1 APRIL  |  1 PM
Writing a Counter Narrative for Modern Korea: Borders, Borderlands and Diasporas 
ALYSSA PARK, assistant professor of history, University of Iowa. This talk explores the possibilities of writing a counter narrative for Korea’s modern history — through borders, borderlands and diasporas. Korea’s history has often been told as a story of colonization/victimization on the one hand and freedom fighters/revolutionaries on the other, both perspectives emphasizing the power and gaze of an outside empire. How do we invert this narrative to center native actors and the transregional dynamics in which they were situated? Park ruminates about reading against and with multiple imperial archives and the conundrum, for a time, of the lack of a Korean “archive.” The talk offers a view of Korea’s northern borderlands at the turn of the 20th century, as well as the borders and migrants/refugees that suddenly came into being after decolonization (1945-50). Department of History.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

2 APRIL  |  4 PM
Language Education and AI: What We Teach When We Stop Being Afraid
GABRIEL GUILLÉN, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California. AI can already translate live speech and handle many everyday communication tasks, leaving many language educators wondering what is left for learners to do. This talk argues that fear is the wrong starting point. Drawing on longstanding research and practices in language education alongside current work on AI, Guillén suggests that this moment invites a renewed focus on identity, intercultural understanding, storytelling and public service. Rather than replacing language learning, AI pushes us to rethink what we want learners to gain and how we teach, centering play, embodiment, relationship building and meaningful human and intercultural communication, with technology serving as support rather than substitute. Department of Comparative Literature and Thought, Department of Romance Languages and Literature, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Department of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies, Department of Romance Languages and Literature. 
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Room 60

2 APRIL  |  4 PM
Roundtable: Queering Reproductive Justice
As more queer people participate in reproduction, often through assisted reproductive technologies and their stratified global markets, questions around queer reproductive justice are ever salient. The roundtable will discuss the in/justice issues experienced by both queer individuals and by other marginalized social groups implicated in queer reproduction. In doing so, the roundtable will pose questions about whether queering reproductive justice can expand notions of reproduction and queerness, leading to a reflection on what “queering” means, both in scholarship and in activism. Speakers will include Tamara Lea Spira, author of Queering Families; Carly Thomsen, author of forthcoming book Reproductive Justice, Queerly; co-creator of the Queer Birth Project Katherine Sobering; obstetrician-gynecologist Aileen Portugal; and feminist health communication scholar Robyn Adams. Reproductive Justice Graduate Student Working Group, Center for the Humanities.
Washington University, McMillan Hall, McMillan Café

2 APRIL  |  5 PM
Apologies and Reparations: Which Comes First?
ADRIENNE DAVIS, professor of law, WashU, and Thembelani Mbatha, assistant professor of African and African American studies, WashU. There are historical injustices and instances of wrongdoing — slavery in the Americas, the Nazi holocaust, the apartheid system in South Africa, sexual slavery under the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces during WWII — which seem to call for some kind of response after the fact. Among the plausible ways of addressing historical injustice or wrongdoing are apologies and reparations. However, these methods are controversial, even among those who agree that historical injustice and wrongdoing need to be addressed. Apologies are often criticized as empty, in the absence of material reparations, while material reparations are often criticized as a means of avoiding the difficult work of reconciliation. Join our panelists for a dinner conversation examining these issues. Department of Philosophy, Civil Society Initiative, Frick Initiative, Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Room 276

2 APRIL  |  6 PM
Mary Ruefle Recitation
MARY RUEFLE was born in Pennsylvania in 1952. Her father was a military officer, and she spent her early life traveling throughout the United States and Europe. She graduated from Bennington College in 1974 with a degree in literature. Ruefle has published many books of poetry, including The Book; Dunce, a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize and long-listed for the 2019 National Book Award in Poetry; My Private Property; Trances of the Blast; A Little White Shadow, an art book of erasures, a variation of found poetry; The Adamant, winner of the 1988 Iowa Poetry Prize; and Memling’s Veil. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

3 APRIL  |  10 AM
Conservative and Progressive, American Style
DAN HAYBRON, chair, Department of Philosophy, Saint Louis University. A familiar aspect of contemporary American life is our seeming inability to understand the perspectives of those with whom we disagree politically. In this talk, Haybron aims to foster empathy and mutual understanding by articulating what may be the ur-political sensibility in the United States, which he calls American Rural Conservatism, along with its counterpart, progressivism. His focus in this talk will be on the conservative side because, in his view, that is where we most urgently need a better understanding, especially among intellectuals and the political class. RSVP requested. Department of Philosophy, Civil Society Initiative, Frick Initiative, Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy.
Washington University, Knight Center, Room 210

3 APRIL  |  1 PM
The Changing Hats of Teaching: How AI Can Support a Very Complicated Job
GABRIEL GUILLÉN, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California. This workshop introduces Brisk Teaching and other AI tools through the lens of the “three teaching hats”: curriculum developer, classroom performer and assessment mentor. Participants will explore how AI can support intentional lesson design, enhance student tasks and real time classroom improvisation, and provide meaningful formative feedback. Attendees will experiment with concrete language activities, reflect on benefits and limitations and leave with practical strategies to use AI as a thinking partner across planning, teaching and assessment. Department of Comparative Literature and Thought, Department of Romance Languages and Literature, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Department of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies, Department of Romance Languages and Literature. 
Washington University, Eads Hall, Room 103

3 APRIL  |  4 PM
Mary Ruefle Reading
MARY RUEFLE was born in Pennsylvania in 1952. Her father was a military officer, and she spent her early life traveling throughout the United States and Europe. She graduated from Bennington College in 1974 with a degree in literature. Ruefle has published many books of poetry, including The Book; Dunce, a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize and long-listed for the 2019 National Book Award in Poetry; My Private Property; Trances of the Blast; A Little White Shadow, an art book of erasures, a variation of found poetry; The Adamant, winner of the 1988 Iowa Poetry Prize; and Memling’s Veil. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

3 APRIL  |  4:30 PM
APIDA Heritage Month: Stories and Community
Celebrate storytelling, local history and community connection during Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month. The program will highlight the Asia in St. Louis StoryMap and its impact on student learning and engagement at WashU, followed by student presentations inspired by the project that explore the APIDA communities and histories of the Delmar Loop. RSVP requested. University Libraries, Office of Cross-Cultural Connections.
Washington University, Olin Library, Room 142

3 APRIL  |  5:30 PM 
Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China 
SABINE ECKMANN, the William T. Kemper Director and chief curator, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, joins Jianqing Chen and Jiayi Chen, assistant professors in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at WashU, for a conversation on select artworks in the exhibition Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China. Throughout the conversation, Eckmann, Chen and Chen will share insights from their unique disciplines and research to contextualize how artists employed avant-garde techniques and concepts to speak to their own experiences and to the broader sociopolitical, economic and cultural shifts in China between 1993 and 2006. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

6 APRIL  |  4 PM
Christina Carney, Disreputable Women: Black Sex Economies and the Making of San Diego (Author Talk)
CHRISTINA CARNEY, associate professor of women’s and gender studies and Black studies, University of Missouri. Carney’s areas of research specialization include Black feminisms, global Black sexualities, sex work, critical trafficking and carceral studies. RSVP requested. Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Department of African and African American Studies.
Washington University, January Hall, Room 110

6 APRIL  |  4 PM 
The Task of a Comparatist 
BHAVYA TIWARI, associate professor of modern and classical languages, University of Houston. Although identified as a discipline perpetually in a state of crisis, comparative literature has long prided itself for being the nerve center of innovation in global literary studies. This talk examines questions such as: What is the task of a comparatist in a world where learning new languages and studying literary traditions are not encouraged? Can comparatists utilize translation as a theoretical method and practical tool for expanding the local and global genealogies of comparative literature? How can translation be used to do comparative work in languages known and unknown to us? Global Comparative Humanities Working Group, Center for the Humanities. 
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

8 APRIL  |  5 PM
When Music Moves Art: Monitoring the Vibration Response to Artwork During Live Musical Performances
In recent years, museums around the world have raised concerns about the impact of vibrations from music on the safety and longevity of their collections. To advance understanding into this topic, engineers at Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates (WJE) and Kemper Art Museum staff joined an international research team to develop a Good Practice Guide for Musical Events at Museums. In early April, the WJE research team will partner with the Kemper Art Museum to pilot these new monitoring methods during a series of performances by a live band and DJ in the museum galleries. Visitors are invited to see the monitoring equipment in action, learn more about the data collection process and speak directly with the researchers in Ebsworth Gallery, all while enjoying a live musical performance. Following the viewing, the WJE research team will present their findings and discuss what this work could mean for museums worldwide. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.  
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

9 APRIL  |  4 PM
Exploring Narratives of Self and Other
KIRA HEGEMAN, head of learning and engagement at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum; and Yoko Kiyoi, project and program coordinator in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Hegeman will lead a tour of the museum that will consider stories told or imagined through artworks on view, and how they intersect with visitors’ own stories. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

9 APRIL  |  4 PM 
Lea Jacobs, Ford at Work: Making Young Mr. Lincoln (Author Talk) 
LEA JACOBS, professor emerita of communication arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison. John Ford at Work explores the evolution of Ford’s career in the Hollywood studio system of the 1930s as the system itself changed in response to the coming of sound and the business downturn of the Depression. Based upon a decade of research, the book delineates the director’s collaborations with the producers, screenwriters, actors and cinematographers that had the most impact on his production practices. It traces the major literary, cinematic and musical sources from which he drew. It considers relevant changes in film technology and seeks to explain how they were incorporated into his style. Program in Film and Media Studies, Program in American Culture Studies. 
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 106

9 APRIL  |  4 PM 
Performing Community: A Roundtable on the Transformational Potential of Theatre 
E. PATRICK JOHNSON, dean and professor of African American studies and performance studies, Northwestern University; D. Soyini Madison, professor emerita of communication studies, Northwestern University; Judith Hamera, professor of theater, Princeton University; and Renée Alexander Craft, associate professor of communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In celebration of the panelists’ scholarly and creative works and in anticipation of The Black Rep’s 50th season, the discussion will explore how performance structures identities, social lives, cultural attitudes and the circulation of power, and what imaginative and transformational potential theatre, dance and other forms of performance can unleash. The panel will be in conversation with Ron Himes of The Black Rep, moderated by A.J. Jones, director of the Experiential Ethnography Studio. Department of Anthropology, Performing Arts Department, Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity (CRE2). 
Washington University, McMillan Hall, McMillan Café

9 APRIL  |  4:30 PM
Fascist Romanitas: Italian Nation Building Through Archaeology
ILARIA PATANIA, assistant professor of archaeology, WashU, and principal investigator of the Early Occupation of Sicily (EOS) Project. Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 208

9 APRIL  |  5 PM
Dinner & Dialogue: Should Universities Allow Disruptive Protests?
FRANK LOVETT, professor of political science, WashU, and Gregory Magarian, professor of law, WashU. In April 2024, anti-war protests on the WashU campus were found to violate a university policy prohibiting “activity that disrupts or obstructs the functions of the university or imminently threatens such disruption or obstruction” and were declared unlawful after protesters remained on campus. Over 100 people were arrested, including 23 students and four university employees. WashU has since adopted a policy broadly prohibiting disruptive actions and distinguishing these from permissible protest. Are these policies too restrictive? Not restrictive enough? Under what conditions might protesters appropriately violate these policies as an act of civil disobedience? Department of Philosophy, Civil Society Initiative, Frick Initiative, Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Room 276

9 APRIL  |  7 PM
How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries
EDDIE GLAUDE JR., distinguished professor of African American studies, Princeton University. In his forthcoming book, America, U.S.A: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries, Glaude presents a groundbreaking analysis of the vicious cycles of American history and the country’s enduring refusal to face its true nature — especially at the moments when national anniversaries steer us back toward the mythology meant to disguise the truth. RSVP requested. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. 
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Clark-Fox Forum

10-11 APRIL
WashU Dance Collective: Alchemy
A visceral dive into the power of movement, Alchemy seeks to explore how kinetic energy can be both emotion and invention, the crack in the concrete that allows a rose to bloom. An eclectic dance concert that is unapologetically human, Alchemy dares you to feel everything — and to leave changed. $15-$20, free for WashU students with ID. Performing Arts Department.
Washington University, Edison Theatre

10 APRIL  |  3 PM 
Writing With Emo Nostalgia: Navigating Pasts, Presents, and Futures 
STEVE LAMOS, associate professor of writing and rhetoric and English, University of Colorado, Boulder. This talk explores how researchers, teachers and students can “write with” the unfolding embodied experience of nostalgic music — especially emo music — as a means to navigate past experience, present feeling and future challenge. It combines insights from musicology with insights from rhetoric and composition, exploring the potential benefits of writing with emo in a world critical of the value of a college education in general and of education in humanistic endeavors in particular. Lamos is the drummer and trumpet player for the influential Midwest emo band American Football. Department of Music. 
Washington University, Music Classroom Building, Room 102

11 APRIL  |  11:30 AM 
Looking Back Toward the Future (in Chinese) 
Join us for a Chinese-language tour of the exhibition Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China, which presents more than 40 large-scale photographs created by 14 contemporary artists in China between 1993 and 2006. The exhibition is divided into three interrelated thematic sections — The Presence of the Past, East and West, and Performance and the Body — which together explore how artists used performance and diverse photographic and aesthetic methods to capture, freeze and criticize the new sociopolitical, economic and cultural environment of China post-1989. This tour will be led in Chinese by student educators. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

11 APRIL  |  12 PM
36th Annual Buder Center Powwow
The Buder Center Powwow honors and celebrates Indigenous culture and community, with a day of Indigenous dance, art, food and music. By keeping Indigenous traditions alive for future generations, the powwow fosters a sense of belonging in culture and empowerment. Take some time to explore the information booths, see the crafts of Indigenous artists at vendor tables and utilize educational resources shared by our powwow committee. Buder Center for American Indian Studies, Brown School.
Washington University, Field House, 330 N. Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, 63130

12 APRIL  |  2 PM
Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China 
Join us for a public tour of the exhibition Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China, which presents more than 40 large-scale photographs created by 14 contemporary artists in China between 1993 and 2006. The exhibition is divided into three interrelated thematic sections — The Presence of the Past, East and West, and Performance and the Body — which together explore how artists used performance and diverse photographic and aesthetic methods to capture, freeze and criticize the new sociopolitical, economic and cultural environment of China post-1989. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Museum Lobby

13 APRIL  |  4:30 PM
The Struggle of Visibility: Black Activism and Citizenship in Current Italy
Black Italian activist Kwanza Musi Dos Santos will explore the intricate networks of activism that work towards disarming and erasing racial discrimination in Italy. Musi Dos Santos is an Italian and Afro-Brazilian expert of DEI, trainer and consultant. She is specialized in antiracism, environmental justice and intersectionality. Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.
Washington University, Ridgley Hall, Room 122 & Virtual

13 APRIL  |  4:30 PM
Imagining Early American Jews 
MICHAEL HOBERMAN, professor of English studies, Fitchburg State University. Hoberman examines how the Jewish experiences of the American Revolution, slaveholding in the early republic and antebellum period and westward migration have been imagined, commemorated and frequently mythologized. Focusing on how historical relationships between Jews and Native Americans and Jews and Blacks are interpreted in light of current political developments, he suggests that the stories Americans tell about early American Jews help to shape their views about the racial and cultural complexities of the American present. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.
Washington University, Umrath Hall, Umrath Lounge

13 APRIL  |  5:30 PM
Sexuality, Belonging and Race Among Asian Americans in the Midwest
KONG PHA, assistant professor of gender and women’s studies and Asian American studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Do Asian Americans belong to the Midwest? What are the unique experiences of Hmong Americans in the state of Minnesota? This forum will celebrate Pha’s 2025 book, Queering the Hmong Diaspora: Racial Subjectivity and the Myth of Hyperheterosexuality to highlight how Hmong American activism has been key to restructuring racial, gender and sexual formations in the Midwest. Engaging questions of race, citizenship, belonging and resistance, the discussion also positions Minnesota as a key regional, national and global site of political struggle shaped by Hmong American movements for justice. RSVP requested. Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Program for American Culture Studies.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

14 APRIL  |  4 PM 
The Incubator Unbound: Storytelling 
SALMA ABDALLA, assistant professor of public health, WashU; Cat Allman, vice president for open source at Digital Science and co-organizer of Sci Foo Camp; Christopher Schaberg, director of public scholarship and professor of practice in English, WashU; and Betsy Sinclair, assistant vice provost of digital transformation and professor of political science, WashU. Every person, every place and every moment has a story. These stories may change over time, but their telling influences our understanding of things, moments, processes and people. Join us for a deep dive into the art and act of storytelling, and how it creates meanings of the past, in the present and for the future. RSVP requested. Incubator for Transdisciplinary Futures, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

15 APRIL  |  4 PM
Bodies That Gather: How to Practice and Sustain Queer Kinship
TEAGAN BRADWAY, professor of English, SUNY Cortland. Conservative fears about queerness and transness are intimately bound up with anxieties about the erosion of the traditional patriarchal family. These fears are not unfounded. In the United States, kinship is becoming increasingly queer. More and more people are departing from cis-heteronormative plots for monogamy, reproduction and long-term commitment — including those who do not identify as LGBTQIA+. To trace this cultural shift, this talk examines “throuple plots” in contemporary LGBTQ+ literature and popular culture, which narrate relationships among three people working together to coordinate sex, intimacy and care. Throuple plots challenge foundational cis- and heteronormative narrative structures, particularly the marriage plot, the love triangle and the cheating plot, and they innovate queerer forms for sustaining non-monogamous bonds across differences in race, sexuality, gender, class and ability. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

15 APRIL  |  4:30 PM 
Paul McCartney’s Evolution as a Bass Player: From Emulation to Innovation 
BRIAN WRIGHT, associate professor of music history, University of North Texas. The Beatles’ global popularity was the single most significant development in popular music of the mid-to-late 1960s. To this day, fans and historians continue to obsess over the trajectory and significance of the Beatles’ career. Yet relatively few have specifically explored Paul McCartney’s development as a bass player. This presentation chronicles the wider cultural, social and technological factors that shaped McCartney’s bass playing across the Beatles’ recorded output, from their early days in Hamburg through Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It contextualizes McCartney as part of a generation of young British musicians drawn to American popular music — especially African American music — and charts how he evolved from imitating American pop styles to developing his own melodic approach to bass playing. Department of Music. 
Washington University, Music Classroom Building, Room 102

15 APRIL  |  5:30 PM 
Being and Becoming in Contemporary Chinese Art 
PEGGY WANG, associate professor of art history and Asian studies, Bowdoin College. Wang addresses the conflicting pressures that artists in China confronted during the 1990s and early 2000s, including rapid urbanization and cultural globalization. Even as they navigated political constraints and deficits in resources, contemporary artists enacted productive strategies for making and exhibiting their art. This lecture foregrounds artists’ assertions of being and becoming, both as critical tactics for configuring identity and generative topics unto themselves. Wang will particularly examine how artists studied the vibrant dynamics of change through temporal, historical and material dimensions in their art. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

16 APRIL  |  4 PM 
Tales of Militant Chemistry: The Film Factory in a Century of War 
ALICE LOVEJOY, associate professor of cultural studies and comparative literature, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. The history of film calls to mind unforgettable photographs, famous directors and the glitz and hustle of the media business. But there is another tale to tell that connects film as a material to the 20th century’s history of war, destruction and cruelty. This story comes into focus during World War II at the factories of Tennessee Eastman, where photographic giant Kodak produced the rudiments of movie magic. While the world’s largest film manufacturer transformed into a formidable military contractor, across the ocean its competitor Agfa grew entangled with Nazi Germany’s machinery of war. Revelatory and chilling, Tales of Militant Chemistry shows how film became a weapon whose chemistry irrevocably shaped the world we live in today. Program in Film and Media Studies, Program in Environmental Studies. 
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 106

16 APRIL  |  5:30 PM
Divine Currency!? Italic and Roman Monetary Cultures on the Eve of the First Punic War
LIV YARROW, professor of classics, City University of New York. Yarrow’s research gives careful attention to archeological contexts of bronze finds within religious sanctuaries, especially that of Diana at Nemi; explores comparative epigraphic and iconographic evidence, including recent discoveries for San Casciano dei Bagni; and shares results of recent non-destructive experimental techniques (negative Muonic X-rays). The balance of evidence complicates our long-held assumptions regarding intrinsic value of “heavy bronze.” Department of Classics.
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 208

16 APRIL  |  7 PM
The Declaration of Independence Today: Why an Old Text Still Serves Us Now
DANIELLE ALLEN, professor of political philosophy, ethics and public policy, Harvard University. Allen concentrates on democracy renovation: studying how to reconnect people to their civic power, experience and responsibility via civic education and how to redesign our political institutions to improve their responsiveness, increase the accountability of officeholders and reward the participation of ordinary citizens, especially in light of the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. Her most recent book, Justice by Means of Democracy, provides the foundation for this work. RSVP requested. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. 
Washington University, Graham Chapel

17 APRIL  |  8:30 AM
Inequality and Athlete Activism: Past, Present, & Future
Commercialized spectator sports are a potent platform on which debates about race, gender, political ideology and other urgent matters are contested in American life. Sporting icons like Jackie Robinson, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Meghan Rapinoe, Colin Kaepernick, Serena Williams and LeBron James have all used the athletics spotlight to speak out against inequality and injustice. In this one-day mini-conference event, students, faculty and scholars from across the St. Louis region will discuss the past, present and future of inequality in sport and athlete activism. Keynote speaker Joseph Darda, professor of English, Michigan State University, will share research related to his latest book project, Athletic Revolutionaries: Jack Scott and the Jocks Who Brought the Left to the Locker Room. RSVP requested. Program for American Culture Studies, University Libraries.
Washington University, Olin Library

17 APRIL  |  10 AM
Urban Futures & Black Life: A Symposium
Join us for a day-long exploration of the social, political and cultural forces shaping Black life across the globe. This interdisciplinary symposium will bring together scholars whose work examines the past, present and future of urban experiences in Africa and the African diaspora. The morning session will focus on African urbanism, explaining how ordinary inhabitants of African cities have used residential space, public transportation and sanitation to work around, and sometimes thwart, the grand schemes of urban planners to pursue goals that meet the needs of their own neighborhoods and communities. After lunch, a second session will focus on diasporic cities. RSVP requested. Department of African and African American Studies. Co-sponsored by the Center for the Humanities.
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 301

19 APRIL  |  11 AM-2 PM
Kemper Live: Traverse
Join us for Kemper Live: Traverse, an afternoon of performance and art inspired by artworks on view that explore migration, global exchange, reflection and transformation. Through art and performance celebrating global creative expression, consider how artists traverse and transform social, geographic, conceptual and creative boundaries. The event will feature a pop-up art gallery and art-making with Room13Delmar, along with a variety of performances throughout the day from the African Students Association, Sensasians A Capella, Golden Ground Dance Project, guitarist Farshid Etniko, and poet and dancer Mary Zhou. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

19 APRIL  |  1 PM 
The Maid of McMillan + The Freshman Screening 
See the first student film ever on special 35mm presentation by WashU Archives and Film & Media Archive. Newly added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, The Maid of McMillan is a 15-minute silent film written and produced by WashU students through the Thyrsus Dramatic Club in 1916. Believed to be the first known student film, it was written, acted, filmed and directed in four days to play at the annual WashU festival Surrkuss — to great success. The 35mm print was created in 2022 from a National Film Preservation Fund grant. It will be paired with the silent feature The Freshman (1925), starring Harold Lloyd, also on the National Film Registry. RSVP requested. University Libraries. 
Hi-Pointe Theatre, 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, 63117

21 APRIL  |  4 PM 
Protected Areas and People in Uganda: Moving Towards Win-Win? 
DAVID TUMUSIIME, professor and director, Makerere University. Winston Churchill referred to Uganda as “The Pearl of Africa” in 1907 — a reference to its wide array of beautiful and unique life forms. In contemporary Uganda, most of these species are conserved in a chain of protected areas that constitute important natural heritage and a vital resource for tourism and national development. This talk examines the extent to which win-win outcomes for conservation and local people have been achieved, and the impacts of establishing and maintaining these areas. Department of Anthropology, Distinguished Visiting Scholar Program.
Washington University, McMillan Hall, Room G052

21 APRIL  |  4 PM 
St. Louis Reads Dante 
St. Louis Reads Dante invites readers of all backgrounds — curious newcomers and seasoned Dante enthusiasts alike — to join a monthly journey through Dante’s Comedy, one canto at a time. Whether you’re discovering Dante’s epic poem for the first time or returning to it with fresh questions, this is a chance to engage deeply with a work that continues to inspire, provoke, and challenge across time. Robert Henke, professor of comparative literature and drama, WashU, will introduce Canto VIII of the Inferno, followed by readings in Italian and English and a Q&A. RSVP requested. University Libraries, Department of Romance Languages and Literature. 
Washington University, Olin Library, Ginkgo Reading Room

21 APRIL  |  6 PM 
Black Box Diaries Screening & Discussion
In 2017, Japanese journalist Shiori Itō publicly accused a prominent media executive (and associate of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe) of rape, and published a bestselling memoir detailing her case — Black Box, a book credited with sparking the #MeToo movement in Japan. Black Box Diaries is a survivor’s real-time investigation of her own sexual assault — and includes raw video diaries (shot on Itō’s iPhone), surreptitious audio recordings of police negligence and vérité courtroom footage. Itō documents her courageous struggle to navigate Japan’s patriarchal judiciary and antiquated sex crimes laws (proven lack of consent was insufficient) and quest for justice. Post-screening discussion of the film (a 2025 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film) with Shiori Itō, Japanese journalist and documentary filmmaker; Rebecca Wanzo, professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies; and Yue Wang, PhD candidate in Japanese language and literature (moderator). Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. 
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 109

22 APRIL  |  12 PM
Civil Discourse in an Uncivil Age
ALEXANDER HEFFNER is the host of The Open Mind on PBS, creator of Breaking Bread with Alexander on Bloomberg TV and coauthor of the bestselling A Documentary History of the United States. He has covered culture, politics and civic life since 2008. Department of Philosophy, Department of Sociology, Civil Society Initiative, Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Goldberg Formal Lounge

22 APRIL  |  3 PM 
Listening to the Art of German Cultures
SARAH KOELLNER, assistant professor of comparative literature and thought and German, WashU. What does it mean to listen to a nation? This is the question raised in Koellner’s Teaching Gallery installation, Listening to the Art of German Cultures, and related gallery talk, in which she introduces listening as a practice not exclusively related to sound, but expanded to include sound associations, visual artistic cues and the auditive experience of the gallery itself. In doing so, she revisits 75 years of German-speaking history through the lens of selected artists and the ways that listening to their works can open new opportunities to engage with questions of national and transnational identity. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

25 APRIL |  11:30 AM
Tour de Museo (in Spanish) 
José Garza, coordinador de programas académicos del museo, los invitan a un tour en español de la exhibición de arte Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China y obras de arte seleccionadas en la colección permanente. Durante el tour, sentirse libre para compartir sus observaciones e interpretaciones. Registro solicitado. 
Join José Garza, museum academic programs coordinator, for a Spanish-language tour of the special exhibition Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China and selected artworks in the permanent collection. The interactive tour will encourage visitors to share observations and interpretations. RSVP requested. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

28 APRIL  |  4 PM
Modernism and Home, with Notes on Method
SANJA BAHUN, executive dean of arts and humanities and professor of literature, film and theatre studies, University of Essex. The exploration of home is one of the most attractive, exciting and challenging investigations for a comparative scholar: It necessitates bridging spaces, disciplines and methodologies. In this talk, Sanja Bahun will discuss the ways in which a range of modernist artists and thinkers both nourished and responded to significant paradigm shifts in our thinking about home at the beginning of the 20th century and reflect on the opportunities and challenges of using comparative methods to discuss them. RSVP requested. Center for the Humanities.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

THROUGH 12 APRIL
Ring of Fire
With a powerhouse creative team and world-class actor-musicians, Ring of Fire celebrates the music and legacy of “The Man in Black.” Featuring more than 30 of Johnny Cash’s greatest hits — including “Ring of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line” — this high-spirited musical pays homage to his Arkansas roots and the love, faith and grit that shaped his storied life. Post-show talkback Wed., April 1; open captioning Sun., April 5. $46-$103. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
Loretto-Hilton Center, Emerson Studio Theatre, 130 Edgar Rd., Webster Groves, 63119

2-30 APRIL
Things You Never Knew About the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair
Every Thursday and Sunday afternoon, take a 25-minute “all-inclusive” tour of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, exploring all of its wonder and complexity. The home base for this talk is the mind boggling 1:400th scale model of the fair that shows every one of the more than 1500 buildings that spread over Forest Park in 1904! One of our knowledgeable visitor experience guides will introduce you to some of the fair’s most colorful characters, from David Francis to Geronimo. Plus, we’ll answer the five most commonly asked questions about the 1904 World’s Fair. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

2 APRIL  |  5 PM
Crossroads of a Nation Part III: Missouri’s Rhythm, Roads, & Roots
Join us for a screening of the final installment in the Missouri Humanities Council’s Emmy-nominated Crossroads of a Nation series, which traces Missouri’s indelible — and undeniable — mark on American history. The hour-long film, Crossroads of a Nation Part III: Missouri’s Rhythm, Roads, & Roots, explores how the state’s culture contributions shaped the American identity. From the freedom of Route 66 to the soulful sounds of blues, jazz and country, from the smoke of barbecue pits to the rise of baseball and beer, Missouri became a stage where everyday traditions grew into national symbols. Through stories, music and imagery, this film reveals how the heart of Missouri continues to beat as the center for American culture. After the film, stay for a special talkback with producer and St. Louis media mainstay Cat Neville and public historian Andrew Wanko. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

2 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Gene Wojciechowski, All Carry (Author Talk) 
GENE WOJCIECHOWSKI, Emmy Award-winning former ESPN sports reporter, has covered almost every significant sporting event in the world, including nearly 75 golf majors. In this funny, feel-good novel, he shares the story of a recently laid-off golf reporter, a down-on-his-luck caddie and a magical set of clubs once owned by Jack Nicklaus. Told with a specificity that only comes from years of covering the sport, All Carry gives readers a pair of unlikely champions and a comeback story for the ages. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

3-12 APRIL
Robert French Film Festival
The 2026 Robert French Film Festival is back, and you won’t want to miss this year’s exceptional lineup of films! This year’s theme, “L'art français au cinéma: French Art in Cinema,” invites audiences into a rich, stylish celebration of how the arts have shaped the history of French film. From the dazzling silent-era charm of The Artist to the breathtaking movement of La Danse, the luminous portrait of The Divine Sarah Bernhardt, and the bold, unforgettable storytelling of Persepolis, the program traces a lineage of creativity, performance and visual imagination. Many screenings are preceded by an introduction. Cinema St. Louis
Various locations

3-24 APRIL
Let’s Talk in the Galleries
Walk through Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan and speak to Saint Louis Art Museum educators about the artworks. Educators will be stationed in the exhibition gallery to engage in conversation with visitors. Whether you’re curious about the artworks or the exhibit themes, our friendly educators are here to chat with you and enhance your visit. Fridays in April. Saint Louis Art Museum. 
11 am, Fri., April 3
11 am, Fri., April 10
11 am, Fri., April 17
11 am, Fri., April 24
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

3-25 APRIL
Drop-in Collection Tour — Slow Looking
Slow looking is an opportunity for visitors to gather and participate in guided meditation and extended discussion of a selected artwork, facilitated by a museum educator. This drop-in experience is designed to invite visitors to find refuge in art and to find restoration in self-care and connection. Fridays and Saturdays in April. Saint Louis Art Museum.  
1 pm, April 3
1 pm, April 4
1 pm, April 10
4 pm, April 10 — audio description tour
1 pm, April 17
1 pm, April 18
1 pm, April 24
1 pm, April 25
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

4-29 APRIL
See STL 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. $17–$22. Tour starting/ending points are included in your booking details. Missouri Historical Society. April 4: Urban Renewal, Sacred Spaces Architecture Bus Tour, Kirkwood, Cherokee Street; April 5: Downtown Origins; April 12: Downtown Origins; April 13: The Hill; April 14: Forest Park; April 15: Soulard North and LaSalle Park; April 18: Downtown Origins, Old North and St. Louis Place, Gay Liberation in the Gateway City; April 19: Dogtown, Downtown Origins; April 24: The Hill; April 25: Downtown Origins; April 26: Tower Grove; April 29: Benton Park.
Various locations

4 APRIL  |  12 PM
Memorial Plaza and the 1923 Bond Issue
This 45-minute outdoor guided tour explores the exterior of Soldiers Memorial, highlighting its architecture and memorial elements. You’ll also learn about the dramatic transformation of this section of downtown brought by the $87 million bond issue in 1923. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis 63103

4 APRIL  |  1 PM
Janie Stamm (Artist Talk)
Join artist Janie Stamm for a discussion about the Teen Museum Studies (TMS) collaboration involved in making the exhibition Mermaid’s Purse, centering on preserving queer and natural history in the face of climate change. Stamm will be in conversation with high school students involved in the TMS program. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 63108

4 APRIL  |  1 PM
St. Louis in Service Tour
This 45-minute guided tour will explore Soldiers Memorial’s signature exhibition St. Louis in Service, which shares the story of major U.S. conflicts through the lens of St. Louis, with sections dedicated to pre-World War I, World War I, World War II and post–World War II time periods. Missouri Historical Society. 
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis 63103

4 APRIL  |  5 PM 
Michelle Collins Anderson, The Moonshine Women (Author Talk) 
USA Today bestselling author Michelle Collins Anderson follows up The Flower Sisters with another incredible tale set in Missouri. Three sisters take over their father's Ozark Mountains moonshine business in an evocative, Prohibition-era story of reinvention, sisterhood, revenge and the alchemy of love. Join us for happy hour from 5–6 p.m. with a cocktail inspired by the book. Anderson will personalize and sign copies after the presentation. RSVP requested. Livestream available; see website. Left Bank Books. 
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

7 APRIL  |  7 PM 
David George Haskell, How Flowers Made the World (Author Talk) 
We live on a floral planet, yet flowers don’t get the credit they deserve. We admire them for their aesthetics, not their power. In this exquisite exploration of the role flowers played in creating the world we know today, biologist and two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominated nature writer David George Haskell combines lyrical writing, sensual exploration and the latest in scientific research. Looking to the future, flowers offer us lessons on resilience and creativity in the face of rapid environmental change. We need floral creativity, beauty and joy more than ever. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

8 APRIL  |  5:30 PM
Sensory-Friendly Evening
Join the Missouri History Museum for a special evening designed for guests of all ages with autism and their companions, as well as individuals and families with other disabilities. Experience a welcoming, inclusive environment with adjusted lighting and sound levels to create a comfortable atmosphere — all while the museum is closed to the public to ensure a cozy setting. Enjoy engaging activities including storytelling, crafts and a music-making room. Relax while hanging out and petting therapy Duo Dogs. Explore the exhibits on your own or through short, guided tours of the 1904 World’s Fair and Collected exhibits. Free, RSVP required. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

9 APRIL  |  5 PM
Race, Place, and the Power of Film
Join us for a night featuring short segments of three documentary films that powerfully illustrate the ways Black communities have been displaced throughout Missouri: I Bear Witness: The Untold Stories of American Race Riots, Southwest Missouri; The Kinloch Doc; and WE BEAR WITNESS: The African American Legacy of Hadley Township, MO. Following the screenings, filmmakers Margie Hollins, Tiffany Lee and Alana Woodson will be in conversation about their projects and the historical impact of race and place in Missouri. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

9 APRIL  |  5:30 PM
Clayton Adam Clark, Auscultate (Author Talk)
Celebrate National Poetry Month with an evening of poetry featuring award-winning St. Louis poet Clayton Adam Clark. Clark will read selections from his newest collection, Auscultate, including poems inspired by St. Louis and the surrounding region. Following the reading, guests are invited to stay for a brief Q&A exploring his creative process, inspirations and reflections on the craft of poetry. Join us for a thoughtful and engaging literary experience rooted in place and voice. St. Louis Public Library.
St. Louis Public Library — Central Library, 1301 Olive St., St. Louis 63103

9 APRIL  |  6:30 PM 
Finding Common Ground: Strategies for Civil Dialogue and Healing the Divide 
Civil Dialogues was conceived by journalists Jean Becker, former chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush, and Linda Lorelle, former NBC-affiliate news anchor. Both graduates of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Becker and Lorelle decided to use their skills, networks and passion for our democracy to work toward bringing us together. The mission of Civil Dialogues is to create a safe space for constructive, civil conversation on some of the most important, contentious topics of the day.  This facilitated conversation with a panel of local representatives from various fields is designed to leave participants feeling seen, heard and empowered to continue engaging in civil dialogue. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

10-11 APRIL
Green Missouri
Explore how Missourians past and present have cared for the environment over the centuries. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

10 APRIL  |  4 PM 
Public Opening — Visions of Antiquity 
Visions of Antiquity explores the power and persistence of Greek and Roman antiquity in art, with works ranging from 1500 to the present. Exhibition curator Clare Kobasa, associate curator of prints, drawings and photographs, will deliver gallery talks at 4:30 pm and 5 pm. Saint Louis Art Museum. 
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

11 APRIL  |  10 AM-5 PM
A Marvel in Motion Opening Celebration
Celebrate the opening of A Marvel in Motion and explore the history of the Ferris wheel, the most iconic attraction at the 1904 World’s Fair. Throughout the day, visit the exhibit, enjoy live ragtime piano performances, and check out resource and artifact tables hosted by the World’s Fair Society. At 2 pm, head the Lee Auditorium for a series of short presentations and a panel discussion featuring Public Historian Amanda Clark, World Expo historian Charles Pappas, and Heinz History Center Curator of History Leslie A. Pryzbylek. They will illuminate the history of George Ferris, creator of the Ferris wheel; the larger story of world expo “spectaculars”; and why the 1904 World’s Fair Ferris wheel continues to loom large in our collective memory. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

11 APRIL  |  7 PM
V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke, The Ending Writes Itself (Author Talk) 
Bestselling fantasy author V.E. Schwab teams up with screenwriter and longtime friend Cat Clarke for a propulsive debut mystery. Arthur Fletch, one of the world’s best novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead, and his last book is unfinished. Fletch’s agent has summoned the writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book, but the writers have just 72 hours to write the killer ending. $38–$50, includes one pre-signed copy. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

12 APRIL  |  1:30 PM
Heroes of World War II
A special two-part presentation looking at two heroic stories from World War II. Part 1 will explore the story of B-17 bomber pilot and St. Louisan Lt. John Kriegshauser. When attempting a forced emergency landing in Sheffield, England, Kriegshauser planned to land in a park. However, upon seeing children playing in the park, he chose to crash in a forest, killing all on board but saving the children. One child saved by Kriegshauser’s decision was Tony Foulds, who has kept the crew’s memory alive by helping to establish a memorial in Sheffield. Part 2 we will explore the dramatic story of the Doolittle Raid. In the 1930s, Jimmy Doolittle was managing the St. Louis–based aviation department for Shell Petroleum. Doolittle re-entered the service during World War II and went on to lead the famous Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942. Paul Steensland of St. Louis County Library will share the story of this famous raid that gave Americans hope they could strike back at Japan after its attack on Pearl Harbor just a few months prior. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis 63103

12 APRIL  |  2 PM 
Home Is Where the Art Is: Domestic Art and Life in the Time of Trajan 
From elaborate dinner parties to immersive garden landscapes, life at home was rarely dull for wealthy Romans during the reign of Trajan. Claire Lyman, curatorial intern for European art to 1800 and graduate student in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at WashU, will look closely at a selection of objects from the exhibition Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan to paint a picture of elite domestic life in the late first and early second centuries. Saint Louis Art Museum. 
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

12 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Patrick Radden Keefe, London Falling (Author Talk) 
New Yorker staff writer and bestselling author of Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe presents a spellbinding account of a family devastated by the sudden death of their 19-year-old son, only to discover he had created a secret life that drew him into a dangerous criminal underworld. A bravura feat of reporting, London Falling is a mesmerizing investigation of an inexplicable death and an intimate inquiry into the nature of parental love. Keefe will be in conversation with Tony Messenger, Pulitzer Prize-winning St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist. $42–$52, includes one pre-signed copy. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

14 APRIL  |  7 PM
Ed Wheatley, The Finest in the Field (Author Talk) 
The baseball gloves themselves are the stars in St. Louis baseball historian Ed Wheatley’s rich history of baseball’s most memorable fielding moments, curated from baseball equipment manufacturer Rawlings’ unmatched collection. Highlighting 50 gloves as touchstones of baseball’s most storied players and plays, the book pairs a gallery of sumptuous glove photography with essays placing each glove in its historical context, alongside archival photos, period advertisements and other memorabilia. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

15 APRIL  |  7 PM
Sarah Kendzior, The Last American Road Trip (Author Talk)
SARAH KENDZIOR is the bestselling author of The View from Flyover Country, Hiding in Plain Sight and They Knew. Her newest book, The Last American Road Trip, navigates a changing America as she and her family embark on a series of road trips, in a book that is part memoir, part history and wholly unique. It is one thing to study the fall of democracy, another to have it hit your homeland — and yet another to raise children as it happens. The Last American Road Trip is one family’s journey to the most beautiful, fascinating and bizarre places in the U.S. during one of its most tumultuous eras. Part memoir, part political history, The Last American Road Trip is one mother’s promise to her children that their country will be there for them in the future — even though at times she struggles to believe it herself. Subterranean Books.
University City Public Library, 6701 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 63130

16 APRIL  |  11 AM 
Teas & Tours — Ancient Splendor 
Enjoy an afternoon tea service featuring sweet and savory bites accompanied by a guided tour through Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan. Learn about the influence art had on the political and social life of Rome during Emperor Trajan’s reign. $45-$50, including the tour, parking and gratuity. Advance tickets required. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Panorama, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

16 APRIL  |  5-8 PM
Thai New Year: Songkran
Join us for an evening of captivating classical Thai dances, performances by a Thai musical ensemble, and a presentation honoring the Thai New Year and exploring its traditions. Before the main program, stop by the Grand Hall to explore displays of Thai art, intricate fruit and vegetable carving, and make-and-take crafts and games inspired by traditional Songkran festivities. Authentic Thai desserts and food will also be available for purchase. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

16 APRIL  |  6 PM
Andre M. Perry, Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It (Author Talk)
In his book, Andre M. Perry draws on extensive research and analysis to quantify how much power Black Americans actually have. Ranging from property, business and wealth to education, health and social mobility, Black Power Scorecard moves across the country, evaluating people’s ability to set the rules of the game and calculating how that translates into the ultimate means of power ― life itself, and the longevity of Black communities. Perry is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings Institution and a professor of practice of economics at WashU. St. Louis Public Library.
St. Louis Public Library — Schlafly Library, 225 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis 63108

17 APRIL-3 MAY
The End of the World Cabaret 
This new adaptation of Austrian Jura Soyfer’s 1936 futuristic satire, Weltuntergang, begins in our solar system, where the cosmic system is out of balance, and it seems Earth’s inhabitants are to blame. The planets decide to exact a toll: sending a comet to bump into the planet and rid the world of the pesky earthlings. A window into Earth’s activities does not initially bode well, as humans, mired in political misgivings and self-sabotage, meet the impending disaster with doubt, avoidance and inaction. However, upon closer inspection, humanity’s profound beauty and core resilience burns through, and the strange and complex beings of planet Earth show they may be worth saving after all. A panel discussion will follow the April 26 matinee, featuring Vera Essl from the University of Vienna, André Fischer from WashU, and Dorian Stuber of the Missouri Holocaust Education Committee. $25-$45. Upstream Theater.
The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr., St. Louis, 63103

17 APRIL  |  6 PM 
Fellini Satyricon Screening & Discussion
Set during the reign of the emperor Nero, this lavish and bizarre depiction of ancient Rome has divided critics since its release in 1969. Fellini Satyricon won the Pasinetti Award for Best Italian Film at the 30th Venice International Film Festival, and Federico Fellini was nominated for the Academy Award for best director. An introduction to the film will be provided by Clare Kobasa, associate curator of prints, drawings and photographs, Saint Louis Art Museum. Free tickets available at the museum’s welcome desks or through MetroTix. Saint Louis Art Museum. 
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

18 APRIL  |  9 AM-2 PM
Missouri Book Festival
The Missouri Book Festival celebrates the best of regional life, culture and history with an array of dynamic programming meant to promote literacy and encourage reading. Events take place in Washington, Missouri, a quintessential reading town. Here, books that feature stories on the Show-Me State come to life in food demonstrations, sports exhibitions, myriad forms of performance and lively author talks and discussions. 
Washington Public Library, 410 Lafayette St., Washington, 63090

18 APRIL  |  10:30 AM
The Source — An AAHI Black History Collective
A collective of St. Louis Gen Z and young professionals that meet on a monthly basis to explore Black history through literature, objects and media from the Missouri Historical Society’s collections. This space aims to make Black history and primary sources from archives more accessible, creating space where community members can learn from each other and foster meaningful discussions using historical context to wrestle with contemporary social issues. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

18 APRIL  |  3 PM 
RHINO 50th Anniversary Reading 
Half a century of voices, stories and verse — RHINO Poetry is celebrating 50 years! Join us for an afternoon reading with poets Apollo Chastain, Joanne Diaz, Kristin Emanuel and Alex Mouw. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the journal or just enjoy a good party, all are welcome to come celebrate five decades of poetry with four fabulous poets. 
Bel Air Social, 4630 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63108

18 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Terry Tempest Williams, The Glorians (Author Talk) 
Known for her impassioned and lyrical environmental writing, award-winning author Terry Tempest Williams has been called “a citizen writer,” a writer who speaks on behalf of an ethical stance toward life. In this time of political fragility, climate chaos and seeking beauty wherever we can find its glimmer, Williams introduces us to the Glorians: the ordinary, often overlooked presences — animal, plant, memory, moment — that reveal our shared vulnerability and interconnectedness with the natural world. $35–$45, includes one pre-signed copy. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

19 APRIL  |  12-4:30 PM
Lest We Forget Screening & Panel Discussion
Join the St. Louis Holocaust Museum for a screening of the documentary Lest We Forget, which explores the creation of the exhibition, on display at The District in Chesterfield. The film follows German-Italian photographer and filmmaker Luigi Toscano on his journey to meet Holocaust survivors and capture their powerful portraits. Following the screening, stay for a panel discussion featuring Toscano; Dee Dee Simon, chair of the Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission; and Rachel Miller, a local Holocaust survivor whose portrait is included in the exhibition. After the panel, a 2 pm bus will depart for an off-site guided tour of the exhibition at The District with Luigi Toscano. $22. St. Louis Holocaust Museum.
St. Louis Holocaust Museum, 36 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146

22 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Gabe Montesanti, Drag Thing: A Memoir of Mania and Mirrors (Author Talk) 
GABE MONTESANTI is the author of Brace for Impact, which chronicles her time skating for Arch Rival Roller Derby. In Drag Thing, she recounts her immersive entrance into St. Louis drag culture, performing as drag king Fender Bender. The book is a richly told account of resilience and defiance, finding self and community on the margins in a time of unraveling civil rights, through the lens of bipolar mania. Surprise guest performance highly likely! RSVP requested. Left Bank Books. 
.ZACK Performing Arts Theater, 3224 Locust St., St. Louis, 63103

23 APRIL  |  5 PM
St. Louis School Buildings: Storied Past, Uncertain Future
In the late 1890s, local architect William B. Ittner began transforming St. Louis schools from dark, dank, crowded buildings to “open plans” that incorporated natural light, large gathering spaces and grand exteriors. His safe, welcoming and beautiful designs revolutionized local and national education. Today, after decades of shifts and declines in population and public school enrollment, many schools are now sitting empty or underutilized. In this moment, as our community grapples with the complex future of our school buildings, we are looking back at their rich history. Join Missouri Historical Society Public Historian Andrew Wanko for a short presentation on how St. Louis schools shaped education across the country, followed by a conversation that honors the history and legacy of Ittner’s buildings as architectural treasures and centers of educational excellence. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

23 APRIL  |  5:30 PM
Allison Cundiff, The Mysterious Women of J Road (Author Talk)
Some wounds never fully close. After suspecting her husband has been hexed in Ozark hill country, Lillian Cedars goes deep into the backwoods to seek an antidote. What she finds is a world with a dark and malevolent past, where hill folk and their acolytes turn on anyone who dares enter their territory, and when Lillian encounters them, she learns not only their capacity for evil, but her own as well. The reading will be immediately followed by an optional writing workshop led by Cundiff. One ticket to the workshop is complimentary with the purchase of each book copy. Subterranean Books.
Subterranean Books, 6271 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 63130

24 APRIL  |  11 AM-3 PM 
Museum Archives Anniversary 
Celebrate the 50th birthday of the Saint Louis Art Museum Archives! Learn about the rich history of the museum as documented through its institutional records. Browse a selection of archival items, fold a zine and grab a slice of cake during this event. Established in 1976, the museum archives preserve and provide access to historic records chronicling spaces, events, exhibitions and other activities. Saint Louis Art Museum. 
Saint Louis Art Museum, Friends Room, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

24 APRIL  |  6 PM 
Exploring the Soundscape of Aquae Sulis 
The exhibition Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan will feature a soundscape by Chris Cundy, composer and musician, drawing from his original recordings from the Roman baths in Bath, England. Cundy will discuss the site’s sonic environment, including its geothermal water sources, stone chambers, ancient infrastructure and atmospheric qualities, which he explored through extensive field recording practices. Free tickets available at the welcome desks or through MetroTix. Saint Louis Art Museum. 
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

24 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, The Edge of Space Time (Author Talk) 
Award-winning author and distinguished cosmologist and particle physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein takes readers on a mind-altering journey to the boundaries of the universe. Drawing on poetry and pop culture, Prescod-Weinstein renders accessible some of the most abstract concepts of theoretical physics to tell fascinating stories about the history and fundamental nature of our universe, arguing that physics is an essential way for everyone to look at the cosmos. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

25 APRIL  |  9:30 AM
Beyond the Hill: Rethinking Italian St. Louis
Life was deeply complex for Italian immigrants to St. Louis in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries. From adapting old world traditions to new world life, to facing ethnic prejudice from outside their community and within, Public Historian Amanda Clark will examine why Italians came to St. Louis, where they settled, how they built networks of work and support, and how these experiences reshaped the cultural landscape of St. Louis. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri Historical Society Library, 225 S. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, 63105

25 APRIL  |  11 AM
Mill Creek: Black Metropolis
This free tour of Mill Creek: Black Metropolis invites visitors to explore the powerful story of St. Louis’ Mill Creek neighborhood — a once-thriving Black community of 20,000 residents, 43 churches and over 800 businesses that was demolished in 1959 in the name of urban renewal. This exhibit seeks to reclaim Mill Creek’s legacy and honor the resilience of those who lived there. Registration required. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

25 APRIL  |  1 PM
American Sign Language Tour of Soldiers Memorial and Surroundings
Join us for a special American Sign Language Tour of Soldiers Memorial for visitors who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This guided experience explores the powerful stories behind the memorial’s architecture, its purpose as a tribute to military service members and the meaning woven into its design. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis 63103

25 APRIL  |  1:30 PM
How Winning a Woman of Study Can Be in Early American Egyptology
KATHLEEN SHEPPARD, professor of history and political science, Missouri University of Science and Technology. Sheppard’s research focuses on 19th and 20th century Egyptology and women in the field. Her latest book, Women in the Valley of the Kings, reveals the never-before-told story of the women Egyptologists who paved the way of exploration in Egypt and created the basis for Egyptology. Classical Club of Saint Louis.
John Burroughs School, Newman Auditorium, 755 S. Price Rd., St. Louis, 63124

26 APRIL  |  11 AM 
Tour Público en Español — Celebración de St. Louis Latinx Arts Week 
SLAM invita a todos los hispanohablantes de la región a conectarse con el Museo en su idioma. Ya sea revisitando nuestra colección o descubriendo futuras exhibiciones, los tours en español son un espacio guiado para compartir memorias, conocer miembros de nuestra comunidad, e interactuar con obras de arte de una forma más íntima. Los participantes conocerán más sobre la obra del artista peruano contemporáneo Blas Isasi, exhibida en Currents 125. The tour will be delivered in Spanish and requires a fair understanding of the language. Saint Louis Art Museum. 
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

26 APRIL  |  1:30 PM
Black Sugar/Red Blood: The Story of Anna Screening & Discussion
Experience the powerful and moving story that has guided German-Italian photographer and filmmaker Luigi Toscano since the beginning of his memory project, Lest We Forget. The film tells the life of Anna Strishkowa, an 81-year-old microbiologist from Kyiv who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp as a young child and still has no traces of her roots. Moved by her story, Toscano takes on the journey to help Anna uncover her true identity. Following the film, Toscano will engage the audience in a discussion. This program is presented in conjunction with Luigi Toscano’s Lest We Forget exhibition at The District in Chesterfield. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis 63103

27 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Alka Joshi, Six Days in Bombay (Author Talk) 
From the acclaimed author of The Henna Artist, Alka Joshi’s latest captivating novel was inspired by the life of painter Amrita Sher-Gil, the “Frida Kahlo of India.” In 1937, young nurse Sona is drawn to the renowned and scandalous painter Mira Novak when they meet while the latter is recovering at a Bombay hospital. But when Mira dies suddenly and mysteriously, Sona falls under suspicion. The key to proving Sona's innocence may lie in a cryptic note and four paintings Mira left in her care, sending the young woman across a tumultuous Europe to meet Mira’s former lovers and friends. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

28 APRIL  |  11 AM
Fighting Fire with Fire
Join us as Gwen Moore, curator of urban landscape and community identity, Missouri Historical Society, leads an exploration of the powerful and often untold story of African American firefighters in St. Louis and traces the challenges, triumphs and legacy of the Black men and women who broke barriers in one of the city’s most demanding public-service professions. Through historical images, archival insights and community narratives, Moore highlights how these firefighters confronted discrimination, forged resilient communities and helped shape the landscape of public safety in St. Louis. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

28 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Sally Hepworth, Mad Mabel (Author Talk) 
Bestselling author Sally Hepworth shares a twist-filled, darkly funny mystery. Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is 81 years old. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else’s business, few would suspect that Elsie has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end. When a little girl moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully constructed life threatens to come crashing down. Who was “Mad Mabel” 50 years ago? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose? St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

29 APRIL  |  1 PM
Bus Tour: Lest We Forget
A special opportunity to join the Missouri History Museum to visit Lest We Forget, the powerful Holocaust portrait exhibition by Luigi Toscano, UNESCO Artist for Peace. Participants will travel by bus from the Missouri History Museum to The District in Chesterfield for a meet-and-greet and private artist-led tour, where Toscano shares the inspiration and human stories behind his moving portraits of Holocaust survivors. $22. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

29 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Steve Brusatte, The Story of Birds (Author Talk) 
Renowned paleontologist and bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, Steve Brusatte presents a sweeping evolutionary history of birds. Birds have captivated human imagination for millennia. How did such a seemingly fragile species break the bounds of Earth and begin to fly, how have they survived millennia and how does their legacy shape our world? Hailed as “one of the stars of modern paleontology” by National Geographic, Brusatte now tells the extraordinary story of the dinosaurs’ living legacy. Brusatte will be in conversation with Jonathan Losos, author and evolutionary biologist at WashU. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

30 APRIL–3 MAY
Route 66 Centennial Festival
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 at the Missouri History Museum during this four-day festival exploring the Mother Road’s stunning natural scenery, quirky roadside attractions, its complex history and its impacts on communities across the St. Louis region. Enjoy live music, classic car displays, film screenings, a Route 66 neon sign and memorabilia display, family activities and more! Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

30 APRIL  |  7 PM 
Giulia Enders, Organ Speak (Author Talk) 
Medical expert and star of Netflix’s Hack Your Health, Giulia Enders shares an entertaining and highly informative book about how the body's organs work in tandem to keep us as healthy as we can be. With the latest scientific insights and her talent for making complex concepts vividly accessible, Enders inspires a deep appreciation for something both intimately familiar yet profoundly mysterious — the very basis for how we find our happiest selves. St. Louis County Library. 
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131