What to do in SoCal Arts and Culture This Week (July 27 – August 2)
Remember the “before times” when we could safely gather together in public for a shared experience? This week’s column is dedicated to live performances and literary events that are still happening, but in a much different format. The Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli performs two streaming sets for a worldwide audience. Musician and author Chris Frantz talks about the Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and his wife, Tina. And PEN’s Emerging Voices Fellows hold their final reading. Read on for all the details.
Friday, July 31 at 4 p.m.
Diavolo | Architecture in Motion — This Is Me: Letters from the Front Lines
The Los Angeles-based dance company Diavolo was founded in 1992 by Jacques Heim, combining dance, theater and film with his passion for architecture. “This is Me: Letters from the Front Lines” marks the company’s fourth engagement with The Soroya at CalState Northridge and its first as an online performance. The dance film explores themes of isolation and retrospection by following veterans and first responders as they share what it means to be a true warrior on the front lines, fighting the invisible enemy that we’re all currently battling. Catch the film’s streaming on The Soraya's Facebook Page. Free.
Tuesday, July 28 at 6 p.m.
Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) in conversation with Jeff Garlin
Book Soup presents an evening with Chris Frantz, who discusses his memoir, “Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, and Tina,” with comedian Jeff Garlin. Frantz co-founded the band Talking Heads with his then-girlfriend Tina Weymouth and David Byrne as frontman/lead singer. While the Talking Heads might not still be together, Weymouth and Frantz still are: The duo have been married since 1977. The session will be streamed via Crowdcast and is free with RSVP.
Tuesday, July 28 at 5 p.m.
PEN Emerging Voices 2020 Reading
PEN America is an organization at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression. Its Emerging Voices Fellowship, which is based in L.A., has been providing up-and-coming writers from underrepresented groups mentorships to help launch their professional careers. This live, online reading features the program’s 2020 fellows — writers Damien Belliveau, Megan Dorame, Shannon Gatewood, M. Kiguwa and Claire Lin — reading together for the last time as a cohort. Mentors Chris L. Terry, Vanessa Angélica Villarreal, Rachel M. Harper, Antonia Crane and Charles Yu will provide personal introductions of each writer. The free program will be streamed through the Hammer Museum’s website, but an RSVP is required.
Saturday, Aug. 1 at 12 p.m.
Deep Forest Art Exhibition Opening
Giant Robot’s GR2 Gallery in Sawtelle opens the group show, “Deep Forest" with a tour via Instagram Live. View the art of more than two dozen artists including Cassia Lupo, Defective Pudding, Gigi Chen, Hooked Hands, Kevin Luong, Nikki Longfish, Theo Ellsworth and Thinh Nguyen. The show will be available for viewing through Sept. 2. Free.
Saturday, Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT
Greg Dulli: Live from Gold Diggers
Greg Dulli is best known as the frontman of the veteran rock band The Afghan Whigs. He’s performing live from the L.A. hotel-bar-music space Gold Diggers, debuting material from his recent solo record, “Random Desire,” as well as songs from his back catalog. The first set is primarily for U.K. and European fans (8 p.m. GMT), with the later set for North American audiences. Tickets from $12.
Top Image: “This Is Me: Letters from The Front Lines,” a dance film from Diavolo, captures the resilience, determination, and hope of the human spirit. | George Simian