Karen Finley free event; Lucy Fest announces Jon Stewart, Bill Murray as headliners; Castellani director leaving

The Buffalo Infringement Festival, which will run from July 24 through Aug. 3 this summer, always arrives with the potential to offer some of the most creative, fun and — sometimes — weird art and events you will ever see.

But first the festival has to pull together its roster of performers and artists. And that’s what is happening right now. You can access proposal forms HERE. BIF is looking for proposals in Music, Theatre, Visual Art, Dance, Literary, Film / Video and Education / Workshop categories.

The motto for Infringement has been “If you do it, You can infringe it! : Dance, Poetry, Literature, Film ,Music, Workshops, Visual Arts, comedy, Theatre, Street Performance, fill in the Blank with your own fantastic Ideas!”

The Buffalo Infringement Festival celebrates freedom of expression and is accepting proposals until May 1.

Organizers said the infringement festival is free for all artists and activists to participate in and that the festival will never charge a registration fee. Participants will keep 100% of their profits if they choose to charge. There is a $20 limit on charges for events to keep the festival affordable for all.

Opening and closing ceremonies are a benefit for Infringement; some venues (Milkies, Nietzsche’s) give performers a share of the door.

If you want to get an idea of what has been offered in the past, you can find last year’s schedule HERE.

Karen Finley free reading at Hallwalls on Saturday

Hallwalls has announced it will host performance artist, musician and poet Karen Finley Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for a launch, reading and signing for her new book,  Covid Vortex Anxiety Opera Kitty Kaleidoscope Disco (City Lights Books). The event is significant in that Hallwalls has been bringing the sometimes controversial artist to Buffalo since her first national tour in 1982.

The event is presented in collaboration with Talking Leaves … Books. More information is HERE.

Jon Stewart and Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers among headliners for Lucille Ball Comedy Festival

The National Comedy Center’s annual comedy festival will take place Aug. 7-10. Jon Stewart will present “An Evening With Jon Stewart” on Saturday, Aug. 9.

On Sunday, Aug. 10, the festival will feature a stand-up showcase that will be followed by a rock and blues concert featuring Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers. The Blood Brothers are led by blues guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia and the show will include longtime Conan O’Brien late night show bandleader Jimmy Vivino.

Both shows are at the Northwest Arena in Jamestown.

The festival will also feature Saturday Night Live cast member and writer Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidell, who will be take part in an on-stage dialogue curated for the Center’s national archive as the festival honors SNL’s 50th anniversary.

Tickets for “An Evening with Jon Stewart” and “Stand-Up Showcase Featuring Music by Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers” will go on pre-sale for National Comedy Center members on Friday (April 25) at 10 a.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, May 2, at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at  ComedyCenter.org.

Tickets will also go on sale for the SNL on-stage dialogue event, as well as Late Night comedy shows, Lucy legacy events and more — all part of a festival that celebrates comedy’s contemporary stars and rising talent from across the country, while honoring comedy’s great heritage.

Owens leaving Castellani for Baltimore job

A change is coming at the top at the Castellani Art Museum. Museum Director Ellen Owens said she has accepted a role as the executive director of the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

The museum is described as “America’s official national museum, education center, and repository for self-taught and intuitive artistry.” Its specialty has been described as outsider and folk art.

Owens, who was selected through a 10-month search process, will officially start at AVAM on June 23.

“I remain devoted to the wonderful Castellani Art Museum and will continue in my role for the next two months. My time at CAM has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my professional life. I thank my colleagues, friends, CAM’s supporters, and its visitors. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey,” Owens said in a statement on her LInkedIn page.

Owens had been museum director at Castellani since November of 2021.