Freebie of the week: For many, papercuts are the nicks that land on your fingertip in the blink of an eye and hang around for several irritating and painful days. But in the art world, papercutting refers to a discipline practiced around the world that dates back centuries. Some say it emerged even before the invention of paper. The practice is defined by cutting an outline or shape out of paper, then transforming the resulting design into a finished image with ink, paint or similar substance. The Olive Hyde Gallery in Fremont is presenting a new exhibit focused on contemporary and traditional papercutting in its many incarnations. “Connecting Cuts,” curated by Vietnamese American papercut artist Bianca Levan and gallery curator Leah Andrews, runs through Dec. 14 at the gallery on 123 Washington Blvd. More than 20 artists represented come from the Bay Area and around the world, and their works range from basic designs with simple shading to intricate creations bursting with color. Organizers say the collection also aims to draw connections between different approaches to papercutting and the widely varying results. The Olive Hyde gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and admission is free. More information is at fremont.gov or at biancalevan.com.
Sumptuous Smuin: One of the Bay Area’s most beloved holiday traditions returns this weekend, and for those who have seen it multiple times, it’s worth taking in again. While Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s annual Christmas Ballet program changes every year, it never fails to deliver a wide variety of sparkly, sassy and breathtaking nuggets to cherish. The production embraces classical and contemporary ballet, jazz, swing and more in numbers that range from sassy to heartfelt. Every production of the Christmas Ballet, which debuted in 1995, includes revivals of company favorites, including some by late founder Michael Smuin. This year’s program features Smuin’s tropical-themed “Christmas Island” and, of course, the beloved “Santa Baby,” which boasts the “world’s longest feather boa.” There also are new works from company artistic director Amy Seiwert, company artist Brennan Wall, and Smuin alum Rex Wheeler. As always, the show has two acts, dubbed “Classic Christmas” and “Cool Christmas.” Performances are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek; Dec. 5-8 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; and Dec. 13-24 at the Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. On Dec. 20, LGBTQ night, the company will welcome guest star Lady Camden, of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” with proceeds going to various nonprofits. Tickets are $25-$119 at smuinballet.org.
The Dickens of a Fair: Folks who can’t find something that pleases the heck out of them at the annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair, which returns for its 40th season this weekend, either aren’t trying very hard or simply aren’t ready for the holiday season yet. If it’s the latter, rest assured, there’s plenty of time. The event, once again at the Cow Palace in Daly City from Saturday through Dec. 22, essentially turns some 4 acres of the venue into a swath of Victorian-era London full of stuff Victorian-era Londoners apparently liked to do. There are theater productions and interactive roaming actors; food stations offering British cuisine and, of course, plenty of places to find grog or non-alcoholic beverages; live music and comedy; and arts and crafts, jewelry and other merchants ready to meet holiday shopping needs. New this year are Port & Chocolate tastings, a mysterious Pub Crawl with Jekyll & Hyde, and something called the Dark Garden Corset Experience. The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Traffic and parking can get a little busy, so add a little extra time to trip plans. Tickets are $25-$45 online only at dickensfair.com.
A season kickoff: The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra launches its 2024-25 season at 2 p.m. Sunday in Davies Hall under the tutelage of a brand new leader. Wattis Foundation Music Director Radu Paponiu takes to the podium after having served five seasons as the associate conductor of the Naples Philharmonic in Florida. His inaugural concert will highlight Amador Valley High School senior Harry Jo, this year’s winner of the SFSYO Concerto Competition. A member of the orchestra’s first violin section, he is also an accomplished pianist but on Sunday afternoon will be featured in performance of Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu’s “Cyber Bird” Concerto playing his other instrument, the saxophone! The program will open with Leonard Bernstein’s lively Overture to “Candide” and conclude with the Symphony No. 4 by Tchaikovsky. Find tickets, $30-$65, at (415) 864-6000 or sfsymphony.org.
Three’s a collaboration: A national treasure in Canada and one of the most acclaimed piano trios in the world, the Gryphon Trio—violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys and pianist Jamie Parker— is in the midst of its 30th year as a performing ensemble. The group comes to the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame Sunday evening, bringing the audience the Bay Area premiere of a 2023 Piano Trio by Paul Wiancko, a prolific composer and cellist from California who joined the renowned Kronos Quartet last year. Also on the program, which begins at 7 p.m., is the Piano Trio in C Major by Joseph Haydn and the No. 2 in C minor by Felix Mendelssohn. The Kohl Mansion is at 2750 Adeline Drive in Burlingame. Tickets, $30-$60, are available at musicatkohl.org or by calling (650) 762-1130.
The post Best Bets: Papercutting exhibit, Smuin Christmas Ballet, Dickens fair, SF Symphony Youth Orchestra, Gryphon Trio appeared first on Local News Matters.