The Salvador Dalí Museum's latest exhibition, Wilfredo Lam in North America, includes a selection of paintings by the 20th-century Cuban-born artist, who's known for incorporating Cubism, Surrealism, "primitivism," Négritude (Black Identity), Afro-Cuban history and the African-derived Santería religion into his art. A related Avant-Garde Lecture Series presentation, "Lam and Contemporary Art & Letters in Cuba," is led by Noel Smith, Curator of Latin American and Caribbean Art at the USF's Institute for Research in Art. 6:30 p.m., free with $5 museum admission; the works are on display through Jan. 11. Pictured at right: "Le Sombre Malembo, Dieu du Carrefoure (The Dark Malembo, God of the Crossroad)," by Wifredo Lam, 1943. From the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Rudman, ©2007 Artists Rights Society, New York/ADAGP, Paris; courtesy Miami Art Museum.
American Stage kicks off its latest After Hours production, The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris' drolly acidic radio essay-turned-one-act, one-man play about his experiences working as a NYC Macy's Santaland elf during the Yuletide season. 7 p.m., St. Petersburg, "Pay-what-you-can-admission."
OPUS, University of Tampa's musical theater ensemble, stages a free concert that includes medleys from Les Misérables and Ragtime, and other solos and duets from Broadway shows as well as a chorus about debauchery from Opera Buffet, and "O Holy Night" with soprano soloist Hein Jung. 7:30 p.m., Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall, free.
The "Stay Wierd" tour brings its bill of heavy experimental music to Tampa; the featured bands are Colorado's Fear Before, Heavy Heavy Low Low of California, and Illinois-based Dr. Manhattan. 6 p.m., The Brass Mug, $7.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 2, 2008.