What's Happening: 'Free Fridays' concert, GFAA tour, 'Kinky Boots' and more

JULY 14

“FREE FRIDAYS” CONCERT: Catch the next performance of the city’s popular “Free Fridays” concert series from 7 to 9 p.m. July 14 at the Bo Diddley Plaza downtown amphitheater, located at 111 E. University Ave. The free concert series highlights a different act each week, with The Savants of Soul performing tonight. Attendees are encouraged to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to Bo Diddley Plaza to enjoy the concert under the stars. For more information, including a list of upcoming performances, visit gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series.

JULY 14 THROUGH JULY 16

2023 GFAA ARTIST STUDIO TOUR: The Gainesville Fine Arts Association has announced this year's studio tour lineup with a kickoff party at GFAA Gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. July 14 and the full studio tour of 27 artists at 19 studios all weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 15-16. The GFAA Artist Studio Tour is a self-guided tour through working artist studios in and around Gainesville. The tour showcases fine art and fine craft in a broad range of media and styles. While on the tour, visitors will witness the creative process through examples and impromptu demonstrations. Tour visitors will have the opportunity to purchase a wide range of original artwork directly from the artists. The tour is free and open to the public. Visit gfaastudiotour.org to learn more about the tour and participating artists, and to find a map with all studio locations. The roster of artists includes: Sequential Artists Workshop’s comic artists and the GFAA Member Summer Showcase exhibit in Studio 1; printmaker Leslie Peebles in Studio 2; potter John Snyder in Studio 3; painter Jane Medved in Studio 4; potter and sculptor Steve Howell, and landscape painter Jeff Ripple in Studio 5; painter Sue Kelman in Studio 6; photographer and painter Michelle Nagri, and painter Peter Senesac in Studio 7; visual artist/paper investigator Amy Richard in Studio 8; encaustic mixed media artist Debra Lindberg and photographer Wes Lindberg in Studio 9; painter/mixed media artist Christine Brundige, mixed media artist Jay Winter Collins, mixed media artist Candace McCaffery, fiber artist Linda Krause and jewelry artist Sandra Matasick in Studio 10; potter Kate Shakeshaft Murray in Studio 11; painter Linda Blondheim in Studio 12; painter Mandy Macias in Studio 13 ; glass artist Jacquelyne Collett and photographer Ann Ramsden in Studio 14; printmaker Diana Tonnessen in Studio 15; acrylic painter Alfred Phillips in Studio 16; fused glass artist Bettianne Ford in Studio 17; painter Adrienne Gonia in Studio 18; and potter Darrell Adams in Studio 19. Information about this event also can be found at fb.me/e/2xjMl3wkB and instagram.com/seeartbuyart.

JULY 21 THROUGH AUG. 13

“KINKY BOOTS”: Gainesville Community Playhouse’s newest production, “Kinky Boots,” is based on the Miramax motion picture of the same name, and written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth. In this presentation, Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized … and discover that, when you change your mind, you can change your whole world. With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, this unexpected pair learns to embrace their differences and creates a line of sturdy stilettos unlike any the world has ever seen! But in the end, their most sensational achievement is their friendship. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 21-Aug. 13, at the playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $23 for general admission, $19 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, gcplayhouse.org.

ONGOING

“WE ARE HERE: STORIES FROM MULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA”: Immigrant inclusion requires us to think about languages other than English, and to listen to the stories that people carry through their languages and their cultures. “We are Here” — the newest exhibition at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. — highlights stories from 60-plus people who speak multiple languages in North Central Florida. Through visual collages that centralize cultural images, “We Are Here” illustrates the immigration journeys of the North Central Florida community through stories that hold power in multiple languages. These stories include examples of successes, struggles, hopes, injustices, and dreams of a more inclusive and just community. The goal is to showcase these stories, make visible the language diversity present in the community, and advocate for all neighbors’ right to access information in their preferred languages. The Matheson has partnered with curators and designers Valentina Sierra Niño and Laura Gonzales, the Rural Women’s Health Project, Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, Language Access Florida, and UF’s Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere with support from the Humanities Fund for this original and exciting exhibition.

ONGOING THROUGH SEPT. 4

“SPIDERS ALIVE!”: Take an eight-legged walk on the wild side with “Spiders Alive!” at the Florida Museum of Natural History. This exciting exhibit dives into the world of spiders, scorpions and their relatives with more than a dozen live species from around the world on display. Discover the unique traits and characteristics of this diverse group of animals at this interactive, family-friendly experience! Live arachnids (spiders) highlight the ecological importance of these animals that include black widows, orb weavers and bird eaters. Large, touchable models reveal more about spider anatomy and their differences from insects while rare fossils display species from the past — including one that is 100 million years old. Videos showcase a variety of unique animal behaviors, such as a diving bell spider living underwater and a southern black widow spinning silk. Separate fact from myth and learn about ancient spiders, conservation, venom and more. “Spiders Alive!” will be on display through Sept. 4. The museum is located at 3215 Hull Road. Tickets are $8 for adults; $7.50 for Florida residents, seniors and non-UF college students; $5.50 for ages 3 to 17; and free for ages 2 and younger, UF students, and museum members.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: 'We Are Here,' 'Spiders Alive!' and more