“MFA Summer Show”
Harry Wood Gallery is showing works by graduate art students in its “MFA Summer Show.”
Participating artists include Lily Montgomery and Krista Davis, whose work blends neon, sound, and video projection. Over a dozen additional artists are part of the show, including Anthony Mead, who works with wood and unconventional materials such as coffee beans and curry powder. The exhibition also includes ceramics, fiber art, painting, photography, drawing, and prints.
The free exhibition was juried by Sara Cochran, director and chief curator for Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. See it on Tuesday, August 8, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. inside the ASU Art Building, 900 South Forest Mall in Tempe. It’s on view through Friday, August 11. Visit the ASU Events page. Lynn Trimble
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Art meets resistance in the work of Lisa and Janelle
The show includes prints, sculpture, and mixed-media work created with found and made objects that reflect five weeks spent in the desert Southwest and Phoenix-area communities.
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Happy Hour Karaoke
Here's something to sing about.
“Annual Student & Instructor Exhibition”
See the latest iteration of Shemer Art Center’s “Annual Student & Instructor Exhibition” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, August 11. It’s a chance to explore works by emerging and established artists working in diverse media, including ceramics, sculpture, painting, colored pencil, and mixed media.
Featured Shemer instructors include Constance McBride, Turner Davis, and Danielle Wood. More than a dozen Shemer students will also be showing their work. The show continues through Thursday, September 7, at 5005 East Camelback Road. Admission is free, but Shemer suggests a $7 donation or $10 per couple. Visit the Shemer Art Center website. Lynn Trimble
SoWest: Killer Nights
Three decades ago, Sara Paretsky noticed a lack of diversity in crime and thriller genres. So the creator of famous female detective V.I. Warshawski and a group of fellow authors founded the organization Sisters in Crime. The group’s mission is to fight discrimination and “raise the level of awareness” about women writing in the mystery
The Desert Sleuths chapter of the organization will celebrate 30 years with the release of SoWest: Killer Nights, the next edition of a locally set anthology series, with New York Times best-selling authors Clive Cussler, Lee Goldberg, and Robin Burcell. Desert Sleuths’ 30th Anniversary Celebration is at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 11, at Changing Hands, 300 West Camelback Road. Admission is free. Visit the Changing Hands website for more details. Jason Keil
Riot Jam: All Female Improv Jam
Calling all hilarious ladies who can deliver off-the-cuff humor and are on the hunt for a little mic time. There’s a Central Phoenix stage with your name on it. Riot Jam: All Female Improv Jam is the regular event hosted by the Torch Theatre, where Arizona’s improvisers show off their skills. Torch education director Jacque Arend says their group sees the event as a great way to showcase and celebrate the wealth of female talent that exists in our local improv community. Participants show up, drop their name in a bucket, and then names are drawn to form the teams. The performances start immediately.
Watch this impromptu hour of fun from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 12, at 4721 North Central Avenue. Admission and participation are free. Visit the Torch Theatre website. Amy Young