12/9
Christmas season means wrapping season, however much we might try to avoid it. The folks over at Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery have chosen to honor this tradition with the punny title of their final show of the year, It's a Wrap!, opening Friday and runing through January 14. The show is a group exhibition featuring artists familiar to the gallery, along with a few first-timers to spice up the collection. In keeping with the clever title, the exhibit includes work by Christo, who has made a name for himself by wrapping monuments and buildings all around the world in fabric. Photographs, drawings and collages related to his temporary works of art will be on display throughout the exhibit's run. Other featured artists include black-and-white photography master John Albok and Lola Alvarez Bravo, who is recognized for her photographs of Frida Kahlo. Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery is located at 3115 Routh St. The show opens with a reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Call 214-969-1852. --Kelsey Guy
Blue Christmas
12/10
Instead of slaving in the kitchen this year to make a fruitcake that--let's face it--no one really wants, artists can put their creativity to good use by donating handmade ornaments to The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, 3120 McKinney Ave. The MAC hosts its 9th Annual Blue Yule Holiday Party and Ornament Sale on Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. No sparkles or glue? Volunteer to help decorate. Drop-off dates for ornaments are Wednesday and Thursday. If you're interested in donating an ornament or volunteering, contact The MAC at 214-953-1212 or e-mail [email protected]. --Amanda Bigbee
Crystal Light
12/9
Time was, viewing relics really took some serious effort. You had to be a dedicated follower of your chosen path to righteousness to set out on a pilgrimage that would involve weeks or even months of trudging through undeveloped medieval Europe. You'd be lucky if you didn't get the plague on the way there, and even if you did get to touch the decomposed pinky finger of St. Whoever, you still weren't guaranteed to be protected from the Black Death on the way back. But a lot has changed since the days of yore, and you can now view religious relics in relative safety and comfort, assuming you can make an incident-free trip down the Tollway to the Dallas Yoga Center, 4525 Lemmon Ave. Buddhist relics (pearl-like crystals found among the ashes of cremated Buddha masters) will be on display from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Call 214-443-9642. --Andrea Grimes
