Latest Events in Forbes(July Updated)

We hope you will join us to hear from local author Ed Simon about his newest book, The Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues. We will have time for Q&A with the audience after the talk followed by a time for book signing. Want to reserve your copy of the book? You can do so here. About the author: Ed Simon is Special Faculty for Public Humanities in the English Department of Carnegie Mellon University and editor of Belt Magazine. A widely published author, his most recent books include Devil's Contract: The History of the Faustian Bargain and The Soul of Pittsburgh: Essays on Life, Community and History. About the book: A captivating artistic and philosophic exploration of humankind’s complex moral codes A companion piece to Pandemonium: A Visual History of Demonology and Elysium: A Visual History of Angelology, Seven Sins and Seven Virtues will complete this moral trilogy and finally consider God’s most enigmatic of creations: None of the conundrums of metaphysics are as baroque as the motivations of the human soul. Unlike the devils condemned to perdition and the angels compelled to paradise, humans are divine creatures that house within them warring impulses. Seven Sins and Seven Virtues will examine the literary, philosophical, theological, and most of all artistic expressions of the seven deadly sins and their respective seven cardinal virtues, drawing upon millennia of history to gather a compendium of humanity at its best and its worst. As a volume, the book will explore the Manichean nature of the human animal in all of its grandeur and canker, motivated by the faith that tales of damnation and salvation are the only stories that are ultimately worth telling. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

RSVP for the National Art School Postgrad Show Opening Night. — The Postgrad Show celebrates the evolution and maturation of works by the 2024 Master of Fine Art (MFA) graduating cohort, produced with a multi-disciplinary approach across the celebrated studio traditions of ceramics, drawing, painting, photomedia, printmaking and sculpture, exhibited throughout the NAS campus. — Located in NAS Galleries, Building 25 Project Space and artist studios Entry via Forbes Street — RSVP essential, non-transferable Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

Putting together a strong portfolio is one of the most important parts of your application to the National Art School. In this session, NAS lecturers will offer helpful advice to guide you through your portfolio preparation, plus provide personal feedback on your portfolio. Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

RSVP for the National Art School Grad Show Opening Night. — The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of the 2024 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduate students. The Grad Show is an outstanding opportunity to discover the work of Australia’s emerging artists working across ceramics, drawing, painting, photomedia, printmaking and sculpture, exhibited throughout the NAS campus. Join us this December to celebrate the future of contemporary art. — Located in NAS Gallery, Rayner Hoff Project Space and artist studios Note: The Drawing Show will be exhibiting concurrently in Building 25 Project Space Entry via Forbes Street — RSVP essential, non-transferable Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

We hope you will join us for an evening of adventure and history as Brian Black joins us to share his latest book Ike's Road Trip. He will be joined in coversation by Ed Russell and there will be a time for Q&A with the audience. Read more about the book and the author below! Want to reserve a copy of the book? You can do so here. About the book: All roads begin somewhere and today’s U. S. highway system began with an exploratory, cross-country ride, led by 28-year-old Army lieutenant colonel, Dwight Eisenhower. This is the story of that coast-to-coast journey and how the dream of connecting America with roads began. Before he led the liberation of Europe, before he became our nation’s 34th President, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s made a road trip in 1919 from Washington D.C. to California. The expedition proved to be a crucial chapter in the history of America as it laid the groundwork to make automobile travel the fastest and easiest way to move around the country, also setting in motion the nation’s future love affair with cheap crude. The 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy of eighty-one trucks and other military vehicles traveled more than 3,000 precarious miles along the most famous road of the day, the Lincoln Highway, which ran between New York City and San Francisco. World War I had illustrated the importance of being able to move large amounts of troops and equipment quickly over long distances, and Eisenhower’s mission was to evaluate whether the country’s emerging network of paved roadways could handle such a task. It was an experience Eisenhower would never forget. Decades later, as president, he drew on that experience to push through the Interstate Highway Act of 1956. Ike’s Road Trip adds an important chapter to the story of the midwestern president who is often seen as “America’s grandfather.” Eisenhower will also be seen as a modern visionary during a pivotal moment: his persistent trust in cheap petroleum proved to be a blueprint for modern America as he helped facilitate the most significant energy transition of the twentieth century. Today, we are experiencing perhaps the most important energy transition since Eisenhower’s day—from petroleum to renewables—and that change will require minds as equally visionary as his. About the author: Dr. Brian C. Black is Distinguished Professor of History and Environmental Studies at Penn State Altoona, where he also served for over a decade as Head of Arts and Humanities. Recognized as a global expert on energy and petroleum history, he is the author of more than a dozen books, which include: Petrolia: The Landscape of America’s First Oil Boom; Crude Reality: Petroleum in World History; and To Have and Have Not: Energy in World History. His writing on energy has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, USA TODAY, the Conversation, and the New York Times. He divides his time between central Pennsylvania and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

We hope you will join us to hear from local author Ed Simon about his newest book, The Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues. We will have time for Q&A with the audience after the talk followed by a time for book signing. Want to reserve your copy of the book? You can do so here. About the author: Ed Simon is Special Faculty for Public Humanities in the English Department of Carnegie Mellon University and editor of Belt Magazine. A widely published author, his most recent books include Devil's Contract: The History of the Faustian Bargain and The Soul of Pittsburgh: Essays on Life, Community and History. About the book: A captivating artistic and philosophic exploration of humankind’s complex moral codes A companion piece to Pandemonium: A Visual History of Demonology and Elysium: A Visual History of Angelology, Seven Sins and Seven Virtues will complete this moral trilogy and finally consider God’s most enigmatic of creations: None of the conundrums of metaphysics are as baroque as the motivations of the human soul. Unlike the devils condemned to perdition and the angels compelled to paradise, humans are divine creatures that house within them warring impulses. Seven Sins and Seven Virtues will examine the literary, philosophical, theological, and most of all artistic expressions of the seven deadly sins and their respective seven cardinal virtues, drawing upon millennia of history to gather a compendium of humanity at its best and its worst. As a volume, the book will explore the Manichean nature of the human animal in all of its grandeur and canker, motivated by the faith that tales of damnation and salvation are the only stories that are ultimately worth telling. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy brings together three generations of queer artists (including recent National Art School graduates) who make and break language across the intersections of art, activism, poetry and performance. Through their individual aesthetics and distinct voices, together the artists disrupt histories, conventional silences and cultural forms, using language to articulate queer perspectives and experience. Artists: Kika Kereru Baker, Daniel Browning, Sam Chan, Blake Griffiths, Frankie L.A, nikita lelu, r e a, Victoria Spence, Jake Starr, Ali Tahayori, Magic Young and Justine Youssef Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

Riverstone Books is pleased to welcome Illah Nourbakhsh to our Squirrell Hill store to talk about their new title, Turn Left: Spinning an Intercultural Identity. He will be joined in conversation by Monica Ruiz. Following the discussion, we will have a time for Q&A with the audience and book signing. Refreshments will be provided. Want to reserve your copy of the book? You can do so here. About the book: Illah Nourbakhsh has spent fifty years navigating the space between cultures in conflict, enduring adversity, becoming resilient and successful, and yet, still failing to satisfy the question: “Where do I belong?” As it turns out, the answer lies in the space between categories. Drawing from his experience as an Iranian-born immigrant, Nourbakhsh shares his journey from the Iranian Revolution to the AI revolution, electric car races to the dot-com boom, and National Geographic to NASA. Turn Left opens up the essential conversation of identity, community engagement, and the power of robotics. About the author: Illah R. Nourbakhsh is Kavcic-Moura Professor of Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University, inaugural Executive Director of the Center for Shared Prosperity, and co-director of the Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab. He was the Inaugural K&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies. He obtained his PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University. In 2009 the National Academy of Sciences named him a Kavli Fellow. In 2013 he was inducted into the June Harless West Virginia Hall of Fame. He was previously Robotics Group Lead for NASA/Ames during the MER landings, and is a retired civil servant, NASA GS15/10. In 2019 he was named a Hastings Fellow. He has co-authored textbooks and popular literature, including Robot Futures. He is a trustee of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Winchester Thurston School and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project. He is a Director at Open Planet, a London-based Community Interest Corporation, and also President and a director at Friends of Open Planet, a 501(c)3 based in the United States. About the conversation partner: Monica Ruiz, the Executive Director of Casa San José, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and has Latino roots from Guatemala and Puerto Rico. Her humanitarian work and passion for helping others began as a case manager for Catholic Charities, which led her to intern at Casa San Jose in 2014. She holds a Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work focusing on Community Organizing and Social action from the University of Pittsburgh.Following her academic accomplishments, Monica completed the Lead Now Pittsburgh fellowship, a transformational leadership program for the civic sector in 2019. Monica advocates for minority communities in Pittsburgh and welcomes all from the Western Pennsylvania region. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

The year 2025 marks August Wilson’s 80th Birthday and the 20th anniversary of his death. As one of the nation’s foremost literary figures, his body of work has and continues to influence literary figures and artists while simultaneously expanding audiences as a result of his lasting critical and commercial success. In honor of Wilson’s secured legacy and his continuous renewal of one of America’s greatest documentarians of the African American experience, the August Wilson Society, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Library System, will host the 2025 Biennial Colloquium, Celebrating 20 Years: August Wilson’s Legacy and The Confluence of Voices in Literary and Cultural Expression. Colloquium Highlights: Keynote Speaker, Omiyẹmi (Artisia) Green, Professor of Theatre and Africana Studies, University Professor of Teaching Excellence, Provost Faculty Fellow, William and Mary Special Performance Presentation by the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company,Directed by Mark Clayton Southers Tour of theAugust Wilson: Writer’s Landscape Exhibit at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center Visit the August Wilson Archive located in the Hillman Library Research Opportunity: The following form is for attendees of the 2025 August Wilson Society Colloquium who are interested in doing research using the August Wilson Archive on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The archive is located in Hillman Library on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. By completing this form, you are confirming that you will be in Pittsburgh on this day and available for your research session. Please note there is limited capacity, and sessions will only be held if a minimum of 5 researchers sign up for that session. There will be a morning session and an afternoon session, so please select the one session that best aligns with your anticipated schedule for the day. https://tinyurl.com/augustwilsonarchiveresearch Hotel Information: Hilton Garden Inn University, 3454 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA Place Hotel Rates: $169 single/night and $179 double/night (Hotel accommodations include daily complimentary breakfast and one complimentary drink ticket in the hotel bar each evening.) Reserve your discounted hotel room using the following link: HiltonGardenInn_2025AWSColloquium The Deadline to book colloquium hotel is Wednesday, March 12. Information Source: August Wilson Society | eventbrite

Riverstone Books is pleased to host a book launch for The Doors You Can Open by local author, Rosalind Chow. Following the discussion with Evan Frazier, we will have a time for Q&A with the audience and book signing. Refreshments will be provided. Want to pre-order your copy of the book? You can do so here. About the book: “Chow revolutionizes our understanding of how careers advance” (Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Drive), taking readers on a transformative journey beyond the standard model of mentorship to embracing sponsorship. The way we currently network and engage in mentorship isn’t working. Given the ever-evolving nature of the workplace, transactional networking and company-enforced mentorship programs simply don’t help make our professional relationships more authentic or our workplaces more equitable. What we need instead is sponsorship. What’s the difference between mentorship and sponsorship? Mentorship involves helping a mentee change their behavior, while sponsorship involves changing how other people see a protégé. Sponsorship is as important, if not more so, than mentorship in determining who gets ahead, making it a more effective way to promote social equality and inclusion in the workplace. In The Doors You Can Open, organizational expert Rosalind Chow shows readers that they likely already engage in sponsorship in their personal and professional networks—and how they can channel those skills to build more authentic professional relationships. We all have more agency and deeper networks to act as sponsors than we might think, and sponsoring others can lead to mutually beneficial lifelong connections rather than merely transactional interactions. Given the ever-evolving nature of the workplace, intentional and equitable sponsorship is more important now than ever for overturning traditional social hierarchies. Based on decades of original research, The Doors You Can Open makes a bold case for completely changing the way we network. Reading it will change how we see and use our relationships in the service of creating stronger workplaces for all. About the author: Dr. Rosalind Chow is an associate professor of organizational behavior and theory at Carnegie Mellon University, where she directs executive education programs that advance the careers of Black and Latino professionals and advises corporations on their sponsorship programs. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their two children. About the conversation partner: Evan Frazier is a corporate executive, nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, author and family man. He has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. He is currently the president and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute and sits on the Dollar Bank Board of Directors. Frazier has served as a trustee or board member for more than 30 community agencies and civic organizations over the years. Current nonprofit board affiliations include Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh (Life Trustee), Bender Leadership Academy, the Pennsylvania Society, and board advisor to the Alliance for Hospitality Equity & Diversity (AHED). In addition to receiving formal degrees from Cornell University and Carnegie Mellon University, in March 2017 Frazier completed the Wharton Executive Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Over the years he also earned executive education certificates from Harvard Business School's Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management and the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. In 2008, Frazier launched his first book entitled Most Likely to Succeed: The Frazier Formula for Success®, which introduced his personal success framework to inspire youth and young adults to achieve. He is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh, a BMe Community leader, member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Co-founder of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) and he currently serves as Chair of the NSMH Legacy Fund Group. Evan lives in the Greater Pittsburgh area with his wife Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier (educator and national television personality) and their children Evan Jr, Nia and William. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

Join us in 2025 for the Drawing Symposium at the National Art School, presented by the National Centre for Drawing. Featuring a diverse range of national and international speakers, as well as associated performances and exhibitions, this event is held in conjunction with the Dobell Drawing Prize #24. The symposium will explore the theme of Facture, a concept that emphasises an artwork’s tangible reality as an intentionally crafted object, linking the act of creation directly to its physical presence. Considering an artwork in terms of its facture reveals it as a record of the artist’s decisions, methods, and materials. Discussions will examine how this concept enriches our understanding of drawing and aligns with contemporary and interdisciplinary approaches to art-making. Learn more about the schedule and speakers here. Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

Srikanth Reddy, acclaimed poet, University of Chicago professor, and poetry editor for The Paris Review, will be visiting Pittsburgh to perform his work at the International Poetry Forum. The reading will take place at the Carnegie Lecture Hall at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland (4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213). This event is part of the relaunch season of the International Poetry Forum, which originally hosted over 800 poets and performers from 50+ countries in Pittsburgh between 1966-2009. Alumni of our reading series including legends like Seamus Heaney, Gwendolyn Brooks, Mary Oliver, Chinua Achebe, Kurt Vonnegut, Grace Kelly, Gregory Peck, James Earl Jones, and Queen Noor of Jordan. Parking is located at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. For detailed information on parking and bus routes, visit here. Poet Bio: Srikanth Reddy’s latest book of poetry, Underworld Lit, was a finalist for the Griffin International Poetry Prize, the Poetry Society of America’s T.S. Eliot Four Quartets Prize, and a Times Literary Supplement “Book of the Year” for 2020. He is also the author of Voyager, named one of the best books of poetry in 2011 by The New Yorker, The Believer, and National Public Radio. Reddy’s writing has appeared in Harper’s, The Guardian (UK), The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Reddy is the poetry editor of The Paris Review, and a co-editor of the Phoenix Poets book series at the University of Chicago Press. Professor of English at the University of Chicago, Reddy has been the recipient of fellowships from the Creative Capital Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the NEA. His book of lectures on poetry and painting, The Unsignificant, was published by Wave Books in September 2024. Information Source: International Poetry Forum | eventbrite

Come along to Forbes Skatepark to attend our FREE Learn to Skate Workshop thanks to Forbes Shire Council. Learn to skate beginner class and Mentoring skate session. This workshop is a Youth Week 2025 initiative for ages 12 to 24 years. SCHEDULE 10:00 am: Event opening 10:00 am - 10:15 am: Beginner class registration 10:15 am - 11:15 am: Beginner class (1hr class. Suitable for newcomer and beginner skaters with little to no experience on a board and at a skatepark.) 11:15 am - 11:20 am: Skate Demo 11:20 am - 11:30 am: Community Interaction 11:30 am - 11:45 am: Mentoring Session for Intermediate Skaters registration 11:45 am - 12:45 am: Mentoring Session for Intermediate Skaters (1hr class. Suitable for skaters that know the foundational skills and want to start exploring tricks and advance to the next level.) 12:45 am - 1:00 pm Community Interaction / Close program hand out Stickers Please note: Times may vary on the day. IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ WAIVER FORM - Participants must complete our online waiver form here before they can skate. Please try to have this done before you get to the skatepark.THE WAIVER FORM IS NOT A TICKET. Spots are limited and bookings are essential via Eventbrite. * This is an outdoor event. Postponement and cancellation is subject to weather conditions and can happen anywhere from 48 hours to 2 hours before a workshop. We cannot skate in the rain or on wet grounds. Equipment: Professional grade equipment; skateboard, helmet, and safety pads (optional) are provided for all classes. You are also welcome to bring your own equipment. This workshop is proudly funded by Forbes Shire Council. For any questions, you can reach us via email at bookings@totemskateboarding.com Information Source: TOTEM SKATEBOARDING | eventbrite

Local author John Pistelli joins us to talk about his new book, Major Arcana. After the talk we will have time for Q&A with the audience and book signing. We can't wait to see you there! Want to pre-order your copy of the book? You can do so here. About the book: Perhaps the elusive great American novel for the twenty-first century. It begins with a gunshot: a student's public suicide on a university campus. The blast radius of this tragic explosion expands to encompass 50 years of our history and two of the grandest characters in recent American fiction: Simon Magnus, a comic-book writer who transfigured popular culture turned gender activist who transfigures the English language, and Ash del Greco, an online occultist who by the age of 20 has seen to the end of everything and wants desperately to prove the superiority of mind over matter. With a decades-spanning but tightly-knit plot, written in an expansive style, Major Arcana canvasses America's inner life and moral history from coast to coast and across two generations in a delirious saga about art, magic, love, and death. Originally serialized on the author's Substack newsletter, Major Arcana is a novel about the transformative power of popular culture. With a nod to Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and for fans of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Pistelli reimagines the expansive novel for the 21st century. About the author: John Pistelli is the author of bestselling Substack Grand Hotel Abyss, home of a regular newsletter called Weekly Readings and the literary podcast The Invisible College, as well as the eight-year archive of an award-winning literary blog at johnpistelli.com. He holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Minnesota and has been writing and teaching for almost two decades. He lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

Local Author Brenda Tate joins us for a talk on her book Journal of a Black Woman in Blue. Following the talk, we will have a time for Q&A with the audience and book signing. About the book: Brenda Tate’s personal journal is a painfully honest account of the struggles she faced as a child and young woman, enduring rape, molestations, and abuse-traumas that led her on a path of self-destruction until she was able to face her demons head-on. She served forty years in Pittsburgh as a police officer while being heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol. This African-American woman’s story reflects how she navigated a racist and sexist police department while struggling with her addiction. Relying on her strong faith and the support of AA, she achieved sobriety and rose in her career to protect presidents, kings and queens, and dignitaries such as Rosa Parks and the Dalai Lama. She is actively retired and remains a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. She is a revered community leader and activist serving her city, state, and its residents, with a special emphasis on seniors. Brenda Tate is living proof that you can triumph over even the most incredible odds and that you need not be defined by your mistakes. Her journey to recovery will stay with you for a long time. Writing this journal took tremendous courage, but she hopes that by exposing her own soul, her story would be a source of inspiration to others. About the author: Brenda Tate served 40 years in Pittsburgh as a police officer, while struggling with addiction. She is now a revered community leader in Pittsburgh and lifelong resident of the historic Hill District. Her journal is a raw and open account of the struggles she faced as a child and young woman enduring rape, molestations and abuse that led her on a path of self-destruction, until she was able to face it head on. It is a story of an African-American woman who navigated a racist police department while being addicted to drugs and alcohol, struggling with adversity. Through her recovery and strong faith, she rose in her career to protect presidents, kings, queens, Rosa Parks and the Dalai Lama, proving that you can move forward no matter the odds. Her journey of recovery and how she navigated her transition is one that will stay with you for a very long time. Her story proves that African-American women do not need be defined by their mistakes. This personally written journal of Brenda’s struggle and triumph has given her the courage to expose her own soul as a source of inspiration to others. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

Shaheen Dil joins us to celebrate the launch of her new poetry collection - Letters to My Younger Self. She will be joined by three fellow poets, Robert Walacki, Judith Sanders, and Sharon Fagan McDermott, for a poetry reading. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at the event. About the author: Shaheen Dil was born in Bangladesh and lives in Pittsburgh. Her poems have been widely published in literary journals and anthologies and nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Dil has published two full-length collections of poetry, Acts of Deference (Fakel 2016) and The Boat-maker’s Art (Kelsay Books 2024.) She holds a BA from Vassar College, a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. from Princeton University. Additional information is available on her website: shaheendil.com. About Sharon Fagan McDermott: Sharon Fagan McDermott is a poet and essayist who teaches at Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh. She has four collections of poetry--most recently Life Without Furniture (Jacar Press). Her first collection of essays, Millions of Suns: On Writing and Life, co-authored by M. Christine Benner Dixon and published by the University of Michigan Press in Nov. 2023, celebrates the joy of living a life engaged with creative writing. Poets and Writers Magazine called Millions of Suns one of the Best Books for Writers. About Judith Sanders: Judith Sanders’ debut poetry collection In Deep was published by Kelsay Books; her second, The Universe with Borscht, is forthcoming from Kelsay in Fall 2025. Her work appears in numerous journals, anthologies, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Her poems won the Hart Crane and Wergle Flomp Humor prizes. Her prose has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and selected as a Longreads “Top 5.” She earned a B.A. in literature from Yale, an M.A. in creative writing from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in English from Tufts. She taught English at universities and independent schools, and in France on a Fulbright Fellowship. She lives in Pittsburgh. About Robert Walicki: Robert Walicki's poems have appeared in over 50 journals. A two-time Pushcart and a Best of The Net nominee,Robert's second chapbook. The Almost Sound of Snow Falling was included in the exhibition catalog for New York's Poet's House, and his latest full-length poetry collection is Fountain from Main Street Rag Press. His forthcoming poetry collection, Watershed, will be published by Broadstone Press. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

Join the National Art School’s exhibition curator Lucy Latella for a floortalk about the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize. Art Forum The NAS Art Forum is a weekly public lecture intended to enrich the school community with contributions by guest speakers on a broad range of subjects considered to be of interest to NAS staff, students and the public. Previous speakers have included notable art industry professionals on subjects covering visual arts, cultural theory and humanities. NAS Forum lectures are held Wednesday lunchtime from 12.45 – 1.30pm during teaching weeks. Image credit: Hannah Cooper, Topographies of light (loom sketch) (detail), 2024, nylon monofilament, gold leaf thread, image courtesy the artist and Jennings Kerr, NSW © the artist, photograph: Hannah Cooper Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

Dr Chelsea Lehmann is the interim Head of Drawing at the National Art School. Join her ‘in conversation’ with NAS curator Lucy Latella and exhibition finalists for a discussion surrounding the artists’ practices and the nature of drawing in contemporary art. Image credit: Toshiko Oiyama, Far Ago Sea II, 2024, ink and graphite on paper, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Louis Taurian Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

We are happy to welcome local author Jonathan Auxier back to our store to talk about the third installment in his Vanished Kingdom series, The War of the Maps. This is a popular middle grade series, but people of all ages are welcome! Please RSVP one ticket for each person in attendance. Following the author talk, we will have a time for Q&A with the audience followed by book signing. Want to pre-order your copy of the book? You can do so here. About the book: This epic middle-grade adventure—companion to Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes and Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard—will take readers to the very ends of the earth . . . and beyond. From the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Night Gardener and Sweep. The War of the Maps is a breathtaking fantasy in the vein of His Dark Materials and The Last Battle that dares to give new answers to age-old questions—inviting readers of all ages to sail beyond the edges of the map into a world of magic, myth, and boundless adventure. Since time before time, two opposing forces have been locked in an endless battle: It is the war between magic and reason—between what if and what is. And the victor will not just shape the future but the very nature of reality. Peter Nimble and Sophie Quire have spent the last four years fighting to protect a world of magic from the insidious, unstoppable forces of “progress.” But, every day, the wonders that once surrounded them are vanishing. Lurking behind this transformation is a mysterious group called The League of Maps that seems to hold the answers. As Peter and Sophie fight to untangle this mystery, they find themselves thrown into opposing sides of a vast war that stretches from the very beginning of humanity and into our present age. About the author: JonathanAuxier is the New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author of The Vanished Kingdom series, The Night Gardener, Sweep, and The Fabled Stables series. He lives with his family in Pittsburgh, PA. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

Dr Ben Denham is a Drawing Lecturer at the National Art School and is a sound and installation artist working with expanded practices across kinetics, robotics and synthesizers. Join him for an ‘in conversation’ with selected exhibition finalists for a discussion posed by the questions of ‘What can drawing be?’ and the expanded field of drawing in contemporary art. Image credit: Shonah Trescott, Red Gold, 2024, installation view, Red Gold, Maitland Regional Gallery, 2024, red cedar (Toona ciliata) tree seeds, image courtesy the artist and Cassandra Bird, Sydney © the artist, photograph: Osvaldo Budet Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

Hear from art historian and NAS Undergraduate Coordinator Lorraine Kypiotis and discover more about the extraordinary life and work of Sir William Dobell. Image credit: Panel judging works for CRTS exhibition in Hyde Park, including Douglas Dundas, Hal Missingham, Bill Dobell and Wallace Thornton, National Art School, 1949, photograph: Robert Mitchell. Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

Hear from art historian and NAS Undergraduate Coordinator Dr Lorraine Kypiotis and discover more about the extraordinary life and work of Sir William Dobell. Image credit: Panel judging works for CRTS exhibition in Hyde Park, including Douglas Dundas, Hal Missingham, Bill Dobell and Wallace Thornton, National Art School, 1949, photograph: Robert Mitchell. Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

August Wilson Archive Presents: Learning To Hate Please join us for a video screening of the short film Learning To Hate. This film was created by August Wilson Archive Community Artist Scholar Ulric Joseph. Learning To Hate explores the current racial climate of America through the lens of the past while using Wilson's works as a reference for reflection and black truth. Ulric's film was developed through his research in The August Wilson Archive, and through his research in The Library of Congress. Ulric found inspiration in Wilson's speeches and social justice ideologies. This event will include a film screening, and artist talk, and opportunity for discussion. This event is FREE and open to the public. *Please note: This film contains graphic content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. Some of the images in the film may be graphic and unsuitable for young audiences. Information Source: The August Wilson Archive | eventbrite

Dr Melinda Reid ingested fairy floss (yum!), sock fibres (yuck!), and tattoo ink (ouch!) while in Helsinki to research and participate in the premiere of Teo Ala-Ruona’s Parachorale (2024). In this lecture, Melinda will describe the layered choreography of Parachorale as performed during the 2024 Baltic Circle International Theatre Festival. She will also share her research-in-progress into the dynamics of artist-audience cooperation, performance art traces, and why the term ‘ingester’ may be the most accurate way to describe the role of some performance art audiences. Melinda’s research was supported by the National Art School Professional Practice Grant Program. Dr Melinda Reid is an Australian educator, researcher, and writer. She currently teaches at the National Art School, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Technology, Sydney. She is preparing forthcoming publications about grieving as a performance art history methodology, the pedagogical potential of guilty pleasures, and the dynamics of ingestion and artist-audience cooperation in the performance art of Teo Ala-Ruona. Art Forum The NAS Art Forum is a weekly public lecture intended to enrich the school community with contributions by guest speakers on a broad range of subjects considered to be of interest to NAS staff, students and the public. Previous speakers have included notable art industry professionals on subjects covering visual arts, cultural theory and humanities. NAS Forum lectures are held Wednesday lunchtime from 12.45 – 1.30pm during teaching weeks. Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite

Experience the magical fusion of frost and fire at the upcoming Frost and Fire Pre-Orders event in Forbes. Taking place at the scenic Ski Dam Playground on 60 Bedgerabong Road, Forbes, NSW 2871, on June 21, 2025, this unique event promises a mesmerizing journey through a world of contrasts. From A$14.55 to A$96.61, tickets are available for purchase, offering attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in a captivating blend of elements. Don't miss out on this enchanting experience – secure your pre-order now and be a part of this extraordinary event.

Author Cal Hoffman joins us to talk about latest book, Easy to Slip. Following the talk, there will be time for Q&A with the audience and book signing. Want to pre-order your copy of the book? You can do so here. About the book: Sam Kovner reads messages on walls and hears voices in the hall, and wonders: if you find yourself losing your mind, how do you get well? Winter, 1976, Columbia University. Hearing voices and seeing hateful writing on walls, early admission Sam Kovner walks the New York streets, sleepless thirty-six hours. Through the radiant specificity of memory, he reckons with a hard-driving father, a caring, sometimes careless mother, a generous, self-involved uncle who's just become a movie star, and star-struck grandparents. Sam fears the undertow of feelings: he's not quite spent the night with someone he's fallen for. Home for high-school graduation, a prom night affair reminds Sam of how he once knew love, freeing him to face his encroaching psychosis. Entering a hospital, he confronts traumatic, repressed memories with unflinching courage. With irrepressible humor and pathos, Easy to Slip recalls an era when youth mattered and people healed from psychiatric illness. About the author: CAL HOFFMAN is a writer, educator, and actor. He graduated from Catholic University and attended Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the MFA Fiction Writing Program at Columbia University. He has taught English and creativewriting to children of immigrants, private school students, and young people in foster care. As an actor, he has performed in regional theater across the country and starred in the acclaimed New York revival of Jules FeiIer’s “Elliot Loves.” Cal lives with his wife, Victoria Leacock Hoffman, and their son, Harry, in Washington, DC. About the conversation partner: Mike Garand is a Canadian-born independent writer, filmmaker, and composer. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Filmmaking in 2010 and has since utilized his passions to create enlightening and entertaining visual media that focuses on advocating for social justice and mental health awareness. He currently resides in the city of Pittsburgh with his lovely daughter, Melody. Information Source: Riverstone Books | eventbrite

Join us at NAS Gallery to celebrate the opening of our major exhibition The Neighbour at the Gate. When Thursday 10 July 2025 6pm Opening commences 6.30pm Speeches 9pm Event ends Where NAS Gallery On Gadigal land, 156 Forbes St, Darlinghurst, NSW. Entry via Forbes Street. The Neighbour at the Gate is a major exhibition at the National Art School Gallery, curated by a guest curatorium led by Clothilde Bullen (Wardandi Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji), with Micheal Do and Zali Morgan (Whadjuk Balladong and Wilman Noongar). Bringing together newly commissioned works by leading Australian artists Jacky Cheng, Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, Dennis Golding (Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay), Jenna Mayilema Lee (Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman, KarraJarri), James Nguyen and James Tylor (Kaurna, Thura-Yura language region), the exhibition reckons with the echoes of immigration policies and the legacies of Colonialism in Australia, unravelling how these forces continue to shape First Nations and Asian Australian experiences and relationships. Across various mediums and perspectives, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood. The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative. Information Source: National Art School | eventbrite