Our weekend calendar in and around Davidson offers a wide variety of choices. A reception tonight opens a new exhibit of sculpture by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz at Davidson College’s Visual Arts Center. Also, Denzel Washington’s new film “Book of Eli” opens Friday at Our Town Cinema’s. It’s described as “a post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.”

On Thursday night, Lake Norman Transportation Commission, which includes public officials from Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville, holds its monthly meeting at Davidson Town Hall. Also, keep an eye out for fund-raisers and aid drives around town to help earthquake victims in Haiti. (See our coverage under the “Haiti” tag.)

Davidson Community Players’ run of “Almost, Maine” continues this weekend at Spirit Square in Charlotte, while “Grease” is on stage at Bailey Middle School. And Davidson Historical Society presents a program Sunday afternoon on African American church history.

DavidsonNews.net’s calendars are updated continuously. Check back daily for additions and changes. Check back daily for updates, and come back Monday when our This Week calendar helps you plan the week ahead.

SCULPTURE: FIGURES BY ABAKANOWICZ

A sculpture exhibit that Davidson College is calling one of its most ambitious ever opens this week at the college’s Van Every/Smith Galleries, in the Belk Visual Arts Center at Griffith and Main streets. From Jan. 15 to Feb. 26 Davidson will host the work of contemporary Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz, one of the most influential artists of the last 50 years.

“She’s certainly the most important female artist of her generation,” Davidson art professor and sculpture Cort Savage said in an announcement on the college website. “She brought fiber arts into the mainstream of sculpture, and brought the human figure back to art in the 1970s when it was emerging from minimalism.”

The show includes 19 works that focus on the themes of humans and nature from Ms. Abakanowicz’s last two decades of production.

The exhibition opens tonight, Thursday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. with a talk about Ms. Abakanowicz and her work by Joseph A. Becherer, founding director and curator of the sculpture program at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich. He also serves as professor of art history at Aquinas College, and has worked on several major exhibitions of Abakanowicz’s work. The talk and reception are free. Gallery hours and other info under “Galleries” below.

WEEKEND OF JAN. 14-17.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14 , 6:30 p.m., Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Lake Norman Transportation Commission monthly meeting. http://lakenormantrans.org/ More info in our Jan. 12 news item.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14 7 p.m., Cannon School Foundation Hall, 5801 Poplar Tent Road, Concord – Parents with middle school-age children are invited to attend a session on “Successful College Planning” that will feature expert advice on preparing middle school children for college and beyond. For more details and to RSVP,
see the school website.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14, 7-9 p.m., Davidson College Belk Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – Gallery talk by sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz, whose work is the subject of an exhibit Jan. 15 to Feb. 26. Details about the exhibit under Galleries & Art Events below.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: Billy Jones & The Pocket. Info: 704-895-9090.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14, 8 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St. – Live music: TBA. Details: 704-987-2022.

FRIDAY, JAN. 15, noon, flagpole outside Chambers Hall, Davidson College – community Moment of Silence for Haiti quake victims.

FRIDAY, JAN. 15, 6:30 p.m., Campania Cafe, 416 S. Main St. – Guitarist Clyde Derberry will be playing in the dining room during the restaurant’s “Helping Haiti” fund-raiser. Campania will be accepting donations and donating a portion of its sales this weekend to the International Medical Corps. www.campaniacafe.com

FRIDAY, JAN. 15, 8-11pm, Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: Mike Strauss Trio. Info: 704-895-9090

FRIDAY, JAN. 15, 8 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St. – Live music: TBA. Details: 704-987-2022.

SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Davidson Housing Coalition office, 220 Sloan St. – “Are you thinking of buying a home?” an all-day homebuyer education program. Info:704-892-4486, or web: www.davidsonhousing.org/homebuyered.html

SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 10 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Chapel, 304 S. Main St. – Davidson Women’s Aglow meeting, with worship and praise led by singer-songwriter Anjie Carpenter. Also, bring your gently used warm winter clothes (coats, hats, mufflers, gloves, blankets, etc.) for donation to a women’s shelter. Coffee and fellowship starts at 9:30, the meeting starts at 10. For more information, call Carol at 704-892-8235. For information about AGLOW, visit www.aglow.org

SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 6:30 p.m., Campania Cafe, 416 S. Main St. – Guitarist Greg Griffin will be playing in the dining room as part of Campania’s restaurant’s “Helping Haiti” fund-raising weekend. Campania will be accepting donations and donating a portion of its sales this weekend to the International Medical Corps. www.campaniacafe.com

SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: Not a Sparrow. Info: 704-895-9090

SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 8 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St. – Live music: TBA. Details: 704-987-2022.

SUNDAY, JAN. 17, 4 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church Congregation House, 218 Concord Road – Davidson Historical Society meeting with a program on the “American-American Museum of Church History.” Pearlie Borders will talk about the history of Mt. Olive Baptist Missionary Church (est. 1868) on Neck Road in Huntersville, which is renovating a 1916 house across the street to be an African-American Museum of Church History. www.davidsonhistoricalsociety.org

THEATER AND FILM

THURSDAY TO SATURDAY, JAN. 14-16, 8 p.m., SUNDAY, JAN. 17, 2 p.m., Duke Energy Theatre, 345 N. College St., Charlotte – Davidson Community Players re-stage their recent production of “Almost, Maine,” about the residents of a mythical Maine town who find themselves falling in and out of love in unxpected and often hilarious ways. For information call: 704-892-7953 or visit www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

FRIDAY, JAN. 15, 7 p.m., and SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 1 p.m., Bailey Middle School cafetorium, 11900 Bailey Road, Cornelius – Bailey 7th and 8th graders perform the Tony Award-winning musical “Grease.” Tickets $2 at the door. Food available.

JAN. 22, 23, 24, Barber Theatre, Cunningham Theatre Center, Davidson College. Davidson Community Players, the connie company and the Davidson College Department of Theatre present “Annavel & the Funny Little Man,” A Rumpelstiltskin Tale. For tickets call Davidson Community Players at 704-892-7953.

MARCH 23-28, Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – The Davidson College Theatre Department’s 2009-10 Mainstage Series concludes with “Leading Ladies,” by Ken Ludwig, directed by theater professor Mark Sutch. Performances March 24-25 at 7:30 p.m., March 26-27 at 8 p.m., and March 28 at 2 p.m. Admission $15, seniors $11, faculty/staff $9, students $6. Details: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets

OUR TOWN CINEMAS, Sadler Square shopping center, off Griffith Street – Fri. Jan. 15 to Thu. Jan. 21 – Book of Eli (R) – Fri & Sat – 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:55; Sun – Thurs – 1:50, 4:30, 7:15; Leap Year (PG) – Fri & Sat – 1:40, 4:45, 7:30, 9:50; Sun – Thurs – 1:40, 4:45, 7:30; Sherlock Holmes (PG13) – Fri & Sat – 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:45; Sun -Thurs – 1:30, 4:15, 7:00; It’s Complicated (R) – Fri & Sat – 1:25, 4:05, 6:45, 9:25; Sun – Thurs – 1:25, 4:05, 6:45. Advance tickets also on sale for “Up in the Air” and “The Tooth Fairy,” opening Jan. 22. Box office opens daily 1 p.m. Reservations: 704-237-3238.

GALLERIES & ART EVENTS

MONDAYS, 6-9 p.m., Creative Art Exchange, Cornelius – open figure drawing sessions, hosted by David Smith. $10 model fee. Contact davidbsmith@bellsouth.net to be added to the notification list.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14, 7-9 p.m., Davidson College Belk Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – Opening reception and gallery talk for an exhibit of a decade of work by sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz. Exhibit runs Jan. 15 to Feb. 26. Details under Davidson College galleries listing below.

DAVIDSON COLLEGE BELK VISUAL ART CENTER, Main and Griffith streets – Jan. 15 to Feb. 26: sculpture by Magdalena Abakanowicz. Gallery talk and reception Thurs., Jan. 14, 7-9 p.m. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 10 am – 5 pm, Sat./Sun., noon to 4 p.m. Direction sand details on the college website.

CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER/COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECT, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., behind the police station, Cornelius – JAN. 4-FEB. 26Works by Gordon C. James at Community Arts Project and Cornelius Town Hall. Artist reception Jan. 29. The exhibit is presented by The Town of Cornelius Department of Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture (PARC) with The Community Arts Project. For information call: 704-896-8823 or visit www.corneliusartscenter.org. Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info, contact the Cornelius Arts Center online at corneliusartscenter.org or Details: 704-896-8823.

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE, gallery in South Main Square, 442 S. Main St. – Through Jan. 8 – 2009 Small Works Exhibit and Sale. Works will be on display daily during business hours. Details: 704-620-4450 or www.lknart.org.

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERIES, 463 S. Main St. – Hours: Mon-Fri 10–5, Sat 10–3. For more information call 704-895-1213 and visit the website at www.merrilljennings.com

DAVIDSON TOWN HALL Atrium Gallery, 216 S. Main St. – Paintings by Jane Ellithorpe. Open weekdays during Town Hall hours, and other times during Town Hall events.

SUMMIT COFFEE, upstairs walls, 128 S. Main St. – Through Jan. 31: “Through the Lens,” photos and photo creations by Marisa Cohen. On view during Summit Coffee regular hours.

CHRISTA FAUT GALLERY, 19818 North Cove Road, Jetton Village, Cornelius – Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment. Information: www.christafautgallery.com or 704-892-5312.

ARTWORKS ON MAIN, 165 N. Main St., Mooresville – Gallery hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Joyce Wynes will be showing her newest paintings through the end of January. Information: artworksonmain.com or 704-664-2414.

WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – Functional fine art and hand-made objects. Gallery hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m. 704-892-1449 . www.woodenstonegallery.com.

SANCTUARY GALLERY, 108 S. Main St. (next to Village Store) – Fine art and handmade crafts by local artists. Gallery hours: Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

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Library programs Davidson public library branch, on the Village Green, has a variety of programs for kids and adults. Check out as the list is updated on the library’s blog, CLICK HERE> Cornelius public library branch also has a blog. Programs there are open to all as well. To read it, CLICK HERE> School calendar Read more about key dates in local schools, from fund-raisers to theater to seminars, in Laurie Dennis’s most recent School Notes, CLICK HERE>.

• MONDAY, JAN. 18 – Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Public offices closed, transit running on weekend schedule. Davidson College hosts a variety of activities, including a King Day for Kids, speech by former NC Chief Justice Henry Frye, and a fireside chat with Charlotte Mayor and alumnus Anthony Foxx. See our Jan. 14 news item.
• TUESDAY, JAN. 19, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Main St. – Jacqueline Yost, Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Concord, plays music by Frescobaldi, Bach, Sweelinck and others. It’s the next concert in the Organ at Davidson series. See www.dcpc.org, or call 704-892-5641 for details.
• WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 6-7:15 p.m., Davidson Parks & Recreation, 416 Armour St. – Davidson Toastmasters public speaking group holds an open house for prospective members. The club helps those in business, PTA, churches, or anyone who wants help becoming a better speaker. Details: Read more in our Jan. 12 news item, “Hone your speaking skills at Davidson Toastmasters.”
• THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 6:30 p.m., Davidson IB auditorium, 251 South Street – Davidson IB will host an information meeting for eighth graders and their parents focusing on IB at the high school level. All eighth graders and their parents are invited. Seventh graders and their parents wanting to get a jump on the process are also welcome.
• THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 6:30 p.m., River Run Country Club – Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. Chamber officers and members will to celebrate the past year and give out annual awards. Keynote speaker: former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. Meeting includes the installation of the Lake Norman Chamber’s 2010 chairman, Davidson lawyer Bob McIntosh.
• THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Davidson College – An Evening with auto racing executive Humpy Wheeler, a fund-raiser for Davidson College Catholic Campus Ministry. More info: Tom Cotter: 704-905-9365 or davidsonccm@gmail.com
• SATURDAY, JAN. 23, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., downtown Davidson next to Town Hall – Davidson Farmers Market Tailgate Market, with local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. Open every other Saturday this winter. For more information: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. DavidsonNews.net is pleased to be a sponsor of the Davidson Farmers Market.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 23, 6:30 p.m., Peninsula Club, Cornelius – Annual Ice gala, to benefit the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. Tickets $100 per person, available at www.adajenkins.org/ice or by calling 704-896-0471 ext. 102.
• MONDAY, FEB. 1, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St., Davidson – Parks & Recreation Advisory Board hosts a meeting to solicit input on issues related to off-leash dogs in town parks.The public is encouraged to attend to share their views. The focus will be on developing some public education, creating an interest group to develop off-leash facilities, and receiving input about concerns regarding the town ordinances and leash laws.
• SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Building, Lilly Family Gallery – Davidson Housing Coalition’s 6th annual Souper Bowl cook-off and fund-raiser. Also, silent auction. Tickets $10 Adults, $8 Students (12 and up), $5 Children. Prices increase at the door. For tickets, call 704-892-4486. davidsonhousing.org/
• MONDAY, FEB. 8, 10 p.m. – Deadline for parents to submit applications for enrolling in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools magnet programs for 2010-11. Applications accepted online. For more information, click here to get to the CMS Magnet Programs website.
• TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010, Davidson College – Davidson Horticultural Symposium “Through the Seasons: A Southern Garden’s Journey.” With Allan Armitage, Pam Baggett, Robin Ripley, W. Gary Smith, William Welch. Details: www.davidsonsymposium.org.
• SATURDAY, APRIL 17, Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St. – Second annual Fire BBQ and 5K run. The 5 K will be held at Ada Jenkins first thing in the morning, followed by a BBQ sale, BBQ competition and food from area restaurants. More details as the date gets closer. www.adajenkins.org

GROUPS AND ONGOING EVENTS

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LAKE NORMAN TEEN COUNCIL – Want to meet new friends or have something fun to do that looks great on your college application? Join our newly established LKN Teen Council for middle and high school students. Provides service projects, workshops, campus cruises, and teen trips. Upcoming: holiday festivals, service projects, state youth conferences, and more. Limited to 40 teens so don’t miss your chance. Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month 6:30 p.m., for pre-meeting activity, then 7:15 p.m. meeting. At Davidson Parks & Recreation office, 416 Armour St. Supported by the Parks and Recreation Departments of Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville. Details: 704-892-3349 or visit the town website.

JUST MOVED – A 13-week group for folks who are new to the area or who want to connect with others, began Sept. 10. New to the area? Not really new, but still feel new? Learn to laugh again. Meet some great new friends. Get acquainted with the Lake Norman area. Debbie Lovvorn and Janet Mowery will facilitate this 13-week group for women new to the area. The group will meet Thursdays from 10–11:45 a.m. in Room 216/218 of the Alexander Education Building of Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 South Main Street, Davidson. Register by calling the church office at 704-892-8277 .

ADOPTION SUPPORT GROUP, began Sept. 8, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St. The group will meet twice monthly to offer education, fellowship, support, and family fun for those considering, in the process of or at home with adopted children. Register and request child care by calling the church office, 704-892-8277 . Questions? Call Cheryl Mahony at 704-895-8043 .

MS SUPPORT GROUP – Meets third Friday of the month at 10 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church, Room 218. It’s a casual round-table discussion for those facing life with MS.

50+ COFFEE CLUB, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, Davidson Parks & Recreation office, 416 Armour St. – Join the 50-Plus Coffee Club, meeting every Wednesday. It’s a relaxing social environment where you can meet old and new friends. Coffee, games, newspapers and pastries provided. No registration required, just show up! Info: 704-892-3349 .

CHRONIC AND LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP, first and third Wednesdays each month, 7-8:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Congregation Care House, 262 South St. – Individuals coping with an illness or who have family members coping with an illness welcome. Call the church office at 704-892-8277 to register and request child care. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Questions? Contact Karen Gray, Director of Congregational Care, at 704-947-0612 .

SEPARATION AND DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP, Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Congregation Care House, 262 South St. – Facilitators Mark and Gayle Olenik provide resources to help you cope and work toward a new beginning. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Call the church office at 704-892-8277 to register and request child care.

NOW WHAT? GRIEF BEYOND THE FIRST YEAR, second Saturday each month, 9:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Congregational Care House, 262 South St. – If you are coping with the loss of a loved one for one year or more, we welcome you to join. Janet McKee and Bryan Readling will facilitate. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Register by calling the church office at 704-892-8277 . Questions? Contact Karen Gray, Director of Congregational Care, at 704-947-0612 .

CALENDARS ON THE WEB

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DAVIDSON COLLEGE – For an up-to-date listing of events on the college campus, visit the college calendar page.

DAVIDSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – http://http://www.davidsonumc.org/Calendar

DAVIDSON COLLEGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – http://www.dcpc.org/

DAVIDSON ELEMENTARY PTA calendar, http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/davidsonpta/calendar/

DAVIDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH events – Events calendar on the library’s blog davidsonlibrary.wordpress.com/.

NORTH COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY events, Huntersville – Events calendar, www.plcmc.org

ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH online calendar – http://www.saintalbans-davidson.org/

ST. ALBAN’S SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD – http://www.stalbanssq.org/calendar.html

LAKE NORMAN SENIOR CALENDAR, at LKNSenior.com

YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTOR – online listing of alternative and holistic health information and events. http://www.yourcommunityconnector.com/

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT Send listings and press releases to us at editor@davidsonnews.net. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number, in case we have questions.