Culture Lust Weekend: Movers and Shakers, Fresh Sound, And MoPA's Fangs Come Out

If you're going to get stuck inside this rainy weekend, stick yourself in a museum, theater, or music venue. Here are some suggestions for arts, music and theater to help you forget about the weather.

Art

Get the scoop on S.D.’s most creative up-and-comers at Movers & Shakers: Who’s Who in the San Diego Visual Arts World. The exhibit, which debuts this weekend and opens tonight, pairs up artists and local culturati (curators, bloggers, producers and more) for an au courant take on the art of portraiture. See if you can spot artist Cheryl Sorg’s profile of Culture Luster Angela Carone—it’s composed entirely of her favorite books, movies and song lyrics! (what else?)

Solana Beach is known for its roster of legendary surf snappers (see: Aaron Chang), and this Friday at the Project X Art Gallery from 6-10p.m., fellow wave photographer Art Brewer will make an appearance, displaying captures from both his private collection and a recent campaign he shot for Electra Bicycles. Accompanying videos from local artists and an auction for the Keep-A-Breast Foundation will also take place.

While the weather has been slightly off-kilter lately (tornado warning, anyone?) it’s made artist Nancy Rubins’ permenant installation, “Pleasure Points”—an angular funnel cloud of bygone boats that cantilivers off The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla—all the more ironic (and, well, cool.) Visit Rubins this Sunday as she discusses her work as a preview to MCASD’s upcoming exhibition Pleasure Point: Celebrating 25 Years of Contemporary Collectors.

Music

Those in search of DJ roots should check out The Museum of Making Music’s presentation this Saturday by synth innovators Dr. Herb Deutsch and Dr. John Eaton. A brief history lesson: Deutsch’s hand in the birth of the Moog synthesizer rewrote the rules of rock, while Eaton, a MacArthur Fellow, helped create the world’s only working multi-touch sensitive keyboard, which he’ll demo during the presentation.

Speaking of the synth, Bonnie Wright’s guide to electro-cool continues next Monday with Sushi’s Fresh Sound Music series, starring Baltimore-based trio Ear, Nose and Throat. Group members M. C. Schmidt (of Matmos fame), Jason Willett and Max Eilbacher provide an irreverent mix of instruments, live action and psychobabble that’s not to be missed—meanwhile, check out opening act J. Lesser (also a Matmos member) for a spacey solo performance.

L.A.-based noise rock quintent Health has opened for the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Of Montreal, and this Saturday, they’ll bring their dizzying blend of beats to The Loft. Local rockers Tape Deck Mountain are also on board, and will strum a few tracks from their debut album, “Ghost.”

Film

Before they were beglittered or in Bon Temps, vampires—a baby-faced, smoky-eyed Keifer Sutherland, to be exact—ruled the 80’s in "The Lost Boys." As a testament to its campy, creepy greatness, the Museum of Photographic Arts will be offering a free screening tonight (complete with o-negative cocktails in the Atrium!), as part of their POP Thursdays series. Catch the vamps in all of their acid-washed glory, or sway to tunes from WILDCAT, catch circus acts from Zirk Ubu and lurk in the museum’s Shadow Portrait Studio. We can’t wait.

Also at the MoPA, the S.D. Italian Film Fest’s monthly screenings continue with La Seconda Notte di Nozze (The Second Wedding Night), director Pupi Avati’s brilliant, light-hearted look at a family in the post-WWII Puglia countryside. The film, screening this Friday, provides both a glimpse at the past and keen social commentary—we suggest wandering over to Little Italy after the show for an affogato to keep the mood going.

Gourmands and film buffs alike should head to The Loft this evening for its latest Foovie [Food + Movies], “Dinner Rush.” Live music from Robert Williams, wine and penne are on offer pre-screening, while the flick dishes up a hilarious, murderous peek at what happens when there are too many cooks in the kitchen.

Theater

Fans of the Cygnet Theatre’s critically-lauded "Fences" will be thrilled to see much of its ensemble (and director) back on the stage in August Wilson’s "The Piano Lesson", with previews debuting this weekend. In this Pulitzer-prize winning drama set in 1936, a young man receives an offer for a family heirloom he can’t refuse—only to find discord with his sister, who knows that some things aren’t worth parting with.

We’re pretty glum to see that Hillcrest’s Compass Theatre is shuttering its doors this spring (though the acclaimed ion Theater will be moving in, so that makes us happy). In the meantime, grab tickets for one of Compass' final productions, Wendy MacLeod’s caustic "The House of Yes", which runs ‘till Valentines Day. Bonus points if you Netflix the film version (a Parkey Posey cult classic) before attending.

Stay dry this weekend, the Culture Lust way!