IN THE OPEN AIR

Painters will converge on Olmsted Park for annual event

On April 16, Historic Oakland Foundation’s Arts at Oakland program returns for one evening only with Illumine: Art and Light in the Gardens. The cemetery’s Victorian-era gardens will transform into an outdoor gallery aglow with light installations made by artist and gardener Cooper Sanchez, as well as a trio of local artists.

The twilight tour begins at the cemetery’s main gate and is a self-guided jaunt through the gardens. Sanchez’s light boxes and backlit molds use pressed plants, beeswax, cyanotype prints, drawings and glass to reflect the architecture, botanicals and history of Atlanta’s oldest municipal burial ground.

Performances from The

Proceeds from Illumine will benefit Historic Oakland Foundation, which works to preserve, restore, enhance and share Oakland Cemetery.

The second annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational returns to Olmsted Linear Park in Druid Hills from April 25 to May 1.

Plein air painters produce art from life “in the open air,” (as opposed to in the studio). Master artists from across the United States and internationally are invited by a selection jury to compete for The Olmsted Award and a generous purse.

This year, 36 highly recognized artists will paint at locations around Atlanta, including the Atlanta History Center, The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park, then culminating in Olmsted Linear Park. The resulting original works of art will be on display as the jury chooses winners.

Programming for this year’s event also includes demonstrations, workshops, exhibits, lectures, a Maypole Celebration, plein air-inspired poetry readings and more.

The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational Paint Quick is open to any artist with $20 and ambition on May Day. For two hours participants will paint original work in Olmsted Linear Park. The Quick Paint event culminates in an outdoor exhibition and sale. For details about invited artists and a schedule of events, visit olmstedpleinair.com.

The tour culminates at Oakland Cemetery’s recently erected Beaumont Allen Greenhouse, which will serve as a pop-up gallery featuring works from Macon-based painter Charles Ladson; Elizabeth Ingram, Design Director of Chef Ford Fry’s restaurants; and filmmaker Steve Bransford.

Gates open at 6 p.m., and general admission tickets to Illumine are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. A VIP “Illuminati” package for $75 includes admission for one, a limited-edition event poster, two drink vouchers and a specially prepared box dinner from Chef Brian Horn of JCT Kitchen & Bar. Tickets must be purchased in advance at ticketalternative.com.

Visual Arts

Creatures of Light: Explore the natural phenomenon of “living light” with an array of organisms - from the flickering fireflies in the backyard to the deep-sea fishes in the oceans’ darkest depths - at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Daily. $16 to $18. Fernbankmuseum.org

Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum & Hall of Fame/Turner Field Tours: This museum features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team’s history and is the starting point for guided tours of Turner Field. Daily. $5 to $17. mlb.com/atl/ ballpark/tours

Performing Arts

The Light In The Piazza: Themes of sacrifice, destiny and the effervescence of first love ripple through this lush period musical performed by Theatrical Outfit. Starts April 14. $20 to $50. theatricaloutfit.org

Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story: As BeBe and CeCe Winans encounter fame, fortune, and even a young Whitney Houston, BeBe must learn to balance his desire for success with his true calling in this show by Alliance Theatre. Starts April 13. $20 to $68. alliancetheatre.org

The New South: The aim of this exhibit at Kai Lin Art is to bring attention to the hub of artistic activity currently happening in the South, and to celebrate the largely versatile and exciting medium of paper. Opens April 8. Free. kailinart.com

Talking Drum: Visit the Center for Civil and Human Rights to see this exhibit by Fahamu Pecou that showcases the intersection of black popular culture and social justice. Daily. $10 to $15. civilandhumanrights.org

Fashion in Good Taste: The elegant and historic Swan House provides a unique backdrop to this fashion exhibition showcasing examples from the extensive textile collection of the Atlanta History Center. Opens April 7. $11 to $16.50. atlantahistorycenter.com

Reciprocity: This exhibition by Atlanta-based South African artist Erika Hibbert includes selected works from three different series on view at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Monday through Saturday. $5. callanwolde.org

Negative Space in Handmade Paper: Picturing the Void: A collection of 19 compelling artworks by 22 artists, this portfolio on view at Robert C. Williams Paper Museum investigates an intriguing concept: Negative Space. Monday through Friday. Free. ipst.gatech.edu/amp

To Pass through and Be Gone: Works from Private Collection of William Arnett: Visit Hammonds House Museum to see this exhibit of works by vernacular artists. Wednesday through Sunday. $5. hammondshouse.org

Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Troy Davis Project: In this play at Synchronicity Theatre, playwright Lee Nowell explores conflicts surrounding the Troy Davis case through the diverse experiences of her characters. Starts April 8. $23 to $38. synchrotheatre.com

Tracy Morgan - Picking Up The Pieces Tour: Multi-talented comedian Tracy Morgan is back at it, and the audience for this show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre can look forward to him doing what he does best: making people laugh. April 30. $35 to $55. cobbenergycentre.com

Beauty & The Beast: Center for Puppetry Arts presents this fun and funky adaptation of the classic tale in which trash is turned into treasure and true love prevails in a modern day city complete with alley cats, beauty shops and exercise videos. Starts April 7. $20.50. puppet.org

Twyla Tharp’s The Princess & the Goblin: Take the family on an incredible adventure into the kingdom of the goblins where a young heroine must call upon friends, family and her own courage to perform a daring rescue in this performance by Atlanta Ballet. April 15 through 17. $20 to $127. atlantaballet.com

A Night with Janis Joplin: This show at the Fox Theatre is a musical journey celebrating Janis Joplin and her biggest musical influences. April 17. $35.50 to $76. foxtheatre.org

Bill Cain’s Equivocation: In this show by Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Shagspeare and his actors are confronted with a moral dilemma when they are commissioned to write the “true historie” of a 1605 terrorist plot and discover a coverup by the King. Starts April 23. $15 to $39. shakespearetavern.com

Ragtime: Set in turn-of-the-century New York, the stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold in this performance at the Cobb Energy Centre. April 23 and 24. $41 to $61. cobbenergycentre.com

Serial Black Face: Set in 1979 amid the Atlanta Child Murders, Actor’s Express presents this story of a single mother coping with the disappearance of her young son and struggling to move on with her teenage daughter when a handsome stranger enters her life. April 2 through 24. $20 to $40. actorsexpress.com

Poliça: An offshoot of Minneapolis, Minnesota’s prolific Gayngs collective, electro-pop outfit Poliça features singer Channy Leaneagh and producer Ryan Olson as its core members in this concert at Terminal West. April 29. $16. terminalwestatl.com

Designing Women Live: OnStage Atlanta’s “Designing Women Live #10” episodes include “Big Haas and Little Falsie” and “The Candidate.” April 1 through 10. $25 to $28. onstageatlanta.com

Emory Dance Company Spring Concert: Under the direction of George Staib, student choreographers create new group works showcased in this dance performance at Emory. April 14-16. $6 to $10. dance.emory.edu

SweetWater 420 Festival: Sponsored by SweetWater Brewing Company, this threeday event features bands from all around the country, tons of vendors and delicious food at Centennial Olympic Park. April 22 through 24. $89 to $138. sweetwater420fest.com

Sex With Strangers: Presented by Horizon Theatre, this sensuous and provocative comedy about fame, cyber identity and big ambition asks: what would you do, and who would you become, to get what you want? April 1 through 24. $15 to $35. horizontheatre.com

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: Celebrating 40 years as an international dance sensation, this all-male troupe blends humor with athletic artistry in this performance at the Ferst Center filled with parody and virtuosic technique. April 9 and 10. $22 to $46. arts.gatech.edu/ferstcenter

KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities: Step into the curio cabinet of an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him in this Cirque du Soleil show at Atlantic Station. Tuesday through Sunday. $35 to $295. cirquedusoleil.com.