We hope you enjoy this month’s Humanities Broadsheet — a compilation of events organized by or featuring members of the Washington University community, as well as our colleagues in the greater humanities community in the St. Louis area.
Click through each event to see the organizer’s complete listing. As you’ll see below, there’s always something going on!
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WashU Events
1 NOVEMBER | 3 PM Lamenting Intervals: Landscapes of the Body Lamenting Intervals: Metamorphosis is a forthcoming presentation by the internationally recognized Polish intermedia artist Monika Weiss, professor in the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, and affiliate professor of performing arts. Weiss will discuss her current cycle of works in sound, moment, drawing and sculpture, collectively titled Metamorphosis, on view through Dec. 15 at Laumeier Sculpture Park, where Monika Weiss is this year’s Visiting Artist in Residence. Performing Arts Department.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Room 276
1 NOVEMBER | 3 PM The Advent of Electronic Technologies in Television Music
TIMOTHY D. TAYLOR, professor of ethnomusicology, anthropology and musicology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Taylor will offer a history of the early days of electronic technologies in the composition of music for television, considering how early adopters learned these new technologies (particularly the Moog synthesizer) and taught them to others, how they attempted to convince producers to use them, and how they coped with them in the studio. The larger project that this presentation comes from is concerned with the creation a new bureaucracy to manage television production, including background music, and how the emergence of a new technological infrastructure of production was accommodated by the bureaucracy. Department of Music.
Washington University, Music Classroom Building, Room 102
2 NOVEMBER | 1 PM Tour de Museo en Español
JOSÉ GARZA, coordinador de programas académicos del museo, los invitan a un tour en español de la exhibición de arte Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s–1970s y obras de arte seleccionadas en la colección permanente. Durante el tour, sentirse libre para compartir sus observaciones e interpretaciones. Gratis y abierto al público; se recomiende registro.
JOSÉ GARZA, museum academic programs coordinator, leads a Spanish-language tour of the special exhibition Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s–1970 and selected artworks in the permanent collection. The interactive tour will encourage visitors to share observations and interpretations. Registration required. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby
1, 2 & 3 NOVEMBER | VARIOUS TIMES Pride and Prejudice
KATE HAMILL’s reimagining of the Jane Austen classic is a brilliant comedic romp with an irreverent soul. Adapted from the novel by Jane Austen and directed by William Whitaker, here, love is a game with winners and losers everywhere, and ludicrous circumstances abound and surround all matters of the heart. Finding a soulmate is serious play and true love is a madcap ordeal with confounding rules but a huge payoff. Tickets $15-$20, WashU students free. Performing Arts Department.
Washington University, Mallinckrodt Center, Edison Theatre
4 NOVEMBER | 6 PM Tolerance Is a Wasteland: Palestine and the Culture of Denial
SAREE MAKDISI, chair, Department of English, UCLA. The question that this talk invites us to think through might seem simple: How can a violent project of dispossession and discrimination be imagined, felt and profoundly believed in as though it were the exact opposite — an embodiment of sustainability, multicultural tolerance and democratic idealism? Despite well-documented evidence of racism and human rights abuse, Israel has long been embraced by the most liberal sectors of European and American society as a manifestation of the progressive values of tolerance, plurality, inclusivity and democracy, and hence a project that can be passionately defended for its lofty ideals. This talk will explore the cultural and representational processes that sustain this form of denial. Department of Jewish, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Clark-Fox Forum
4 NOVEMBER | 8 PM Catherine Lacey — Craft Talk
CATHERINE LACEY is the author of five books, Biography of X (2023), Pew (2014), The Answers (2017), Nobody Is Ever Missing (2014), and a short story collection, Certain American States (2018). Her honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Award, a Cullman Fellowship, an O. Henry, the Young Lions Fiction Award, the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize and an award from Lambda for Lesbian Fiction. Her debut work of nonfiction, The Möbius Book, is forthcoming from FSG. A second short story collection, My Stalkers, will follow. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge
7 NOVEMBER | 4 PM Popular Cosmopolitanism: Cinematic Genre and the Meditation of Modernity in 20th-Century Mexico
Latin American cinemas, just like many other film traditions of the Global South, are often valued and studied under the idea that they are fundamentally “national” cinemas, machines of production of identity and cultural specificity. Mexican cinema from the mid 20th century, particularly the one produced in the so-called Golden Age, has been typically assessed under these parameters. This talk by Ignacio M. Sánchez Prado, Jarvis Thurston and Mona Van Duyn Professor in the Humanities at Washington University, proposes the notion of “popular cosmopolitanism” to build a model for the history of Mexican cinema without nationalism. Using genres such as thrillers, horror films and noirs, the talk argues that genre cinema is a mechanism of mediation through which popular culture engages with the growing role of Mexico in the world by creating frameworks of representation for phenomena like urbanization and the cold war. Sánchez Prado also proposes the idea of popular cosmopolitanism as an alternative to Miriam Hansen’s idea of vernacular modernism, accounting for the particular forms of cinema emergent in the process of Mexican capitalism modernization. Film and Media Studies program.
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 306
7 NOVEMBER | 4:30 PM Knowing Through Objects: The World of an Antique Chinese Wedding Bed
“Knowing Through Objects: The World of an Antique Chinese Wedding Bed” is a RDE Studiolab/Ampersand course that uses a 19th-century bed as a starting point, in combination with digital tools and humanistic research methods, to facilitate a cultural history that engages questions of intimacy, nuptials, curation and conservation, and global trade and cultural exchanges. Please join the instructors and students to enjoy a reception and hear undergraduate and graduate students present on their research projects in a poster session. Center for the Humanities.
Washington University, Lewis Collaborative, 725 Kingsland Ave., University City, 63130
7 NOVEMBER | 5:30 PM Josephine Halvorson
JOSEPHINE HALVORSON, professor of art and chair of graduate studies in painting at Boston University, makes art that foregrounds firsthand experience and observation. She works primarily in painting, sculpture and printmaking. Her work has been exhibited internationally at exhibitions including SECCA (2015), Storm King Art Center (2016), the ICA Boston Foster Prize Exhibition (2019-20), and Ríos Intermitentes, a group exhibition curated by Magdalena Campos-Pons as part of the Havana Biennial (2019). In 2021 she presented a solo exhibition of site responsive work at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she was the museum’s first artist in residence. This fall Halvorson presented her work in a solo exhibition in Los Angeles, California at James Fuentes Gallery. Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Visiting Artist Lecture. Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
Washington University, Steinberg Hall, Steinberg Auditorium
7 NOVEMBER | 5:30 PM Hope in the Age of Fear-Based Politics, Trans Rights
REP. ZOOEY ZEPHYR represents Montana’s 100th House District in the Montana House of Representatives and is the first trans woman to hold public office in the state of Montana. Erin Reed is an award-winning transgender journalist based in Washington, D.C. Hear from this power couple about what it's like to embrace the same issues from two different perspectives — as a journalist and as a politician. Zooey and Erin will discuss how the fight for LGBTQ rights shows up in elections, laws and public discourse. Learn how politics affects their personal and interpersonal relationships, and how to find hope and be effective amidst the attacks on their freedoms. Registration required. Office of the Provost.
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Clark-Fox Forum
7 NOVEMBER | 5:30 PM Chinatown Rising Screening & Discussion
JOSH CHUCK, Chinatown Rising co-director. Against the backdrop of the civil rights movement of the mid 1960s, a young San Francisco Chinatown resident armed with a 16mm camera and leftover film scraps from a local TV station turned his lens onto his community. Totaling more than 20,000 feet of film (10 hours), Harry Chuck’s exquisite unreleased footage has captured a divided community’s struggles for self-determination. Chinatown Rising is a documentary film about the Asian American movement from the perspective of the young residents on the front lines of their historic neighborhood in transition. Through publicly challenging the conservative views of their elders, their demonstrations and protests of the 1960s-1980s rattled the once quiet streets during the community’s shift in power. Forty-five years later, in intimate interviews these activists recall their roles and experiences in response to the need for social change. American Culture Studies program.
Washington University, Siegle Hall, Room 306
7 NOVEMBER | 8 PM Catherine Lacey — Reading
CATHERINE LACEY is the author of five books, Biography of X (2023), Pew (2014), The Answers (2017), Nobody Is Ever Missing (2014), and a short story collection, Certain American States (2018). Her honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Award, a Cullman Fellowship, an O. Henry, the Young Lions Fiction Award, the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize and an award from Lambda for Lesbian Fiction. Her debut work of nonfiction, The Möbius Book, is forthcoming from FSG. A second short story collection, My Stalkers, will follow. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge
8 NOVEMBER | 3 PM French Revolutionary Theater Panel
This panel will feature Jeffrey Ravel, emeritus professor of history at MIT and author of Soldiers Onstage at the Comédie-Française, 1758-1793, alongside Logan Connors, professor and chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Miami and author of Military Sociability (and Its limits) at the Théâtre de la Marine, 1766-1790. Reception to follow. Eighteenth-Century Interdisciplinary Salon.
Washington University, Umrath Hall, Umrath Lounge
8 NOVEMBER | 3 PM Sound(e)scaping Skateparks: Headphone Listening as Self-Imposed Isolation within Skateboard Culture
BRYCE NOE, PhD student in musicology, Washington University in St. Louis. Noe conceives of skateparks as constituting a “sound(e)scape,” a space where practitioners employ MP3 devices to escape an otherwise cacophonous environment. Drawing on fieldwork conducted at skateparks, he argues that sound(e)scaping facilitates a sense of individualism fundamental to skatepark culture. Noe’s lecture will reveal how portable music-listening devices individuate skaters’ experience.
Washington University, Music Classroom Building, Room 102
8 NOVEMBER | 4 PM Slavery in the Roman Agricultural Imaginary
KATIE DENNIS, assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin, presents her research focusing on Latin literature and Roman social history through a materialist lens. The humble, hard-working, self-sufficient farmer is a familiar figure in moralizing discourse from the ancient Mediterranean. His traditional virtue and independence from the forms of obligation to which other professions are subject make the agricola the pinnacle of Roman elite self-fashioning. Such valorization of agriculture — especially as a form of labor, or of individual liberty — is complicated by the fact that Roman landowners relied on, and exploited, enslaved and hired labor to run their farms. Dennis argues that the Roman agricultural imaginary ideologically compensated for this contradiction using two strategies: one is to elide the labor of enslaved people in representations of agriculture’s virtues, the other to define the agricola in relation to landownership and slave management rather than physical labor. In either case, the moral benefits of farming are afforded to the slaveholder but denied to his slaves. Department of Classics.
Washington University, Umrath Hall, Room 140
8 NOVEMBER | 4 PM Care for the Dead in Japanese Buddhism: The Body, the Five Elements, and the Absolute
As it developed through the medieval period and into the early modern (circa 1200-1700), Japanese Buddhist death ritual across various sects adopted tantric modes of ritual, using the language and symbolism of so-called Esoteric Buddhism (密教 mijiao, mikkyō). Over the course of this period, the rhetoric of transforming the dead into Buddhas became increasingly widespread and common. Hank Glassman, associate professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Haverford College, presents his research on religion and gender in the history of medieval Japanese Buddhism. He addresses questions such as how men, women and families imagined themselves, their world and their place in it in Japan, and will introduce some of the doctrinal elements that lie behind this soteriological approach and will examine a few physical expressions of these ideas. He hopes to be able to share the way that abstract religious ideas intersect with physical objects and ritual action in remembering and caring for the family dead in Japan. Reception to follow. Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and Religious Studies program.
Washington University, Busch Hall, Room 100
9–17 NOVEMBER Saint Louis Film Festival: Human Ties
The Center for the Humanities sponsors the Human Ties lineup of films at the Saint Louis Film Festival (festival dates are Nov. 7–17). All screenings are free unless otherwise noted. Cinema St. Louis. 4 pm, Sat., Nov. 9, The Midway Point (2023) Jake, a high schooler on the autism spectrum feels disillusioned with the world until he meets Alice who opens the world to Jake, but she has a secret. They may have more in common than he could imagine. Lindenwood University, 209 S Kingshighway St., St Charles, 63301 7 pm, Sat., Nov. 9, Without Arrows (2024) Filmed over the course of 13 years (2011–23), Without Arrows tells the story of Delwin Fiddler Jr.’s return home after leaving his reservation due to a trauma that splintered his Lakhota family. Now home, he seeks to fulfill his mother’s ambition and carry on the legacy of their thiyóšpaye (extended family) as a champion grass dancer. Lindenwood University, 209 S Kingshighway St., St Charles, 63301 2 pm, Sun., Nov. 10, Songs from the Hole (2024) This documentary tells the story of a 15-year-old musician who took a life and then lost his brother three days later. He struggles to find peace and healing through composing music and sharing his life story while incarcerated. St. Louis Public Library – Julia Davis Library, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave, St. Louis, 63115 12 pm, Sat., Nov. 16, The People’s Way (2024) Grappling with the impact of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, three community organizers, Jeanelle Austin, Toshira Garraway and Robin Wonsley, embark on interweaving journeys to care for their communities, find inner healing and build a future towards black liberation. St. Louis Public Library – Central Library, 1301 Olive St, St. Louis, 63103 2:30 pm, Sat., Nov. 16, Searching for Amani (2023) A 13-year-old aspiring journalist investigates his father’s murder in Kenya’s largest wildlife conservancy. As a severe drought worsens, his quest for justice transforms into an activism that uncovers the impacts of a warming world. St. Louis Public Library – Central Library, 1301 Olive St, St. Louis, 63103 4 pm, Sun., Nov. 17, Forever Endeavor(2024, premier) Through the eyes of notable individuals and prominent figures, this movie takes a lighthearted look at life’s heavy questions. $15. Chase Park Plaza Cinema, 212 Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, 63108
9 NOVEMBER | 2 PM Design Agendas
Student educators lead interactive tours of this season’s exhibition, Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s–1970s. With material drawn from the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Historical Society and other collections, this exhibition situates works of modern architecture in St. Louis within the context of urban renewal and racial and spatial segregation and displacement. Using architectural drawings, models, photographs, films and maps, Design Agendas highlights the contributions of architects, planners, artists and activists in the civic work that shaped the design and building history of St. Louis. Through guided discussion, participants will explore these complex connections in this period of shifting architectural history. Free and open to the public. Please check in at the Welcome Desk when arriving for the tour. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby
10 NOVEMBER | 10:30 AM Stage Combat Workshop
Stage combat is a vital skill for any actor to aquire! It is the technique of keeping them safe while telling effective choreographed stories of violence, It covers slapstick, falling down, mass battles and more. Stage combat present in nearly every theatrical production as it is ever present in conflict. RSVPs preferred. Walk-ins welcome.
Washington University, Mallinckrodt Center, Room 101
10 NOVEMBER | 2 PM Chinese-Language Tour: Design Agendas
设计议程：圣路易斯的现代建筑，1930年代-1970年代
学生导览员将以互动讲解的形式，带领观众参观本季度的特别展览“设计议程：圣路易斯的现代建筑，1930-1970年代”。本次展览将圣路易斯的现代建筑置于城市重建、种族和空间的隔离与迁移的背景下，展品来自圣路易斯艺术博物馆、密苏里历史学会以及其他收藏。通过展出建筑图纸、模型、照片、影片和地图，“设计议程”突出了建筑师、规划师、艺术家和活动家在塑造圣路易斯设计和建筑历史等公共事务中的贡献。通过引导讨论，参与者将探讨这一时期建筑历史变迁中的复杂联系。
Student educators lead interactive tours of this season’s exhibition, Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s–1970s. With material drawn from the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Historical Society and other collections, this exhibition situates works of modern architecture in St. Louis within the context of urban renewal and racial and spatial segregation and displacement. Using architectural drawings, models, photographs, films and maps, Design Agendas highlights the contributions of architects, planners, artists and activists in the civic work that shaped the design and building history of St. Louis. Through guided discussion, participants will explore these complex connections in this period of shifting architectural history. Free and open to the public. Please check in at the Welcome Desk when arriving for the tour. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby
11 NOVEMBER | 5:30 PM International Writers Series: New Poetry from Europe
Poets Efe Duyan, Aljaz Koprivnikar and Ales Steger join us under the auspices of Versopolis, an online European poetry platform for emerging European poets. They will read poetry in their original languages (Turkish and Slovenian) and in English translation and will discuss the work of creating lyric connections across borders and languages. Matthias Goeritz, professor of practice of comparative literature at WashU, will moderate. Free and open to all, registration requested. University Libraries and Department of Comparative Literature and Thought.
Washington University, Olin Library, Ginkgo Reading Room
12 NOVEMBER | 5 PM The Evolution of Mass Murder: Forensic Archaeological Perspectives on Mass Violence at the Treblinka Labor and Extermination Camps
CAROLINE STURDY COLLS, professor of Holocaust archaeology and genocide investigation, and the director of the Center of Archaeology at the University of Huddersfield (UK) delivers Washington University’s Annual Holocaust Memorial Lecture. The crimes perpetrated at Treblinka extermination camp — which operated from 23 July 1942 until the autumn of 1943 — are well documented by historians. Although few obvious traces exist in the landscape today, the complex of gas chambers, mass graves, cremation pyres, undressing barracks, fences and railway lines that existed here facilitated the annihilation of between 800,000 and 1 million Jews and an unknown number of non-Jewish Poles, Roma and POWs. Despite the notoriety of the camp, investigations of the physical evidence connected to the extermination practices were limited to those undertaken between 1944–46 until forensic archaeological works were initiated by Caroline Sturdy Colls. Therefore, drawing upon recent historical and archaeological research, Sturdy Colls discuss the evolution of mass violence and murder at Treblinka before, during and after Operation Reinhard. She will consider how geography and (deceptive) narratives surrounding the labor camp were used to facilitate mass killings between 1941 and 1944 and the material traces of extermination such as newly discovered mass graves and punishment sites. Ultimately, she will show that the systematic murder of Jews at Treblinka, and their burial within the campscape, began long before the notorious extermination camp was constructed. RSVP requested. Holocaust Memorial Lecture.
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Clark-Fox Forum
13 NOVEMBER | 3:30 PM Faculty Book Talk: Bronwyn Nichols Lodato
Join us for a faculty book talk featuring Bronwyn Nichols Lodato, assistant professor of education and African and African American Studies, Washington University. In this event, she will explore the impact of shock events like COVID-19 on African American communities, identity development and education outcomes among adolescents and young adults. Nichols Lodato’s recently published book, COVID-19, the Great Recession and Young Adult Identity Development, introduces a new, shock-sensitive framework for diverse young adult identity development after high school, offering a paradigm shift in how identity development is framed. Free and open to all, registration is requested. University Libraries.
Washington University, Olin Library, Room 142
14 NOVEMBER | 4 PM Capturing Nature
The human relationship with plants is ancient and profound. Plants are so ubiquitous in our lives that many of us may not notice them anymore, but it is time to see them again, both for our own well-being and that of the earth. All are invited to join us for a panel discussion that will highlight three aspects of the plant-human association — art, medicine and science. Panelists include Jody Williams, botanical artist and director of the American Society of Botanical Artists; Elizabeth Brander, head of Rare Books, Becker Medical Library, WashU; and Jordan Teisher, herbarium director, Missouri Botanical Gardens. Free and open to all; registration requested. University Libraries.
Washington University, Olin Library, Room 142
14 NOVEMBER | 6 PM Theeb Screening & Discussion
The 2014 Jordanian film Theeb was nominated for the 2016 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 1916, while war rages in the Ottoman Empire, Hussein raises his younger brother, Theeb ("Wolf"), in a traditional Bedouin community that is isolated by the vast, unforgiving desert. The brothers’ quiet existence is suddenly interrupted when a British Army officer and his guide ask Hussein to escort them to a water well located along the old pilgrimage route to Mecca. So as not to dishonor his recently deceased father, Hussein agrees to lead them on the long and treacherous journey. The young, mischievous Theeb secretly chases after his brother, but the group soon find themselves trapped amidst threatening terrain, riddled with Ottoman mercenaries, Arab revolutionaries and outcast Bedouin raiders. Naji Abu Nowar’s powerful and assured directorial debut, set in the land of Lawrence of Arabia, is a wondrous “Bedouin Western” about a boy who, in order to survive, must become a man and live up to the name his father gave him. The viewing will be facilitated by Younasse Tarbouni, professor of Arabic at WashU. Middle East/North Africa Film Series, Department of Jewish, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.
Washington University, McDonnell Hall, Room 162
15 NOVEMBER | 12 PM Kemper Unplugged: “Creative Music” with George Sams and Friends
This performance will feature renowned trumpeter George Sams, former member of the Black Artists Group, composer and visual artist, with friends. Organized in conjunction with Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s–70s, this concert highlights the impact of the Black Artists Group, a multidisciplinary artist collective in St. Louis from 1968 to 1972 known for experimental jazz. Performers include Curtis Lyle, poet; George Sams, trumpet and flugelhorn; Damon Smith, bass; and Gary Sykes, percussion. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby
16 NOVEMBER | 9 AM–12 PM Complexity by Design Bus Tour
Join guides with the Missouri Historical Society’s See STL Tours for an interactive bus tour of St. Louis sites that will explore the city’s built environment in relation to public health, public policy and resilience. Organized in conjunction with the exhibition Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s–1970s, these tours will visit key sites and engage participants in discussion. Free and open to the public. Registration is required. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby
18 NOVEMBER | 12 PM Out of the Darkness: A Story of Injustice and Redemption
A discussion between Barbara Bradley Hagerty, author of Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice, and Ben Spencer, a man who fought tirelessly to maintain his innocence through a wrongful conviction until he was free. In 1987, Spencer, a 22-year-old Black man from Dallas, was convicted of murdering white businessman Jeffrey Young — a crime he didn’t commit. From the day of his arrest, Spencer insisted that it was “an awful mistake.” The Texas legal system didn’t see it that way. It allowed shoddy police work, paid witnesses and prosecutorial misconduct to convict Spencer of murder, and it ignored later efforts to correct this error. The state’s bureaucratic intransigence caused Spencer to spend more than half his life in prison. Some 34 years later, independent investigators, new witness testimony, the foreman of the jury that convicted him and a new Dallas DA convinced a Texas judge that Spencer had nothing to do with the killing, and in 2021 he was released from prison. Moderated by John Inazu, the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law & Religion, WashU Law. Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy.
Washington University, Anheuser-Bush Hall, Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom
18 NOVEMBER | 4 PM Native Space: Mapping, Expulsion, and Confinement in 19th-Century North America
The fall meeting of the Geospatial Working Group features Balraj Gill, an Indigenous Studies Postdoctoral Fellow at WashU, who will discuss Native relationships with space and place as settlers colonized and transformed Native space during the 19th century in what is called North America. The talk will explore Native epistemologies of space alongside settler mapping, the expulsion of Native peoples from their homelands and their confinements in concentrated spaces when tribal nations and communities evaded expulsion. Free and all are welcome. American Culture Studies program.
Washington University, Olin Library, Room 142
18 NOVEMBER | 5:30 PM Anda French and Jenny French
ANDA FRENCH, AIA, and Jenny French, partners of Boston-based French 2D, will deliver the 2024 Eugene J. Mackey Jr. Lecture as part of the Sam Fox School’s Public Lecture Series at WashU. French 2D is an award-winning Boston studio centering collaboration across multiple scales, from participatory events/installations to urban-scale textiles and buildings for collective living. French 2D was internationally recognized as a 2023 Finalist for the Architectural Review’s Emerging Award. The firm received a 2020 P/A (Progressive Architecture) Award from Architect Magazine, and a Design Vanguard award from Architectural Record, and has been featured in Domus, Metropolis, The Architect’s Newspaper, and in the solo show “House Clothes” at UMass Amherst. Anda is a visiting lecturer at the Princeton School of Architecture. Jenny is an assistant professor in the practice of architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Eugene J. Mackey Jr. Lecture. Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
Washington University, Steinberg Hall, Steinberg Auditorium
18 NOVEMBER | 5:30 PM The Terrorism and the Kebab Screening & Discussion
A family man frustrated by bureaucracies of the Egyptian public system as well as difficulties of life finds himself inadvertently accused of terrorism. The viewing will be facilitated by Younasse Tarbouni, professor of Arabic at WashU and Muad Al Juhany of the Washington University School of Law. Middle East/North Africa Film Series, Department of Jewish, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Department.
Washington University, Umrath Hall, Room 140
19 NOVEMBER | 4:30 PM Faculty Book Talk: Patty Heyda
PATTY HEYDA, professor in the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Art, will discuss her new book, Radical Atlas of Ferguson, USA. The book delves into the structural contradictions and racial inequalities inherent in market-based planning in the American first-ring suburb, as seen through the lens of Ferguson, Missouri. Free and open to all, registration requested. University Libraries.
Washington University, Olin Library, Room 142
21–24 NOVEMBER The Thanksgiving Play
In The Thanksgiving Play, Larissa FastHorse, a 2020 MacArthur Fellow, has written what she calls a “comedy in a satire” with “a little bit of medicine that’s going to go down with the laughs.” A small group of abundantly earnest teaching artists devise a Thanksgiving pageant that attempts to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month. While striving to be culturally sensitive, the angst-ridden thespians find themselves wrestling with history, myth and their own biases as they descend into a hilarious cornucopia of political correctness. Tickets $15–$20, free for WashU students with ID.
Washington University, Mallinckrodt Center, A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre
21 NOVEMBER | 6 PM What’s Important in Verse Translation?
DIANE ARNSON SVARLIEN, independent scholar, will read and perform selections from her verse translations of Aristophanes, Euripides, Sappho, Brecht, the Hebrew liturgy and more, and will discuss the challenges and complexities of translating poetry into poetry. Faithfulness to the original is a core value of translation, but poetry offers so many things to be faithful to: semantic sense, form, rhythm, euphony or dissonance, tone, allusion and intertext, emotion and humor — to name just a few. Arnson Svarlien will consider these competing claims by looking closely at specific examples from her work and that of others. Book signing to follow. John and Penelope Biggs Department of Classics.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Goldberg Formal Lounge
22 NOVEMBER | 3 PM Artist Talk: Nicole Mitchell
NICOLE M. MITCHELL is an award-winning creative flutist, composer, bandleader and educator. She is perhaps best known for her work as a flutist, having developed a unique improvisational language and having been repeatedly awarded “Top Flutist of the Year” by Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll and the Jazz Journalists Association (2010–2022). Mitchell initially emerged from Chicago’s innovative music scene in the late ’90s. Her music celebrates contemporary African American culture. The former first woman president of Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Mitchell celebrates endless possibility by “creating visionary worlds through music that bridge the familiar with the unknown.” As a composer, Mitchell has been commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Stone, French American Jazz Exchange, Chamber Music America (New Works), Chicago Jazz Festival, ICE and Chicago Sinfonietta. She is a recipient of the Herb Alpert Award (2011), the Chicago 3Arts Award (2011), the Doris Duke Artist Award (2012) and the United States Artist Award (2020). She is a professor of music at the University of Virginia. Department of Music.
Washington University, 560 Music Center, Pillsbury Theatre
St. Louis Community Events
THROUGH 17 NOVEMBER The Roommate
“I guess everybody wants to start over.” In the quietest corner of the Midwest, middle-aged Sharon, recently divorced and seeking a sensible roommate, opens her home to Robyn, a mysterious woman with a murky past. Entwining this unlikely duo's lives in shared dish-duty and shady business, Jen Silverman takes us on an uproarious journey of self-discovery, secrets and revelations. Challenge societal norms, embrace the unexpected and revel in the reinvention that only true friendship can spark in this dark comedy that proves coming of age can happen anytime, anywhere — even your own kitchen table! Post-show talkback on 4 pm, Sat., Nov. 2. Tickets $60. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
Loretto-Hilton Center, Emerson Studio Theatre, 130 Edgar Rd., Webster Groves, 63119
1–2 NOVEMBER | 10 AM–1 PM Native Traditions Through Time
Explore Indigenous traditions from the past, including ofrendas (altars), copperworking, clothing, dance and more, and learn how Indigenous groups in St. Louis keep their traditions alive today. On Saturday, join our Día de los Muertos celebrations to continue learning about Indigenous traditions! Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
1–30 NOVEMBER | 1 PM Drop-in Collection Tour — Art and Oral Traditions
Every visit to a museum is a journey through the wisdom of generations after generations. Guided by this premise, join a guided reflection on artworks from global cultures throughout the collection that represent and inspire oral traditions, storytelling and spoken rituals. Tours begin at the welcome desk in Sculpture Hall on a first-come, first-served basis. Fridays and Saturdays in November. Saint Louis Art Museum. 1 pm, Fri., Nov. 1 1 pm, Sat., Nov. 2 1 pm, Fri., Nov. 8 1 pm, Sat. Nov. 9 1 pm, Fri., Nov. 15 1 pm, Sat. Nov. 16 1 pm, Fri., Nov. 22 1 pm, Sat. Nov. 23 1 pm, Fri., Nov. 29 1 pm, Sat. Nov. 30
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
1–30 NOVEMBER See STL Walking Tours
See STL’s fun and creative tours mix engaging storytelling and a deep well of historical knowledge with an infectious enthusiasm for the exciting changes the city is currently undergoing. Tours are two hours in length and are wheelchair accessible. $15–$20. Tour starting/ending points are included in your booking details. Missouri Historical Society.
1 NOVEMBER | 12 PM Artist Talk: Ronald Young
Join Great Rivers Biennial 2024 artist Ronald Young for a lecture at his alma mater, Webster University. This event is free and open to the public. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
Webster University, Sverdrup Hall, Room 123, 8300 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, 63119
1 NOVEMBER | 4 PM SLAM Social with Afriky Lolo
Afriky Lolo, meaning “African star,” was founded by Diádié Bathily in 2003. Afriky Lolo is a West African dance nonprofit corporation that is committed to bringing West African dance and culture to the St. Louis community through teaching and performing. The company has 8 drummers and 75 dancers, ranging in age from 6 to over 60. Bathily is a master dancer from the Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. He immigrated to the United States in 1998. He has a strong personal and professional desire to share the beauty, culture and passion of West African dance with Americans, especially African Americans. Start your Friday evening in SLAM’s iconic Sculpture Hall and enjoy drinks and snacks from a cash bar. Then watch West African dance and drumming by Afriky Lolo, in connection with Narrative Wisdom and African Arts. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Sculpture Hall, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
1 NOVEMBER | 6 PM Michael Ralph, Before the 13th (Author Talk)
MICHAEL RALPH is the chair and professor in the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University. Ralph offers insights into the controversial friendship and rivalry between Frederick Douglass — the most photographed American of the 19th century — and Ida B. Wells, an investigative journalist, activist and one of the founders of the NAACP, best-known for her crusades against lynching and violence against African Americans. This graphic historical novel is certain to be an instant classic with an urgent message to share! Ralph will be in conversation with Balraj Gill, an Indigenous Studies postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. RSVP online. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108
1 NOVEMBER | 5 PM First Friday: Celebrating Ronald Young
KENNETH YOUNG, son of Ronald Young, is a multidisciplinary artist from St. Louis whose work explores the intersection of color theory, astrology and self identity. While attending Missouri Western State University, Kenneth chose to pursue digital animation and painting. With a focus on digital collages and large-scale paintings, Kenneth’s creative process revolves around creating pieces that evoke a sense of nostalgia and personal reflection. While having several pieces in Missouri Western’s private collection, Kenneth has also been a part of several group exhibitions. These exhibitions include Black Boy Art Show, where he was invited to showcase his work in both Atlanta and Chicago. Kenneth has also been in participated in several of Brock Seals group exhibitions in his hometown of St. Louis, including Art, Pancakes, and Mimosas. Enjoy art, music and culture in the Grand Center Arts District on the first Friday of the month. This event celebrates Great Rivers Biennial 2024 artist Ronald Young. Join the artist’s son, Kenneth Young, for drop-in assemblage art-making and enjoy music by DJ Nico from 7–8:30 pm. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 63108
2–17 NOVEMBER St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is an annual celebration of authors, books, and ideas during early November, with additional author events year-round. The range of author topics is vast: over 20 speaker events covering business, cooking, economics, family, fiction, history, music, religion, sports, and more. Now in its 45th year, the festival is nationally recognized for both its excellence and its size — it is one of the largest in the country with more than 10,000 audience members annually. People from all backgrounds and religions come to Festival events to hear premier speakers, share their thoughts, and ask questions. St. Louis Jewish Book Festival.
Various locations – see website
2 NOVEMBER–19 DECEMBER Art St. Louis 40, The Exhibition
Please join Art Saint Louis for Art St. Louis 40, The Exhibition featuring new artworks by more than 70 regional artists in all media, all subjects/themes, all styles, all techniques exhibition highlighting the work of our region’s finest visual artists. This year’s multimedia exhibit includes original artworks in ceramics, collage, digital media, drawing, handmade paper, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and wood. A free public reception will be held on 5 pm, Sat., Nov. 2, when guests will have the opportunity to view the exhibition and meet the featured artists, featuring a brief Awards Judge Gallery Talk and awards presentation. Art Saint Louis.
Art Saint Louis Gallery, 2801 Locust St., St. Louis, 63103
2 NOVEMBER | 10 AM–6 PM Día de los Muertos
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park with altars that represent a variety of Latin American cultural traditions, live music and dance performances, an art display, food and drink vendors, a procession through the park and more. Family Zones will offer face- or arm-painting for kids, arts and crafts, storytelling in Spanish and other activities. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
2 NOVEMBER | 12 PM Soldiers Memorial and Surroundings
Delivered by knowledgeable volunteer docents, these free tours explore Soldiers Memorial’s exhibits and Memorial Plaza. The 12 pm tour, “Soldiers Memorial and Its Surroundings,” explains the building’s history and architecture. At 1 pm, “St. Louis in Service” delves into the history of St. Louis, from the Revolutionary War through today. On the first Saturday of each month at 2 pm, visitors can take a guided tour of the temporary exhibition Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II, a production of the National WWII Museum. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, Court of Honor, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis, 63103
2 NOVEMBER | 7 PM Glory Edim, Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me! (Author Talk)
GLORY EDIM is a literary tastemaker, entrepreneur and advocate for diverse voices in literature. Since founding Well-Read Black Girl in 2015, Edim has helped amplify and celebrate the works of Black female authors and creating a supportive online community for readers. Edim will be in conversation with LaParis Hawkins, creator of Books & Bonnets book club, a monthly book club dedicated to literacy, community and service. Left Bank Books.
.ZACK Performing Arts Theater, 3224 Locust St., St. Louis, 63103
3 NOVEMBER | 2 PM Life Is a Dream
The first show of Upstream’s Theater’s celebratory 20th season, Life is a Dream is the professional premiere of a new translation by G.J. Racz of this Spanish classic by Pedro Calderón de la Barca, directed by Philip Boehm. Calderón’s best-known drama follows the journey of Prince Segismundo, who was imprisoned at birth due to a prophecy. As he grapples with his newfound freedom within a world of court intrigue, Segismundo ponders the nature of his existence and the power of his own choices. A play of enduring relevance in an age filled with political uncertainty. Talkback following performance. Tickets $25 students; $45 adults. Upstream Theater.
Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr., St. Louis, 63103
4 NOVEMBER | 6 PM Renee Bracey Sherman, Liberating Abortion: Claiming Our History, Sharing Our Stories, and Building the Reproductive Future We Deserve (Author Talk)
RENEE BRACEY SHERMAN is a reproductive justice activist, abortion storyteller and writer. She is the founder and co-executive director of We Testify, an organization dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who have abortions and share their stories at the intersection of race, class and gender identity. Join us the evening before the election where we will also discuss and help others make a plan to vote. Sherman will be in conversation with Love Holt and Hanz Dismer. RSVP online. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108
6 NOVEMBER | 4 PM Devotions in the Early Modern Spanish Pacific: Catholicism and Indigenous Idolatry
CHRISTINA LEE, professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Princeton University, introduces the concept of the “Spanish Pacific” as a point of departure to contextualize the global nature of the Spanish-led missions in Asia. As presented in her co-edited readers, The Spanish Pacific, 1521–1815 (Vols. 1&2), the Spanish Pacific indicates a social space figured by a web of connections and entanglements that arise from the contacts between the people from Europe, Latin America, and Asia facilitated by the Spanish-led transpacific galleon trade between Mexico and the Philippines, which lasted almost 250 years. Lee proposes that the Spanish Pacific allows us to conceptualize a type of Catholic world that lies at the intersection of the global and the local. To illustrate this view, Christina Lee focuses on examples of early modern Philippine devotions that lie at this intersection, such as the “Catholic” cult to to the Holy Child and the “idolatrous” cults to deities that inhabit the natural world. A complimentary reception will follow. All are welcome! Registration requested. Saint Louis University Center for Research on Global Catholicism and Center for Iberian Historical Studies.
Saint Louis University, DuBourg Hall, Pere Marquette Gallery, Room 240. 221 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, 63103
7 NOVEMBER | 5 PM “High on the Hog”: The History of Soul Food with Dr. Jessica B. Harris
JESSICA B. HARRIS, culinary historian, New York Times–best-selling author of High on the Hog and winner of two NAACP Image Awards, has captivated audiences internationally with her Peabody Award–winning Netflix series, High on the Hog. In this engaging keynote presentation, Harris will share stories of her career, the history of soul food, and some of her favorite heritage dishes, and then she’ll join Emmy-awarded host and producer Jade Harrell for an on-stage conversation. Books will be available for purchase, and a limited number of guests will receive free tickets to get their books signed. Please note that book signing is limited, and free book-signing tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, MacDermott Grand Hall, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
8 NOVEMBER | 12 PM Performance by Kenya Ajanaku
KENYA AJANAKU has been entertaining audiences as a drummer and storyteller for more than 26 years. He combines storytelling, drumming and dance in unique, unforgettable performances. He also serves as founder and executive director of Harambee Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes personal and social development through experience in the cultural arts. Watch Ajanaku during a free, original, live musical performance using traditional African instruments. Q&A session to follow. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
8 NOVEMBER | 6:30 PM Every Bullet Leaves a Mark Premiere
Join us for the world premiere of a powerful documentary that brings to light the deep wounds that bullets create, both seen and unseen. This short film highlights the stories of people whose lives were changed by bullets and who received care at the Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) here in St. Louis. Through personal narratives, the documentary reveals the deep physical, emotional and spiritual impact that bullets have — not just on the bodies of those shot but on the communities around them, and how a new concept and approach to those injuries holds within it a new powerful hope of healing. Advance registration is requested. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
9 NOVEMBER | 10 AM The Great Big STL Architecture Tour — Bus Tour
Are you a fan of flounder houses? A maniac for mansard roofs? An ardent arch admirer? Or maybe you just want to learn more about the buildings around you. Either way, this super-size See STL tour is the place to discover St. Louis architecture across history — and maybe even take a glimpse at what the future holds. Attendees will meet and learn from local architecture experts and enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access to some of our city’s most stunning landmarks. This 5-hour bus tour includes a 1-hour lunch break at City Foundry (lunch purchased separately). Tickets online, $35 per person. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
9 NOVEMBER | 6:30 PM Very Open Rehearsal: interactive insight
Be a part of a working rehearsal with Chamber Project St. Louis. Learn about the process of making music in this interactive musical experience. Ask questions about the music, the instruments, the musicians - whatever comes to mind. A moderator will facilitate the conversation between the audience and the musicians, who will be preparing a new work for the group’s Nov. 22 concert. Free; reservations requested. Chamber Project St. Louis.
St. Louis County Library – Thornhill Library, 12863 Willowyck Dr., St. Louis, 63146
9 NOVEMBER | 7:30 PM Eddie Shapiro, Here’s to the Ladies: Conversations with More of the Great Women of Musical Theater (Author Talk)
Celebrate the remarkable women who have shaped musical theater with renowned theater journalist Eddie Shapiro. In this engaging event, Shapiro is joined by three talented stars from New Jewish Theater’s upcoming musical, sharing performances and anecdotes that showcase the impact of female superstars in the industry. With laughter and heartfelt stories, this evening promises to be a joyous tribute to the artistry and influence of women in musical theater. Tickets $45. St. Louis Jewish Book Festival.
The J, Mirowitz Performing Arts Center, 8 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146
12 NOVEMBER | 11 AM A History of Chinese Restaurants in St. Louis
St. Louis has many fascinating culinary traditions, and this presentation will explore the evolution of the city’s Chinese restaurants. From the inclusion of Chinese cuisine at the World’s Fair to upscale cocktail lounges and delivery spots, join Assistant Librarian and Curatorial Assistant Magdalene Linck to delve into the restaurants, the people behind them, and the neighborhoods they called home. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
12 NOVEMBER | 7 PM Abbott Kahler, Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II (Author Talk)
ABBOTT KAHLER, bestselling true crime writer, weaves a chilling, stranger-than-fiction tale worthy of Agatha Christie about European exiles hoping to create a utopian paradise in the Galápagos Islands but descending into outrageous chaos and ultimately murder. With a mystery as alluring and curious as the Galápagos itself, Eden Undone explores the universal and timeless desire to seek utopia — and lays bare the human fallibility that, inevitably, renders such a quest doomed. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131
13 NOVEMBER | 8 AM Third Places: Community Bridging and Connectedness
In an increasingly digital world, the importance of physical spaces — often referred to as “third places” — that foster community interaction and connectedness cannot be overstated. Third places, such as parks, museums and public spaces, serve as vital hubs where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together, share experiences and build stronger, more cohesive communities. This forum will bring together thought leaders and practitioners from key St. Louis institutions, including Great Rivers Greenway, the Missouri Historical Society and other significant public spaces in the region. Through dynamic conversations and expert insights, we will explore how these spaces play a critical role in bridging communities, fostering social interaction and enriching the overall quality of life. Registration for this event is required. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
13 NOVEMBER | 5 PM Memoir Panel: Sara Glass, Sara Rossi and Sarah Sherbill
SARA GLASS recounts her heartfelt coming-of-age story within a controlling Hasidic community in Kissing Girls on Shabbat (2024). This memoir reflects her courageous struggle to embrace her queer identity while navigating the complexities of family and faith. Glass’ narrative is a testament to love, acceptance and the fight for personal truth. Sara Rossi will also share her story, the wild and vibrant journey of a former punk-rocker turned Chasidic rabbi’s “cult buster.” Her rebellious spirit and fierce determination shine through in her electrifying memoir The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews (2024), detailing her transformation from a life of defiance to one of empowerment and purpose within the Jewish community. Sarah Sherbill’s searing memoir, There Was Night and There Was Morning (2024), offers an unflinching look at her upbringing in an abusive rabbinical family. Through powerful storytelling, she navigates the complexities of love, trauma and healing, ultimately finding a path to redemption. This panel promises to be a deeply moving exploration of the human experience. St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. Tickets $45.
The J. Mirowitz Performing Arts Center, 8 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146
13 NOVEMBER | 6 PM Courageous Conversations: The Impact of Gun Violence in our Community with Jonathan Metzl
This Foundations of Justice event will feature a panel discussion in which Dr. Jonathan Metzl, the Frederick B. Rentschler II Professor of Sociology and Psychiatry and director of the Department of Medicine, Health and Society at Vanderbilt University, will join members of our community to explore the impact of gun violence in our region, including perspectives that challenge the pro-gun-reform framing that sometimes dominate conversations on the topic. To complement this courageous conversation, a screening of The BRIC’s new documentary, Every Bullet Leaves a Mark, will be offered at 6 pm, prior to the panel. Register online. Left Bank Books.
Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being, 1000 N. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, 63113
13 NOVEMBER | 8 PM St. Louis Storytelling Festival — Campfire
Campfire Fellow Marissa Brooks shares her wisdom through her personal narrative from the stage as part of the 45th Annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival. Expect a night of stories, engage in meaningful conversation and reflect on the moments that have shaped us. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. St. Louis County Library.
Work & Leisure, 3015 Locust St., St. Louis, 63103
14 NOVEMBER | 5 PM St. Louis Storytelling Festival — Voices of America
This St. Louis Storytelling Festival features nationally renowned storytellers Claire Hennessy, Adam Booth, Jasmin Cardenas and Simon Brooks in a thought-provoking performance that promises to stir emotions and spark laughter as they share personal stories. The emcee for the evening is popular storyteller Nestor Gomez. St. Louis County Library is hosting the 45th annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival, November 13–23. All events are free to the public. Additional festival events can be found here. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, MacDermott Grand Hall, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
14 NOVEMBER | 6 PM Poetry Reading: John Dorsey, Jason Ryberg & Brett Lars Underwood
JOHN DORSEY, former poet laureate of Belle, Mo., is author of several collections of poetry, including Which Way to the River: Selected Poems: 2016-2020 (2020), Sundown at the Redneck Carnival (2022) and Pocatello Wildflower (2023). Jason Ryberg is the author of 18 books of poetry; six screenplays; a few short stories; a box full of folders, notebooks and scraps of paper that could one day be (loosely) construed as a novel; and a couple of angry letters to various magazine and newspaper editors. His latest collection of poems is Fence Post Blues (2023). Brett Lars Underwood is a St. Louis poet and promoter of happenings and mishaps. He is the author of MUSH (2018) and MUSHARONA (2020) and GATEWAY TO MUSH (2024). Subterranean Books.
Subterranean Books, 6271 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 63130
14 NOVEMBER | 7:30 PM SLIFF x CAM: Communing with Art
CAM is pleased to partner with the annual St. Louis International Film Festival to present short films that explore the world of contemporary art through a cinematic lens. For the artists featured in these documentary shorts, art provides an essential outlet to connect with self and others. These two films provide a complement to the exhibition Shinichi Sawada: Agents of Clay — one on the important role that educational programs in Japan play to the development of artists, and one on the transformative power of traditional, wood-firing kilns to clay objects and their creators. This screening features Instruments of a Beating Heart (2024), directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki, and Anagama (2024), directed by Guillermo Asensio. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 63108
15–16 NOVEMBER George Caleb Bingham Symposium
Widely known as “the Missouri artist,” George Caleb Bingham gained recognition for his paintings of life and politics on the American frontier. These paintings were accompanied by numerous drawings inspired by 19th-century daily experience along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. In 1974, these drawings were at risk of being sold by the St. Louis Mercantile Library to fund air-conditioning for the building. To keep these valuable drawings in Missouri, then-governor Christopher S. “Kit” Bond launched a statewide campaign to raise funds to purchase the drawings and place them in a trust for the citizens of Missouri. This two-day symposium explores the connection between Bingham’s life as an artist and a politician, how those two existences are intimately intertwined and how his work continues to be relevant to our nation today. The Bingham Trust will host a two-day symposium on George Caleb Bingham that honors and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Missouri Governor Christopher S. “Kit” Bond’s public subscription campaign to acquire 112 preliminary drawings for Bingham’s genre paintings. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
15 NOVEMBER | 6 PM St. Louis Storytelling Festival — Global Narratives
As part of the St. Louis Storytelling Festival, the Museum is hosting “Global Narratives” emceed by Nestor Gomez. Nationally renowned storytellers Charlotte Blake Alston and Alton Chung will captivate with folktales from the African and Hawaiian cultures, while Justin Perez uses visual vernacular storytelling to tell imaginative and adventurous tales. Enjoy music and a cash bar in Sculpture Hall prior to the storytelling. The event is free, and space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Grigg Gallery, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
16 NOVEMBER | 9 AM St. Louis Storytelling Festival — Cuentos From the Americas
Embark with Jasmin Cardenas on a bilingual (Spanish/English) journey of stories from North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean Islands full of legends, folktales and personal stories mixed with songs and dance. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. St. Louis Storytelling Festival . St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, Event Room D, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131
16 NOVEMBER | 9:30 AM Growing Up Chinese American in St. Louis
ED SHEW, whose father managed the historic Orient restaurant, will describe how his life as a Chinese American growing up in St. Louis informed his 2020 historical novel, Chinese Brothers, American Sons. Registration required. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center, 225 S. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, 63105
16 NOVEMBER | 7:30 PM SLIFF x CAM: Film and Dance
CAM is pleased to partner with the annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival to present short films that explore the world of contemporary art through a cinematic lens. This documentary short film program celebrates the powerful meeting point of the mediums of film and dance. The featured filmmakers’ works resonate with the choreographed forms in the St. Louis-born artist Charles Atlas’ animation Painting by Numbers, on view on CAM’s facade Street Views. Atlas is a celebrated pioneer in the development of “media-dance,” a genre in which original performance work is created directly for the camera. This screening features Mr. Troy (2024), directed by Ken Gregory; Ten Times Better (2024), directed by George Lee; and We Ride for Her (2024), directed by Prairie Rose Seminole and Katrina Sorrentino. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 63108
17 NOVEMBER | 2 PM Michael Boyd and Tom Grady, Vandeventer Place: Gilded Age Saint Louis (Author Talk)
MICHAEL BOYD and Tom Grady facilitate a discussion on their newest book, offering the comprehensive view of all 50 homes in Vandeventer Place, with biographical detail of the owners and the source of their considerable Gilded Age wealth, not as gossip but as a study of how wealth was gained and held in the time just after the Civil War. St. Louis Public Library.
St. Louis Public Library, Central Training Room, 1301 Olive St., St. Louis, 63103
18 NOVEMBER | 6:30 PM St. Louis Storytelling Festival — African Folktales
Presented by storytellers Bobby Norfolk and Kenya Ajanaku. Immerse yourself in the African folktales passed down through oral traditions. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Florissant Valley Branch, 195 S. New Florissant Rd., Florissant, 63031
18 NOVEMBER | 7 PM Steven Watts, Citizen Cowboy: Will Rogers and the American People (Author Talk)
STEVEN WATTS, professor emeritus of history at the University of Missouri, presents a probing biography of one of America's most influential cultural figures. Will Rogers was a youth from the Cherokee Indian Territory of Oklahoma who rose to conquer nearly every form of entertainment in the early 20th century. Through vaudeville, the Ziegfeld Follies and Broadway, radio and Hollywood movies, Rogers built his reputation as a folksy humorist whose wit made him a national symbol of the common people. Though a friend of presidents, movie stars and industrial leaders, it was his bond with ordinary people that endeared him to mass audiences. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131
19 NOVEMBER | 7 PM Mary Jo Bang & Yuki Tanaka, A Kiss for the Absolute: Selected Poems of Shuzo Takiguchi (Author Talk)
MARY JO BANG and Yuki Tanaka are translators for the first book of poems by the great Japanese surrealist Shuzo Takiguchi to be published in English. Join award winning poet, translator and professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis Mary Jo Bang with professor and poet Yuki Tanaka for their collaborative translation. RSVP online. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108
21 NOVEMBER | 5 PM ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (“We Will Speak”) Screening & Discussion
Attend a screening of We Will Speak (94 minutes), a 2023 documentary from filmmakers Schon Duncan and Michael McDermitt, then stay for a short discussion about the efforts of language activists and younger generations to save the Cherokee language from extinction. The Cherokee language is deeply tied to Cherokee identity, yet assimilation efforts by the U.S. government and anti-Indigenous stigmas forced the Tri-Council of Cherokee tribes to declare a state of emergency for the languages in 2019. While there are 430,000 Cherokee citizens in the three federally recognized tribes, it’s estimated that fewer than 2,000 fluent speakers remain — the majority of whom are elderly. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, MacDermott Grand Hall, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112
21 NOVEMBER | 5:30 PM ASL Tour: Great Rivers Biennial 2024
Join Angela Botz, a Deaf docent, for a tour of Great Rivers Biennial 2024 in American Sign Language (ASL). This program is offered in partnership with DEAF Inc. as part of the Deaf Visual Arts Festival. Please register for the tour here. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 63108
21 NOVEMBER | 6 PM Elaine G’Sell, Francofilaments (Author Talk)
Vacillating between prose and verse, Francofilaments presents a varied sojourn through a woman's trials and tribulations as reimagined, and filtered through, French culture and film. Several poems are based on, or excerpt from, interviews author Elaine G’Sell conducted with French or French-speaking actors and filmmakers — including Juliette Binoche, Celine Sciamma and Isabelle Huppert — while others excerpt from an extensive list of reviews and essays published on Francophone cinema. In investigating Francophilia, G’Sell likewise plumbs the depths of national, gendered and racial identity. This volume is a cinematic excavation of interiority — the author’s, but also that which we see and hear onscreen. G’Sell is a poet and culture critic whose work focuses on gender, sexuality and economic class. Her poetry has been published in Poetry magazine, Fence, DIAGRAM, Oversound, The Rumpus and The Boston Review; her essays have been published in The Baffler, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Los Angeles Review of Books, Current Affairs and Jacobin. In 2023, she won the Rabkin Prize for excellence in arts writing. She teaches writing and media studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Subterranean Books.
Subterranean Books, 6271 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 63130
21 NOVEMBER | 7 PM Mary Troy, In the Sky Lord (Author Talk)
Join us as we welcome award-winning St. Louis author Mary Troy in conversation with John Dalton, director of the MFA program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Troy taught in and for years directed the MFA program at UMSL, where she is emeritus professor. Troy’s new collection of short stories slices open the beating heart of the Midwest to reveal a world in which characters work to understand the paradox of modern community. Troy is the author of five previous books — three collections of short stories and two novels: Swimming on Hwy N, Beauties, Cookie Lily, The Alibi Cafe and Other Stories and Joe Baker Is Dead. She has won the USA Book award for literary fiction, the Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award, a Nelson Algren Award and a William Rockhill Nelson Award. RSVP online. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108
22 & 24 NOVEMBER A Narrative Wisdom–inspired performance by The Black Rep
Inspired by the exhibition Narrative Wisdom and African Arts, this original production by The Black Rep will explore Black art through the lens of live interpretation designed to develop young imaginations. Through movement and voice, the work will explore the compelling inner stories told through the face of visual art. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
22 NOVEMBER
Seasonal Spotlight: Thanksgiving
As part of SLAM’s Festive Fridays celebration, Melissa Wolfe, SLAM’s curator of American art, will discuss Norman Rockwell’s painting Thanksgiving, on view in Gallery 333, as part of a seasonally themed in-gallery talk. 11 am 3 pm
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
22 NOVEMBER | 4 PM Wealth, Luxury, and the Tensions of Empire: Brazil and Portugal in the Eighteenth Century
KIRSTEN SCHULTZ, professor in the Department of History at Seton Hall. Drawing on her book From Conquest to Colony: Empire, Wealth and Difference in Eighteenth-Century Brazil (2023), Schultz will survey the broader shift in official thinking about Brazil’s status within the 18th-century Portuguese empire and then turn to an examination of debates about wealth and consumption in Brazil. While midcentury efforts to regulate consumption in Brazil foundered, the policies they informed, and the responses they elicited, reflected ascendant views of future imperial prosperity based not only on the political-cultural transformations that followed conquest, but above all on a delineation of the productive and consumptive functions of the colony of Brazil and on governance that reckoned with the administration of difference in social and economic relations. Reception to follow. Registration online. Saint Louis University Center for Iberian Historical Studies.
Saint Louis University, DuBourg Hall, Pere Marquette Gallery, Room 240, 221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 63103
24 NOVEMBER | 2 PM Rick Beyer
RICK BEYER is a New York Times–best-selling author, an award-winning documentary producer and a longtime history enthusiast. His independent documentary, The Ghost Army, premiered on PBS in 2013. It tells the story of an extraordinary World War II unit that used creativity and illusion to fool the Germans. He also co-authored a best-selling book on the unit and is president of the Ghost Army Legacy Project, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and honoring the unit’s legacy. He spearheaded the lobbying effort that resulted in Congress awarding the Ghost Army a Congressional Gold Medal. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis, 63103
29 NOVEMBER Seasonal Spotlight: Road Down the Palisades
As part of SLAM’s Festive Fridays celebration, Amy Torbert, SLAM’s Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Associate Curator of American Art, will discuss Ernest Lawson’s painting Road Down the Palisades, on view in May Department Stores Company Gallery 334, as part of a seasonally themed in-gallery talk. 12 pm 4 pm
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110
