The late 1960's and 1970's were a magic time in the development of what we know know as computing, online and the Internet, environmental consciousness, the craft revival, local agriculture. Kevin Kelly was in the middle of it with a crazy guy named Stewart Brand, later going on to edit Wired Magazine in the 1990's, which turns a pop culture eye on computing technology. Originally run by renegades, it was later bought by Conde Nast. He has continued his focus in that area with writing and blogging, including a new book "What Technology Wants". Since I have a deep involvement in that area, I'm curious what Keven Kelly thinks technology wants and reserve the right to disagree with him. He speaks in support of the book tonight, sponsored by Powells www.powells.com/events/#3745 and OMSI at the Bagdad. 7PM $3
Chris Johansen is just an ordinary guy struck by lightning. That would be when Whitney curator Larry Rinder (and Reed grad) traveled outside the New York insider art world to find hidden unique developments in art. That included Portland artist Miranda July in video and sound and Chris Johansen as representative of something now known as Mission Style. The documentary Beautiful Losers is an accessible take on some of the artists. Johansen is a modest and low key guy, not much caught up in the artstar making machinery. Working intuitively, his work slips by our glittery pop culture defenses, sometimes capturing the enigma of modern existence. Johansen speaks tonight as part of the PSU Monday Night Art Department Lecture series. Talk in the Shattuck Hall Annex out front, 1914 SW Park Avenue, at the corner of SW Broadway and Hall on the PSU campus. 7:30PM Free
