I pity the fool who has forgotten such television faves as Bull & Judge Harry T. Stone; Dorothy & Rose; cousin Balki; The Keatons (pictured); and of course, Mr. T.
nBlackburn’s mini-portraits are like a pop culture pop-quiz. They are uncanny and bright, and they speak specifically to Blackburn’s generation. The TV personalities appear as plastic and goony as the ’80s themselves. Bonus points if you can recall all the theme songs in addition to the series’ names.
nOn the other end of the spectrum—and the other side of the veil—is Lindsey’s latest series: Skulls Never Go Out of Style. Perhaps not, but it can be difficult to keep them interesting, and Lindsey’s ink drawings succeeded fully in doing so. They’re exquisite, mysterious and more abstract and ambiguous than your average skull. Ghoulish, horned, delicate and haunting, the portraits are sort of Rorschach tests from the other side. The oil-saturated paper with billowy ink marks and the orange glowing cradles leave the works with a finish to die for. And they are a sharp contrast to the comic and more illustrative portraits of Blackburn and Abshier-Reyes.
nSo you can kill three birds with one stone, in one stop.
nGentry Blackburn, Tessa Lindsey and Amy Abshier-Reyes @ Kayo Gallery, 177 E. 300 South, 532-0080, through Nov. 14. KayoGallery.com
n
MUSIC
nBy Tawnya Cazier
nIt may sound sentimental, but MARTIN SEXTON says music has the power to change lives. Maybe people are just waiting for an excuse, but when a concert moves something inside you, it’s hard to ignore. I know a guy who quit his job and went driving across Montana just to see what dreams might be out there. He’s not the first to be so inspired by a Sexton performance.
Sexton does a heck of a lot with just a guitar, slapping his open palm on the body or using his mouth to make rhythms and sounds. His rock & roll is filled with all the heart and soul of a boy growing up listening to ’70s radio. His music recalls a time filled with youthful dreams of greatness.
nCertainly, that’s what Sexton dreamed of in 1992. While busking on the streets of Boston, Sexton sold 20,000 copies of the demo he’d recorded at a friend’s place on an 8-track. Four years later, he released a full-on album with a major label. It’s a romantic, inspiring story, the kind of thing spun by Hollywood every day. But this is a story you not only want to believe in, but you actually do believe it when you breathe in the music raining down from the stage.
nAnd, while you might not pack up and head out for a cross-country adventure after Sexton’s concert, you’ll probably end up happier, and maybe a little bit inspired. Hell, maybe you’ll put in your two-weeks’ notice.
nMartin Sexton @ The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 456-2888, Friday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
n n
FILM
nBy Jacob Stringer
n“In the future, everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes”—so said Andy Warhol in 1968. I used up a good five to 10 seconds of my precious 15 minutes as an extra in Trent Harris’ newest and fourth feature film, DELIGHTFUL WATER UNIVERSE: Revolting Ideas in Revitalizing the American Dream.
Known best for his Crispin Glover vehicle Ruben & Ed—or perhaps his Mormon sci-fi epic Plan 10 from Outer Space—local film auteur Harris has once again put his money where his mouth is, delivering what he himself describes as “a better film for $10,000 than most Hollywood-ers can [make] for $100 million.” Delightful Water Universe stars Bill Allred (of X96’s Radio From Hell) as Scott Vicious, a womanizing, alcoholic reporter floundering in a world where “nincompoops are in charge and free thinkers are locked up.” Told from the POV of Franklin Musclewhite (Dan Morely), the story follows Vicious, aided by his hilarious Elmer Fudd-lisping sidekick (Plan 10’s Stefene Russell), as they unearth the secrets of a hatlike communication device made from a bright yellow colander and some windshield-wiper blades that, among other things, can control the major television networks.
nAs with most things Harris has his hand in, this Saturday’s premiere will surely prove, among other things, to be good, weird fun on a grand scale—take, for instance, the planned “The March of the Bigfoot,” scheduled to take place before the premiere.
nDelightful Water Universe @ Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, 355-ARTS, Saturday, Nov. 1, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. DelightfulWaterUniverse.com.
n nHere&Now Other New Happenings This Week
nNOISES OFF Pioneer Theatre Company presents Michael Frayn’s farcical comedy about backstage shenanigans during a theater company’s production of a farcical comedy. Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East, 581-6961, Oct. 30-Nov. 15, PioneerTheatre.org
nJOY HARJO The Salt Lake City Library’s Dewey Lecture series welcomes the acclaimed American Indian author and poet. Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, 524-8200, Saturday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. SLCPL.org
nJOHN TELFORD Photography by the Sandy native showcases Utah’s wilderness and scenic landscapes. Springville Museum of Art, 126 E. 400 South, Springville, 801-489-2727, Oct. 31-Nov. 30. Reception Nov. 5, 6-8 p.m. SMofA.org
nTHE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW If it’s Halloween weekend, it’s time to do the “Time Warp” at the Tower Theatre with a live cast. Tower Theatre, 876 E. 900 South, 321-0310, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, midnight. TowerTheatre.com
nDAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION An event recognizing the traditional Mexican festival, including family-friendly and educational events. Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 W. 3100 South, West Valley, 965-5108, Saturday, Nov. 1, 6-9 p.m. CulturalCelebration.org
nWILD BIRDS OF THE AMERICAN WETLANDS Exhibition of photographs by Rosalie Winard, capturing birds in remote and beautiful corners of the country. Utah Museum of Natural History, 1390 E. Presidents Circle, 581-6927, Nov. 1-Feb. 22, UMNH.Utah.edu
nJAMES DASHNER The local author reads from and signs his new youth fantasy The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters. The King’s English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, 484-9100, Monday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. KingsEnglish.Booksense.com
nROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET The Canadian troupe presents a vibrant interpretation of Orff’s Carmina Burana. Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main, Logan, 435-752-0026, Nov. 3 & 5, 7:30 p.m. CenterForTheArts.us
nWORLDANCE An evening of music and dance, featuring authentic performances from Hungary, Greece, Armenia and the Balkans. Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, 581-7100, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. KingsburyHall.org