NATIVE TRADITION Share in the culture, music, dance, crafts, storytelling, food, and traditions of Native Americans at the annual Summer Moon Pow-Wow in Danvers Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17.
The Medicine Mammals Singers, a vocal harmony group, perform traditional and contemporary songs accompanied by hand drums, rattles, guitars, and, rain sticks.
Other performances include the shawl dance, jingle dress dance, grass dance, crow hop, and a men’s traditional dance. The public is encouraged to participate.
Native American drumming, by the Urban Thunder Singers, provides background music for the dancers.
Wampanoag artist Kerri Helme makes traditional corn husk dolls and clay pinch pots with kids, which they can take home.
Claudia Fox Tree, talks about female role models and their contributions to contemporary society and Native American history and culture at 11:30 a.m. each day.
There’s also storytelling with Loril Moondream and Peter White about animals, nature, and Native American traditions.
Crafts such as beaded, silver, turquoise, and carved bone jewelry; cedar feather boxes; paintings; bamboo musical instruments; and clothing are for sale.
Food includes traditional dishes such as Three Sisters Rice, fry bread, seafood chowder, fish cakes, and Strawberry Moon Tea.
The event, sponsored by the Mass. Center for Native American Awareness, takes place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Endicott Park, 57 Forest St.
Admission is $5, $3 for children 12 and younger, free for younger. Call 617-642-1683 or visit mcnaa.org.
GLASS ART A decade ago, Salem State Universitybecame one of only three colleges in the state to offer classes in glassblowing, joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Massachusetts College of Art.
John Volpacchio of Boxford, who taught ceramics and sculpture at the college for 15 years, had lobbied for six years to get support and funding.
The Glassworks Studio in the schools’s Enterprise Center opened in 2006. In addition to students and the public, it has attracted artists from around the world.
This month, as part of the fourth annual Rosenberg Institute for Passionate and Emerging Artists residency, four international glassblowers will be on campus: Robert LaMontagne of Alaska, Keith Walker of Canada, Charles Lowrie of Hawaii, and Clare Wilson of the United Kingdom.
They offer free glassblowing demonstrations for the public at 6 p.m. Mondays, July 11, 18, 25, and Aug. 1.
A reception with the artists is 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1, prior to the demonstration at 121 Loring Ave. Call 978–542-7890 or visit salemstate.edu/arts.
LAUGH NIGHT Davis Square Theatre in Somerville continues its monthly comedy shows with “Something Big’’ on Thursday, July 21.
Featured are headliner Mehran Khaghani, with Ken Reid and Kate Procyshyn. Nick Chamber and Al Park host.
Khaghani, whose humor mixes his Iranian descent with being gay, was featured in season nine of “Last Comic Standing,’’ has appeared on MTV and Comedy Central. and is a regular at New York’s Comedy Cellar.
Reid is a frequent podcast guest on National Public Radio, including “The Moth’’ and “Ask Me Another.’’ He is also the creator and host of the “TV Guidance Counselor’’ podcast.
Procyshyn has performed in the Women in Comedy Festival, Boston Comedy Festival, and the She-Devil Comedy Festival.
The show begins at 8 p.m. at 255 Elm St. Tickets are $10, available online at sbcomedy.bpt.me and at the door. Call 617-684-5335 or visit davissquaretheatre.com.
THIS WILL ROCK YOU Before Freddie Mercury died of AIDS in 1991, he requested the location of his ashes be kept a secret.
Years later, a man claimed he’d found the rock star’s remains.
“Mercury’s Ashes: A Rock Monologue,’’ shares how the weight of the discovery alters the man’s life and irreversibly binds him to the late frontman for Queen.
The show, written and directed by Lian Amaris and featuring Renzo Ampuero, will be presented by the Salem Theatre Company at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, July 14-16.
The Salem Theatre is on the third floor of 35 Congress St. Tickets are $20 in advance online at salemtheatre.comand $22 at the door; and $15 student tickets at door only.
ASIAN SYMBOLS Works by artist Christopher Polson are on display at downtown Lowell’s Mandarin Asian Bistro through July 31.
Polson set aside a 15-year career in architecture to pursue his art. His large format works blend sculptural forms with nature and mythology. This exhibit focuses on Asian symbolism.
A reception with the artist is 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 17, at 24 Market St. Call 978-677-6777 or visit mandarinasianbistro.com.
Wendy Killeen can be reached at wdkilleen@gmail.com
