Arts Blog

The problem with cinematic or on-stage adaptations of literary works is that they destroy the mind’s eye. They tend to obliterate the sights and sounds you create when you read. But not always.

Even though it was on stage before a packed house, the reading of "Revival: The Resurrection of Son House" was a wonderful interpretation of Keith Glover’s play on the life of the Delta blues legend. The cast’s reading and subsequent subtle facial and body inflections were brilliant, adding to the story without crowding what each and every audience member brought with them.

The actor who played House, the Tony Award-winning Cleavant Derricks, literally wrung himself out on stage as he took on House’s struggle with good and evil. It came off as his own struggle. Derricks and the rest of the cast served the story with gentile affectation and humor, and I was frequently brought to the brink of tears.

My one and only disappointment on an otherwise perfect night was the play’s ending where it seemed good triumphed over evil. I was rooting for the devil ... or at least a cliff-hanger.

Rochester's oldest graffiti crew moved its annual celebration from North Clinton Avenue to the Abandoned Subway this year, in part because of the discussion about closing off the Court Street entrance with a development project.

Krew members invited locals and guests from New York City, Buffalo, Ithaca, Syracuse, and beyond to get down on Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9.

Here are some highlight shots, but you should definitely make it down to the venue to see the art for yourself.

Slideshow FUA Krew BBoy BBQ 2015

30 slides

FUA Krew BBoy BBQ 2015

By Rebecca Rafferty

Click to View 30 slides

It's shaping up to be a lovely, mild day, and weather seems like it'll hold steady through the evening. The following highlights are just a few of the art openings offered tonight for First Friday; check out more options listed at firstfridayrochester.org and in our calendar. All events run 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and are free to attend unless otherwise stated.

Head over to Cat Clay (Hungerford Building, 1115 East Main Street, door 2, suite 242) for "Live Now and Prosper," a fun group show featuring work by 15 talented artists, co-curated by Clifton Wood & The Knotty Owl. To honor the annual Perseid meteor showers (August 11 to 14), the art will celebrate the unknown. The event is a one-night-only reception and closing party as part of Cat Clay's Pop Up Roc series, and takes place 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 414-5643, or visit catclay.com.

"The Disillusionment of Dreams, a solo exhibition" of 27 new and recent paintings by Bradley Butler opens tonight at Geisel Gallery (1 Bausch & Lomb Place, floor 2). In these paintings on canvas and paper, Butler takes an intuitive approach to mark making and abstraction. The reception takes place 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the show will remain on view through August 29. For more information, call 967-6717 or visit thegeiselgallery.com.

‪It's been about a year since Shawnee Hill's "Eveningstar" mural went up on the side of Fuego Coffee (167 Liberty Pole Way) during last year's WALL\THERAPY festival. Tonight, she returns with "Eveningstar Revisited," which opens 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For more information and to preview the darkly beautiful drawings and paintings, visit facebook.com/shawneehill.

Check out new paintings and drawings by Carley Brown, Mike Sweeney, and Jamie Lowes at AMoR (610 Monroe Avenue). The reception takes place 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the show will continue through the end of August. For more information call 615-9015 or visit artmuseumofrochester.com.

City will be out and about tonight to see the sights. Follow @roccitynews on Instagram to check out the art.

Following the end of the East End Music Festival’s 25-year run, a smaller City Celebration event is set to step in as a replacement on Friday, August 14.

The event will feature live music from local acts Dave Matthews tribute band Big Eyed Phish, roots rock group The Barry Brothers, and The Zac Brown Tribute Band on a single stage at the intersection of East Avenue and Scio Street. The City Celebration event will differ from the East End Festival in several ways, but perhaps most notable is the elimination of an entrance fee.

“There will be no cover,” says Michael O’Leary, event organizer and owner of Temple Bar & Grille. “The goal is to get everybody to check out the local bars and restaurants in the East End.”

With that in mind, the City Celebration will sacrifice food trucks and vendors. However, O'Leary hopes that, if the event is successful, City Celebrations will take place on three or four nights throughout the year in the future.

City Celebration begins at 6 p.m. in Rochester's East End.