Pic Hits for the week

thursday
february 6
"Art on the Edge of Fashion": Arizona State University Art Museum curator Heather Lineberry organized this exhibit of unwearable wearables--i.e., clothing as metaphorical medium and jumping-off point for an examination of gender issues and "the nature of identity." The exhibition, which also includes photos, sculpture, and installation pieces, features works by Beverly Semmes, Nick Vaughn, Kerrie Peterson, Anne Wilson, Elaine Reichek, Christine LoFaso, Charles LeDray and Jana Sterbak; see the review on page 59. It continues through Sunday, April 27, at the art museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, 10th Street and Mill in Tempe. Lineberry hosts a gallery talk at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 11. Admission and viewing are free; hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 965-2787.

"Native Voices: Reflecting Forward": Heard Museum Guild's series continues through Thursday, February 13. Janine Pease-Pretty on Top, president of Little Big Horn College, presents a lecture titled "Voices From the Past, Challenge for the Future: A Native Perspective of Education" at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 6, at the Heard, 22 East Monte Vista. It's repeated at 7:30 that evening at Carefree Inn, 37220 Mule Train Road in Carefree. Next up is author and high-risk hiker/adventurer John Annerino, who speaks about "Traditions, Ceremonies and Cultural Perseverance" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 12, at the museum. Tickets are $11, $9 for members. Call 252-8840.

friday
february 7
New Edition: Bobby Brown and his onetime replacement in this act, Johnny Gill, head the second Edition; also back are Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe and Michael Bivins, all co-founders of the youngblood R&B act, one of the top pop/funk bands of the '80s. Keith Sweat, and Teddy Riley's stellar BLACKstreet ("No Diggity") share the stage. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 7, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $35 and $40, available at the arena and Dillard's; call 379-7800 or 503-5555.

La Malinche: The subject of native culture and Spanish colonialism colliding in the Americas receives a generally upbeat treatment in Phoenix Art Museum's "Converging Cultures" installation (see the Art Exhibits listing). California's Carlos Morton provides a darker, more intimate view of the same in La Malinche, the playwright's recasting of Euripides' tragedy Medea against the backdrop of Cortez's conquest of Mexico. Arizona Theatre Company continues its 30th-anniversary season with the world premiere of the work. The run opens with a preview at 8 p.m. Friday, February 7, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The press opening is at the same time Saturday, February 8. The rest of this week's performances are at 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, February 9; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 12. A discussion follows Sunday's matinee. The production continues through Saturday, February 22. Tickets range from $19 to $32, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.

Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana: McMurtry's the author of The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, The Evening Star and the wonderfully uncharacteristic Western Lonesome Dove; he won the Pulitzer Prize for Dove, and it was warranted (though the incessant prequels and sequels to the novel were not). Larry and Arizona-based Ossana previously collaborated on Pretty Boy Floyd. Their new work is a Western titled Zeke and Ned; they sign copies at 7 p.m. Friday, February 7, at Borders Books & Music at Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th Street and Camelback, Suite 200. For details call 957-6660.

Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio with Pinchas Zuckerman: The piano threesome's joined by Zuckerman, who adds viola to renditions of Mozart's Quartet in G minor, K. 478; and Dvorak's Quartet in E-flat major, Opus 87. Also on the program: Shostakovich's Trio in E minor, Opus 67. The concert, sponsored by Phoenix Chamber Music Society, starts at 8 p.m. Friday, February 7, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets are $25. Call 252-0095 or 994-2787.

Riding the Edge: Adventures in Activism: PlayWright's Workshop Theatre presents this package of short pieces--about 10 minutes a pop--written by members of PWT's Edge Project '97 and addressing topics like racism, health care and euthanasia. Opening performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, February 7; and the same time Saturday, February 8. The production continues through Saturday, February 22, at the group's longtime home at 3302 North Seventh Street; that building is scheduled to be demolished immediately following the run, and PWT will move to new quarters at 1121 North First Street. Tickets are $10, $8 for students and seniors. For details call 279-5151.

"Art on the Edge of Fashion": See Thursday.

saturday
february 8
Orpheum Theatre Public Dedication and Open House: The Orpheum Theatre, originally opened in 1929 and preserved for posterity by a revival movement that began with the facility's purchase by the City of Phoenix in 1984, takes its official bow at this event, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony headed by Mayor Skip Rimsza, entertainment and guided tours of the facility at 203 West Adams. See the related story on page 61. Activities start at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 8. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For details call 252-9678.

Local H: The latest blip on the power-duo-movement radar screen is this two-piece from Zion, Illinois, comprising metal-schooled singer/guitarist Scott Lucas and hip-hop disciple Joe Daniels on drums. Bolstered by a kooky kind of kismet that seems to be going around, the two clicked chemically after they were left at the altar by a couple of former band mates. Fans of the stripped-down/revved-up likes of godheadSilo and the Valley's Les Payne Project likely also will dig these guys, who are--God help 'em--often compared to Nirvana. Failure, and ednaswap share the all-ages bill. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 8, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. Tickets are $8, available at Ticketmaster. Call 967-1234 or 784-4444.