The Show of Shows
Act now: Tickets for Winterthur’s peerless Delaware Antiques Show are officially on sale. This year, join internationally renowned designer Carolyne Roehm Nov. 9-11 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Roehm, with Gov. Jack Markell and first lady Carla Markell, is a Delaware Antiques Show co-chair. Author of “A Passion for Interiors,” Roehm is known for her classic style and tastes. Meet her at the opening party on Nov. 8 and take a sneak peek of wares from 60 of the best dealers in the country. Special for this show, the “Color Counts” exhibition will reveal Henry Francis du Pont’s unerring eye for decorating. There’s more, of course. Stay tuned as the date draws near. 888-4907, winterthur.org
Cool Film
What heat wave is this? Six? Seven? No matter. If you’re trying to beat the heat, it may be time to check out the new Arthouse Film Series at The World Cafe Live at The Queen in Wilmington. Through Aug. 27, the venue teams with Specticast’s Digital Theater Network to present indie films with the best cinema technology available. First up, “First Position” on Aug. 6, Bess Kargman’s award-winning documentary about six young dancers preparing for the world of professional ballet. Another highlight: W.A. Mozart’s “The Great Mass” (A Ballet by Uwe Scholz) on Aug. 27. See internationally famous soloists from the Leipzig Ballet dance leading roles in a masterpiece performance. If all that’s too highbrow, perhaps another film series is more your speed. Low Brow Cinema is WCL’s series of cult classics—and they’re free. This month, see the hilarious rockumentary spoof “This Is Spinal Tap” on Aug. 7 and the slightly psychedelic “Saint Misbehavin’—The Wavy Gravy Movie” on Aug. 21. Check the site for the full slate of films. 994-144, queen.worldcafelive.com
Seaside Art
One of our favorite events of the year, the annual Outdoor Fine Art & Craft Show at Rehoboth Art League Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 18-19 at The Homestead, its beautiful campus in Henlopen Acres. The 39th show promises more than 100 outstanding artists from the Mid-Atlantic region who display and sell works in a variety of mediums. Stroll the grounds, enjoy the music and savor delicious food while viewing the work. We can think of few ways better to spend a summer day. 227-8408, rehobothartleague.org
Family Film—Under the Stars
This year, the Brandywine Family Film Festival happens outdoors at the beautiful Delaware Museum of Natural History. Aug. 17-19, a different full-length foreign feature film will be shown each night, preceded by an animated short. It’s just like going to the movies in the old days. On Aug. 17, see “Azur & Asmar,” the tale of two friends competing for the same dazzling reward. Aug. 18 brings “Cinderella Moon,” a retelling of the fairy tale based on the earliest known version, which comes from China. Finally, Aug. 19 features “Mia and the Migoo” from France, about Mia’s quest to find her father. 484-775-0350, bwfilmfest2012.eventbrite.com
Why not Wyeth?
Don’t forget: If you were disappointed to learn that tours of Andrew Wyeth’s recently opened studio were sold out, here’s relief: The Brandyinwe River Museum has added eight new dates. Schedule a Tuesday—and soon— to see the studio, which shows how a true American master thought and worked. Tours take place every Tuesday through Nov. 13. The tours on July 31, Aug. 14, Aug. 28, Sept. 11, Sept. 25, Oct. 9, Oct. 23 and Nov. 6 sold out lickety split, so make your reservation for a remaining date soon. 610-388-2700, brandywinemusuemshop.org
Museum Tour
First up at the Delaware Art Museum, “Once Upon a Time in Delaware/In Quest of the Perfect Book” explores decorative book covers through the eyes of artist Nina Katchadourian and local collector Mary G. Sawyer. Katchadourian used volumes from Sawyer’s collection of 2,000 rare books to make photographs of books grouped so their titles can be read as a sequence. The results are both humorous and insightful. In commemoration of the museum’s centennial, “100 Works for 100 Years” displays a fraction of the 12,000 objects in its collection, each selected for its aesthetic merit, popularity or provenance. Each tells a unique tale. 571-9590, delart.org
If ever you were even slightly disturbed by your own body, you may be interested in “Entropy” by Carson Zullingier at the DCCA through Sept. 9. The artist explores the inner self through a photographic examination of the body’s decline from birth till death. “We see metaphors for youth and age, dark and light, good and evil, and the spiritual and the physical,” says curator J. Susan Isaacs. “The gallery space represents a tomb and a laboratory,” reflecting Zullinger’s interest in both Egyptian funerary architecture and physics. How do our inner and outer selves relate to the universe? This is one way to look at it. 656-6466, thedcca.org
Also at the DCCA: “And the WORD is…” a group exhibition of work by four contemporary artists who use religious language in their work. That work ranges from humorous and ironic to revelatory. Stephanie Kirk’s photography shows messages on church signs such as, “God wants full custody, not a weekend visit,” and, “You think it’s hot here?” Blind sculptor David Stephens’ large wooden panels offer words from the Bible carved in Braille. Martin Brief’s 14-panel installation shows-written book titles searched from Amazon.com containing the word “God.” Nick Kripal steel and salt installation takes center stage, spelling out “Epiphany.” All of it will make you think. 656-6466, thedcca.org
Winterthur’s “Uncorked! Wine, Objects & Tradition,” features 300 objects and imagery created in response to our love of wine. “Uncorked!” shows how wine was marketed and consumed in America and Britain from the 1600s through the 1800s. View unique wine bottles, decanters and cellarettes, lead figures of Bacchus, “Champagne Charlie” song sheets, advertisements and more. The exhibition will be on view through January 6. winterthur.org/uncorked
A highlight of every season at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover is “Award Winners,” an annual celebration of achievements Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships recipients. “Award Winners XII” honors Newark violinist Xiang Gao, “a rare and soulful virtuoso,” according to The New York Times, who has performed for heads of state around the world, among other top-tier visual and performing artists and writers. They are: Mahasveta Barua, William Bretzger, David Brinley, Anne Marie Cammarato, Fostina Dixon-Kilgoe, Xiang Gao, Gary Hanna, Ramona Maziarz, Abby Millager, James Miller, Ellen Priest, Nicholas Serratore, Jessica Stephens, Sally Van Orden and Carol Woolworth. “Award Winners” is one of the Biggs’ most important annual projects, helping it achieve its mission of celebrating diversity, educating artists and building awareness of the arts. “The Fellowships recognize the best and most talented artists residing in Delaware. It is a fantastic opportunity for all of them to come together to be recognized in the museum setting at the Biggs, and for the public to get to know them through the Award Winners exhibition and related programs,” says Kristen Pleasanton, program manager with the state Division of the Arts. Some will even lead workshops throughout the year. It’s an opportunity to see, hear and read the best, as well as study at their knees. See “Award Winners XII” through Oct. 21. 674-2111, biggsmuseum.org
Broadway, Broadway, Broadway
Don’t neglect Clear Space Theatre Company’s Summer Repertory Season, with runs of “Cabaret,” and “Annie” on June 30 and “Broadway at the Beach.” The three shows play in two-day rotations, Tuesday-Sunday through Sept. 2. In “Cabaret,” Katharine Ariyan, a seven-year veteran of Clear Space, plays the unforgettable Sally Bowles. Ariyan began performing at the age of eight when she attended a summer theater camp at the Delaware Theatre Company. She joined Clear Space at age 12. “Since my first year of ‘Scrooge!’ I’ve been taught by the Clear Space staff in their Broadway Bound program, my high school theater classes, and in numerous productions as an actor, crew member, and even as an administrative intern.” Ariyan moved on to study theater at Towson University, where she just completed her freshman year. Though Bowles is usually played by an older actor, the character is actually a mature 19-year old night club chanteuse. “I’m intrigued at how brash Sally is; there is always a fire burning under her,” says Ariyan. “I also admire her strength. She fights through her tough times with everything she’s got.” See what Ariyan brings to the role, as well as parts in “Annie” and in the musical revue “Broadway at the Beach.” 227-2270, clearspacetheatre.org
