VAE Raleigh enters middle age with a sharpened social-justice mission

A performer from Imagine Circus in front of Nate Sheaffer’s neon art piece at VAE Raleigh’s 2019 gala PHOTO BY DAN HACKER/COURTESY OF VAE RALEIGH

Jumpstarting Art

After helping a generation of artists express themselves, VAE Raleigh turns 40 with a sharpened focus on social justice

BY EMILY CATANEO arts@indyweek.com

In 1980, Raleigh artists Margot Richter, Bob Rankin, Barbara Burnham, and Marriott Little noticed a problem: There were no local resources for nascent creators to get their feet in the door of the art world. So they started a small group to help aspiring painters and sculptors begin their careers. Four decades later, that idea has grown into a venerable cultural-arts nonprofit on West Martin Street.

VAE Raleigh, which is celebrating its 40th birthday with a fundraising gala at Dorton Arena on March 7, has been many things to many people: an exhibition space for first-time artists, a place to learn professional skills, and a powerful ally of socially engaged art. It’s been the force behind SparkCon, Raleigh’s annual pan-arts festival; the host of a queer homecoming and many other kinds of gatherings; and an exhibitor of everything from poetry to painting, neon signs to giant spray-foam ducks. The INDY sat down with executive director Brandon Cordrey to discuss the phases of VAE’s history, its efforts to combat the entrenched discrimination of the art world, and more.

er than trying to be everything to everyone. We began to focus on socially engaged art, which we see as contributing to positive change in the community. That’s where we are now.

INDY: What were those original artists trying to achieve? How have you fulfilled that mission? BRANDON CORDREY: In 1980, there were four private galleries and great museums [in Raleigh] but no other space for artists to get their start. Artsplosure, the cultural-events production studio, was also founded in 1980, but N.C. State’s Art United didn’t exist, and neither did the United Arts Council, the funding wing of the county. Even the culture of hanging art in coffeeshops wasn’t as prominent as it is now. So those artists created an accessible space, flexible enough for new artists to fail and get better until they got the experience needed to rise to the gallery level.

For a significant period, VAE was about accessibility for new artists. Then they hired Sarah Powers as director and began to focus on professional skills. Then came Google, and all that information became accessible on the internet. So around 2015, we began to do more work around socially engaged art. We looked around, and the art community had expanded so much around us. That allowed us the opportunity to curate ourselves, to focus on one particular part of art, rathHow have issues around equity in the arts evolved since 1980? How has VAE fought for equity in the arts? The cultural arts have a strong foundation in racial oppression and segregation. The arts community has begun to look that in its face and figure out ways to rectify it, but we don’t see a lot of diversity at the very highest levels of arts organizations. We’re still trying to achieve that real equity. Five years ago, our board was 86 percent white. Now it’s 44 percent white, which is much more reflective of the artists we’re working with and the community we serve.

We’ve also tried to change our physical space. We try to write text on the wall that’s readable and solicits feedback; we believe that your interaction with this work and with us is the only way that the work is fully itself. We often play music so it’s not a quiet white box and paint the gallery so it’s actually not a white box. And we have gallery guides who will ask questions. Like for our current exhibit, The Full Light of Day, which showcases the work of artists with disabilities, we ask, how many people with disabilities do you know? If you’ve used words like “retarded” or “wheelchair-bound,” how do you think the artists in this exhibition would feel about that? How do you feel about that? There’s no wrong answer.

Our space is also fully physically accessible. If someone who’s blind or low-vision comes into a quiet gallery—why would they want to do that? We recently had an audio-described and tactile tour, where we had the Wake Federation for the Blind come through, feel things, and have conversations about the art.

One notable aspect of VAE is how interdisciplinary you all seem to be. If creating social change is your end goal, then you’re much less likely to focus on your own particular medium, and you’re more likely to focus on what will ultimately get you to your goal. With our current project, there’s a lot of visual art in the space, but there’s also redacted literary work, and there’s an artist who came in to do a performance piece that expanded on their visual art piece, which is all found objects.

What’s the history of your involvement with VAE? I had been hounding them, and they finally broke down and contracted me to help with street painting at Spark - Con 2013. I came to help and stayed for the whole weekend and didn’t leave, so I could make them like me. I convinced Sarah to hire me as exhibitions manager, then became director of exhibitions and helped with grants. When Sarah took a job with the city of Raleigh, I sent a note and said, hi, I would like your job.

What’s an exhibit in the past few years that’s stuck with you? I think our very first Black on Black exhi- bition, with Mike Williams and Linda Dal- las, was a transition point for us. After Eric Garner’s death in 2014, we knew that the arts should be part of the con- versation around what was happening. We were not diverse enough as a staff to have that conversation come from us, and we wanted to support two curators of color curating work by artists of color that depict people of color.

Tell me about the gala. It’s at Dorton Arena. There will be cir - cus performers. There will be the Poetry Fox. There will probably be 200 works of art that have been donated by local art- ists. There will be auctions. We’re doing a commission back to artists who donate, so we expect that this will put about $20,000 of funding into their pockets. Creative attire is encouraged. You’ll see amazing outfits that range from comfy and casual to all-out wacky. It’ll be our biggest celebration of the arts and our biggest celebration of turning 40.

Lastly, what’s on the horizon? We’re going to need to move eventually, and with the city growing so fast, what does that mean? What’s the smartest investment for us in terms of physical space, which is our biggest resource and biggest expense?

We’re also in a strategic planning pro- cess. What we’re doing artistically and programmatically is going really well, but now we need to build structures around it. We’ll continue supporting socially engaged art and operating in an opensource way, but I think the quality of our work will continue to get even better as we build those structures and put them in place. W

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film

Still from The Eyes of Summer PHOTO COURTESY OF COSMIC RAYS FILM FESTIVAL

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 & FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Cosmic Rays Film Festival The Triangle has become a hotbed for experimental film, in large part thanks to the efforts of people like Bill Brown and Sabine Gruffat. For the last three years, the two filmmakers and UNC-Chapel Hill professors have put on Cosmic Rays Film Festival, screening works ranging from three to fifteen minutes that expand the traditional boundaries of cinema. This year’s program includes legendary experimental filmmaker Naomi Uman amid a diverse roster of up-and-coming contemporary artists. All screenings are free. —Will Atkinson The Varsity Theatre, Chapel Hill / Nightlight, Chapel Hill Various times, free

Special Showings

2020 World Tour Paddling Film Festival $12. Sat., Mar. 7, 8 p.m. Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw. The AGFA Horror Trailer Show $8. Thu., Mar. 5, 9 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. Chicago $7. Wed., Mar. 4, 7 p.m. Carolina Theatre, Durham. Cosmic Rays Film Festival See full schedule online. Screenings at Varsity Theater and Nightlight. Mar. 5-6. Multiple Locations, Chapel Hill. Cry-Baby $7. Wed., Mar. 4, 9 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. Frenzy, Road Games $10. Fri., Mar. 6, 7 p.m. Carolina Theatre, Durham. The Great Buster $7. Sun., Mar. 8, 2 p.m. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. The Great Gatsby $7. Wed., Mar. 11, 7 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. Lord of the Flies, Carnal Knowledge Fri., Mar. 6, 7 p.m. Lump, Raleigh. Love & Basketball $10. Sun., Mar. 8, 6 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. Mossville Thu., Mar. 5, 7 p.m. Provident1898, Durham. REEL Israel 2020 See full schedule online. $10. Mar. 8-12. Chelsea Theater, Chapel Hill. Royal Opera House: The Sleeping Beauty $12. Mon., Mar. 9, 6 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh. Toklomati Tue. & Thu. 2:45 p.m. $10. Mar. 10-12. Chelsea Theater, Chapel Hill. Vitalina Varela Thu., Mar. 5, 7 p.m. Rubenstein Arts Center - Film Theater, Durham. Young Guns $12. Tue., Mar. 10, 7 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse, Raleigh.

Opening Now Playing

Emma—Jane Austen’s regency romance Emma has been translated to screen many times—but never before by stylish luminary Autumn de Wilde. Rated PG.

Greed—Satirical film about the crumbling empire of a rag-trade billionaire. Rated R.

Onward—Pixar’s latest feature film takes on the tale of two elvish teen brothers living in a suburban fantasy. Rated PG

The Way Back—Ben Affleck plays a widowed basketball all-star looking for a second chance. Rated R. The INDY uses a five-star rating scale. Unstarred films have not been reviewed by our writers. 1917—Epic war drama about two soldiers tasked with sending a message that could save 1,600 soldiers. Rated R. Bad Boys for Life—Buddy cop comedy about a midlife crisis. Produced by Will Smith. Rated R.

Birds of Prey—Irreverent superhero flick about the supervillain Harley Quinn. Rated R.

Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island—The twisted fantasies offered by a remote tropical resort slowly twist into nightmares—who knew? Lucy Hale stars. Rated PG-13. Brahms: The Boy II—Katie Holmes stars in this sequel to The Boy; in this film, a young boy crafts an unsettling friendship with a doll named Brahms. PG-13.

The Call of the Wild— Harrison Ford shares the screen with a CGI Great Bernard, in this adaptation of the classic Jack London adventure novel. Rated PG. Dolittle—Robert Downey Jr. plays the eccentric veterinarian in this fantasy action reprisal. Rated PG.

½ Downhill— A bleak comedy from a talented team, Downhill is a real conundrum, with some things done very well and others completely botched. Rated R. Frozen 2— In search of the origins of her powers, Elsa and her sister Anna strike out beyond their frosty homeland. Rated PG.

 The Gentleman— Guy Ritchie, the undisputed kingpin of the British gangster film, is back with a high-energy action-comedy. Rated PG-13. —Glenn McDonald

The Invisible Man—This adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel stars Elisabeth Moss as a woman stalked by an obsessive ex who has figured out how to turn invisible. Rated R. Jojo Rabbit—Black comedy about a German boy who discovers that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic. Rated PG-13. Jumanji: The Next Level— This adventure comedy picks up where the 1995 flick left off. Rated PG-13.

½ Just Mercy— Based on the book of the same name, this film tells the story of Bryan Stevenson, a young lawyer defending a client who is unjustly on death row. Rated PG-13.

 Parasite—This Oscar-winning social satire from filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho is crammed with dark twists and intricate metaphors. Rated R. —Sarah Edwards The Photograph—Issa Rae plays the estranged daugh ter of a famous photographer whose life is turned upside-down by the emergence of a photograph— and by a handsome journalist, played by LaKeith Stanfield, who wants to tell its story. Rated PG-13.

Sonic the Hedgehog— Sega’s video game mascot hits the silver screen, now with less-scary teeth and legs after fan outcry over its trailer. Rated PG.

 Uncut Gems — Loud and brash, with extreme close-ups and a discordant score ratcheting up the unease, this Safdie brothers flick stars Adam Sandler as a jeweler who places a high-stakes bet. Rated R. —Neil Morris

SUNDAY, MARCH 8–THURSDAY, MARCH 12 REEL Israel Film Festival Reel Israel Documentary Film Festival returns to the Chelsea Theater for a second year. Curator Shai Ginsburg, who is Israeli, acknowledges that there’s no avoiding politics in filmmaking; whose story gets told? is of course a political question. That said, Ginsburg, a professor at Duke, explains that he’s more excited about showcasing contemporary art than pushing a particular agenda: “Israeli cinema is enjoying a golden age; these films all made a splash this past year.” Each film, he says, has all the ingredients of any great doc: surprise, access, change, and doubt. Some screenings will be followed by panels and viewers of all political stripes will be welcomed. After all, as Ginsburg puts it, “The more you know of a place, the better you can have nuanced arguments or discussions about it.” —Anna Cassell

Chelsea Theater, Chapel Hill Various times, Various prices

arts

Opening

Art in Translation: Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook Video and photography. Mar. 7-Jul. 26. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. Artist Talk: Alex Traboulsi Fri., Mar. 6. 6 p.m. The Art of Style, Raleigh. The Bacchus Conservation Project: The Story of a Sculpture Focus exhibition. Mar. 7-Sep. 27. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. Alun Be Solo exhibit. Mar. 6-Apr. 25. Artspace, Raleigh. CAM Raleigh First Friday Fri., Mar. 6. 6 p.m. CAM Raleigh, Raleigh. Common Thread: Pete Sack, Alia El-Bermani Portraits. Mar. 6-Apr. 4. The Mahler Fine Art, Raleigh. Durham Art Walk Spring Market Mar. 7-8. Durham Arts Council, Durham. Front Burner: Highlights in Contemporary North Carolina Painting Mar. 7-Jul. 26. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. Christopher Holt: Contemporary Frescoes/ Faith and Community Drawings and stud ies. Mar. 7-Jul. 26. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. Carroll Lassiter, Nerys Levy, John Parkinson Group show. Mar. 10-May. 2. FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill. Many Moons Solo exhibit. Mar. 6-28. Local Color Gallery, Raleigh. Chance Murray: Rubber Donkey Party Mixed media. Mar. 6-Apr. 25. Artspace, Raleigh. North Carolina Artists Exhibition 2020 Group show. Mar. 8-Jun. 14. CAM Raleigh, Raleigh. Opening Reception: Alun Be and Chance Murray Fri., Mar. 6. 6 p.m. Artspace, Raleigh. Opening Reception: Pigmented Resin Works: Leenie Fri., Mar. 6. 6 p.m. The Centerpiece, Raleigh. Radiance of Nature: Grace Li Wang Solo exhibit. Mar 7-Apr. 26. The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, Chapel Hill. Short Stories Mother Nature Taught Me Paintings. Mar. 6-29. NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh. Wearing o’ the Green Oil paintings. Mar. 6-28. V L Rees Gallery, Raleigh. The Wonder Collection: Opening Reception Sat., Mar. 7. 10 a.m. Urban Durham Realty, Durham. You Have To Start A Thing History. Fri., Mar. 6. NC Museum of History, Raleigh.

Ongoing

Josef Albers and Homage to the Square Paintings. Through Aug. 30. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. All That Glitters: Spark and Dazzle from the Permanent Collection Costumes. Through May 17. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. All is Possible: Mary Ann Scherr’s Legacy in Metal Jewelry and design. Through Sep. 6. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology Other exhibits at NC State Libraries and GES Center. Through Mar. 15. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. John James Audubon: The Birds of America Ornithological engravings. Through Dec. 31. NC Museum of Art, Raleigh. John Beerman: The Shape of Light Paintings. Through Feb. 29. Craven Allen Gallery, Durham. Megan Bostic, Andy Mauery, Rosemary MezaDesPlas: Hairstory Art made of human hair. Through Feb. 29. Artspace, Raleigh. Cornelio Campos: My Roots Paintings. Through Mar. 12. Durham Arts Council, Durham. Compose and Materialize Group show. Through Mar. 7. Durham Arts Council, Durham. Consensual Hallucination: Dara Morgenstern Through Mar. 20. Holy Mountain Printing, Durham. Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations Mixed media. Through Mar. 1. Nasher Museum of Art, Durham. Stephen Costello: Places Sculpture. Through Feb. 29. Craven Allen Gallery, Durham. A Creative Protest: MLK Comes to Durham Through Apr. 5. Museum of Durham History, Durham. Cultures of the Sea: Art of the Ancient Americas Mixed media. Through May. 31. Nasher Museum of Art, Durham. Design By Time Group Show. Through May 17. Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh. Domestic Demise: Elizabeth Alexander, Patty Carroll Group show. Through Apr. 11. Artspace, Raleigh. Favorite Things Paintings. Through Feb. 29. V L Rees Gallery, Raleigh. The Full Light of Day Group show of artists with disabilities. Through Mar. 6. VAE Raleigh, Raleigh The Future is Female Group show. Through Dec. 31. 21c Museum Hotel, Durham. Gifts of Earth and Intimacy Copper works. Through Dec. 31. 21c Museum Hotel, Durham. Abie Harris: Painting Music Through Mar. 1. The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, Chapel Hill. Shelly Hehenberger, Luna Lee Ray, R.J.Dobbs Mixed media and sculpture. Through Mar. 7. FRANK Gallery, Chapel Hill. Mar Hester: Action/ Reaction Photography and origami. Through Feb. 29. Artspace, Raleigh. Horse & Buggy and Friends: Satellite Parrish Street Gallery Group show. Through Apr. 1. Horse & Buggy Press PopUp Shop, Durham. Instruments of Divination in Africa: Works from the Collection of Rhonda Morgan Wilkerson, Ph.D. Sculpture and objects used in divination. Through Jun. 7. Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill. Daniel Kariko: Surburban Symbiosis Insectum Domesticus Photography. Through Mar. 1. Nature Art Gallery, Raleigh. Jeana Eve Klein & Anne Hill: Meditative Obsessive Mixed media. Through Feb 29. Horse & Buggy Press and Friends, Durham. Jane Kraike: Serigraphs Prints. Through Mar. 28. Adam Cave Fine Art, Raleigh. Yayoi Kusama: Open the Shape Called Love Solo exhibit. Through Apr. 12. Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill. Labyrinth Walk Through Mar. 8. Duke Campus: Duke Chapel, Durham. Law and Justice: The Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1819- 2019 Artifacts, images, texts. Through May 31. NC Museum of History, Raleigh. A Moving Grove Paintings. Through Feb. 29. Anchorlight, Raleigh. Eleanor Mills: Wildflowers of Crested Butte, Colorado Photography. Through Apr. 18. Duke Campus: Lilly Library, Durham. Organized Chaos #1: Geometric Shapes & Patterns Paintings. Through Mar. 10. Triangle Cultural Art Gallery, Raleigh. Ali Osborn: Macadam Drawings. Through Apr. 11. Oneoneone, Chapel Hill. Past Lives Mixed media. Through Mar. 14. The Scrap Exchange, Durham. Ebony G. Patterson: ... while the dew is still on the roses ... Mixed Media. Through Jul. 12. Nasher Museum of Art, Durham. Corey Pemberton: creature, comfort Paintings. Solo exhibition. Through May. 10. CAM Raleigh, Raleigh. Kenneth Proseus: Reasons to Get out of Bed Paintings. Through Mar. 8. Golden Belt Arts, Durham. Quiet Moments Photography. Through Mar. 22. Skylight Gallery, Hillsborough. QuiltSpeak: Uncovering Women’s Voices Through Quilts Through Mar. 8. NC Museum of History, Raleigh. The Right Angle, the Meander, & the Star Maps. Through Mar. 16. Durham Arts Council, Durham. Seeing Red Group show of women artists. Through Feb. 29. Local Color Gallery, Raleigh. Smoke Sculptures Photography. Sun., Through Mar. 22. Skylight Gallery, Hillsborough. Linda Starr: No Lack Of Color Solo exhibit. Through Mar. 1. Personify, Raleigh. Sydney Steen: Fault Lines Vignettes. Through Oct. 25. 21c Museum Hotel, Durham. Billy Strayhorn Solo exhibit. Through Mar. 22. Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, Hillsborough. Sarah Jane Tart: The Wonder Collection Paintings. Through Apr. 29. Urban Durham Realty, Durham. Think Big!—A Small Works Exhibition Group show. Through Mar. 16. 5 Points Gallery, Durham. Cheryl Thurber: Documenting Gravel Springs, Mississippi, in the 1970s Photography. Through Mar. 31. UNC Campus: Wilson Special Collections Library, Chapel Hill. To The East Group show. Through Feb. 29. The Centerpiece, Raleigh. Toriawase: A Special Installation of Modern Japanese Art and Ceramics Through Apr. 12. Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill. JP Trostle: Quantum Flux Photography. Through Jul. 14. Durham Convention Center, Durham. Urban Saga Group show. Through Mar. 18. Litmus Gallery, Raleigh. Louis Watts: Sequoyaland Drawings. Through Mar. 22. Horace Williams House, Chapel Hill. Michael Weitzman: Natural Beauty Photography. Through Mar. 21. Herbert C Young Community Center, Cary. Jeff Whetstone: Species Complex Photos. Through Mar. 14. Lump, Raleigh. William C. Wright: New Works Paintings. Through Mar. 22. Gallery C, Raleigh.

3/14 FAMILY-FRIENDLY TRANSACTORS IMPROV 3/14 NO SHAME THEATRE CARRBORO 3/14 JOHN JORGENSON BLUEGRASS BAND 3/19 POPUP CHORUS (Sinead O’Connor, U2, Van Morrison) 3/20 DOM FLEMONS WITH CHRIS FRISINA Get tickets at artscenterlive.org Follow us: @artscenterlive • 300-G East Main St., Carrboro, NC 3/13 LEAHY

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stage

A Celebration of Female Choreographers PHOTO BY ARMES PHOTOGRAPHY

THURSDAY, MARCH 5–SUNDAY, MARCH 22 A Celebration of Female Choreographers Carolina Ballet was well ahead of the curve when it named Lynne TaylorCorbett resident guest choreographer in 2000. Twenty years later, women occupy only 21 percent of those positions in U.S. companies, in an industry where 81 percent of all works last season were choreographed by men. Taylor-Corbett revisits her beachside satire Boléro, alongside works by Joffrey Ballet award-winner Mariana Oliveira, queer choreographer Adriana Pierce, and local Jenny Palmer, who vividly choreographed Goblin Market for the 2018 Women’s Theatre Festival. —Byron Woods Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh Various times., $37

Opening

Greg Behrendt Comedy. Showtimes: Fri. & Sat. 7 p.m. Sun. 6:30 p.m. $20. Thu., Mar. 5, Sat., Mar. 7, Raleigh Improv, Raleigh. Jeff Boyer Interactive children’s performance. Sun., Mar. 8, 4 p.m. Cary Arts Center, Cary. Nick Cannon Variety show. $25+. Wed., Mar. 11, 8:30 p.m. PNC Arena, Raleigh. Carolina Ballet: A Celebration of Female Choreographers Showtimes: Thu. & Fri.: 8 p.m. Sat.: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Sun.: 2 p.m. $37-93. Mar. 5-22 Fletcher Opera Theater, Raleigh. Chet Chats Comedy. $8. Wed., Mar. 4, 8 p.m. The People’s Improv Theater (PIT), Chapel Hill. Deleted Scenes Comedy. $5. Wed., Mar. 11, 8 p.m. The People’s Improv Theater (PIT), Chapel Hill. Dvimukhi Dance. $19. Sun., Mar. 8, 6:30 p.m. The Cary Theater, Cary. Jon Dore Comedy. Showtimes: Thu.: 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. $21-29. Mar. 5-7. Goodnights Comedy Club, Raleigh. GCA Stand-Up 130 Graduation Showcase Comedy. $10. Wed., Mar. 11, 8 p.m. Goodnights Comedy Club, Raleigh. Ilana Glazer Comedy. $35+. Fri., Mar. 6, 7 p.m. Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham. Graceful Expressions Dance Company: Mary Poppins 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. showtmes. $10-$20. Sat., Mar. 7, Cary Arts Center, Cary. I Go Where I Love: Eurythmy Meets Poetry Showtimes: Fri. & Sat.: 8 p.m. Sun.: 3 p.m. $10- $25. Mar. 6-8. Durham Fruit Company, Durham. Improv Noir Sat., Mar. 7, 9 p.m. Okay Alright, Durham. Les Misérables Musical. Showtimes: Tue.-Thu.: 7:30 p.m. Fri.: 8 p.m. Sat.: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Sun.: 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. $40+. Mar. 10-15. Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham. Sebastian Maniscalco Comedy. Showtimes: Sat.: 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Sun.: 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. $45+. Mar. 7-8. Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham. Monster Jam Monster truck rally. Showtimes: Sat.: 7 p.m. Sun.: 1 p.m. $17+. Mar. 7-8. PNC Arena, Raleigh. Neptunes Comedy March $5. Sun., Mar. 8, 8 p.m. Neptunes Parlour, Raleigh. Paint & Punchlines Comedy. $59. Thu., Mar. 5, 6 p.m. Goodnights Comedy Club, Raleigh. Randy Rainbow Comedy. $35+. Thu., Mar. 5, 8 p.m. Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham. Talk About Funny Comedy. $10. Wed., Mar. 11, 8 p.m. The People’s Improv Theater (PIT), Chapel Hill. John Tole Comedy. $10. Thu., Mar. 5, 7 p.m. Pittsboro Roadhouse & General Store, Pittsboro. Liza Treyger Comedy. Showtimes: Fri. 9:15 p.m. Sat. 9 p.m. Sun. 7 p.m. $15. Mar. 6-8. Raleigh Improv, Raleigh. Venus in Fur Play. Showtimes: Thu.: 7:30 p.m. Fri.: 7:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. Sat.: 8 p.m. $15. Mar. 5-14. Moonlight Stage Company, Raleigh.

Ongoing

Julius Caesar Play. Showtimes: Mar. 4-7, 10-13, 17-21: 7:30 p.m. Mar. 8, 15 and 22: 2 p.m. Mar. 14: 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $15-$64. Through Mar. 22, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Chapel Hill.

page

Tift Merritt will participate in the 13th Annual “Writers for Readers” fundraiser. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ORANGE COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL

SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Writers for Readers Local literati and songwriters come together at this annual Orange County Literacy Council fundraising event, which helps the nonprofit sustain its’ work with adult literacy, ESL classes, and GED and citizenship prep. At this event—the 13th annual—the folklorist Bill Ferris will share the stage with the Grammy-nominated folksinger Tift Merritt and the gospel singer and educator Mary D. Williams in a program titled “Our Universal Language: How Songs Move Us to Read.” Daniel Wallace will emcee the evening, which includes brief performances from the musicians. —Sarah Edwards George Watts Hill Alumni Center, Chapel Hill 4 p.m., $40

Readings Lectures

International Women’s Day Poetry Reading Fri., Mar. 6, 6:30 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Therese Anne Fowler A Good Neighborhood. Tue., Mar. 10, 7 p.m. Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh. Frances Mayes See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy. Tue., Mar. 10, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Melody Moezzi The Rumi Prescription: How an Ancient Mystic Poet Changed My Modern Manic Life. Mon., Mar. 9, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Paper Bag Princess Day Sat., Mar. 7, 10:30 a.m. Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh. David Plouffe A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump. Ticketed event. $30. Sat., Mar. 7, 7 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, Raleigh. Jennie M. Ratcliffe Nothing Lowly in the Universe. Wed., Mar. 4, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Jill Snider Lucean Arthur Headen: The Making of a Black Inventor and Entrepreneur. Thu., Mar. 5, 7 p.m. Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill. Joseph Wheelan Bloody Okinawa: The Last Great Battle of World War II Wed., Mar. 4, 7 p.m. Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh. WhirliKids Book Festival Sat., Mar. 7, 10 a.m. McIntyre’s Books, Pittsboro. 13th Annual Writers for Readers $40. Sun., Mar. 8, 4 p.m. UNC Campus: Carolina Club, Chapel Hill. Linda Ashman The Nuts & Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books. Ticketed event. Register by Feb. 10. $1. Fri., Mar. 6, 7 p.m. McIntyre’s Books, Pittsboro. Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture Series: Rachael Rakes Thu., Mar. 5, 5:30 p.m. Varsity Theatre, Chapel Hill. Liberation Station: Dreaming in Color Sat., Mar. 7, 10:30 a.m. The Durham Hotel, Durham. Periodic Tables: Pet Tabbies, Not Tigers $5. Tue., Mar. 10, 7 p.m. Motorco Music Hall, Durham.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 & SATURDAY, MARCH 7 His Thoughts To honor and celebrate the talent of the late local poet Keenan Gorham, Black Poetry Theatre developed a script that tells “a story of relationships, hope and triumph.” Gorham, who died in 2012, wrote poetry that bridged traditional forms with spoken word and slam poetry; with the latter form allowing him to play with the boundaries of performance and drama. His Thoughts centers on love and power and encourages audience members to dissect their own perspectives on love. —Kyesha Jennings Hayti Heritage Center, Durham 8 p.m. Fri./7:30 p.m. Sat., $15

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EMPLOYMENT Sr. Software Developer - Morrisville Sr. Software Developer sought by Vistronix LLC in Morrisville, NC to work independently & with data curators to create and manage dynamic web applications. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref:18420

FTCC - Director of Facility Services Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following position: Director of Facility Services. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc. peopleadmin.com/ Human Resources Office Phone: (910) 678-7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer

FTCC - Coordinator for Military Business Center Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following position: Coordinator for Military Business Center. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc. peopleadmin.com/ Human Resources Office Phone: (910) 678-7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu. An Equal Opportunity Employer

SERVICES

FINANCIAL Save Big on Home Insurance! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 844-712-6153! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN)

Struggling with your Private Student Loan Payment? New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 888-670-5631 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Eastern) (AAN CAN)

HOME IMPROVEMENT Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-649-1190

Bathroom Renovations EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 877-898-3840

HOUSING

Bolinwood Condominiums Affordability without compromise Convenient to UNC on N bus line 2 & 3 bedroom condominiums for lease www.bolinwoodcondos.com • 919-942-7806

HEALTH &WELLBEING FORSALE

919-416-0675 www.harmonygate.com

HOLISTIC HEALTH

Tai Chi Traditional art of meditative movement for health, energy, relaxation, self-defense. Classes/workshops throughout the Triangle. Magic Tortoise School - Since 1979. Call Jay or Kathleen, 919-360-6419 or www.magictortoise.com

Energy Healing Lynne C. Johnson, Ed.D. Red Hat Qi Gong Practitioner Lynnecjohnson.com 919.928.4100

MEDICAL SERVICES Attention Diabetics! Save money on your diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters and more! To learn more, call now! 855- 667-9944

VACATION RENTALS Spring Travel Special! 7 Day / 6 Night Orlando + Daytona Beach Vacation with Hertz Rental Car Included. Only $398.00. Call 855-898-8912 to Reserve. 12 Months to use. (AAN CAN)

A Place for Mom The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-888-609-2550

Dental Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-844- 496-8601 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ ncpress 6118-0219

Medical Billing & Coding Training New Students Only. Call & Press 1. 100% online courses. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. Call 833-990-0354

MISC.

Work with Kindred Spirits Who are dedicated to guiding you to higher awareness, passion + purpose. Get UNstuck with certified Conscious Coaches - www. mysoulrenity.com - (202) 643-6396 (AAN CAN)

New Authors Wanted! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 888-910-2201

AUCTIONS Auction - Scotland County 214+/-Acres Divided in Scotland County, NC on Calhoun Rd., Online w/Bid Center, Begins Closing 3/24/2020 at 2pm, Inspections at Buyer’s Leisure & Liability, ironhorseauction.com, 800.997.2248, NCAL 3936

Online Real Estate Auction Lake Wylie, Laurinburg, Marston, Peachland, Norwood, Raeford & Red Springs, NC, Begins Closing 3/19/2020 at 2pm, Check our website for Inspection times and days, ironhorseauction.com, 800.997.2248, NCAL 3936

Online Only Auction Entegra 45B Coach, Farm Equipment, Boats, Trucks, Cars, Guns, Fine Art and Much More, Begins Closing 3/11/2020 at 4pm, Check our website for Inspection times and days, ironhorseauction. com, 800.997.2248, NCAL 3936

AUTO

Auto Insurance Starting at $49/Month! Call for your fee rate comparison to see how much you can save! Call: 855- 569-1909. (AAN CAN)

Food & Drink Almanac THE 2020

Hits the stands April 22

Secure your ad space by March 6 Contact Advertising@INDYweek.com

LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

PUZZLES

If you just can’t wait, check out the current week’s answer key at www.indyweek.com, and click “puzzle pages” at the bottom of our webpage.

su | do | ku © Puzzles by Pappocom There is really only one rule to Sudoku: Fill in the game board so that the numbers 1 through 9 occur exactly once in each row, column, and 3x3 box. The numbers can appear in any order and diagonals are not considered. Your initial game board will consist of several numbers that are already placed. Those numbers cannot be changed. Your goal is to fill in the empty squares following the simple rule above. this week’s puzzle level:

If you just can’t wait, check out the current week’s answer key at www.indyweek.com, and click “puzzle pages.” Best of luck, and have fun! www.sudoku.com

3.04.20

E S C A P E T O ASHEVILLE

FOR THE JAPANESE ART OF DEEP RELAXATION

• On March 7, 1914, George Herman “Babe” Ruth,

Jr. hit his first home run as a professional baseball player in Fayetteville. • On March 8, 1705, Bath was incorporated. Bath was the first incorporated town in the colony of NC.

Courtesy of the Museum of Durham History

THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR SPA

P R I V A T E S A LT T U B S , M A S S A G E , C E D A R S A U N A , T U B S I D E T E A S E R V I C E , OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS

8 2 8 •299•0999 S H O J I R E T R E A T S . C O M

ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES IN CHAPEL HILL

Community Arts & Culture seeks Triangle area creatives for a variety of projects. Calls vary in media + include stipends for selected artists.

Learn more + apply at chapelhillarts.org/applications.

A documentary by award-winning filmmaker John DeGraaf "Good for the planet, our economy, our security, and most importantly, our happiness" Thursday, March 5 2:00 pm- 3:30 pm Durham South Regional Library 4505 S. Alston Ave Free Screening / Q & A to follow with refreshments Sponsored by VillageHearthCohousing.com

919-286-1916 @hunkydorydurham We buy records. Now serving dank beer.

DANCE CLASSES IN LINDY HOP, SWING, BLUES At Carrboro ArtsCenter. Private lessons available. RICHARD BADU, 919-724-1421, rbadudance@gmail.com

WHAT IS THIS?

Well, it’s not an ad, but you’re still reading it! Contact Amanda at classy@indyweek.com to place YOUR ad

ADVERTISE WITH

Contact advertising@indyweek.com or John Hurld at 919-286-1972

Upcoming Special Issues

Mar 11 Mar 18 Mar 25 Apr 1 Apr 22

Beer Madness Winners

Triangle Finds: Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Hillsborough

Camp Guide #2

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919-286-1916 @hunkydorydurham We buy records. Now serving dank beer. Weekly deadline 4pm Friday classy@indyweek.com