When talking about the design community of West Michigan, it becomes clear with each passing year that we have plenty of reasons to celebrate.

While many media outlets from news organizations to magazines call upon our design voices from our area furniture companies for insight, it is the call for entries at the annual Furniture Design Competition that should get you to take notice.

Design Quest has been bringing an eclectic and classic collection of furniture and gift items to the West Michigan marketplace for over 35 years but their international design competition is really the reason you should bolt from work on Thursday night and head right to this annual event.

This year over 200 entries were received but only 50 designers from all over the world will be on display.  May of these designers have not only begun to gain notoriety from their creations for the firms they serve but it also provides a chance to potentially meet the next great name in design. (Exact list of designers attending is not available at press time.)

And while this show is up until May 2, tonight's event will allow you the chance to cast your vote for the People's Choice Award from 6:30 – 7:30 PM with an awards ceremony immediately following.


Admission: Free

As a community volunteer of Google Fiber for Grand Rapids initiative, I have found that there are two responses I normally get when I talk about attending the organization's flash mob event on Friday.  

One is completely animated with excitement, while the other begins to have a look that indicates they are imagining an ATM run to get cash ready to bail me out of the clink later this weekend.

Had there been more time, of course, a different type of event would have been produced.  But in this case the flash mob model is the perfect vehicle to mobilize a group of people to make a bold statement to Google.

Even as I write details are still being hammered out but that is the beauty of flash mob, which are attributed to having started in 2003 in New York City, the event evolves with time and has an element of surprise or happening.

The concept of a flash mob is a simple one. A call to assemble is ordered and within a short period of time, people gather at the location.  At some point the members participate in a site-specific act before quickly dispersing back into society.

For this event people are encouraged to make a poster board sign where on the one side they write the words in BOLD "My Grand Rapids Is" and on the other side chose one or two words that complete the sentence for them.

This event is to support the city of Grand Rapids bid to secure the Google Fiber initiative that the Internet giant has said they will award to only one city in the United States.

And after this event there will be two new camps, those who were there and those who weren't.  It is really up to you.  

Nominate Grand Rapids and then come out and join the fun.  
 

Admission: Free

While it seems that every week something new debuts in West Michigan, it is the debut of a new film series and its first offering that has me especially geeked.

The Queeries, a unique and long-awaited monthly film series, will end the drought of film festivals that used cater to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender) in Grand Rapids and those who love them.  (UICA used to host an annual LGBT film festival, but it has been gone for well over a decade.)

And with its debut, The Queeries has selected a film that I first saw debut at Sundance in 2001, Hedwig & The Angry Inch.

The story is a simple one. A transsexual punk rock boy has to become a girl to escape communist East Berlin. When the surgery goes wrong, what's a new girl to do but start a band and tour the US with her glam rock band, telling her story about how her ex-boyfriend and former charge stole her songs.

Did I forget to mention this is musical, with a sing along built in the middle and probably one of the greatest rock and roll love stories!

Simply put, this film may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy music, having a good laugh and most of all love stories, then I can guarantee you will fall in love with Hedwig.

In addition to the film, this series will introduce a social element with a band playing tunes from the musical in the lobby and a chance to have your picture taken in a glam style by photographer Terry Johnston.  (You know, the guy who has contributed many fun images of me for this magazine over the years.)


Admission: $6 general public; $3 for CMC members

One of the real joys of living in a vibrant and growing city is the ability to rub shoulders with more and more people who do not share the common life path or cultural heritage.  It simply makes us richer…more complex.

One fine artist in our community that I have had the privilege to meet through his neighborhood, music and art most recently at UICA's Live Coverage event, is Erick Pichardo.

While Grand Rapids is not his hometown, it is where he has established a home as so many others have in the past decades.  Since arriving in Grand Rapids his work has shown at many spaces and galleries all over the city.

The colorful (and popular) paintings of Pichardo are currently on display in a show titled "The Second Skin" at the Bethlehem Church until April 18th.
which is a part of their on-going Musical Arts for Justice In Community series.  

Pichardo, a former resident of Dominican Republic, has created nearly 20 paintings that respond to the church's social justice mission with an abstract and beautiful viewpoint on the topic of human dignity.  

Freely pulling from his vast real life experience in the Caribbean at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo and his studies at the Parson School of Art, Pichardo renders the human figure in a stunning fashion with a series of gestural movements of his brush.

The result is a wonderful collection of images in a space that clearly reflects his worldly vision.  




Admission: Free

West Michigan has much to be proud of these days, but the musical programming happening at the start of 2010 is one for the record books, as some of the best and brightest voices in their field are stopping by our region's stages.

For one night, the Grammy-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet will perform an eclectic concert that previously sold out their shows at the DeVos Hall when they performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra.

The selection of St Cecilia Music Center is a natural choice for these accomplished musicians since the Royce Auditorium is renown around the world as one of the best halls outside of NYC's Carnegie Hall for live music.  It is a real treat not only for the audience, but the musician, too.

LAGQ's unique take on guitar music is that they are fearless in their scope of musical programming.  One key highlight of this night will be that this tour gives local audiences a first listen of new selections from their up coming release, "Interchange, "which will include the World Premiere recording of Sergio Assad's "Interchange" for guitar quartet and orchestra, and also Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto Andaluz."

This is a group that has been performing together for more than 27 years and their tight sound and eclectic repertoire are reflected in the word music landscape they paint with their instruments.  Be prepared to be wowed by their truly world class style.

After the show, the artists will mingle with the audience at the dessert reception.  Their appearance at SCMC is a part of the Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival and presented in collaboration with Grand Rapids Community College.




Admission: $30-35.  Student tickets are $10.

Actors' Theatre of Grand Rapids continues to promote its always innovative theatrical programming with the debut of the Tony Award nominated comedic play, "Little Dog Laughed."

Little Dog Laughed is a naughty laugh-out- loud comedy about identity politics and revolves around an actor, Mitchell, his acerbic agent Diane, a hustler named Alex, and Alex's girlfriend Ellen.

Trouble ensues when Mitchell and Alex become involved in a physical relationship.  Diane, in classic Hollywood public relations style, is deeply concerned that what she describes as Mitchell's "slight recurring case of homosexuality" will derail his career before it gets started.

Little Dog Laughed is so much more than just a comedy as issues of the complications love brings to our lives are presented ...and always in a very funny way.

The cast of Little Dog Laughed includes Calin Skidmore, Sherryl Depres, Lizzy Sulkowski and Taylor John Piedmonte and is directed by Tom Kaechele.


Admission: $22 for adults and $8 for students.