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Blue Heaven, Negro Ensemble Company, Art of Brick, and more
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, February 15-21, 2024
Kyle V. Hiller
Coming up this week, the Franklin Institute opens its Art of the Brick exhibition, showcasing the world’s largest display of LEGO art—a chance to reconnect and rebuild with your inner child, perhaps? Then, Blue Heaven and CSz Philly serve up laughs and PFS screens movies in the spirit of Valentine’s Day—or against it, depending on your mood this year. An exhibit with a unique experience opens at Woodmere, and the renowned Negro Ensemble Company swings by West Philly for a visit.
Sending love out to you, Philly!
Art of the Brick
Opening Saturday, February 17, 2024
Franklin Institute, 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia
The world’s largest and most elaborate display of LEGO art is right here in Philadelphia on the Parkway. Opening this weekend, this collection features original pieces and reimagined versions of famous and familiar art pieces. Maybe this has the definitive version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night after all?
Valentine's Week at the PFS
Through Thursday, February 22, 2024
Various locations
Why spend time sitting in front of someone at a table, have them talk to you about their mundane life, and spend way too much money on a slightly above-average dinner when you can have someone talk to you about love on the silver screen instead? The Philadelphia Film Society is screening movies in the spirit of the divisive holiday this weekend, including Possession, where a marriage goes in reverse starting with the divorce (yes, it's a French horror film if that's what you were thinking); the whimsical tale of The Young Girls of Rochefort; How to Have Sex; the 2001 classic Amélie; and a different kind of love with Bob Marley: One Love.
Negro Ensemble Company: Zooman and the Sign
February 15-18, 2024
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
Penn Live Arts hosts the Negro Ensemble Company for a weekend performance of Charles Fuller’s Zooman and the Sign. Set in 1979 Philadelphia, the play explores the effects of gun violence on a family and their struggle to convince apathetic neighbors to take a stand together to achieve justice.
Blue Heaven
February 15-18, 2024
FringeArts, 140 North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia
Blue Heaven is back with a new lineup of laughs this weekend. The comedy festival features an assortment of performances, including Catholic Guilt, a “poignant, subversive, hilarious show [that] exposes the impossible standards of Catholicism” through audience participation, personal recounts, and stand-up; Stamptown Comedy Night; and performances by Ikechukwu Ufomadu, Courtney Pauroso, Martin Urbano, and more.
DTF: The Darryl and Timaree Fun Hour
Friday, February 16, 10pm
CSz Philadelphia, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia
The long-running sex-ed comedy game show feels like an appropriate pick this week. The night of adult edutainment, audience games (participation not required!), and more features hosts Dr. Timaree and Darryl Charles. They’ll be joined by comedian Marcely Jean-Pierre and drag queen Paul Deen-White in this edition.
Somewhere Beautiful
Saturday, February 17, 7:30-9:30pm
ICEBOX Project Space, Crane Arts Building, 1400 North American Street, Philadelphia
Described as a “fairy tale for a fractured world,” this performance art piece by Natacha Diels presented by Network for New Music combined choreographed movement, improvisation, video, instrumental practice, and more to create worlds of curiosity and unease.
Henry Bermudez in Philadelphia
February 17-May 19, 2024
Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia
Philadelphia-based and Venezuela-born artist Henry Bermudez debuts a new exhibit at Woodmere, chronicling the artist’s experience and journey to rebuild his practice in an unfamiliar environment while not speaking the language upon arriving in Philly as a seeker of political asylum in 2003. A little more than 20 years later, the display showcases paintings that embrace myths, symbols, and lore from pre-Hispanic, Judeo-Christian, and Afro-Caribbean influences. The opening reception is on Thursday, February 22, at 5:30pm.
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