Surviving spring

We are living in unnerving times. More and more cases of COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus, are appearing nationwide, and as of March 17, Sacramento County had 40 confirmed cases. On March 12, Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced mitigation plans that hewed closely to those laid out by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

While all the measures are made with the best intentions, the prevailing “wait until April and reassess” plan could be devastating to Sacramento’s arts community.

Verge Center for the Arts has canceled events and labs and closed their offices through the remainder of March.

Additionally, their much-anticipated March cover-band event, the “Halloween Show,” has been moved to April.

“As all of us look to reschedule programming and special events, the impact of the virus is going to have a devastating affect on Sacramento’s cultural landscape. Now more than ever is a great time to support whatever regional institutions you love,” said Verge’s executive director Liv Moe. “Become a member, make a donation if you can, or don’t ask for a refund on your tickets if your play’s been canceled or you class has been canceled or postponed.”

Larger arts venues are also taking caution in March. Both the Mondavi Center at UC Davis and the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom canceled all events through March 31.

The Crocker Art Museum is now closed to the public until April 30. This includes all programs, classes and tours.

Meanwhile, Live Nation, one of the country’s largest concert promoters, has canceled its arena shows through the end of the month. That includes those at Golden 1 Center, which has also postponed several shows that had been scheduled in April. Live Nation also books acts at many of the mid-sized venues in town, including Ace of Spades, so if you’ve purchased tickets for a March show, you may want to confirm it’s still scheduled.

If the coronavirus infection curve flattens by the end of March and you’re itching for human contact, you can still, hopefully, enjoy these spring arts events still on the calendar.

Thriving outdoors

In May, Preservation Sacramento and its partners plan to offer six walking tours of notable Sacramento architecture features in the annual “Jane Jacobs Walk” series celebrating urban architecture. Each of the six tours are unique, with themes like “Ghost signs and neon preservation” (May 9) and “Solarpunk,” (May 17) a tour of 1960s-’80s eco-conscious design.

All six tours are free and open to the public; details are available at preservationsacramento.org/jane-jacobs.

Additionally, the UC Davis campus has been home to the Whole Earth Festival for more than 40 years. This free, family-friendly event is scheduled for May 10-12 and features environmentally-conscious vendors, artists, musicians and dancers.

Spring landscapes

Once the Crocker Art Museum reopens, if you need respite from Sacramento’s Attack of the Killer Pollen, its exhibit Flowers from Fire: Ceramics and the International Art Nouveau offers flora-inspired art without the sneezing. The exhibit opens June 7 and runs through Sept. 20. Entry to the Crocker is free for members and $12 for adults.

Find out more at crockerart.org.

Beginning April 3, Axis Gallery plans to host two of landscape photographer Doug Dertinger’s exhibits: Traveler and My America. In his artist’s statement, Dertinger says he considers his role of photographer as that of “attendant, [a] gardener.” Both exhibits run through April 26, with a Second Saturday reception on April 11.

Surviving on screen

Tower Theater’s monthly Cult Classic movie showings have their own survival thread: Survive the plague with Monty Python and the Holy Grail on April 13, and watch Rocky survive in the ring May 11. The Beatles survive hoards of adoring fans in A Hard Day’s Night on June 8, with off-screen screaming possible as well.

Tickets are $10.50 each and available in advance at readingcinemasus.com/tower.

Thriving on stage

On April 7, Harris Center for the Arts plans to present “Bollywood Boulevard: A Live Multi-Media Concert Journey Through Hindi Cinema.” Video, live music and dance will guide the audience through the enduring legacy of one of India’s most prolific art forms.

Tickets range from $16 for students to $58 for general admission premium seating. Purchase at harriscenter.net.

Taiko drumming troupe Yamato takes the stage on April 5 at the Mondavi Center for a lively afternoon performance. Tickets for this family-friendly event start at $12.50 for students to $85.

Find out more at tickets.mondaviarts.org/events.

Reviving through music

Spring also starts heavy band-touring season, and if you’re on a nostalgia kick and seeking the soundtrack to your childhood, Sacramento has you covered:

Looking for a folk-rock vibe? The Crest has you covered. David Crosby—formerly of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash and current prolific Twitterer of weed-based content—appears with his Skytrails Band on May 19. Single ticket prices begin at $50, and VIP packages range from $231 to $581.

More at crestsacramento.com.

Nineties indie vibes hit Harlow’s when Built to Spill comes to town on June 14. No set-list information has been released, but with a Daniel Johnston tribute record coming out in May, it’s likely you’ll hear some good covers, as well. Tickets are $32.50 in advance, $35 at the show.

Find out more at harlows.com/event/built-to-spill.

Continue to check each venue in advance as events may be subject to cancellation.