Arts Devo

The heat makes things happen No matter how high temperatures might get, May is still spring. But we can see summer from here, and in anticipation of longer days and a calendar that’s not so packed, Arts DEVO is looking forward to some serious woodshedding. It’s about time for me to get out to that aluminum warehouse by the airport on the edge of the city—where all the punk rockers, motorcycle mechanics and private dancers go to do their dirty business—and crank up the 160 watt Peavey Mace and bash out some new noise for my soul.

And while my crew and I wail against the machine, maybe you should, too? There are many opportunities in the coming months to share art as well as pick up some new skills for creatively exploring your own human condition.

Sing: If you already have a song, you still have time to submit it to Uncle Dad’s Art Collective’s annual Small Town, Big Sound production, “where 15 songs are sourced from the community and then arranged for the Uncle Dad Orchestra.” Songwriters are invited to perform with the orchestra, too, on the stage of the Sierra Nevada Big Room in September. Up to three submissions per person. Visit uncledad.co/submit by May 7.

Paint: The Chico Art Center has resurrected the classic Puzzle Show fundraiser started a couple decades ago at the long-defunct Drive-By Gallery. Local artists Titus Woods and David and Jeb Sisk are each taking a wall and creating wood sculptures that are cut up into puzzle pieces. The 300 pieces will be randomly sold to local artists ($20 donation each—with proceeds going to the gallery), who will transform them in their own style and return them to the Chico Art Center, where they will rejoin the other pieces to create new community-made works for a show opening June 15. Pick up your puzzle piece(s) at the gallery (450 Orange St.) starting May 4.

Act: On May 19, at 3:30 p.m., the Blue Room is holding auditions (cold reading and improv—no monologues) for its all-female production of Lord of the Flies. They need roughly a dozen young women, and high school and junior high students are welcome to try out.

Get skills: If you want to learn how to draw, this is an opportunity that is too good to pass up. Dick Kennedy is a retired graphic designer and illustrator who has previously taught classes at Chico Art Center and currently shares his skills with students of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Chico State. He wants to teach you drawing for free! Kennedy sent me a note asking to get the word out to anyone interested that he’ll meet you at a coffee shop, or wherever else, and help you learn how to draw stuff! Contact him at dkartguy@yahoo.com.