It’s hard for me not to wonder what some eccentric personalities were like when they were kids. Did Jack Nicholson have that creepy laugh at age 10? When did Lady Gaga start wearing plastic dresses? Chances are these two wouldn’t have been so wonderfully weird if someone hadn’t encouraged them to be creative. The Outpost Performance Space cheers young artists on with Roust the House, a night of performance by local teenagers. From spoken word to music, these kids do what so many people are afraid to face as adults—getting up in front of a crowd and sharing themselves with an audience. RtH takes place Friday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Outpost (210 Yale SE) and costs $3. Check out outpostspace.org for more info.
Culture Shock: The Bee's Knees The Bee's Knees
There are a whole lot of explanations on the Internet about the origins of “the bee’s knees.” No one seems to know for sure, though it’s generally accepted as meaning “totally freakin’ rad,” or some approximation thereof. Wherever it came from, the phrase certainly describes the paintings in a new show at 105 Art Gallery (105 Fourth Street SW). The BUZZ: New Art, New Images features an array of works by eight local artists that varies from the abstract to the photorealistic. Marietta Patricia Leis’ Japanese ink, wash and velum “Luminers” whips up a wave of blue, while both Larry L. Smith and Thomas Christopher Haag incorporate geometric shapes into their pieces. The show runs through Saturday, Aug. 28, with an opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13. Sneak a peek at it all at 105artgallery.com.
Culture Shock: The Real New Mexico The Real New Mexico
UNM Assistant Professor Michael Trujillo takes a new twist on the Land of Enchantment’s often ghettoized nickname. Rather than the familiar “Land of Entrapment,” Trujillo’s look at the Española Valley leads him to call this impoverished and marginalized part of the state the “Land of Disenchantment.” By exploring the Native American-, Spanish- and Mexican-rooted communities of the valley, Trujillo uncovers not only a history of drugs and violence but a vibrant and singular artistic tradition. Trujillo discusses his book at a 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15 talk at Bookworks (4022 Rio Grande NW). More info can be found at bkwrks.com/event/trujillo.
