Weaving a Tapestry of Sound

By -- Lavanya Ramanathan
Thursday, May 15, 2008

With knitting, you probably don't have to explain the visceral pleasures of repetitive purling. But the aural pleasures?

For Baltimore artist Laure (pronounced Laura) Drogoul, knitting is as much about the noises as the resulting scarves. She comes from a family of knitters, and the clack-clack-clack of oversize needles sounds something like nostalgia to her.

A few years ago, the prize-winning artist created an "Apparatus for Orchestral Knitting" to amplify the sounds of the needles and yarn for the High Zero HighJinx experimental music fest. She attaches miniature microphones to the needles, then connects all of the wiring and yarn to a white suitcase, where the magic happens.

Apparently, amplified knitting sounds a lot like the hollow whir heard through a stethoscope of a lung breathing air. (Funny, huh?)

Tonight, all knitters and would-be knitters are invited to be part of Drogoul's orchestra when she brings her suitcase to the Ellipse Arts Center in connection with its "Thread as the Line" show. Up to 10 knitters at a time can try their hand at knitting from the suitcase; Drogoul prefers everyone to sit in the knitting-circle formation.

"It can sound really dramatic," says Drogoul (who also has a "video seance" installation at the nearby Arlington Arts Center for soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery). When everyone moves in tandem, she says, "it can sound like waves of sound. . . . It can be very soothing in a way."

She regularly uses a music stand with a knitting pattern as a "score" so knitters can work toward something collectively but also make sounds simultaneously. The pieces the knitters create? After each jam, Drogoul saves them as the "manifestation" of the score -- they are the recordings of the night's performance.

Free (equipment provided, but bring your own supplies in case you can't join in the amplified performance; you can always go "acoustic"). 6-9 p.m. Ellipse Arts Center, 4350 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington. (Note: Street parking is very limited, but the nearby parking garage is free and open.) 703-228-7710.

Save the Date

ON STAGE: Coldplay With a new record -- the dramatically titled "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" -- set for release in about a month, Chris Martin and Co. are going on a tour that will include two free shows in New York and London. You can try to win tickets for those events on the Coldplay Web site, or buy tickets for the local show at Verizon Center July 2 and actually be sure you're getting in. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. $49.50-$97.50. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-397-7328.

LITERATURE: Salman Rushdie One of the most renowned and provocative intellectuals of his generation, Salman Rushdie is a novelist, essayist and more recently, a British knight. In 1988, his fourth novel, "The Satanic Verses," caused outrage among some Muslims and famously led to a call for Rushdie's death. That's all behind him now, and Rushdie is set to release his 10th novel, "The Enchantress of Florence," this month. Using his signature magical realist style and blending history with fable, Rushdie's novel tells of the Mughal empire's fascination with the story of a Florentine woman. He discusses the book on June 30 at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday. Get two free tickets with purchase of the book at Politics & Prose, or buy them for $6 each. 7 p.m. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-364-1919.

The District

Today

EXHIBIT: Jacob Lawrence's "Migration Series" Lawrence, an African American artist whose work hangs in the White House, was just 23 when he painted his 60-panel "Migration Series," in which he hoped to capture the movement of millions of African Americans from the South to the North during the 20th century. The series was split when it was purchased -- the Phillips Collection and the Museum of Modern Art in New York each now hold half -- but the Phillips reunites the works, showing the whole series of 12-by-18-inch panels together again. Check it out tonight, at the museum's Artful Evening. While you're there, take in the expansive show of recent acquisitions, "Degas to Diebenkorn: The Phillips Collects," before it closes next week. To see both, $12; seniors and students $10; 18 and younger free. To see just the "Migration Series" and permanent collection, admission is by donation on weekdays, and $10 on weekends. Today, 5-8:30 p.m. Through Oct. 26. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. 202-387-2151.

LITERATURE: Fareed Zakaria The Newsweek International editor and author is at Politics & Prose tonight to discuss his new book, "The Post-American World," about America's anxiety, triggered not by its own troubles but by the rise of China, India, Brazil and other countries. Free. 7 p.m. 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-364-1919.

Tomorrow

THE SCENE: "Savor" The Brewers Association throws two days of food-and-beer festivals meant to spotlight craft beers and the appetizers that complement them -- 48 small breweries (many you've never heard of) serve up their own creations. 6:30-10 p.m. and Saturday 12:30-4 p.m. and 6:30-10 p.m. Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW. For tickets and details (including the menu), visit http://www.savorcraftbeer.com. Note: Saturday tickets may be limited and are being sold only at Rock Bottom restaurant locations and Dogfish Head Alehouse; see Web site for information.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Bike to Work Day This annual event, which encourages people to ride bikes to work instead of driving, returns. You can join a "convoy" led by an experienced bicyclist, or visit one of 26 "pit stops" across the region where you can meet others and grab a light breakfast. Free. About 6:30-9:30 a.m. For details, visit http://www.waba.org or call 202-518-0524.

Saturday

THE SCENE: Warm Weather Alert: Daytime Wine Tasting Put off picking up your dry-cleaning Saturday, find a date and try starting your night out a little early (and for considerably less cost than Savor). Cork Wine Bar will be pouring Spanish wines that afternoon -- whites just right for the season, but some reds, too. Free (but space is very limited, so RSVP required by today. E-mail info@corkdc.com). 3-5 p.m. Cork Wine Bar, 1720 14th St. NW. 202-265-2675.

Maryland

Today

FILM: "Blade Runner: The Final Cut" The 2007 reworking of this 1982 Ridley Scott sci-fi film has extended scenes, no voiceover and a different ending. And the movie was cited by Post critic Stephen Hunter as a "director's cut that's remarkably, not just barely, better than the original." If you're curious to see it on the big screen, it's doing so well in its run at the AFI Silver that it has been extended, now closing May 22. $9.75, seniors and students $8.50, age 12 and younger $6.75. Today at 2, 4:25, 7:10 and 9:30 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6720.

Saturday

THE SCENE: Strut Your Mutt This fundraiser for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, in its third year in downtown Bethesda, encourages pet owners to bring out their dogs for an afternoon that includes a parade (the "strut") and contests (best tricks, best kisser, best costume, etc.), as well as vendors and dog-adoption opportunities, even a pet fashion show. Last year, several hundred dogs took to the streets with their owners for this event. Registration is $25 per dog. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (the parade is at 10:45, contests begin at 11:30 a.m.). Register near Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue, event on Woodmont between Bethesda Avenue and Hampden Lane, Bethesda. For information, visit http://www.strutyourmuttbethesda.org.

THE SCENE: "Retroville" Glen Echo's 1950s-theme gala on Saturday is nearly $200 a ticket, but organizers are also selling $20 tickets for a dance-only night that includes a performance by the Daryl Davis band, rides on the antique carousel and a dessert buffet. Dress up and make a date of this dance. 9:15-11:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale in advance through 6 p.m. Thursday; call 301-634-2255. Or get tickets at the door. Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.

Northern Virginia

Today

CONCERT: Emergenza International Music Festival This fest (held in cities across the country) is about the audience as much as it's about the bands; it's the crowds who vote for which band goes on to the next round of elimination till just a few remain. Tonight at Jammin' Java, the first of the 20-odd bands that have signed up compete. Styles run from funk to alternative to hip-hop to Christian punk. $12 in advance, $18 at the door for each show. Tonight-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. For a schedule of bands and tickets, visit http://www.jamminjava.com. 227 E. Maple Ave., Vienna. 703-255-1566.

ON STAGE: "Closing Time" The Keegan Theatre's new island project takes on this play by contemporary Irish playwright Owen McCafferty (whose "Mojo Mickybo" and "Scenes From the Big Picture" have been performed locally in the past year) -- this one a U.S. premiere. The story follows a hard-drinking Belfast pub owner, his drunken and similarly deflated customers, his straying wife and his trouble with the business. "Closing Time" opens tonight. $25; students, seniors, $20. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. through June 7. Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington. Visit http://www.keegantheatre.com or call 703-892-0202, Ext. 2.