Photographer’s ‘Family Albums’ go on display

American photographer Diane Arbus focused her camera lens on people who lived on the margins of society: dwarves, nudists, transvestites. Her haunting pictures of those subjects made her famous.

But a new exhibition that opens today at the Spencer Museum of Art narrows in on a lesser-known topic that interested Arbus: family.

In 1968, three years before Arbus committed suicide, she wrote to a friend that she was compiling a “family album” of the tumultuous 1960s. Her portraits of children, couples, mothers, fathers and surrogate families will be on view through Jan. 16 in “Diane Arbus: Family Albums” in the Spencer’s Kress Gallery.

Here’s a look at what else is happening this weekend:

Miscellaneous

  • Third Saturday Lawrence Barn Dance, music by Jim and Kim Lansford, 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. today, Woodlawn School, 508 Elm, 749-1356.
  • Family Barn Dance, music by Dayle and Mike Black, 4 p.m. Sunday dance, 5:15 p.m. potluck, Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt., 841-5759.

Art events

  • “Diane Arbus: Family Albums,” opens today, runs through Jan. 16, Kress Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Miss., 864-4710.

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  • The Curator Is IN!: Buddhist Sculptures from Medieval China, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. today, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 561-4000.

Theater

  • “Baba Yaga, The Bony Legged Witch,” by Ric Averill, Halloween family musical, 2 p.m. today and Sunday, Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., 843-ARTS.
  • “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,” 2 p.m. today and Sunday, The Coterie Theatre, 2450 Grand Blvd., No. 144, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 474-6552.
  • “The Pirates of Penzance,” 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 235-1579.
  • “Fully Committed,” 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday, American Heartland Theatre, Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., Suite 314, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 842-9999.
    • video 6News video: Art a la Carte (10-15-04)
  • “Dear George: Letters to the President,” 7:30 p.m. today and Sunday, Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 N.H., 843-7469.
  • “Anything Goes,” by Cole Porter, 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday, Grant Recital Hall/Theater, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5228 Charlotte, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 235-6222.
  • “Topdog/Underdog,” 8 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday, Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 531-PLAY.
  • “A New Brain,” 8 p.m. today and Sunday, H&R Block City Stage, Union Station, 30 W. Pershing, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 460-2020.
  • “The Rocky Horror Show,” presented by Minds Eye Theater, 8 p.m. and midnight Saturday, Just Off Broadway Theater, 3051 Central, Kansas City, Mo., (913) 897-2348.

Music

  • Americana Music Academy Saturday Jam, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. today, Americana Music Academy, 1419 Mass., 830-9640.
  • Dana Cooper, 6:30 p.m. today, Gaslight Tavern, 317 N. Second St., 856-4330.
  • Vibralux, Truth Cell, Decension, Swill, 7 p.m. today, The Granada Theatre, 1020 Mass., 842-1390.
  • Against Me, The Blood Brothers, True North, 8 p.m. today, The Bottleneck, 737 N.H., 841-LIVE.
  • Harriman Series: Samuel Ramey, bass, 8 p.m. today, Folly Theater, 12th and Central streets, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 415-5025.
  • Kansas City Symphony, Michael Stern, conductor, 8 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday, Lyric Theatre, 11th and Central streets, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 471-1100.
  • Rob Scheps, Zach Brock Quintet, 8:30 p.m. today, The Blue Room, 18th and Vine, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 474-VINE.
  • Random Tuesday, 9 p.m. today, Stu’s Midtown Tavern, 925 Iowa, 856-7887.
  • Poor Miners Union, 9 p.m. today, Johnny’s Tavern, 401 N. Second St., 842-0377.
  • Black Ale Sinners, Devil Ate the Groundhog, 10:30 p.m. today, The Replay Lounge, 946 Mass., 749-7676.
  • Majestics Rhythm Revue, 11 p.m. today, The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Mass., 749-3320.
  • American Minor, 11 p.m. today, The Jackpot Saloon, 943 Mass., 832-1085.
  • “Songs and Dances,” a recital, featuring John Boulton, flute; Elaine Brewer, harp; Beth Crawford, narrator; and Genaro Mendez, tenor; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Central Court, Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Miss., 864-4710.
  • Piano on the Edge Series: The Bugallo-Williams Piano Duo, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, White Hall, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 4949 Cherry, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 235-6222.
  • The Midday Ramblers CD release show, Drakkar Sauna, 5 p.m. Sunday, The Replay Lounge, 946 Mass., 749-7676.
  • “Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra,” by Costa Rican composer Benjamin Gutierrez, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, White Concert Hall, Washburn University campus, Topeka, (785) 231-1010.
  • Goatwhore, Cattle Decapitation, 8 p.m. Sunday, The Bottleneck, 737 N.H., 841-LIVE.
  • Deadmoon, Filthy Jim, 10 p.m. Sunday, The Jackpot Saloon, 943 Mass., 832-1085.
  • Dirty Boogie, 10 p.m. Sunday, Gaslight Tavern, 317 N. Second St., 856-4330.