Audio-Visual Club Eccentric American photographer Mike Meyers changed his surname to Disfarmer to break with his family’s agrarian roots — then spent the years between 1939 and 1945 capturing images of rural residents in his hometown of Heber Springs, Arkansas. The resultant luminous, black-and-white “penny portraits” have since inspired shutterbug artistes and collectors alike. Grammy-winning jazz guitarist and composer Bill Frisell (pictured) says he’s intrigued by the life stories the stark images seem simultaneously to hide and reveal. Frisell and his band — violinist Jenny Scheinman, steel guitarist Greg Leisz, and bassist Viktor Krauss — offer an homage to rural America in a concert matching their improvised “musical portraits” to projected images of Disfarmer’s work.
Bill Frisell & Company, Wednesday, March 5, Flynn MainStage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $26-38. Info, 863-5966. www.billfrisell.com
thu.28 & wed.05 [rallies]
War Stories When U.S. soldiers first went to Iraq, few imagined we’d still be there five years later. Two rallies this week mark a half-decade of war in the Middle East. At UVM, Iraq Veterans Against the War hosts an airing of boots-on-the-ground personal experiences from Iraq and Afghanistan. (The event is modeled after the Vietnam-era Winter Soldier hearings, which publicized alleged war crimes and atrocities.) St. Michael’s College sets aside a day to reflect on the U.S.’ moral responsibility to Iraqis. Lectures on the war’s history and media coverage precede round-table discussions, and the day wraps with action workshops generating letters to congressional representatives. During downtime, visitors to St. Mike’s Durick Library can view artist Daniel Heyman’s evocative portraits (see illustration) of Iraqis abused by U.S. soldiers and military contractors. Illustration courtesy of Daniel Heyman.
Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan, Thursday, February 28, Silver Maple Ballroom, Davis Center, UVM, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 343-1181. www.ivaw.org‘
Our War, Our Responsibility’, Wednesday, March 5, McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester, 8:45 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free. Info, 654-2536. www.tinyurl.com/2njdkq
tue.04 [performance]
Playing The Piper Wind instruments are all about air time. Once a musician’s mouth forms an acceptable embouchure and fingers flutter across the keys, the biggest hurdle is controlling one’s breath. Judging by his worldwide acclaim, flute maestro Sir James Galway embodies his chosen instrument’s expressive poise, precision and fluidity in a way that makes listeners breathe easy. The Irish virtuoso learned to play penny-whistle in his native Belfast, and rose from working-class roots to concertize with top symphonies. Given a British knighthood for his contributions to musical culture, Galway tops three decades of dapper-suited solo performances with a duet show featuring his flutist wife and premier instrumental partner Lady Jeanne Galway, accompanied by Berlin-based pianist Phillip Moll.
Sir James Galway, Tuesday, March 4, Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7 p.m. $50. Info, 603-646-2422. www.thegalwaynetwork.com
sat.01 [fundraiser]
Freeze Frames Relay athletes are used to making trade-offs, but they don’t usually swap batons at below-freezing temperatures. In the Relay for Life Nordicstyle — the nation’s only winter relay fundraiser — supporters of the American Cancer Society make rounds all night long on cross-country skis, snowshoes or on foot. The dusk-to-dawn event draws teams who’ve been gathering pledges for months, but solo skiers can pitch in with a donation, or decorate and light a paper-bag lantern honoring someone affected by cancer. Meanwhile, winter athletes who want a glimpse of the next hot trends in slippery sports can check out the fruits of UVM’s Sportec Challenge. Open to contestants of all ages since January, it awards prizes this weekend for innovative devices that pair simple technologies with snow-and-ice fun. Snowboard biking, anyone?
Relay for Life Nordicstyle, Saturday, March 1, Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. Donations, free to watch. Info, 872-6304. http
://www.cancer.org main.acsevents.org/rflvtnordicstyleUVM
Sportec Challenge, Saturday, March 1, University Mall, South Burlington, 9 a.m. - noon. Free. Info, 656-8748. www.cems.uvm.edu/wintersports
