Weekly US agenda: Artexpo, CinemaCon

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With spring comes the start of the festival season, starting with Coachella Music and Arts kicking off the rock shows and New Orleans' Jazz & Heritage Festival opening the season's jazz concerts. Big regional film festivals are also in full swing.

33rd International Artexpo
March 25-27
New York, New York

International Artexpo bills itself as the world's largest fine art trade show, located on Piers 92/92. The event hopes to attract more than 10,000 buyers and art enthusiasts, all coming to view and purchase wholesale works directly from artists and publishers. In addition to the large showcase of prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography and ceramics, Artexpo also hosts a special three-day Education Series.
http://artexponewyork.com

37th CinemaCon
March 28-31
Las Vegas, Nevada

The National Association of Theatre Owners gathering at Caesars Palace has been rebranded. After 36 years as ShoWest, it is the largest trade show for cinema exhibitors. The event features Hollywood film studios presenting their upcoming films to get a buzz going on the summer box office and end-of-year blockbusters. James Cameron and George Lucas will speak on digital filmmaking as part of the educational seminars. At the awards this year, Cameron Diaz, Ryan Reynolds, Helen Mirren, and Russell Brand will be among those honored.
http://www.cinemacon.com/

25th WonderCon
April 1-3
San Francisco, California

The upcoming comic book conference at San Francisco's Moscone Center offers a preview of ComicCon and several upcoming films. DC Comics will showcase Green Lantern with its star Ryan Reynolds, appearing with co-stars for a panel discussion. Other divisions unveil an animated film, a comic book, and video game. In addition to films, the event is a showcase for upcoming films appealing to the comic book crowd including speakers who've illustrated books such as Batman, Wonder Woman and Wolverine. There will be anime and a masquerade, among other features in the festivities.
http://www.comic-con.org/wc/index.php

'Art in the Streets' exhibit
Museum of Contemporary Art/The Geffen Contemporary
April 4-September-15
Los Angeles, California

This massive exhibit is the first by a major museum on the history of graffiti and street art in America, from the 1970s to present day, with a focus on the legacy of Los Angeles. From cholo graffiti to skate culture-inspired works, more than 100 artists will be featured, including work by Michel Basquiat, Blu, Banksy, Martha Cooper, Shepard Fairey, Stelios Faitakis, Futura, Keith Haring, Lady Pink, and Swoon. Also, two dozen artists have been commissioned to create installations and murals for the exhibit.
http://www.moca.org

NAB Show
April 9-14
Las Vegas, Nevada

Approximately 90,000 audio, video and film content professionals are expected to attend this year's National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB Show) in Las Vegas. The event will showcase future trends in 3D, mobile entertainment, transmedia, social media, multi-platform distribution, broadband, and digital production.
http://www.nabshow.com

12th Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
April 15-17
Indio, California

The US summer music festivals kick off with Coachella in California attracting more than 100,000 fans with acts performing on multiple stages. Headliners include Grammy winners Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Kings of Leon, and The Strokes. Also the three days will feature PJ Harvey, The National, Robyn, Interpol, Lauryn Hill, Cee Lo Green, The Black Keys, The Kills, the reunion of Big Audio Dynamite and Suede, the
Chemical Brothers, and much more. Next up, Bonnaroo in Tennessee, Lollapalooza in Chicago, and in Europe there's Reading, Leeds and Glastonbury in the UK and Roskilde in Denmark.
http://www.coachella.com

10th Tribeca Film Festival
April 20-May 1
New York City, New York

Co-founded by Robert De Niro, this event screens 135 narrative, documentaries and short films from American and international filmmakers in venues around town, as well as streaming and video-on-demand, to reach beyond the 410,000 attendees. With galas and awards, this spring event has eclipsed Lincoln Center's New York Film Festival in fall.
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org

54th San Francisco International Film Festival
April 21-May 5
San Francisco, California

America's longest-running film fest, SFIFF screens 200 films and presents 15 juried awards, featuring live events with filmmakers in conversations, workshops and salons, attracting more than 80,000 attendees. The Film Society also presents the Persistence of Vision and Golden Gate awards to renowned filmmakers to be announced. A festival favorite is a special screening accompanied by a live musical performance. Other big spring film festivals in the US include the SXSW, Tribeca in New York, Miami and Seattle.
http://fest11.sffs.org

2011 New York International Auto Show
April 22 - May 1
New York, New York

Since 1900, New York rounds off the North American Auto Show season and normally boasts a couple of high-profile debuts for the benefit of its visitors, which number over one million. The show traditionally hosts the prestigious World Car of the Year competition, selecting the winner from new models introduced around the world. Follow the event on Twitter@NYAutoShow.
http://www.autoshowny.com

42nd New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
April 29-May 8
New Orleans, Louisiana

A 10-day cultural feast filled with thousands of musicians and an audience of 400,000 enjoying music on 12 stages, spanning genres from blues to R&B and African to Latin. Artists have included Senegal's Youssou N'Dour to Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick Jr. and B.B. King. Arts and cuisine are also features of the fair. A hybrid of the city's Mardi Gras event and summer jazz fests from Detroit to Montreal.
http://www.nojazzfest.com

RC