Arts and Culture

Wally Pleasant is a comedic singer-songwriter who’ll perform twice this weekend in Charlotte. Scott Pohl brought the long-time local favorite into WKAR’s Studio S for a little conversation and music.

The art world looks down on paintings on velvet. The images conjured by the phrase “velvet art” might be things like children with big eyes, or Elvis Presley. A Lansing art gallery is challenging the notion that this is low-brow art. Casa de Rosado is hosting an exhibition called “Black Velvet, a Rasquache Aesthetic” through February 3rd.

The most iconic name in modern art history might well be that of Andy Warhol. Even casual observers of the art world know about his works depicting soup cans or celebrities like Marilyn Monroe. Starting Saturday, the Broad Art Museum on the MSU campus will be the site of an exhibition of works by Warhol. “Andy Warhol: A Day in the Life” can be seen through May 6th.

Actor and singer Jim Nabors died on Thursday at the age of 87. WKAR’s Scott Pohl talks with a Traverse City man about a friendly encounter with the Gomer Pyle star.

Can the arts influence thinking on scientific debates like the discussion surround climate change? A program in Lansing this week aims to do exactly that. It's called “Hope Takes the Stage.”

Eli Broad, the benefactor of Michigan State University’s College of Business and modern art museum, is retiring. The New York Times reports that the 84-year-old billionaire is stepping down from public life. Broad told the paper, quoting here, “I am retiring. Now. Right now.”

Lansing’s “singing cashier,” Lucas Holliday, appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” last night. His audition song was Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work.”

Another slate of Friday night folk music concerts begins tonight with the first Ten Pound Fiddle show of the season.

A museum space dedicated to the appreciation of Russian culture exists in a place you probably wouldn’t expect: Charlotte, Michigan.

It’s called The Russian Room, and we paid it a visit.