Island favorite Ben Taylor and John Forte, producer/performer for the Fugees, headline a benefit concert tonight, Sept. 3, from 9 p.m. at Nectar’s with proceeds going to Martha’s Vineyard Helping Homeless Animals (MVHHA) and RockHouse Foundation of Negril, Jamaica.

The John Stobart Gallery will open its new encaustic painting exhibition, The Luminous Landscape, with a reception on Thursday, Sept. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 31 North Summer street in Edgartown. The exhibit will hang until Sept. 30.

Painting Retreat

Summer’s over and fall nears. A time to relax, perhaps Wyeth style and bask in the golden hues upon the pastures. Or maybe Pollack’s your muse and the colors of autumn form seemingly random yet somehow interwoven patterns in your mind. Or is it time to jam surreal style? Breton, Ernst, Miro, Duchamp are all influences available to you. Better yet, keep digging past the known into the unknown, where the artist known as you is waiting to be released.

As part of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum’s archaeology lecture series, the museum welcomes Brendan Foley to discuss Robots and Ancient Shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea. Ancient shipwrecks littering the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea are direct evidence of trade and communication between the earliest civilizations. Dr. Foley will show us how scientists are deploying advanced submarine robots and sensors in collaboration with regional partners in Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, and Algeria.

Car Wash

A car wash to raise money for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School girls’ soccer booster club will be Sunday, Sept. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at the High School. Cost is $10 a car.

Requiem for Little Guy

Love’s embrace

Held thee

A short while — almost weightless.

Fly away

Little Soul

On butterfly wings.

Frail veil

Of human life

Slipped through love’s fingers — voiceless.

Fly high

Little Guy

On angel’s wings — all breathless.