WE RECOMMEND

steppin’out (& stayin’ in) We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

Miroslav Tichý’s camera

Candid Camera By Julie Ray

If you saw some guy pointing a cardboard toilet paper tube at you, you’d probably laugh, ham it up, and go along on your way. at’s what most of Czech outsider artist Miroslav Tichý’s subjects did.

Jay Etkin of the Jay Etkin Gallery has an exhibition of drawings and photographs on loan from the Cavin-Morris Gallery. e New York gallery is known for exhibiting artists from around the world, specializing in self-taught artists who make art independently of the art world.

“I feel very honored to have these drawings and photographs,” says Etkin. “ ough I tried to get a homemade camera on loan, the Cavin-Morris Gallery turned me down. I don’t blame them.”

Once he discovered the works, Etkin wanted Memphis to know this voyeur photographer who took thousands of pictures of women in his hometown in the Czech Republic. His cameras were constructed using cardboard tubes, tin cans, and other at-hand materials. Most of his subjects were unaware that they were being photographed, striking poses when they sighted Tichý, not realizing that the camera he carried was real. e brilliance of the photographs is that they are skewed, spotted, and badly printed. His primitive equipment and a series of deliberate processing mistakes were meant to add poetic imperfections.

Tichý has said, “If you want to be famous, you must do something more badly than anybody in the entire world.”

Stop by Etkin’s gallery to bid the works farewell and revel in the perfectness of imperfection.

CLOSING RECEPTION FOR “REVEALED,” JAY ETKIN GALLERY, 942 COOPER, SATURDAY, JAN. 2, 11 A.M.-5 P.M., FREE.

Meddlesome Brewing Company’s She Devil Belgian Golden Brews, p. 25

VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES December 24th - January 6th

*Events subject to change. Check with venues for most current info.

Clueless 25th Anniversary

Malco Paradiso Cinema, 584 S. Mendenhall, Sunday, Dec. 27, 1 p.m., and Mon., Dec. 28, 7 p.m., $15 As if! It’s not easy being the most popular girl at Beverly Hills High. Don’t freak out, but this special event includes a bonus featurette about the dialogue in Clueless.

Magnolia & May New Year Dinner

Magnolia & May, 718 Mt. Moriah, Monday, Dec. 28, 7-9 p.m., $90 Say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021 with a private, socially distanced four-course dinner/ champagne event.

Find Your Creative Connections

Online from Arrow Creative, arrowcreative.org, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 4 p.m., free with registration Grab a drink and meet on Zoom with Kylie Hodges from Wingwoman Collective to make new connections for the new year.

Munch and Learn: “Illuminations and Illustrations”

Online from Dixon Gallery and Gardens, dixon.org, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1 p.m., free with registration Grab lunch and join the lecture via Zoom with Martha Kelly, Memphis artist and illustrator.

Remembering Chris Jarman (right), the King of West Memphis e Last Word, p. 31

Meet and Greet: Winter Axe League

Autobahn Indoor Speedway and Events, 6399 Shelby View, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 7-9 p.m., free row axes, learn from axe coaches, learn about how the league works, and meet and talk with other league members. League starts Jan. 6.

Holiday Whiskey Tasting

Celtic Crossing, 903 S. Cooper or online from celticcrossing.com., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m., $50 Join in person at the pub or virtually and venture through a lineup of three whiskeys with the owner, DJ Naylor.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, 225 S. Hollywood, ursday, Dec. 31, 3 p.m., televised on ESPN Celebrate the patriotic spirit of America as two of college football’s top teams battle in the 62nd annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

New Year’s Eve on Beale

Beale Street, Downtown Memphis, ursday, Dec. 31, free is year’s festivities will be held in individual businesses. Visit bealestreet.com for a list of open businesses and activities.

e Countdown Cabaret

Spotlight 2021

By Julie Ray

We’ve been missing our friends this year, and our usual haunts. You don’t have to miss your local theater family though. Ring in the new year with your friends at Playhouse on the Square for a countdown to 2021.

“We can all agree it’s been quite a year,” says Marcus Cox, director of community relations, in a recent press release. “Come ring in the new year with your friends at Playhouse on the Square as we count down to 2021.”

Not only is Playhouse counting down to the new year, join the local theater on their Facebook or YouTube channel to count down the top-selling shows in their 51-year history with vignette-style performances for each show. is one-of-a-kind digital event will prepare you for other surprises coming soon from Playhouse. 2021 will also usher in the rst Playhouse online gi shop. Items will be updated throughout the year and will feature limited-edition merchandise for live productions. You’ll nd colorful masks with the Playhouse logo, along with T-shirts, sweatshirts, fanny packs, and more.

More spotlight series will follow in January, including a season reveal and game night. Keep an eye out for upcoming events, including more POTS in the Vault archive performances on social media channels.

Play it safe online with Playhouse in the new year.

WINTER SPOTLIGHT SERIES: THE COUNTDOWN CABARET, ONLINE FROM PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE, PLAYHOUSEONETHESQUARE.ORG, THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 10 P.M., FREE.

e best and worst of 2020 in lm — featuring showstopper Jessie Buckley (above) in I’m inking of Ending ings Film, p. 26

Wild Bill’s NYE 2020

Wild Bill’s, 1580 Vollintine, ursday, Dec. 31, 6-10 p.m., $20 Enjoy blues music by e Juke Joint AllStars BandStand Entertainment, food, and door prizes throughout the night. Guests will also enjoy a champagne toast to ring in the new year.

New Year’s Eve Culinary Extravaganza

Wilson eater, 1 Je erson, Wilson AR, ursday, Dec. 31, 7 p.m., $250 Enjoy a six-course, wine-paired dinner prepared by Chef Roberto Barth, followed by a ball featuring live entertainment, a champagne toast, and surprises. Costumes encouraged.

First Day Hike

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Shelter #2, Friday, Jan. 1, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., free Join Ranger Harris and SIR Rosenthal for a rst hike of the new year. Activities include animal programs, bon re, hot cocoa, prizes, giveaways, and music.

Movie Club Virtual Screening: Zappa

Online from Indie Memphis, indiememphis.org, Friday, Jan. 1, $12 Documentary about the maverick musician Frank Zappa. Cra ed from over a thousand hours of mostly unseen material from Zappa’s personal vault.

“ e Bible in the Medieval World”

Online from Dixon Gallery and Gardens, dixon.org, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2 p.m., free with registration In this talk, Frans van Liere, author of An Introduction to the Medieval Bible, will explore some facets of the in uence of the Bible in the Medieval world.

Beginners Yoga Series

Downtown Yoga, 515 S. Main or online @ downtownyogamemphis.com, six-week series starts Wednesday, Jan. 6, 6:45 p.m., $75-$120 Join Amy Hutcheson for this beginners’ yoga series and learn proper alignment, breathwork, and safe movement. In-studio or virtual options are available.

We Saw You.

with MICHAEL DONAHUE

memphisfl yer.com/blogs/WeSawYou