THU 4/29
If art truly mirrors history, we can thank New York artist Steve Mumford for emulating Civil War painter Winslow Homer and showing us the other side of shell shock. Mumford has traveled to Iraq three times since April 2003, most recently to Ramadi with Florida's First Battalion of the 124th Infantry. Instead of tackling conflict head on, Mumford focused on daily life and its relation to the political situation to create his ink drawings and watercolors. "When you see a photograph, it's straightforward," he says, unlike a drawing that might take an hour to complete but also brings "an absorbed psychological element from studying people and objects." As a refreshing departure from the media's daily dose of death, Mumford hones in on an often dissimilarly peaceful Iraq. "A lot of the time, I was simply having a blast -- it's a large country, and there are hundreds of places where it didn't feel unsafe." Mumford presents a lecture and slide show of his drawings tonight at the Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art (601 Lake Ave., Lake Worth). The talk begins at 7 p.m., followed by questions and answers. It's free with museum admission: $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and students, free for kids under 12. Reservations are recommended. Call 561-582-0006, ext. 6. --Michele D. Omenson
Noisin' Around
The pop stops here
THU 4/29
Good morning, class, and welcome to pop music 101. Yesterday, we learned how to write the radio-friendly pop song. You remember, right? Well, here's a quick recap, just in case: intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, instrument solo (or bridge), chorus (twice), and end. However, today we're going to explore the other end of the musical spectrum: noise. To better understand this phenomenon, we're going to take a field trip to the Karma Lounge (4 W. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale), where Funk Uranium, Wet Blanket, and Mr. Bell offer firsthand lessons on noise, electronic, IDM, and futurepop. You won't hear any three-chord rock from these guys. The vast universe of songwriting still has many uncharted territories ripe for discovery. Besides, who needs a guitar in 2004? Avant en garde! The cost is $5 for age 21 and up. The robotics begin at 10 p.m. Call 954-523-7159. --Jason Budjinski
Clean Your Car
And your mind will follow
SUN 5/2
Your car is dirty, and so is your mind. And there's no excuse for not taking your wheels over to Bada Bing Gentleman's Club (51 NE 10th St., Pompano Beach) for its Charity Car Wash. Not only can you enjoy a BBQ meal while watching the Bada Bing babes give your vehicle a good scrubdown but you'll support a good cause too: All proceeds go to the Youth AIDS Foundation. And best of all, the event is hosted by none other than the mustachioed monarch of porn flicks himself, Ron Jeremy. He's no Sally Struthers, but he's got other ways to solicit donations. The washing and watching starts at 4 p.m. Call 954-943-4996. --Jason Budjinski
Digital Dude
THU 4/29
Conventional wisdom dates digital photography to about 15 years ago. But computer art pioneer Laurence Gartel has been combining digital images, 3-D object scanning, graffiti, and painting for three decades. See his work at www.gartelmuseum.com. His talk, "30-Years of Digital Art," is free, at 7 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University's Florida Center for Electronic Communication (111 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale). Call 954-762-5603. -- Dave Amber
