“Ta Marmaruga”

Reading Plato’s Republicis at once a pleasure and a pain; the sheer mental exertion of it is worthwhile once the message becomes clear. Still, it’s nice to have a little visual help in understanding the story, which you can get with “Ta Marmaruga,” an exhibition by David Waddell and Kelly Ulcak, currently on view at Lawndale Art Center. The two young artists decided to tackle the Allegory of the Cave, which tells the tale of people who live their whole lives trapped in a cave, looking at a blank wall. They see shadows of figures and things from the outside world against the wall and come to believe that the shadows themselves are reality. Using drawings, sculpture, stop-motions and a touch of quirk, the two artists have created a literal interpretation of the tale — in the sense that you can see the cave and its inhabitants, but the message is still yours to divine. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Through April 18. 4912 Main. For information, call 713-528-5858 or visit www.lawndaleartcenter.org. Free.

Saturdays, 12-5 p.m.; Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Starts: March 14. Continues through April 18, 2009