Poisoned Apples
What: A group art exhibition featuring works inspired by the story of Snow White.
Where: Funhouse Gallery inside the Russell Industrial Center, 1600 Clay St., Bldg. 2, Fl. 3, Detroit; funhousedetroit.com.
When: Opening reception 7 p.m. until midnight on Saturday, June 9. Displays Thursdays through Saturdays and by appointment through June 23.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the flick that permanently enshrined the fairest of them all and her merry band of miners into America's collective cultural consciousness. In honor of this cinematic milestone, local artist Diane Irby has curated this exhibition of Snow White-themed artwork. More than 80 local, national and international artists offer their interpretations of the classic fairy tale, from the eponymous heroine and the spiteful queen to the heroic huntsman and the dashing prince with the magical kiss. Along with visual explorations of the fable in everything from oil paintings to street-art styles, the opening reception will feature Snow White-inspired hors d'oeuvres and live performances from the likes of burlesque beauty Lushes LaMoan and shamanistic performance duo Izgreyala, whose act combines belly dance, fire performance and ancient instruments. Other performers are Lula La Rose, Meridith Lorde and Emily Infinity; participating artists include A. Owen Layne, DVS, Marty Winters, Eve Noir, Justin Aerni, Ryan Meyers, Struggle Buggy and more.
Good for You
What: A display of works by five contemporary painters.
Where: David Klein Gallery, 163 Townsend, Birmingham; 248-433-3700; dkgallery.com.
When: Opens with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 9; displays through July 21.
Dispelling all notions that painting is a dead and outdated artform, contemporary artists Kristin Beaver, Ben Grasso, Alyssa Monks, Jessica Rohrer and Trevor Young use the medium to create beautiful and evocative views of modern life. Each artist is technically skilled and well-trained in the art of painting, and each explores this classic fine art form in intensely personal ways. From images of empty airports to time shared with friends to the private happenings behind closed doors, the artists use their distinct styles and viewpoints to capture and memorialize the fleeting moods and moments of the everyday. The impetus to create this exhibit of contemporary painting was a 2010 column by New York Times art critic Roberta Smith, in which she wrote, "Paintings, like poetry or music, are essential nutrients that help people sustain healthy lives. They're not recreational pleasures or sidelines. They are tools that help us grasp the diversity of the world and its history, and explore the emotional capacities with which we navigate that world. They illuminate, they humble, they nurture, they inspire. They teach us to use our eyes and to know ourselves by knowing others."
