Art & Design Gallery

N.C. State now has a museum. Announced on Feb. 2, N.C. State’s Gallery of Art & Design has changed its name to the Gregg Museum of Art & Design. The change is in memory of the late John Nathan Gregg Sr. and in honor of his wife, Nancy C. Gregg.

John Gregg was a graduate of N.C. State’s College of Textiles (1955), a generous benefactor of the Gallery of Art & Design, a professor and a very involved member of the textiles community on campus. Nancy Gregg, likewise, plays an active role in the Raleigh arts.

The Gregg Museum’s naming ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 20, 2007. A champagne brunch will follow.

— Ashley Arnold

Queer Poets Event in Durham

Queer poets and singers from the Triangle are gathering Friday evening in Durham to share their work.

The Queer Poets event is free and open to the public at the Duke Coffeehouse. Andrew “Roo” Farr, a local spoken word artist, the Duke University LGBT Center and AQUADuke are sponsoring the event.

The event will highlight that queers have made many contributions to the art world at the local level, Roo, an alumnus, said.

Few artistic or queer outlets exist at N.C. State, and this event will be an opportunity for those students who feel they don’t get their dose of culture, Roo said.

The performers for the event are experienced and talented, according to Roo. Some of the performers have been published or have won awards. Performers include Mz*Julee of STAMMER!, Tanya Olson of durham3 and Carolina Wren Press, Shana Scudder and VEDA of Girls Make Messes and spoken word poet Roo.

“We really do have a magnificent cast for this,” Roo said.

He said he selected the artists by asking other queer artists for suggestions and going from there. He wanted the event to be on the artists’ terms. He also said he wanted a showcase of local queer artists.

After the show, there will be an open mic for others to share their work. However, only a few performances will be allowed, and the time will be limited to three minutes.

Roo said he is unsure what the turnout will be because he’s heard quite a lot of “buzz” about the event.

Roo said he has been interested in coordinating an event like this for a while, although not specifically poetry — just queer artists. This event “fell in [his] lap” when Duke LGBT contacted him about a queer artists event, he said.

The doors open at 7 p.m., and the show is at 7:30 p.m.

–Kathryn Parker

Bands raise money for leukemia and lymphoma

A benefit show for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will be at Cat’s Cradle on Saturday. Eugene Wheeler, organizer of the event, said all admission money will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, as far as he knows.

The show will include Hearts and Daggers, Big Fat Gap Band with Michael Holland, Spider Bags and The Kingsburry Manx.

Wheeler said he became interested in raising money for the society when he ran a marathon and wants to continue to give in a different way. He said he wants to plan more events where people can have a good time and their money go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The line-up is “killer,” according to Wheeler. There isn’t a reason for people not to go, Wheeler said, because it’s “great music, a great cause and cheap tickets.”

The doors for the show will open at 8 p.m., and it will begin at 8:30 p.m. The cover charge is $5.

–Kathryn Parker

Tishamingo to play the Pour House

The Georgia-based band, Tishamingo, will be playing at the Pour House this Friday. Doors open at 8 p.m.

According to guitarist and vocalist, Cameron Williams, the band has been touring for the past five years and always enjoys coming to Raleigh.

“Raleigh has been very good to us,” Williams said.

Besides Williams, the other band members include Richard Proctor on drums, Chuck Thomas on bass and Jess Franklin on guitar, keyboard, organ and vocals.

The band will be promoting its new album, entitled The Point which will be available in stores February 20.

Tishamingo has played with such bands as the Black Crowes, Drive By Truckers, Emmylou Harris and B.B. King.

Williams said the band is always excited to play at The Pour House, calling it a “kind of home.”

“It’s always a good time in Raleigh for sure,” Williams said.

— Josh Hines