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(Kellie Kaori Vernon)

Drop by shopScad, a trendy boutique and gallery that only features work from Savannah College of Art and Design students, faculty, staff and alumni, for an after-hours wine reception next week featuring Kellie Kaori Vernon.

Vernon’s exhibit, Melancholy Mischief, consists of charcoal images that work together as a memoir of the artist’s life. The paintings play on the idea that we are all a result of our past experiences and choices. Vernon graduated from SCAD in 1999 and works as a freelance artist, muralist and painter.

The wine reception will be held Tues., Feb. 12, from 6-8 p.m. shopScad is located at 3096 Roswell Road. RSVP (404-816-0247 or chovey@scad.edu) by Feb. 10.

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A few years ago, over a bottle of Spanish wine, some friends and I played the “What would you be?” game. It was essentially a personality-revealing exercise that explored what we would be if we were a color (light pink), an article of clothing (a flowy skirt), or a food (strawberry pie). The game went on through the night to cover bars, songs and characters in literature, but the question that stumped us all was a simple one: What animal would you be?

If only New York artist Kate Javens could have answered for us. Javens’ exhibit of animals in the Named For… series shows breathtaking, beautifully painted animals that represent enlightened individuals. Poet Walt Whitman is a moth. Harvard law professor Derrick Bell is a bull. Boston abolitionist/journalist Benjamin Drew is a horse.

Luckily for any of us who missed her exhibit last time it was here (reviewed here by Felicia Feaster), Javens’ work is returning to Atlanta March 6. Her work will be on exhibit at the Marcia Wood Gallery and will include new pieces made especially for the gallery show, work from the Named For… series and work from American Beasts, which is currently on exhibit at the Blanden Art Museum in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The exhibit kicks off with an opening reception March 6 (6-9 p.m.) and the animals will be around until April 12.

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I loved Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns from the first time I read in back in 8th grade. The small-town scandal, the exciting (for a sheltered 13-year-old girl) graveyard kissing scene, the fabulous backwoods dialog. My favorite line would have to be when Camp Williams attempts to defend his wife’s honor by declaring, “My Loma baby ain’t never nursed no pig.” I thought it was pure Southern-lit genius.

Now I don’t know that the opera version (Carlisle Floyd’s adaptation) will include my favorite line in this stage rendition of the coming-of-age story of Will Tweedy and his recently remarried grandfather. But this Atlanta Opera premiere does offer some other bonuses, like the fact that this beloved book is set to music conducted by Arthur Fagen and features Erin Wall, John McVeigh, Maureen McKay and Kristopher Irmiter. The opera opens this Saturday with repeat performances.

$27.50-$133.50. Feb. 2 and 8, 8 p.m.; Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 10, 3 p.m. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway. 404-817-8700.

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J.A. Jance, a bestselling mystery author with 37 novels under her belt, is on tour promoting her latest installment in the Ali Reynolds series, Hand of Evil. The novel follows Edge of Evil and Web of Evil, taking ex-TV journalist Reynolds down a messy and dangerous path involving sexual predators and a long-forgotten murder. Here’s what Publishers Weekly had to say about the book:

Jance crowds the book with subplots, and her characters air a lot of opinions about sexual abuse and health care. But sparks between Ali and Dave and an upbeat ending keep this latest Ali outing on track.

Jance will appear at the Decatur Library tonight at 7:15 p.m.

To get the latest info on Jance’s tour, check out her blog, chronicling her tour de U.S.

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Emory faculty choreographers Gregory Catellier and George Staib join forces for the third time for IN AND THROUGH, featuring professional dancers from Atlanta in repertory and multimedia performances. Catellier and Staib stretched their mental limbs for the dance concert, attempting a more introspective approach to dance that unites soul and body, intelligence and roughness. Through Jan. 26. $6-$12. 8 p.m. Performing Arts Studio, Emory University, 1804 N. Decatur Road. 404-727-5050. www.dance.emory.edu/series.

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David Fulmer’s scheduled book signing and reading at Wordsmiths Books (141 E. Trinity Place, Decatur, 404-378-7166) fell victim to the cold weather over the weekend, but has been rescheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., again at Wordsmiths.

As a reminder, check out Helen Herbst’s review of the book along with a brief reading by Fulmer from his new book, The Blue Door.

(Photo courtesy Amazon.com)

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