The weekender Arts Blog features visual art, performing arts, and other things to see and do in the region over the following weekend. It publishes on Thursdays, when weekends really begin. 

This week, you can hit TANA workshops in the afternoon Thursday, then head over to the Manetti Shrem Museum, and after that go see a play at Wyatt Theater. If you plan carefully, you can even fit in a visit to the Design Museum on campus. Over the weekend, go to Verge, or... . Most events are free. Details below.

TANA kicks off fall Thursday

TANA’s fall workshop kicks off the season Thursday. 

All students and community members may attend and participate in their workshops. Future session dates through Dec. 5 are Tuesday through Thursday, 2-6 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

TANA Fall Workshop, TANA 1224 Lemen Ave., Woodland

Fall season celebration, Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum, starts at 5 p.m.

Come kick off the fall season at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art from 5 to 8 p.m. The museum invites everyone to “experience the opening of Manetti Shrem Museum presents NEW ERA, an installation by Doug Aitken, plus Kathy Butterly|ColorForm and Landscape Without Boundaries. Hear an artist’s talk with Kathy Butterly at 6 p.m., enjoy live music and snacks, and participate in games and art activities for the whole family.” More information here.

This marks the West Coast premiere of Doug Aitken’s art installation, which features projections and mirrors; the unique experience is said to turn “viewers into collaborators.” 

It's free. And there's food. Don't miss it.

Catch a free performance

K.L. Going, the award-winning author of numerous books for children and teens, will participate in a post-show talk back after the first performance of the play based on her story on opening night Thursday. The performance of  “Fat Kid Rules the World,” is a musical adaptation of her first novel. Read more in this Arts Blog story.

The free performance is in the Wyatt Pavilion Theatre at 7 p.m. as part of the Ground and Field Theatre Festival. Reservations here. 

See a video preview of the performance below.

Design museum exhibition on fashion making continues

An exhibition that turns garments inside out to show their structure, Shape Up: Case Studies in Fashion Making opened the UC Davis Design Museum’s 2019-2020 season earlier this week.

Showcasing ethnic clothing from Africa, Asia and Central America and western garments from the UC Davis Jo Ann C. Stabb Design Collection, this exhibition reveals the hidden structures, patterns and shaping methods that underlie fashion creation.

More in the Arts Blog here.

Around the region

Slant Step Forward exhibition continues at Verge. Through Oct. 27. 

• Learn more about UC Davis' art history at this exhibition in Sacramento featuring the work of an early UC Davis artist, and reprint of a catalog. And alumni work. And so much more.             

Jazz Night: Kim Nalley, Crocker Art Museum, Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m., $10 for members, $20 for nonmembers. 

• Come on down to the final summer jazz night at the Crocker. Visitors will enjoy a performance by Kim Nalley and her band. Ticket price also includes full access to the museum.

The Village Feast 2019, Davis Central Park, Saturday Sept. 28, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., $115 

• Join other Davisites for an al fresco meal of locally grown foods in Central Park. The event joins Sacramento’s celebration of September as Farm to Table month. The proceeds will benefit two charities: Davis Farm to School and Les Dames d’Escoffier. Artwork will be available to bid on at the accompanying silent auction. 

Comedy of Errors at Davis Shakespeare Festival, Davis Veterans Memorial Theater, through Oct. 13, $15-$30

• Enjoy a modern translation of the classic Shakespeare play Comedy of Errors.
• Click here for full schedule. 

And, you can still play a piano for free, before the rains come. See this Arts Blog post about decorated pianos planted throughout campus and the city of Davis. 

Art Tweet of the Week

Art Tweet of the Week: This week, we see that doctoral student Jennifer Schmidt makes ceramics from her plant science research, a fabulous fusion of art and science. Here is the UC Davis Plant Sciences tweet. See the whole story behind this tweet here.