Donald’s list: weekend choices (May 19)

May 19, 2017

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On my list for promising cultural weekend options:

Classical guitar

Bitwise Industries is transforming the local technology industry, and it’s becoming a player in the cultural scene as well thanks to its 160-seat John W. Dodson Theater. The venue hosts Chilean classical guitar virtuoso Cristobal Selamé in a Sunday concert.

Classical guitarist: Cristobal Selamé will play at Bitwise. Photo / cristobalselameguitar.com

The event, which is sponsored by California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — Central Valley District, benefits the Helena Kennedy Memorial Scholarship for Fresno State dietetic and nutrition students. Selamé is Helena Kennedy’s nephew.

From the organizers:

The 21-year- old Selamé recently completed studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under legendary Brazilian guitarist and composer Sérgio Assad, a Grammy Award winner who called his pupil an “upcoming new master.” Selamé has won a number of important classical guitar competitions and was recently accepted into the master’s program at the prestigious Academy of Music in Darmstadt, Germany, under the instruction of the world-renowned musician Tilman Hoppstock.

Sounds like a great opportunity for classical guitar fans, and it’s a worthy cause. (And no extra calories.) Details: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 21, Bitwise South Stadium. $15 in advance through Eventbrite and $17 on the day of the event if tickets remain.

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Youthful voices: The Bach Children’s Choir and Bach Youth Chorale perform Sunday. Photo / Bach Children’s Choir

Choral concert

The Bach Children’s Choir and Bach Youth Chorale on Sunday present their annual spring concert, titled “We Sing.” And if all that exciting music stirs your appetite, you can join the ensemble afterward for a Pielogy fundraiser at the Park Crossing restaurant on Friant Road. Details: 4 p.m. Sunday, May 21, Shaghoian Hall. $10 general, free for 12 and under (but you must request ticket).

Fresno Art Museum

An opening reception on Friday celebrates the debut of five new exhibitions at the museum, including a big retrospective devoted to Nancy Youdelman titled “Fashioning a Feminist Vision: 1972-2017,” curated by Michele Ellis Pracy. (I’ll be posting a long-form profile about the artist and the exhibition soon.)

Two other notable openings include “Redress, New Artwork,” by Leslie Batty, who considers the subject of American feminine identity within the current political climate; and “Maurice Cohen: Order in Complexity,” with examples of Abstract and Impressionist work by Cohen, a retired Fresno State mathematics professor.

Details on the Friday, May 19, event:

A preview of the new exhibitions will be held starting at 4:30 pm with curator and artist talks in the Bonner Auditorium followed by a reception from 6 to 8 pm. Free to members, $15 for non-members. (No passes accepted for this event.) A no-host bar and hearty appetizers will be available from 6 to 8 pm.

All the exhibitions are open to the public starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20.