Arts Devo

Overflow thread: warm-winter version It’s three in the afternoon on a Tuesday in the middle of February and the temperature is 73 degrees. No wind, no clouds, nothing but intensely blue skies in all directions outside Arts DEVO’s office. As I sit here with my nose smushed against the screen of an open window, I ache for speech-recognition software that would allow me to hastily shout a rambling column at my computer so I could jump out that window and make a run for a boulder upon which I can bask in the light of this fake spring weather.

No such luck. I have no choice but to type the following local rundown with my own two hands like a chump:

V-Month The V-Day season is here, and the international activist movement to end violence against women and girls is represented locally by two events. Today (Feb. 13) and Friday (Feb. 14), at 7:30 p.m., Chico State’s Gender and Sexuality Equity Coalition presents two showings of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues at the BMU Auditorium. And next week, up at the Blue Room Theatre, local singer/actress Amy Brown directs another of Ensler’s plays, The Good Body. This one-woman show (starring Jodi Rives) “beautifully addresses two significant body-related issues: societal values and acceptance.” Four performances: Feb 20-22, 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 23, 2 p.m.

Works of artist The new exhibit opening at the Museum of Northern California Art today (Feb. 13) is a living, breathing, painting installation featuring two local artists—Rachelle Montoya and Ama Posey—using the galleries as active studio spaces. Come by and watch art in action, and step into the creation yourself in the “Visitor’s Studio.” Observe … the Creative Process shows through March 8.

That Cotton Jones dude Michael Nau’s solo work is intriguingly difficult to pin down to a style. As with his band, Cotton Jones, the Maryland musician’s recent songs are still kind of rooted in the Americana/folk rock tradition. But on his latest album, Less Ready To Go, the musical accompaniment is more ornate, resulting in a vaguely psychedelic, always chill, and sometimes twisted take on 1970s R&B/pop/soft rock. Check it out and decide for yourself when Nau performs Monday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m., at Argus Bar + Grill. Pat Hull opens.

I like them apples As CN&R Managing Editor Meredith J. Cooper announced in her column last week (The Goods, Feb. 6), Lassen Traditional Cider has created Paradise Strong Cider with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to benefiting Noble Orchards in Paradise (all structures on the property were destroyed in the Camp Fire). This Saturday (Feb. 15), 1-5 p.m., the cider officially will be released at the tasting room (26 Bellarmine Court), and next week 500 ml bottles will be available at local retailers.