A ceremony at Davidson College's sculpture garden Thursday will dedicate "Group of Ten" by Magdelena Abakanowicz. (Cathryn Westra photo)

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The unveiling of a new work of art on the Davidson College campus, a day of fine Italian dining for a good cause, a day of painting (followed with an evening of dinner) and performances of “In The Blood” at Davidson College highlight the weekend’s events around the area. Lake Norman YMCA has middle-schoolers night out Friday. And a variety of pre-Easter events also are on tap, including an egg-dyeing workshop at Rural Hill, the annual Hop into Spring festival at Bailey Road Park in Cornelius, and a visit from the Easter Bunny in Mooresville.

Davidson College will dedicate an outdoor sculpture — “Group of Ten,” created by renowned Polish artist Magdelena Abakanowicz — on Thursday afternoon in front of the college’s E.H. Little Library. And all day Thursday, Campania Cafe and Trattoria in downtown Davidson will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Jimmy V Foundation — a cancer research foundation named after the late N.C. State men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano. Read the full story

Suzan-Lori Parks (Nicki Pardo photo)

Davidson College’s theater department this week is presenting a production of “In the Blood,” a sort of modern “Scarlet Letter” tale by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. And Ms. Parks will be on campus Tuesday, April 3, for two public events. Also this week, students from Community School of Davidson High School are presenting their first 10-minute play festival, “I See You, Do You See Me?” Read the full story

Cast members of Community School of Davidson's 10-minute play festival, "I See You, Do You See Me?" include, from left, Rebecca Kuzmanovich, Cathryn Kinser, and Ashley Ernest. The show runs March 29-31.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

A pair of plays carrying a message, a day of fine Italian cookies for a cause, and a look at the works of Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini highlight this week’s activities and events around the area.

“In The Blood,” a modern-day take on “The Scarlet Letter” written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan Lori-Parks, opens a five-performance run on Wednesday night at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall. The play runs through Sunday. Read the full story

Opening at Our Town Cinemas.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Lectures by a local author working to change perceptions of beauty, the editor of one of the world’s most influential newspapers, and an expert on Islam as both a religion and a culture highlight the weekend’s activities in and around Davidson. The Davidson Farmer’s Market hosts its final winter tailgate market Saturday before the start of the regular season. And “Stones in His Pockets” wraps up its run at Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius.

Meanwhile, “The Hunger Games” opens at area theaters, including Our Town Cinemas, where Thursday midnight shows are already sold out. On Friday, they’ll host an autograph session at 6 p.m. with area residents who snagged jobs as extras on the locally-filmed movie. Read the full story

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

A Revolutionary War Encampment at Legion Park in Cornelius, a celebration of the upcoming birthday of composer Johann Sebastian Bach, documentary film screenings, and a lecture on the fact and fiction surrounding Islam highlight the week’s activities on our community calendar. “Stones in His Pockets” continues on stage at Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius, while Davidson College hosts its annual Media Conference Saturday, as well as a lecture by N.Y. Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson. Read the full story

Paintings by Nathaniel Rogers: at left, "Nailed" and right, "The King Is Dead"

An exhibit of oil paintings by Davidson College art professor Nathaniel Rogers will open with a reception Wednesday night, March 14, at 7 p.m. in the Van Every Gallery of the Belk Visual Arts Center at Davidson College. The exhibit, “Secret Things, Tiny Rituals,” includes 20 paintings depicting figures in fairy-tale or theatrical settings, but in the midst of unexpected behavior, such as setting fires, shooting weapons, or using knives or hammers.

Read the full story