Cheryl's Art And Music Guide

Since 1977, Mierle Laderman Ukeles has been artist-in-residence at New York City's Department of Sanitation .  Her first project there was Touch Sanitation Performance . For almost a year, Mierle followed sanitation workers throughout the day, even sharing meals with them. She also shook hands with the employees--a total of 8,500--and thanked them for ''keeping New York City alive.'' Her artwork is said to blur the boundaries between labor and performance, and uncover connections between feminism, work, the city, and the environment.  Mierle is now the subject of a documentary.  Maintenance Artist   has been at a few film festivals.  The next stop is the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival , on the 19th and 25th of July. 

Renovations are ramping up at the  Motown Museum  in Detroit, Michigan.  As they enter the final phase, public tours will be suspended for about a year. That goes into effect on the first of October.  During the pause of tours, regular programming and retail operations will remain active. And throughout the summer, performances and other activities are planned for the museum's  Rocket Plaza .  The 40,000 sq. foot expansion will include interactive exhibits, a state-of-the-art recording studio, and cafe. It comes with a $75 million dollar price tag. The museum, located at the site of the original  Motown  studios, opened in 1985.

A former chairman of  Sotheby's UK  has written about the history of art in London, from 1945-2000.  With a name of  Rogues and Scholars , it's no surprise to find an assortment of colorful characters. They include knockers, who used to go door to door, hoping to snap up bargains. Many pretended the mirrors and furnishings they were examining had flaws--so would then offer to take it off the owners' hands. There was also a problem with runners. Sometimes the items they sold to auction houses and galleries were of questionable providence. One runner,  Michael Fulda , had questionable taste when it came to vehicles. After his van stopped working, he opted for a second-hand hearse! James Stourton  refers to other ''eccentrics'' in his book, but does not elaborate. Nor does he explain why the art duo,  Gilbert & George , left a gallery in a huff to join another. The pair's former dealer was  Anthony d'Offay.  He was able to make friends ...

A new documentary,   It's Never Over Jeff Buckley , is heading for U.S. cinemas on August 8.  Aimee Mann  and  Ben Harper  make appearances, as does Jeff's mother, musician  Mary Guibert . The premiere was held in January at  Sundance , which called it ''a tender look at Buckley through the eyes of friends, family, and collaborators.''  The director is  Amy Berg . She will be at the New York premiere on the 29th of July, at the  IFC Center . Jeff was 30 years old when he drowned in 1997. He made one official studio album,  Grace . According to a press release, the LP received ''astonishing reviews,'' and his cover of  Leonard Cohen 's  Hallelujah  ''further catapulted him to fame.'' Jeff only met his father, musician  Tim Buckley,  once. Tim also died young--from an overdose at the age of 28. The film will be available this winter on  HBO . Back in 2000,  Brad Pitt  hoped to do a biopic. But G...

The 8th edition of   Zurich Art Weekend   runs from Friday, the 13th of June, through Sunday, the 15th of the month.  It's a free celebration offering events like guided tours with curators, late-night gallery openings, panel discussions, DJ sets, and book launches. There are over 70 exhibitions and at least 150 events. Nearly two hundred established and emerging artists are represented.  One of the most noteworthy exhibits is being held at  Galerie Gmurzynska , and continues through the end of September. It features  Andy Warhol' s collaboration with his assistant/painter  Ronnie Cutrone,  known for his cartoon characters. The poster depicts Warhol's  Brillo  box and soup can along with Cutrone's  Felix the Cat . Also on view are Warhol's photos of personalities such as  Mick   Jagger, Grace Jones, Candy Darling,  and  Lou Reed.   Learn more about what's in store this weekend at https://zurichartweeken...

A free weekend of music and art will soon take place in Columbia, Maryland. Indie rock, jazz, and R&B performers are to take the stage at  LakeFest . And there's an impressive range of other entertainment. Besides crafts and coloring for kids, over 50 artisans will be in attendance. Their contributions include ceramics, glass, prints, photography, drawings, and even puppets.  The latter comes from  Outta Our Minds , formed by  Michelle Puhl-Price . She told the  Art and Music Guide  that the designs are her own, although some are custom-made. A tiger, for instance, was the brainchild of a 10-year-old client.  Also on view are 60 painted golf umbrellas, inspired by the theme 'Bringing Unity to CommUNITY through the Sounds of Music.'  The event runs from June 20-22, and their website is  https://columbiafestival. org .