Arts And Entertainment

Who is Venus? An African woman displayed as a “wild female jungle creature,” an object of derision and desire, a captive, a survivor, a lover, a puzzle, a challenge, a mirror reflecting prejudices and preconceptions, suppressed fears and hidden yearnings...

Humboldt State University’s Reese Bullen Gallery presents artwork by El Salvadorian expatriate artist Victor Cartagena. “Tatuajes de la Memoria” (Tattoos of Memory) is on exhibit Feb. 17 through Mar. 8, 2012 with an opening reception on Friday, Feb. 17 from 4:30-6 p.m. A talk given by the artist will follow from 6-7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Ten student solo performers from the six Humboldt State Music Department areas (voice, piano, percussion, strings, woodwinds and brass) will perform in an Honors Recital on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall.

AS Presents Yellow Ostrich and special guests on Saturday, Mar. 24, 2012 at 9 p.m. in the Depot, HSU.

CenterArts presents Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, on Monday and Tuesday, Mar. 5 and 6, 2012 at 8 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre, HSU. Tickets are $65 general, $65 Senior/child, $55 HSU students. Tickets are available at University Ticket Office at HSU and at "centerarts.humboldt.edu":http://centerarts.humboldt.edu.

AS Presents Big Freedia and special guests on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012 at 9 p.m. in the Depot, HSU.

Student Access Galleries presents three new student exhibitions in three galleries. All shows will be exhibiting from Jan. 15, 2012 until Feb. 11, 2012 on the HSU campus.

Humboldt State University’s First Street Gallery presents Make It All True, featuring an array of paintings and mixed media works by Bay Area artist Kelly Allen. The exhibit will run from Jan. 31 through Mar. 4.

Humboldt State University’s First Street Gallery presents Play/House, a collaboration of works by Claire Joyce and Garth Johnson featuring a mixture of ceramics, glitter paintings, works on paper and mixed media installations. The exhibition will run from Jan. 31 through Mar. 4.

CenterArts presents Don’t Fence Me In: Songs, Music and Poetry of the American West on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 at 8 p.m. in the Kate Buchanan Room, HSU.

AS Presents Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr DJs and DJ Knutz on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at 9 p.m. in the Depot, HSU.

AS Presents Kimya Dawson and Lyndsey Battle on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at 9 p.m. in the Depot, HSU.

CenterArts presents The Soul Salvation Tour featuring the Ruthie Foster Band with Paul Thorn on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre, HSU.

CenterArts Presents The Peking Acrobats on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre, HSU.

CenterArts presents David Hidalgo and Louie Perez (of Los Lobos) on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 at 8 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre, HSU. Tickets are $35 general, $35 Senior/Child and $15 HSU students. Tickets are available at the University Ticket Office and at "humboldt.edu/centerarts":http://humboldt.edu/centerarts.

CenterArts presents Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout in a tribute to Little Walter on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre, HSU.

The HSU Natural History Museum invites community members to visit for Art Night at the Museum just before Arts! Arcata on Friday, Dec. 9, 4-6pm. This is a chance for children, parents, grandparents, HSU students, and accomplished artists alike to flex their creative muscles by drawing/painting rarely seen beautiful and bizarre museum specimens.

The holidays represent for many a celebration of faith and family. The holiday program sung by the Humboldt Chorale and the University Singers of Humboldt State on Dec. 11 reflects both aspects of the season.

The Humboldt Symphony performs popular pieces by Gershwin and Beethoven and other works on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, Dec. 9 and 11.

From Ellington to Radiohead, the HSU Jazz Orchestra swings through the decades on Saturday, Dec. 10 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

It’s a holiday tradition: Beginning with “Fanfare For Christmas Day,” the HSU Madrigal Singers present their annual holiday program of Renaissance madrigals and songs on Sunday, Dec. 4 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

It’s an all-percussion concert in the Van Duzer Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 3, with world rhythms and a U.S. steelband premiere.

Audiences will enjoy a military symphony conducted by the new director of the HSU Marching Lumberjacks, a virtuoso percussion solo, an Italian march and a Chorale and Alleluia by a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer: all in one eclectic concert by the HSU Symphonic Band on Friday, Dec. 2.

How does a crazed family reunite to celebrate Christmas? This play’s title suggests an answer: Some Assembly Required. It’s a holiday human comedy opening Dec. 1 for two weekends at HSU.

Humboldt State University First Street Gallery is pleased to present A Regional Holiday Exhibition, which will open on Nov. 29 and will continue through Dec. 23. Featured in the show will be artwork by 32 artists from California's North Coast, who work in diverse styles and mediums.