We’ve been hearing the story of homeless violinist Nathaniel Ayers’
relationship with journalist Steve Lopez since Lopez’s book The
Soloist came out almost a year ago. Lopez met Ayers by chance when
he heard him playing a beat-up, two-stringed instrument in Los Angeles.
Lopez arranged for a musical instrument locker and other services in
the hopes of helping Ayers get back on his feet, and in the process he
learned that the man had studied bass at Juilliard and that his dreams
had been derailed by schizophrenia. It’s an incredible story that
resonates beyond music and social problems, as the author gropes with
his own motivations for trying to help. The movie version, starring
Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., and directed by Joe Wright, comes to
theaters April 24. In the meantime, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra knows a good hook when it sees one, so it has teamed up with more than
200 other orchestras across the country for a canned-food drive. So
when you go to Severance Hall April 4 to hear the Pops perform favorite
arias from Turandot, La Boheme and Pagliacci with soprano
Laura Pedersen and tenor Carl Tanner, be sure to bring a non-perishable
food item. But first, hear the Pops this weekend at Severance Hall
(11001 Euclid Ave.) performing music of Rodgers and Hammerstein at 8
p.m. Saturday, March 7. Tickets: $19-$54. Call 216.231.1111 or go to
clevelandpops.com.
Super 8 films are like typewriters and 45s: old technology that has
a beauty and durable quality that digital simply can’t match. A group
called Squeaky Wheel in Buffalo is presenting Global Super 8
Screening Day May 8. They are inviting anyone to send Super 8 film
and other media to be part of their fest. Send up to 10 minutes of
footage to Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14202 (ATTN: Global
Super 8). For more information, go to squeaky.org.
Abstract painter and former graffiti artist Bob Peck has gone
from the Red Line to the gallery wall, and now to Rocky River. Studio
22 Gallery in the Beachcliff Market Square shopping center (19326
Detroit Rd.) opens a show of his work, along with photography by
Cleveland’s Spin Vista studios, with a wine and cheese reception from
6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 6. Call 216.712.7114.
This article appears in Dec 17-23, 2008.
