EVENTS CALENDAR

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14
“Friedlander: Photography” at Minneapolis Institute of Arts

MINNEAPOLIS
Lee Friedlander’s photographs document 50 years of American life.
His subjects include musicians like Miles Davis and Aretha Franklin, street scenes and landscapes. This is the largest comprehensive retrospective of his work.
www.mia.org

JULY 18-20
Bite of Seattle

SEATTLE
An emerging foodie scene and plenty of vineyards in the area make Seattle’s food fest a must-do. Tastings, classes, cook-offs, beer gardens and live music are all part of the package.
www.biteofseattle.com

JULY 21-27
KC Fringe Festival

KANSAS CITY
This festival features every kind of performing art imaginable, from puppetry to spoken word. Visual arts and fashion are also part of the eclectic mix created by up-and-coming artists.
www.kcfringe.org

Art Histories

Two very different exhibits explore European history through the lens of art.

HOLY HISTORY

You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the art of the Vatican. The Catholic Church has a legacy of collecting and commissioning great works, through which it has deeply influenced European culture.

“This exhibition is about art, history, culture and the Church’s legacy over the last 2,000 years,” says Mark Greenberg, president of Evergreen Exhibitions, who produced the exhibit. “The Vatican has had a profound impact on culture through the centuries by commissioning, collecting and preserving historical objects and art.” Items you may not expect—from swords and armor to embroidered silk, gold jewelry and a touchable cast of Pope John Paul II’s hand—are sure to fascinate and educate.

Cleveland
Through Sept. 17 “Vatican Splendors”
Western Reserve Historical Society, www.wrhs.org

BRITISH INVASION

British artists Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore have been creating sculptures and photomontages together since the 1970s. Their work is a mirror of the sociopolitical trends they witnessed in London: racial tensions and the rise of punk in the ’70s and glossy consumerism in the ’80s.

Although their work is highly charged, it is also very approachable. Their slogan is “Art for All.” Almost all of their images are gathered within walking distance from their home in London’s working-class East End, so there is a familiarity with every subject.

Above all, it’s fun to look at. The pieces are bold and playful, often combining portraits with bright colors for a distinct look that’s both pop and provocative.

Milwaukee
Through Sept. 1 “Gilbert & George” Milwaukee Art
Museum, www.mam.org

JULY 25-27
Gilroy Garlic Festival

GILROY, CALIF. (1.5 HOURS FROM SAN FRANCISCO)
Enjoy dining on foods prepared with more than two tons of garlic. This event, with arts and crafts sales and live music, has a sweet flavor, too: Proceeds go to charity.
www.gilroygarlicfestival.com

AUG. 1-3
International Surf Festival

LOS ANGELES
Head to LA’s best beaches, Hermosa, Manhattan and Torrance, for loads of seaside fun: soccer, volleyball, sandcastle competitions and, of course, surfi ng.
www.surffestival.org

AUG. 30-31
Grant Park Summer Shade Festival

ATLANTA
Come see what makes Grant Park so cool. Here’s a hint: It has more to do with live music, children’s activities, a 5K run and the Corks & Forks food and wine event than it does with the shade.
www.summershade.org

 

Music in the Mountains

Catch fi rst-rate performances in the spectacular Berkshires.

Tanglewood is the ultimate music festival. It lasts all summer, and, while the focus is classical music, it also includes everything from modern dance to jazz. Set in the Berkshire Mountains in Western Massachusetts, it’s a rustic retreat with a little bit of high culture.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra teamed up with Tanglewood Music Center, a school, to start the festival in 1937, and the BSO’s presence is still strongly felt, especially during the popular All-Mozart and All-Beethoven weekends.

The acts have diversifi ed a bit over the years: Among this year’s nonclassical acts are the Mark Morris Dance Group, A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and a fi lm night—“one of the most popular” events, says Anthony Fogg, artistic administrator of the BSO—in which the Boston Pops will play famous movie scores.

There are some special events you may want to catch, too, like the Tanglewood Parade on Aug. 5. Fogg says this all-day event, which ends in fi reworks, is a can’t-miss for the whole family. The Food and Wine Classic on Aug. 9—described as “a summer dream for the discerning gastronomic pilgrim”—and the Jazz Festival that caps off the event (Aug. 29-31) and includes Dianne Reeves and Terence Blanchard, make this massive festival a summer highlight.

Tanglewood
Lenox, Mass. (about 1.5 hours from Hartford)
July 5-Aug. 31 www.tanglewood.org

PHOTOS: ARNOLD NEWMAN/GETTYIMAGES, GILBERT & GEORGE, DEATH FROM DEATH HOPE LIFE FEAR, 1984. TATE. © GILBERT & GEORGE, JONATHAN BLAIR/CORBIS