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Portal to the Centuries
Contrary to what you’ve been led to believe, we really try to temper our enthusiasm around here. Objective journalism and art criticism both demand a certain reserve and a degree of aloofness. We strive mightily not to rave, gush or give the impression that we’ve fallen in love with an artist or a show. Regretfully, however, that discipline is falling by the wayside on this occasion, so brace yourself: the recently opened Gallery of Islamic Art at the DIA is nothing less than a masterpiece of beauty, history and culture. This comprehensive exhibit of over 150 works, displayed over an area of 3,350-square-feet, takes the viewer through the whole gamut of its subject — texts, ceramics, paintings and carpets culled from the Middle East, India and the Levant. More importantly, the exhibit is thematically ordered, so the visitor is given an overview of how the aesthetic traditions of Islam evolved across the breadth of time and geography. An impressive achievement and a worthy addition to our city’s sense of community. More at dia.org.

Mercury Theatre and Mercurial Tempers
Sorry, but the gushing continues. We are unabashed fans of what is generally referred to as the Golden Age of Radio — a lost world filled with ghosts like Lamont Cranston, The Green Hornet, Joe Penner and Fibber McGee. Happily enough, we are also fans of Performance Network, so you can just imagine how we felt to learn that these passions are colliding in a complementary fashion on that Ann Arbor stage right now. It Came From Mars, an original play by Joseph Zettlemaier, re-imagines the 1938 Orson Welles “Halloween” broadcast and gives it an ironic twist when we witness its effect on another troupe of radio performers who believe every word of it and proceed to go into a tailspin of panic and self-revelation. Starring Wayne David Parker, Joseph Albright, Sandra Birch, Alysia Kolascz, Morgan Chard and Jacob Hodgson. Directed by Tony Caselli. By the way, this production is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. More at performancenetwork.org.

The Rape of the Locks
The determination of artists to approach, examine and interpret the nature of their own personal fears is reason enough to admire them and to be equally appreciative of what they do. Now comes an invitation from Amanda Faye Cain and Marianne Audrey Burrows to enter Small Dark Worlds and get a close-up view of what this resolve costs. Or as they explain it: “We all have dark places in our minds cultivated by fears, life experiences, lack of understanding, desperation or confusion. By bringing these fears out of our minds and recreating them, we can exorcise these incredible demons.” Among those casting out devils with installation pieces: Tim Pewe, Diane Whitehead, Joey Merchant, Isaac Richard, David Geer and others. Ms. Burrows, who confesses that her chief fear these days is the stigma of losing everything to the ravenous wolf of penury, will shear her lustrous hair off. Personally, we think that’s too high a price to pay for any work of art. March 13 at the Motor City Movie House inside the RIC. This experience is $5 for those 18-and-up.

Trousseau
We’ve sent you to a number of places over the course of five years, but this marks a first! Cross the threshold of the Somerset Collection between now and March 21 for Hollywood Brides Unveiled. In partnership with Oscar-winning costume house COSPROP and Hampshire Street Studio of London, the suburban ziggurat of goodies has transformed its North Grand Court into a dazzling exhibit filled with gowns, dresses and veils worn by celluloid goddesses past and present. And RSVP now for a special runway show slated for March 12-14. Sinatra tribute singer Bart Ventura will be on hand to serenade the models (and you) with those immortal numbers from the Chairman of the Board’s songbook. By the way, see if you can guess which dresses were designed before the advent of the pre-nup. More: thesomersetcollection.com.

Half a Century
One of many under-appreciated jewels in our city, The Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle offers an incredible insight into how the “inland seas” have played a pivotal role in the development of Detroit and Michigan. The museum is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary with new exhibits and displays. Mal de mer? Have no fear — the place is firmly docked. More: detroithistorical.org.  | RDW

Robert sings Sinatra, too! Email him: Robert@realdetroitweekly.com.



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