It’s always a good time to take in some new art.
ART
Space, Object and Artifact
Through Aug.22
Nave Gallery
155 Powderhouse Blvd., Somerville
Free, 617-259-8386
You can learn a lot from someone by the space they choose to live in, and what they put there. Our rooms become like a mirror that reveals, to a keen observer, both our real and ideal selves. That’s the theme of this art show, featuring three artists — Kate Benson, Carolyn Latourelle and Emily Manning-Mingle — exploring the relationship between people and spaces. RELATED: Colin Jost does not do puppet comedy
THEATER
‘Eyes Shut. Door Open.’
Thursday through Aug.15
The Inner Sanctum
4 Palmer St., Roxbury
$15-$20, 800-838-3006
Wax Wings Productions presents this play by Cassie M. Seinuk, which they describe as “a modern Cain and Able story set in the SoHo art scene of New York City.” Artist Turner Street’s paintings of eyes have become the next big thing on the scene, but it’s not long before the inspiration behind them comes back to haunt him. DANCE
On Tap: Beantown Faculty Tap Showcase
Friday, 8 p.m.
Arsenal Center for the Arts
321 Arsenal St., Boston
$36, 617-616-5124
This show features tap performances from Michelle Dorrance, Josh Hilberman, Sarah Reich, Barbara Duffy, Sean Fielder, Khalid Hill, Ian Berg, Rocky Mendes, Aaron Tolson, Ryan P. Casey, Demi Remick, Speaking in Taps and Boston Tap Company. Some come from nearby, some from as far afield as Belgium; together they’ll provide an ample overview of the form today. MUSIC
Soundscapes
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Spectacle Island
Boston Harbor
Free, IslesArtsInitiative@gmail.com
iai2015.greenovateboston.org
Come out to Spectacle Island to see a series of acoustic music performances from the Wiles, Palaver Strings and Opal Puckett, with a closing parade featuring Cocek Brass BandandUrbanity Dance. The concerts are free, but you’ll have to book passage with Boston Harbor Cruises to get to the island—unless you want to try swimming, but we certainly didn’t recommend that. BOOKS
Matthew Battles
Thursday, 7 p.m.
Harvard Book Store
1256 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
Free, 617-661-1515
Look at any Internet comment box and you might question the value of the human ability to write, but it’s actually pretty useful. At this talk, author Matthew Battles will discuss his book “Palimpset: A History of the Written Word”, which shows how writing didn’t just help us communicate across time and space, but also to think in more complex ways.