LaVigne featured in NYC

Spokane artist James LaVigne is among the artists featured in a show this month at the Agora Gallery in New York City.

“Elemental Realms” will run Feb. 10-March 3 at the gallery, which is located in the Chelsea art district of Manhattan. His piece, “Abstract 11” is oil painted on canvas in bright shade of orange, blue and purple.

LaVigne gained fame locally for his detailed drawings of Spokane landmarks. According to the gallery website, a stroke eight years ago forced LaVigne to take his work in a new direction. “His work is now much more abstract and his mode of execution much more expressive than it was before,” the site says, “a trend which gives his creations a feeling of energy and relevance.”

For details, visit www.agora- gallery.com.

Symphony switcharoo

The originally scheduled guest violinist for next weekend’s Spokane Symphony concerts, Augustin Hadelich, had to cancel his Spokane appearance because of a schedule conflict.

Coming in his stead is rising young violin star Benjamin Beilman. The 25-year-old won the 2014 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, a 2012 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a 2012 London Music Masters Award. He’s performed with the New York Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.

In Spokane, Beilman will perform Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. Concerts are at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Feb. 8. Visit spokanesymphony.org for details.