Tonight 11-21: Arty Words Vol. III Featuring Curtis White with Special Guest David Biespiel at Disjecta

Today’s Featured Book Event:

Arty Words Vol. III Featuring Curtis White with Special Guest David Biespiel (Disjecta, @7:00pm, $8): Disjecta and Tin House get all eco-politico for the next installment of Arty Words, the literary/art/music sensation too rambunctious to be cage free. Vol. III features Curtis White marauding through sustainability’s seamy underbelly. White’s intelligence, colored by righteous indignation, is a slippery and protean thing. He’s tackled Liberalism and contemporary Art Culture and in his newest book, The Barbaric Heart, he examines the hidden ills of the environmental movement.

David Biespiel is widely recognized as one of the leading poets of his generation, a liberal commentator on national politics, & also one of the nation’s experts in teaching writing. In 1999, he founded the Attic Writers’ Workshop as a haven for writers in Portland’s historic Hawthorne district. Among his publications are The Book of Men and Women, Wild Civility, Pilgrims & Beggars, & Shattering Air.  You can read Reading Local’s interview with David Biespiel here.

Other Book Events Today:

Writers Talking: Ethan Casey (Central Library, @1:00pm): Ethan Casey is the author of “Alive and Well in Pakistan: A Human Journey in a Dangerous Time,” a narrative account of his time traveling and living in Kashmir and Pakistan between 1994 and 2004. He is working on a sequel, to be published in early 2010. His work has been published in “The Globe and Mail,” the “Boston Globe,” “The Guardian” and “Geographical” magazine, among others. He uses his position as an American traveler and author with 15 years’ exposure to Pakistan to help foster historical and geographical perspective, human connections, and conversation between Americans and Pakistanis.

Tapestry of Tales Tellabration and Finale (First Unitarian Church, @7:00pm): Communities around the world gather on the same day to listen and share stories in Tellabration. Come celebrate a world of stories with Donald Davis, Eth-Noh-Tec and Antonio Sacre. Recommended for ages 8 and up. This performance will have sign language interpreters.

“Holidazed” Benefit for Books for Kids and Young Willamette Writers (Artist Repertory Theatre, @7:30pm): Willamette Writers has bought out the house for tonight’s showing of the play “Holidazed” as a benefit for Books for Kids and Young Willamette Writers. This twisted and heart-warming holiday show, written by C.S. Whitcomb and Marc Acito, played to sold- out houses in 2008 and is back at Artists Repertory Theatre this year with a few new sparks. Benefit tickets are $36 for adults, $26 seniors (over 60 years old), and $22 for any students. This Saturday night performance seats normally sell for $47, so it’s also a deal!

To buy tickets, call Bill Johnson at (503) 452- 1592 or purchase your benefit tickets on line at www.willamettewriters.com.

Mortified PDX 2nd Anniversary (Someday Lounge, @8:30pm, 21 & Over, $12 door): Part comedy, part theater, part therapy. True tales ripped from the pages of real life! Mortified stars everyday adults sharing their most embarrassingly real teenage diary entries, poems, love letters, lyrics and locker notes… in front of total strangers. Featuring a distinct lineup of local performers – it’s never the same show twice! Join us for the follow-up to our sold out shows this past June! Online tickets are sold out, but a handful of tickets will be available at the door.  Get there early to get yours!

You can find other events on your community Libraries schedule using these links: Washington County, Multnomah County, Clackamas County.