SCENE) Metrospace t-shirts.

The winning design and artist’s name will be printed on a full inventory of t-shirts that will be displayed and sold to visitors year round in the gallery space. You may use ANY two colors for your design (excluding metallic, transparent, or flourescent inks) and ANY standard T-shirt color.

A high resolution PDF of (SCENE)’s logo, which must be incorporated into each design, can be downloaded at www.scenemetrospace.com/tshirt.htm. There you will also find an EPS (SCENE) logo for your ease of use. Designs should be submitted as print-size (that's the final size it will be on the T-shirt) PDFs, with a resolution of 300 DPI, to scenemetrospace@gmail.com by Friday, February 29. The artist’s name and phone number should be included with each submission.

We're extending the T-shirt contest's deadline to allow people who were away from town for the holidays a shot at designing us something unique and wearable.

The designs will be posted for voting in March and we'll set a time period for voting... meaning the winning design will be professionally screen-printed and ready to wear by the time T-shirt weather arrives! For more information please contact (SCENE)’s director and curator, Peter Richards, at prichar@cityofeastlansing.com or (517) 319-6832.

"Return To Sender: An Exhibit Of Mail Art" opens Friday, January 11th

2008-02-24T17:32:00.000-05:00

(SCENE) Metrospace presents "Return To Sender: An Exhibit of Mail Art" opening with a public reception from 6-9 PM on Friday January 11, 2008. This exhibit explores the 20th century tradition of mail art, drawing in works from across the country and around the world that are either tiny or grand, elegaic or spurious. The single uniting thread is that each piece of art has traveled by post, and has been handled -- and occasionally crushed, mutilated, spindled, or folded -- by strangers and by machinery charged with transporting our deepest secrets, our most sensitive personal and financial information, and in this case our fearless self-expression.

The exhibit includes artwork by Aaron Curtner and Russell Bauer(Lansing), Hart Ryan Noecker (Portland, OR), Marguerite Bryant (Eureka, CA), Clare Fox (Detroit), Michael Mosher (Bay City) and Ryosuke Cohen (Japan), Mike Pixley (Lansing) and Jeffrey Winkelmann Evergreen (Kalamazoo), Michael Crosby (Lansing), Vittore Baroni (Italy), Corrie Van Sice (Kansas City, MO), Jefferson Navicky (Brooklyn, NY), Clemente Padin (Uruguay), John Lindenmayer (Lansing), and Juanita Baldwin (Okemos). A unique feature of this exhibit is that many unsolicited works of art have arrived in our mailbox and in a similar unannounced fashion will find their way onto the gallery walls.

Shown in tandem with “Return to Sender” will be an exhibit of recent paintings by Lansing artists Tim Lane and Peter Richards.

This event is FREE and open to the public, however space is limited. The evening’s musical entertainment (provided by Ed Corcoran and Nate Zukas) and refreshments are complimentary. Donations to help (SCENE) expand its cutting-edge programming are encouraged.

Exhibit continues through Sunday, February 24.

Arms and Sleepers, Father Time, Rx Gibbs & Indian Guides

2008-02-22T20:00:00.001-05:00

Friday, February 22
8:00 PM
ALL AGES, $5
[doors at 7:00]

Featuring a headlining set by popular Okemos-based post-rock quartet Father Time (who will be releasing their anticipated CD debut, Married To The Sea), the show will also feature sets by Michigan favorites Indian Guides (Detroit) and Rx Gibbs (Lansing), who were both recently performers at the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit’s “Sonic Lullabies” festival.

Traveling from Cambridge, MA, ambient duo Arms and Sleepers combines audio-visual electronic textures with visuals by talented Boston artist Dado Ramadani, bridging ethereal sounds with an engaging, subterranean pulse. They are touring in support of their 2007 release, “Black Paris 86.”

The event will take place Friday, February 22 at 8:00 PM. This event is all ages, smoke- and alcohol-free. There is a $5.00 charge at the door for admission. Doors open at 7:00.