By Sahan Weerakoon, deputy A&E editor
Thursday, April 7
Donald Trump has made America reflect on the Muslim immigrant experience: Some have chosen to side with Trump in his criticism on the rate of Muslim immigration, while others have embraced immigrants with open arms. Because neither group has much information on the lives of American Muslims, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is bringing together a group of Muslim alumni and students for a lecture titled “Being Muslim in America (And MIT) in 2016” to explain how recent events have shaped public opinion of American Muslims and how people can combat existing discrimination. The panel will consist of Nazeem Mazen, Abubakar Abid and Layle Shaikley. 33 Massachusetts Ave.; 6 – 8 p.m.; free.
Friday, April 8
Balch Arena Theatre at Tufts University will host “Venus in Fur,” a comedy that combines love and literature. The play centers around a playwright named Thomas who has written an adaptation of “Venus in Fur,” a book by Austrian writer Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch. As Thomas goes through auditioning people for the lead actress role unimpressed, a seemingly clueless actress named Vanda comes into play. But as she starts to read her lines, Thomas sees her as less of an actress and more of the mistress she is attempting to portray. 40 Talbot Ave., Medford; 8 – 11 p.m.; $15.
Saturday, April 9
Emmanuel Church will be presenting an adaptation of Kurt Weill’s composition “Seven Deadly Sins,” sung by W.H Auden and Chester Kallman in its English translation, but the music will serve as a backdrop to a specially choreographed ballet piece by contemporary dance troupe Urbanity Dance. The performance will be on raised platforms for the dancers with a spotlight shifting perspectives. For those hungry for more, there will a pre-concert talk at 6:15 p.m. featuring tenor Ryan Turner and founder and director of Urbanity Dance, Betsi Graves. 15 Newbury St.; 7:30 – 10 p.m.; $10 – 30.
Sunday, April 10
The Boston Tattoo Convention at Hynes Convention Center will feature three days of tattoo art, vendors, burlesque acts, circus performances and live bands. The convention will amaze with a performance by sideshow artist Reggie Bugmuncher of Philadelphia’s Old City sideshow. This will be followed by performances from rock band OC-45, street musician Ricki Rocksteady, solo acoustic artist Malcolm Salls, blues singer Jason Ahern and rock duo Chrissy V and Angela Lee. The convention will conclude with a famed tattoo contest where judges will choose Boston’s best body art. 900 Boylston St.; 2 – 11:15 p.m.; $30.
Monday, April 11
Until recently, the topic of mental illness has often been ignored by both the media and politicians. This lack of education was one of the main drivers for the exhibition “Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family,” held at the Harvard Public Library. The opening reception for the exhibition will feature a lecture from Dr. Phoebe Moore, director of the pediatric anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. The lecture is titled “Worry and Anxiety in Children and Teens” and will take place in Volunteers Hall at Harvard Public Library. 4 Pond Road, Harvard; 6:30 – 9 p.m.; free.
Tuesday, April 12
Learn what it takes to be a freelance designer with the panel discussion “Take it From Me: Freelance Best Practices” presented by the Society of Grownups. This panel will teach attendees how to create a plan of action to achieve their goals and take the plunge from corporate work. Panelists include Duncan Lawrence, founder of bend, an experience design collaborative; Kelly Stomski, founder of Refinery 43, a boutique brand and lettering agency; and Jessica Rubenstein, an artist who combines psychology with exhibition and program design. The panel will be moderated by Jessica Maniatis, the owner of JSGD, a boutique specializing in brand identity and web design. 1563 Beacon St., Brookline; 6:30 – 8 p.m.; $10.
Wednesday, April 13
Feathers are one of the oldest materials used in art and have a wide variety of designs stemming from the sheer natural diversity in birds. Not only are they used to create beautiful art, but they are also functional as clothing and headdresses. The Peabody Museum is presenting their rare collection of feather art in their exhibition, “In Fine Feather: Selected Featherwork from the Peabody Collections,” which will explore the ways feathers have been used to signal beauty, wealth, status and spiritual power across history and in various cultures. 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge.; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; $12.
Photo courtesy Paul Lowry, Creative Commons
