Misstropolis | Arts

Away We Go

2009-06-17T02:35:00-05:00

Apprehensive about their impending parenthood and cursed with indifferent, self-centered parents, sweet, humble, interracial couple Burt and Verona set off on a quest to find the perfect place to raise their baby. Away We Go, directed by Sam Mendes, does not come off quite as cute as it tries to be for film critic (and soon to be dad) Tom Meek. Wondering why, in this economic climate, any couple would want to head off in pursuit of a romantic, unattainable version of perfect happiness, when all the writing on the wall says stay home(!) Meek takes Away We Go to task.A celebrated and familiar outsider looking in, British director Sam Mendes continues to dig into the dysfunctional underside of Americana with his new film Away We Go.

The Hangover

2009-06-10T20:42:12-05:00

Plunk a few guys down with a few beers and plenty can go wrong. There’s no exact science to it, but with each beer the maturity level winds back about five years. There is only the freedom of the moment; until the next day when there is only “What the *&!% happened?“ Here we go. Tom Meek reviews The Hangover.Mature men behaving badly, or more to the point, incipiently has long been a source of bawdy farce in current cinema. Pack ‘em up for a golf getaway, college reunion or worse, a bachelor party, and watch the wheels come off. For each beer, the maturity level regresses five years and invariably nakedness, projectile vomit and a run in with the law ensue. You know the lot, the studly jock and instigator, the nice guy who’s the group’s connecting hub and the social misfit or two who overcome their shortcomings and rise to the occasion when the chips are down.

The Arts in June

2009-06-03T14:01:10-05:00

The arts come alive this month in and around Boston. Misstropolis shares our favorite picks from a wonderfully rich variety of shows and events taking place at museums, galleries, theaters and outdoor spaces. Check out what’s happening and book your tickets early, and make plans to stand in lines when necessary. If we don’t have what you are looking for, scour your favorite sources and get arts on your calendar. Remember, a creative glow beats a suntan any day.It’s not easy picking out the best arts events in and around Boston during the month of June. The options are many and, after a bit too much Shepard Fairey this winter, refreshingly compelling. What a nice problem to have. Here are some June must-sees that we know will make your month vibrate with creative energy, and if all you want to do is lie on the beach all July and August, will banish any possible guilt.

Swine Art

2009-05-27T13:41:10-05:00

With panic about the H1N1 virus spiraling out of control around the world, it’s hard to tell fact from fabrication, data from delusion. In guerrilla fashion on the streets in Mexico and sartorial subversion in downtown Detroit, artists are confronting the fear and reminding people that sometimes in a crisis, laughter can be effective medicine. “Terminal Illness” and “Snoutbreak” (which come in gift boxes reading “Nice Package”) do not lie quietly against a collared shirt or get thrown over the shoulder during lunch. These ties speak loudly, they can stop oncomers in their tracks.

Beat it Kids!

2009-05-19T03:13:48-05:00

After you visit ARTBEAT in Arlington or Franklin with your family, we’re sure you’ll find yourself saying, “I’d go back again in an artbeat.“ Saturday, May 23 from 10 am to 6 pm in Arlington, kids can create Peace Lanterns with tiny tissue flowers as a message of peace for Memorial Day and on Sunday, June 21, Dads paint for free!Uninhibited by the internal censorship and criticism that adults wrestle with when asked to be artistic or creative, children dive into art with all the honesty and enthusiasm they pour into other activities like sports or theater. Their unbridled expressiveness can result in astounding works of art (at least in mom, dad or grandma’s eyes) when given the right supplies and environment. That’s why most refrigerators are decorated with kids’ art, not parents.

Jabberwocky Comes Alive

2009-05-06T15:24:49-05:00

The Celebrity Series of Boston wraps up its Family Musik program with Jabberwocky . Rob Kapilow’s mash-up of classical music, Broadway and boogie-woogie illuminates the beloved poems in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.“O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!“ Rob Kapilow’s final Family Musik program of the season features the Boston premiere of his brand new work, Jabberwocky on Saturday, May 9 at 12 & 2 pm at the Tsai Performance Center. Rob’s mash-up of classical music, Broadway and boogie-woogie serves, along with dance, to illuminate one of the most beloved poems in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.

Celebrity Series of Boston Celebrates 50 Years of Alvin Ailey Dance

2009-04-08T16:13:22-05:00

Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater changed the way people the world over understand dance, and the body’s power onstage to express human experience. The legacy lives on with Judith Jamison at the creative helm. Join Misstropolis and the Celebrity Series of Boston to celebrate Alvin Ailey’s 50th Anniversary. Thank you to Louis Hayes, Jill Melanson, Alison Powell and Marilyn Pritikin for their winning stories about Alvin Ailey’s importance to them. They all win two tickets to see the show. Congratulations!Celebrate with Misstropolis and the Celebrity Series of Boston as the world renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater marks 50 years of “bringing African-American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition to the world’s stages.“ Don’t miss Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s debut in the intimate evirons of the Boston Opera House, the first Celebrity Series performance at The Opera House since its renovation. MISSTROPOLIS IS GIVING AWAY FOUR PAIRS OF TICKETS. Read on to learn how to win!

The State of Clay

2009-03-31T18:48:57-05:00

What will archaeologists unearth to reveal our culture in a couple hundred years? Car batteries, diapers, furniture from IKEA? The list is more depressing than it was when dinos roamed the earth; but still it’s intriguing to consider. Despite unstoppable “progress” in man-made materials used to make our stuff, there is still a vibrant tradition of creating functional and decorative objects with a material as old as the earth. THE STATE OF CLAY showcases the best functional, political and decorative ceramics in the New England area through April 25th at the Parsons Gallery in Lexington, MA.What will archaeologists unearth to reveal our culture in a couple hundred years? Car batteries, diapers, furniture from IKEA? The list is more depressing than it was when dinos or cavepeople roamed the earth; but still it’s intriguing to consider. Despite unstoppable “progress” in manmade materials used to make our stuff, there is still a vibrant tradition dedicated to the creation of functional and decorative objects made with a material as old as the earth – clay. The Ceramics Guild of the Lexington Arts & Crafts Society hosts the sixth biennial juried ceramics show “The State of Clay.“ At the Parsons Gallery in Lexington, MA from March 29 - April 25, 2009.

The Journey

2009-03-17T15:44:01-05:00

One of the written word’s oldest forms of expression is enjoying a new breath of life with the popularity of poetry slams and mass-appeal modern-twists like Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam and Brave New Voices. But new or old, poetry appeals because of its power to challenge the status quo and push the reader toward truth and authenticity. “The Journey” by Mary Oliver is slamming all right, read it and you may never be the same.Ferlinghetti in his manifesto Poetry as Insurgent Art wrote “Through art create order out of the chaos of living.“ and “Be subversive. Constant question reality and the status quo.“ This week we look at poetry as an inspirational guide to the truth of our own lives. Call it Spring Cleaning. The opaque protective layers of winter are melting away to reveal fresh earth. Let it be the same for your self. If there are changes you’ve been needing to make, ties you’ve been wanting to sever, needs you’ve been waiting to fulfill, clear away your guilt and fear and do it now.

Win Tickets to The Boston Ballet’s Jewels

2009-03-05T03:00:13-05:00

“Balanchine’s Jewels is at once classical and elegant, vibrant and energetic,” said Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. Misstropolis is pleased to be able to give away two pairs of tickets to the Saturday evening performance, March 7 at 8pm. Want to see the show for free? Send an email with a note about your favorite jewels and why you love them to robin@misstropolis.com by Friday at 5pm. Balanchine premiered “Jewels” at New York City Ballet in 1967, at one of the great peaks in his career. At the time, it captured national press as one of his most audacious neo-classical works: a full-length ballet without narrative. Inspired by the artistry of jewelry designer Claude Arpels, each act is distinct in both style and music, with choreographic and costuming elements portraying the essence of each stone. Misstropolis is pleased to be able to give away two pairs of tickets to the Saturday evening performance, March 7 at 8pm. Want to see the show for free? Send an email with a note about your favorite jewels and why you love them to robin@misstropolis.com by Friday at 5pm.