In The Metroplex

ON CAMPUS

TCU Battle of the Bands, featuring Middleground, Soviets Space, 24 Days, Skate or Die and five other bands, will be held Saturday at Frog Fountain. Free food and drinks will be provided by Progamming Council. Bands will begin playing at noon.

David Alan Hall will be signing copies of his action/adventure novel, “The Paradise Vendor.” at 2 p.m. Saturday at the TCU Bookstore. Hall is an alumnus of TCU. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in radio-TV-film. Hall has directed and written several films.

ART

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth at Sundance Square presents a rare opportunity to see original works from Absolut Vodka’s extensive art collection. This is a repeat showing of last year’s Absolut Modern exhibition that was suddenly closed due to the tornado that hit downtown. The exhibition opens Saturday in conjunction with Fort Worth’s Spring Gallery Night. The highlight of the evening will be Absolut Arti Gras, a special fund-raising party that will benefit the Modern and the Emergency Artists Support League. For $25 live jazz, an art raffle, Absolut art, Absolut cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be offered. For more information call (817) 321-9777.

The Dallas Visual Art Center is featuring Mosaics II, a series of exhibitions that promotes artists whose ethnicity is an essential element of their work. The exhibit will run through May 4. The center is located at 2801 Swiss Ave. in Dallas. Call (214) 821-2522 for more information.

Insects of all shapes and sizes can be viewed at the Dallas Museum of Natural History Saturday and Sunday only. The fun begins with a creepy, crawly entrance through the body of a 30-foot caterpillar, where visitors are met by specially-trained safari guides. Each exhibit room explores a particular theme which is explained by a professional trained entomologists.

An opening reception will begin Mary McCleary’s “Beginning with the Word” at 6:30 p.m. Friday and will run through June 1. McCleary will give a talk at 7 p.m. April 19 at the Dallas Visual Art Center, located at 2801 Swiss Ave. The Galveston Art Center organized this exhibit, while funding has been provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts and other private donations.

Dinosaurs from the Mesozoic era and Eocene epoch will invade the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in a new exhibit, “Natural History Machines,” through July 8. The mechanical beasts are made of steel, levers, pulleys, hinges and springs. The museum is located at 1501 Montgomery St. Call (817) 255-9300 for more information.

TCU students can exhibit their art work in either graphic design or studio art at the Cross/Talk 2001: 10th Annual TCU All Student Art Competition. Friday is the last day of the exhibition where categories are juried independently by professionals working in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The exhibit is located in the Moudy Building North.

MUSIC

Michael Burks is celebrating his label debut in Fort Worth Saturday at the J&J’s Blues Bar, located at 937 Woodward. His new album, “Make It Rain,” captures the sheer musical force of Burks’ compelling guitar playing and thunderous vocals. Burks’ grandfather was a Delta-style bluesman from Camden, Ark. His father also played the blues with his bass and harmonica. The show starts at 10 p.m. For more information log on to the bar’s Web site at (www.jjbluesbar.com) or call (817) 870-BEER.

LTJ Bukem, McConrad and P.F.M. will be at the Red Jacket at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $20, and 17 and up are welcome. The Red Jacket is located at 3606 Greenville Ave. Call (214) 823-4747 for more information.

THEATER

“Art,” a Tony Award winning contemporary comedy by Yasmina Reza, will run through April 15 at the Quadrangle theatre. The play is about three long-time friends who have a fight over the value of a very expensive piece of art. Tickets range from $15 to $20 depending on the specific performance. Tickets can be purchased by calling the theater box office at (214) 871-3300.

Wingspan Theatre Company, in cooperation with the Bath House Cultural Center, presents the premier of “Tongue of a Bird” by Ellen McLaughlin. The last performance will be at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets range from $10 to $15. Discounts are available for students. The theater is located at 1102 High Country in Garland. Call (972) 504-6218 for more information.

The sequel of “Ann of Green Gables,” “Anne of Avonlea,” is presented by the N.M. Productions Theatre Company. The play will run through April 8 at the Corner Theatre in Desoto. Tickets are $10. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call (972) 680-4466 for tickets.

“The Memory of Water” by Shelagh Stephenson will be showing at Circle Theatre, located at 230 W. Fourth St. in Sundance Square. The play is rated PG. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets range from $15 to $25. Call (817) 877-3040 for more information.

“The Fastest Clock in the Universe,” a production by Philip Ridley, will be held Saturday. The play will run through May 6 at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary, located at 3120 McKinney Ave. A pay-what-you-can performance will be held on Thursdays. Other tickets range from $8 to $15. For tickets or reservations call (214) 953-1055 or buy them online at (www.kitchendogtheater.org).