While the shimmering waters in Venice reflected intricate light schemes against delicate buildings, artist Julie Lazarus--seated among the flowering vines of the lush Mediterranean--moved her pencil across a simple canvas to capture the remarkable landscape. Then she took her ideas to Murano, blending the shapes and colors into drawings and blown glass. When she returns home to her Fort Worth studio, the drawings become fully realized abstract paintings, balancing bold colors against strong lines. On Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. William Campbell Contemporary Art opens an exhibition of these new works called Giardini. Lazarus makes a departure from her "Venice Window" series by creating more complex configurations, yet she uses the same great Italian city as her inspiration. The series will be on display from October 17 through November 5. William Campbell Contemporary Art is located at 4935 Byers Ave. in Fort Worth. Call 817-737-9566. --Desiree Henry
Enchanted Isle
10/17
For his 50th birthday this year, British photographer Michael Kenna sold out the first edition of Japan, a book of his soothing, minimalist photographs of landscapes and uniquely Asian vignettes. Now here's a present for us: A solo exhibition of many of the works in the book is debuting in Dallas on October 17 at Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, 3115 Routh St. "Fishing nets, poles with birds, shrines, trees, clouds, harbor walls, rocks are all subjects of these tranquil, meditative scenes," says gallery director Missy Finger. Meet Kenna at the free opening reception and book signing Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. His Eastern sensibilities show in this uncommon, meditative imagery of the mountains, islands and seascapes of Japan. Call 214-969-1852 or visit www.photographsdonotbend.com. --Annabelle Massey Helber
Soul Food
Dough for dough
10/20
Used to be the best deal on eats in this town was the sausage stand in front of Lowe's Home Improvement; three bucks will fill you full of ground "meat" for a whole day and then some. But Sur La Table has it beat, and for a very good cause: This weekend, you can stop by our favorite kitchen-tool shoppe and, for a mere $25, sample the cooking of some of Dallas' finest chefs--and every single penny of your ticket goes to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which satisfies both soul and belly in one stop. Francesco Farris (Arcodoro, Pomodoro) will join Ciudad's Joanne Bondy, Paris Vendome's Chris Ward and the Mozzarella Company's Paula Lambert at the Dallas location, 4527 Travis St. The next day, Lambert will travel north to the Plano location, 5809 Preston Road, to join, among others, William Koval of the Adolphus' French Room. Both take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 1-888-478-7900. --Robert Wilonsky
