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Suzanne Simard in Conversation With Aaron Scott

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Suzanne Simard is a pioneer on the frontier of plant communication and intelligence; she’s been compared to Rachel Carson, hailed as a scientist who conveys complex, technical ideas in a way that is dazzling and profound. Her work has influenced filmmakers and her TED talks have been viewed by more than 10 million people worldwide. Now, in her first book, Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest (Knopf), the world’s leading forest ecologist brings us into her world, the intimate world of the trees, in which she brilliantly illuminates the fascinating and vital truths — that trees are not simply the source of timber or pulp, but are a complicated, interdependent circle of life; that forests are social, cooperative creatures connected through…

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Free

Wordplay Festival: West x Midwest Present Alison Bechdel in Conversation with Cheryl Strayed

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Join The Loft’s virtual Wordplay Festival for a conversation between Alison Bechdel and Cheryl Strayed about Bechdel’s new graphic memoir, The Secret to Superhuman Strength. The long and complicated history of workout crazes in the US—from the Thighmaster, to Nordictrack, to Peloton and Soul Cycle—have created a culture that chases fads over facts. And Alison Bechdel, iconic, award-winning graphic memoirst, has not been immune to the promises. But in her quest for superhuman strength, Bechdel’s journey leads her to another muscle: the heart. And then turns towards the ultimate flex: letting her brain guide her. Join her and fellow soul-seeker Cheryl Strayed as they discuss Bechdel’s latest graphic memoir. In partnership with Literary Arts (Portland, OR), The Loft (Minneapolis, MN), Black Mountain Institute (Las Vegas, NV),…

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Free

Wordplay Festival: Intercontinental Series featuring Helen Oyeyemi

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Helen Oyeyemi, bestselling author of What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, crafts a mesmerizing portrayal of two lovers forever changed by an unusual train journey in her new novel Peaces. As Otto and Xavier Shin depart on what appears to be a train constructed by their wildest imaginations, we discover that the past is never truly behind us—and could possibly be sitting right next to us. The Loft’s Virtual Wordplay is presented by St. Catherine University and Star Tribune. In partnership with Literary Arts (Portland, OR), The Loft (Minneapolis, MN), Black Mountain Institute (Las Vegas, NV), and Wisconsin Book Festival (Madison, WI). More info and register here.  

Free

The State of the Arts in COVID Times

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Free panel with Q&A: Oregon creatives and arts organizations talk about how their communities are adapting and what's next. Siren Nation, amplifying the voices of women in the arts for the past 15 years, is proud to present Siren Nation Speaks—a monthly online series of free arts workshops, talks, and performances. Join us May 9 for a live panel discussion exploring how the arts have struggled, survived, and sometimes thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. This all-star panel features artists and arts administrators from different disciplines and backgrounds, coming together to discuss their experiences of how the arts have been affected by a year in pandemic lockdowns, how arts communities are adapting, and where we may go from here. Be sure to bring your questions for…

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Free

Gregory Gourdet in Conversation With Michelle Tam

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

When award-winning, trendsetting chef Gregory Gourdet got sober, he took stock of his life and his pantry, concentrating his energy on getting himself healthy by cooking food that was both full of nutrients and full of flavor. Now, the beloved Top Chef star shares these extraordinary dishes with everyone. Gourdet’s Everyone’s Table (Harper Wave) features 200 mouthwatering, decadently flavorful recipes carefully designed to focus on superfoods — ingredients with the highest nutrient density, the best fats, and the most minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants — that will delight home cooks. Gourdet’s dishes are inspired by his deep affection for global ingredients and techniques — from his Haitian upbringing to his French culinary education, from the cuisines of Asia as well as those of North and West…

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Free

Stacey Abrams in Conversation With Katie Couric (Ticketed Virtual Event)

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

From celebrated national leader and bestselling author Stacey Abrams comes While Justice Sleeps (Doubleday), a gripping, complexly plotted thriller set within the halls of the U.S. Supreme Court. Avery Keene, a brilliant young law clerk for the legendary Justice Howard Wynn, is doing her best to hold her life together. When the shocking news breaks that Justice Wynn has slipped into a coma, Avery’s life turns upside down. As political wrangling ensues in Washington to potentially replace the ailing judge, Avery begins to unravel a carefully constructed, chess-like sequence of clues left behind by Wynn. While Justice Sleeps is a cunningly crafted, sophisticated novel, layered with myriad twists and a vibrant cast of characters. Drawing on her astute inside knowledge of the court and political…

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$28

Connect in Place: Art as Activism: Changing the World through Creative Expression

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values, and translating experiences across space and time. Artists often see their artwork as a way to provoke, to voice, to enlighten. Art can express ideas that would otherwise be rejected or censored. How can you use art to talk about what you feel is right or wrong? Join Pepe Moscoso for a conversation that invites participants to intimately explore their feelings, sentiments, and experiences and how to use art as a medium to turn thinking into doing. RSVP for this program. Pepe Moscoso, CEO of Blind Insect, is a Portland-based gallery owner, curator, creative consultant, arts producer, and lawyer. A lot of his work has to do with education, inclusion, personal narrative, the exploration of identity, diversity…

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Free

A Conversation with Author Sarah Federman

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

The French National Railways and the Journey to Accountability In the immediate decades after World War II, the French National Railways (SNCF) was celebrated for its acts of wartime heroism. However, recent debates and litigation have revealed the ways the SNCF worked as an accomplice to the Third Reich and was actively complicit in the deportation of 75,000 Jews and other civilians to death camps. Sarah Federman delves into the interconnected roles—perpetrator, victim, and hero—the company took on during the harrowing years of the Holocaust. This talk will address the war years as well as the SNCF’s journey toward accountability in France and the United States, culminating in a multimillion-dollar settlement paid by the French government on behalf of the railways. Sarah Federman is an…

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Free

OREGON ONLINE: Panel Discussion with Produced Oregon Dramatists

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Panel discussion with E. M. Lewis, Anya Pearson, and Octavio Solis on their experiences being produced in the Oregon theatrical community. Join us for a lively and informative conversation with Oregon Dramatists Anya Pearson, E. M. Lewis, and Octavio Solis. They will share their experiences along the road to having their work produced by Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and more. Get an insider view on working with some of the biggest theatrical houses in the state, while sharing some time with three creative, kind, and prolific artists! This event is free and open for all to attend. About the panelists: E. M. Lewis is an award-winning playwright, teacher, and opera librettist. Her work has been produced around the…

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Free

Virtual Event: Living in Global Community, A Conversation with Katherina Audley & Lucas Spiegel

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

In March of 2020, the people of the world went home and shut their doors in an effort to combat a global health crisis. In the days that followed, our social media feeds filled with images of wildlife roaming newly emptied streets and beaches. It prompted many of us to question the scope of our role and impact in the world. Katherina Audley is a National Geographic Explorer who has spent the past 27 years connecting people around the world with nature through programs, writing, and activities that inspire connection and environmental stewardship. Today she is the Founder and Director of Whales of Guerrero a non-profit based in Mexico that exists to facilitate community-driven conservation through whale science, education, and capacity-building programs. Lucas Spiegel is…

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Free
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