Art Notes

With the craziness of the holidays (mostly) over with for another year, it seems there is a promising start to the new year. In these anxiety-provoking times perhaps one can take heart in a variety of openings and art shows.

Fleming theater on tap for May

Heading to a movie theater on Fleming Island to see a flick on Christmas Day wasn't an option this year, but keep it in mind for the 2009 holidays.

Jacksonville Players play their way to the top

The came. They saw. They conquered. What else would you expect?

JU professor named Music Awards finalist

Jacksonville University jazz professor John Ricci is one of five finalists in the eighth annual Independent Music Awards' jazz song category.

Solo exhibit of paintings kicks off '09

A new year, new art. Flux Studio/Gallery, 1011 Park St. in Riverside, is kicking off 2009 with "Fractal Slices," a solo exhibit of paintings by local artist Christina Foard.

Exhibit shows art talent

Eight Island Art Association members will show their self-portraits and other recent works in a group exhibition of oil paintings at the IAA Art Gallery, 18 N. Second St., in downtown Fernandina Beach at a 5-8 p.m. Meet The Artists reception Friday, Jan. 9.

New dinner theater planned

The number of dinner theaters in Jacksonville is about to double. And the owners are planning to keep the new place clean, really clean. Owner Bryce Perry said the Gathering Dinner Theatre, in the Mandarin Square shopping center just north of Loretto Road on San Jose Boulevard, will open on Feb. 6 with comedian Michael Joiner. They'll have a comedian the first Friday of each month.

Art Notes

The influence of the Art Basel festival in Miami seems to linger. Some commend the fair's profound and lasting impact. Others are not so convinced and see it as the celebration of artistic commercialization. Last year, J. Johnson gallery director Bruce Dempsey discovered the artist Slomotion (Shaun Morin) at Basel. He later showed the artist's work in the gallery's "Winter Selections" show. This year, quite a few of Jacksonville artists made the journey to Miami.

NUTCRACKER: A guy's ballet survival guide

Here's a list of things most guys would rather do than sit through The Nutcracker: Watch football, drink beer, mow the lawn, go fishing, ask for directions, watch Sleepless in Seattle, eat glass and run naked through the lion exhibit at the zoo while smeared in barbecue sauce.

Arts notes

This past week, several shows worth attending opened. Ronnie Land, one of Jacksonville's hometown heroes (he now lives in Atlanta) returned to The Gallery at Screen Arts in St. Augustine with a show of new works. Artist Mark George said this time around, Land straddled the line between art history and carnival art. Land's works are on display through the end of January, and though his increasing popularity has caused him to raise prices, he is truly comparatively affordable.

Musician loses his oomph with the theft of his tuba

James Jenkins said he probably won't participate Saturday in the annual Tuba Christmas concert at The Jacksonville Landing. But he agreed with a rueful laugh that it wouldn't be a bad idea to go, if only to listen for a very fine instrument being played very badly.

Talking Hands Club performs holiday songs without singing

Nease High School's Talking Hands club filled the school's auditorium Thursday with holiday cheer - in sign language.

UNF proceeds with acquisition of MOCA

In this show at the Beaches, an elf tells the tale

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris is a satirically funny one-man show about an out-of-work writer moonlighting as a department store elf. Ian Mairs, a Jacksonville playwright, director and actor, will don his Crumpet the Elf costume and bring Santaland Diaries to the Beaches.

'Sanders Family Christmas' an uplifting holiday gift from ABET

Sanders Family Christmas, a musical comedy that richly captures the magic of the holiday season, is running now through Dec. 20 at the Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre.

Lake City man learns to soar with his art

Watching newscasts when Hurricane Katrina came ashore, Duffy Soto sat in Lake City and thought about its victims. And he thought about what would happen if a hurricane hit Jacksonville.