Two local artists join forces for an exhibit that opens this Thursday, March 12, at Pearl Gallery and Studio, 1201 E. Third St.

The work of photographer Don Thompson and sumi-e artist Shawn Wilson is vastly different, yet complements one another well and together comprises the exhibit "Lines and Lens."

On display are Thompson's flora photographs, which have been on display frequently in recent months and are easily identifiable for their straightforward perspective and their adept use of light and shadow. Thompson has been a fine art photographer for more than 30 years and is equally known for his images of Tulsa's cityscape and portraits of African Americans.

Wilson learned sumi-e, an ancient Japanese form of ink brush painting, from Koho Yamamoto of New York City. Developed in China during the Tang dynasty, ink and wash painting involves grinding an ink stick into a few drops of water until a desired concentration is achieved. The ink is painted onto the paper using a brush similar to that used in calligraphy. Only black ink is used, in varying depths of saturation.

Wilson, the niece of famous Oklahoma artist Charles Banks Wilson and an artist herself for more than 35 years, also paints in oil and is a sculptor.

"Line and Lens" opens with a reception Thursday from 5-8pm. The exhibit will be on display through April 11; gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, 1-6pm. For more, visit www.pearlgallerytulsa.com.

Montana by Oklahoma

The M.A. Doran Gallery, 3509 S. Peoria, continues its month-long exhibition of new paintings and pastel drawings by Montana-based artist Marshall Noice.

According to the gallery, Noice's work incorporates landscape painting with color field painting and abstract expressionism.

According to Noice, "each painting presents a number of problems to solve with composition, color and painting techniques." He deems a work done when he sees that he has no more issues to resolve, a release from the gallery revealed.

Inspired by his surroundings in Montana, the artist's paintings "provide a window of escape and a view of a more vibrant and idyllic place."

An opening reception for the exhibition is scheduled for this Thursday, March 12 at 5pm. The exhibition, which runs through April 2, and reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30am-6pm. More at www.madorangallery.com.

Skewed Perspective

On display at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Gallery, 110 E. 2nd St., are new works by local artist Michelle Martin, who is also an associate professor of printmaking at the University of Tulsa, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate students.

According to the artist, who is a self-proclaimed "people watching enthusiast," she "chooses unsettling figure placement, skewed perspective and raking light sources in 'humanist narratives' that deal with the psychology of being human."

Her work will be on display through March 29. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10am-5:30pm and during Chapman Music Hall events. More at www.tulsapac.com.

The Bands Played On

Also at the PAC this weekend are the Karan Casey Band, presented by the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust, and the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, performing at the Williams Theatre March 13 and the Chapman Music Hall March 14, respectively.

Casey is an Irish songstress famous for her traditional repertoire and soothing vocal performances. She'll appear in Tulsa with her band to perform tunes from her most recently released album, Ships in the Forest. Casey performs at 8pm, and tickets are $25.

TSO performs Williams' Summon the Heroes; Ives' Variations on "America"; Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine; Newman's Suite from The Natural; Barber's Second Essay, op. 17; Schuman's New England Triptych; Gershwin's Lullaby for Strings; and three dance episodes from Bernstein's On the Town in a show billed "Made in America." Guest conductor is Edwin Outwater, resident conductor at the San Francisco Symphony.

Tickets are $5-60, and the show begins at 7:30pm.

Testing 1,2,3

This weekend and next, Theatre North presents a modern-day African American gospel musical based on the Biblical book of Job.

JoAnn's Struggling Soul, written by Rodney L. Clark, finds God and Satan discussing the life of the devout pastor, educator, wife and mother JoAnn. God gives Satan permission to test JoAnn through a series of trials that eventually leave her homeless.

Ultimately, against the advice of her friends and acquaintances, JoAnn keeps her faith, resulting in a feel-good ending to the modern parable.

Curtains go up on JoAnn's Struggling Soul at 8pm March 13-14 and 20-21 at Cascia Hall's Helmerich Theatre, 2520 S. Yorktown. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12.50 for students.

So Divine

On Wednesday, March 18, NTD Public Media brings Chinese dance and music company Divine Performing Arts to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center's Chapman Music Hall.

The company performs dance and music routines based on "heroic legends and modern courageous tales," according to releases from Divine Performing Arts.

"Based in New York, the company is a nonprofit entity that is consciously independent of China's political regime, under which the traditional arts have long suffered. The company has broken ground by giving artistic treatment in its shows to not only classical themes and tales, but also important social issues in contemporary China," said sources.

DPA's performances strive to address not only China's history but also its current events and popular culture. Those responsible for bringing the show to Tulsa promise that it will be both an educational and entertaining event for the whole family.

The show starts at 7pm, and tickets are $25 and up. For more, visit www.tulsapac.com or divineperformingarts.org.

Your Turn

Theatre Tulsa holds auditions for Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night on Sunday, March 22 at 3pm at its office at 207 N. Main St.

The production will be directed by Carrie Clevenger-Gwartney and co-directed and produced by Nathan Gwartney. Theatre Tulsa is looking for a male aged 50-70 to play James Tyrone Sr., a female aged 45-60 to play Mary Cavan Tyrone, a male 25-30 for the role of Jamie Tyrone, a male 20-25 for Edmund Tyrone and a female 17-25 for Cathleen.

The play is set in 1912, and its plot unfolds over the course of one day as O'Neill's family of dysfunctional characters quarrel over sickness, death and money.

Auditioners should prepare a one-minute monologue and bring a resume and headshot if you have one. There will also be cold readings from the script.

Theatre Tulsa will stage Long Day's Journey Into Night May 15-17 and 21-23 in the John H. Williams Theatre of the Tulsa PAC. For more, www.theatretulsa.org.