VISUAL ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS
Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art
119 S. Main, 523-2787
Housing one of the largest collections of artwork from the Q’ing dynasty, the Belz Museum also contains such rare items as an imperial cinnabar throne, intricate jade sculptures, and ivory masks. Accompanying activities often include Chinese musical performances, martial arts demonstrations, and calligraphy demonstrations. The museum was founded in 1998 by Memphians Jack and Marilyn Belz, who have been collecting Chinese art since 1968.
The Dixon Gallery & Gardens
4339 Park, 761-5250
Boasting a permanent collection that includes works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cezanne, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens is continuing the lifelong devotion to the arts sparked by Margaret and Hugo Dixon, who left their home and 17-acre estate for Memphians and tourists to enjoy. The Georgian-style residence is surrounded by formal English gardens, open vistas, and woodland areas. Major exhibitions of paintings and sculpture are held throughout the year. Open-air concerts also are held periodically.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Overton Park, 544-6200
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art maintains a permanent collection that includes a print study room with more than 3,000 works of art on paper, as well as galleries filled with French Impressionism, Flemish and Italian Renaissance and Baroque, and 20th-century art, making Brooks the oldest and largest fine-arts museum in Tennessee. In addition to a series of exhibitions held throughout the year, Brooks also hosts First Wednesdays, social events including entertainment that take place on the first Wednesday evening of every month.
Memphis Jewish Community Center
6560 Poplar, 761-0810
Formed in 1949, the Memphis Jewish Community Center is a multipurpose complex serving more than 6,000 members in the Memphis area. The Shainberg Gallery at the MJCC features several exhibits of mostly paintings and drawings throughout the year.
National Ornamental Metal Museum
374 Metal Museum Dr., 774-6380
Since its humble beginnings in a former military hospital, the National Ornamental Metal Museum’s exhibits have continued to grow in size and stature over the years. A not-for-profit organization, the museum relies on funding from the private sector as well as tuition received from classes and workshops. Exhibits at the museum change every two to three months.
College and University Galleries
Galleries throughout the Memphis area offer a wide-ranging schedule of changing exhibitions, usually dedicated to art created by their students and faculty, but often bringing in important traveling exhibitions as well. Major galleries include:
The Art Museum of the University of Memphis
678-2224
The university’s art gallery houses two permanent collections, “Egyptian Antiquities” and “The Spirit of Africa,” as well as a wide range of temporary exhibits of contemporary art. Admission is free, and guided tours are available for groups of up to 60.
Christian Brothers University Gallery and Museum
650 E. Parkway S., 321-3432
CBU offers a venue for temporary exhibits, which display the work of both students and guest artists throughout the year.
Memphis College of Art
Overton Park, 272-5100
MCA is an art and design institution that is committed to recognizing and cultivating the diverse abilities of each student and to preparing them for a future that will utilize and appreciate their talents to the greatest extent. The gallery presents changing exhibitions — often showcasing the work of faculty and students —throughout the year.
Rhodes College Clough-Hanson Gallery
2000 N. Parkway, 843-3442
Clough-Hanson shows contemporary works by students and guest artists.
ART GALLERIES
David Lusk Gallery — davidluskgallery.com, 767-3800
DCI Gallery — dcigallery.net, 767-8617
Five In One — fiveinone.org, 725-7175
Fountain Art Gallery — 3092 Poplar, 458-7100
Gallery Fifty-six — thepalladiogroup.com/galleryfiftysix, 722-8877
Jack Kenner Photography — jackkenner.com, 722-8877
Java Cabana — javacabanacoffeehouse.com, 272-7210
L Ross Gallery — lrossgallery.com, 292-5559
Lisa Kurts Gallery — lisakurts.com, 683-6200
Lulalyn Gallery — newatlulalyngallery.blogspot.com, 489-3963
Material — hamlettdobbins.com/material.php
P&H Artspace — pandhcafe.com, 726-0906
Perry Nicole Fine Art — perrynicole.com, 405-6000
Odessa — odessatheblog.wordpress.com
T Clifton Art Gallery — 323-2787
South Main Arts District
On the last Friday of every month, visitors can hop aboard the Main Street trolleys for tours of the area’s many art galleries, which include:
Art Village Studio and Gallery — 410 S. Main, 521-0782
D’Edge Art & Unique Treasures — 550 S. Main, 521-0054
Disciple Gallery — 390 S. Main, 386-4299
Hannah Davis Gallery — 408 S. Front, 504-756-4567
Jack Robinson Gallery & Archive — 44 Huling, 576-0708
Joysmith Studio — 46 Huling, 543-0505
Memphis College of Art On the Street Gallery — 338 S. Main, 272-5100
Rivertown Gallery — 125 S. Main, 527-7573
UniversalArt Gallery — 545 S. Main, 213-3665
MUSIC
Concerts International
527-3067
Concerts International has been bringing chamber music to Memphis for more than 35 years.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra
585 S. Mendenhall, 537-2525
Founded in 1952 as the Memphis Sinfonietta, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra has grown over the years into one of this city’s most important cultural organizations. Today, more than 850 musicians, staff, and volunteers make up the orchestra and its affiliated Memphis Symphony Chorus, Youth Symphony, and the Memphis Symphony League.
Opera Memphis
6745 Wolf River, 257-3100
One of the oldest continuously running opera companies in the nation. Performances are often in Italian with English translations projected above the stage.
other MUSIC/organizations
Beethoven Club Series — beethovenclub.org, 274-2504
Calvary and the Arts — calvaryjc.org, 525-6602
Germantown Symphony Orchestra — germantownsymphony.org, 755-8708
Lindenwood Concerts — lindenwoodcc.com, 458-1652
Memphis Chamber Music Society — 758-0150
Memphis Music Foundation — memphismeansmusic.com, 527-1029
Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission — memphismusic.org, 576-6850
TRAVELING PERFORMANCES / LOCAL VENUES
Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center
3663 Appling, 385-6440
The Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center (BPACC) is more than a venue for business meetings and commercial functions; it boasts a performance schedule that spans a diverse selection of music and theater. The BPACC also hosts an ongoing Family Series, a Sunday Jazz series, and a Dinner Stage series.
Buckman Performing and Fine Arts Center
60 Perkins Ext., St. Mary’s Episcopal School, 537-1486
Named after philanthropist Mertie W. Buckman, this center on the campus of St. Mary’s Episcopal School presents concert and dance series throughout the year.
Cannon Center for the Performing Arts
255 N. Main, 726-0915
Located in downtown Memphis, the Cannon Center offers regular concerts by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and is a stop for touring children’s shows and popular comedians and musicians.
FedExForum
191 Beale, Downtown
205-1535
The FedExForum is one of the finest facilities in the NBA and home to the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers basketball team. The venue is also host to some of the biggest, most popular concerts and events of the year, including Miley Cyrus and “Disney on Ice” shows.
Germantown Performing Arts Centre
1801 Exeter, 757-7256
The Germantown Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) has been hosting excellent performances viewed by Mid-Southerners for 14 years, and this season will continue that tradition. In addition, the IRIS Chamber Orchestra, directed by Michael Stern, will offer a series of noteworthy performances.
Levitt Shell
Overton Park, 272-5159
One of the few remaining concert shells built by the WPA in the 1930s, the Levitt Shell has been threatened by any number of development plans. But dedicated Memphians have consistently stepped in to save the historic open-air theater, which has been recognized as the site of Elvis Presley’s first professional concert. Thanks to the efforts of Save Our Shell Inc., the newly renovated Levitt Shell still hosts a variety of free concerts Thursdays through Sundays during the spring and fall.
Minglewood Hall
1555 Madison, 312—6058
The newest venue on the Memphis scene, hosting the hippest musical acts, such as Girl Talk, and other events such as MMA Cage Fights.
The Orpheum
Main and Beale, 525-3000
The Orpheum proudly stands as one of the original downtown theaters of Memphis and one of the premier performing-arts centers in the Mid-South. In addition to bringing Broadway productions and a wide array of entertainers to the area, the Orpheum also hosts local companies such as Ballet Memphis and Opera Memphis.
THEATER
Hattiloo Theatre
656 Marshall, 502-3486
Repertory theater in downtown Memphis presenting classical and original works with largely African-American themes.
Playhouse on the Square and Circuit Playhouse
51 S. Cooper (Playhouse), 1711 Poplar (Circuit), 726-4656
A company of professional actors who live in the Memphis area produces a variety of shows throughout the year at two primary venues, Playhouse on the Square and Circuit Playhouse.
Poplar Pike Playhouse
7653 Poplar Pike, 755-7775
The Poplar Pike Playhouse at Germantown High School has received wide acclaim for the level of dramatic performance and training it provides. Actors coming out of the program have appeared on Broadway and on television.
Rhodes College McCoy Theatre
2000 N. Parkway, 843-3839
A student-composed cast and crew put on about four productions per year, inviting established actors from the Memphis community to act alongside them and share their acquired knowledge of both the business and craft of drama.
Theatre Memphis
630 Perkins Ext., 682-8323
Theatre Memphis is the longest-running community theater company in the area, with a main stage and the intimate setting of Next Stage, formerly known as the Little Theatre.
TheatreWorks
2085 Monroe, 274-7139
TheatreWorks is made up of five organizations: Playwright’s Forum, Emerald Theatre Company, Our Own Voice Theatre Troupe, Memphis Black Repertory Theatre, and Voices of the South.
University of Memphis Theatre and Dance
Theatre Communication Building, 374 Central, 678-2576/678-3184
The university annually puts on a full season of performances that includes plays and dance, featuring both students and faculty.
other THEATERs
Bartlett Community Theatre
484-2646, bartlettcommunitytheatre.org,
Germantown Community Theatre 3037 Forest Hill-Irene, 754-2680, germantowncommunitytheatre.org,
Other Theater Troupes
Chatterbox Theater — chatterboxtheater.org
Playback Memphis — playbackmemphis.com
Tennessee Shakespeare Company — tnshakespeare.org, 759-0604
Voices of the South — voicesofthesouth.org, 726-0800
DANCE
Ballet Memphis — 7950 Trinity, balletmemphis.org, 737-7322
Founded in 1985 by Dorothy Gunther Pugh as Memphis Concert Ballet, Ballet Memphis began with just two professional dancers and a $75,000 budget. Today, the company is the most successful ballet organization in the city’s history. Ballet Memphis puts on four shows a year at the Orpheum, while holding classes in classical ballet for all ages and levels.
Dance Works — danceworksinc.org, 333-5174 or 452-8811
Dance Works offers classes in classical ballet, creative and modern dance, and hip-hop. Performances, often featuring guest teachers/choreographers, are presented four times a year.
New Ballet Ensemble — newballet.org, 726-9225
The New Ballet Ensemble goes one step beyond classical ballet training, embracing all forms of dance from hip-hop to modern. The troupe presents several shows a year, including its annual crowd-pleasing “Nut Re-Mix,” a twist on the classic Tchaikovsky ballet.
Project: Motion — projectmotiondance.org
Dance collective specializing in modern dance.
FILM
Indie Memphis — The group focuses on Southern filmmaking and Southern films and hosts a yearly festival as well as the monthly short-films event “Micro-Cinema Club.” indiememphis.com, 246-7086
On Location: Memphis — The annual On Location: Memphis International Film Festival brings in actors and filmmakers. memphisfilmforum.org, 273-0014
Memphis Film Festival — The annual festival in June celebrates classic film and television, with special guests, screenings, and more. memphisfilmfestival.com
Outflix Film Festival — The week-long festival is presented by the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center. outflixfestival.org
READINGS AND BOOK SIGNINGS
Barnes & Noble — 794-9394 (Winchester), 386-2468 (Wolfchase), 853-3264 (Carriage Crossing)
Bookstar — 323-9332
Borders Books and Music — 754-0770
Brentano’s — 763-1945
Burke’s Book Store — 278-7484
Davis-Kidd Booksellers — 683-9801
English Major Bookstore — 725-1478
Java Cabana — 272-7210
Waldenbooks — 373-5301 (Wolfchase), 360-8023 (Hickory Ridge)
Xanadu Book Store — 274-9885
OTHER arts ORGANIZATIONS
ArtsMemphis — ArtsMemphis provides operating funding for more than 20 local arts groups, including Ballet Memphis, Opera Memphis, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Theatre Memphis, and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. artsmemphis.org, 578-2787
Blues Foundation — The local foundation sponsors events that promote the blues.
blues.org, 527-2583
Center for Southern Folklore — This downtown venue offers live music, coffee and beer bar, retail shop, and museum. southernfolklore.com, 525-3655
Harrell Performing Arts Theatre — The town of Collierville’s concert hall and cultural center offers musical, theatrical, and dance performances as well as community classes. harrelltheatre.org, 853-3228
Memphis Black Arts Alliance, Inc. — The Alliance offers a wide selection of classes, as well as a venue for performers. memphisblackartsalliance.com, 948-9522
Memphis/Germantown Art League — The Memphis/Germantown Art League was formed in 1976 by 10 artists meeting in Germantown. Since then, membership has grown to almost 250 and spans Tennessee and three neighboring states. The purpose of this nonprofit organization is to aid its member artists in their professional growth and in the development of their artistic skills by providing exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations. mgal.org, 382-2622
Memphis Pink Palace Family of Museums — This group includes Pink Palace and Museum, IMAX Theatre, Sharpe Planetarium, and Lichterman Nature Center. The Pink Palace Family hosts various arts programming all year long. One popular event is the annual Pink Palance Crafts Fair in October. memphismuseums.org, 320-6365
UrbanArt Commission — The commission champions public art and urban design in Memphis and Shelby County. urbanartcommission.org, 525-0880
