Pedigree isn't a word I use often. There is a good argument that in the case of pets, more genetic diversity is healthy. So perhaps it's the perfect name for a series of panel discussions at Place. Artists discuss the value of art degrees in relation to their cost. It is part of a worldwide consideration of higher education on the precipice of change. Aaron Swartz is also a part of the discussion. He joined college dropouts Steve Jobs and Bill Gates in laying down technology, policy and business innovations. His last work was to advocate for open source academic publishing, now embraced by Oregon's senior senator in the form of the FASTR legislation. So if you are interested in "art, money, art education, and the value of the Master of Fine Arts degree" you can hear artists Jamie Marie Waelchli, Travis Nikolai, Katherine Groesbeck and Michael Reinsch, moderated by David Vanadia, discuss it. At Place, placepdx.tumblr.com a gallery on the 3rd floor of the Pioneer Place Mall. If the mall appears closed, enter the film theater building adjacent, travel through the tunnel to the Place mall, and take the elevator to the 3rd floor, sometimes the bridge on the 3rd floor is open too. 700 SW Fifth. 6PM-7 Free
We don't usually cover poetry or literary events; others do it better! But the new book, Between Page and Screen, is a curious hybrid the creators dub an "augmented reality book". So it's here as an innovative design point. The makers, author Amaranth Borsuk and designer-programmer Brad Bouse, present the book and other works tonight. The pages contain glyphs, that, tuned to a website, serve material over the Internet triggered by the reader's webcam. Borsuk has a whole series of other innovative poetics projects. Portland's contemporary poet laureate, Lisa Radon also presents her work. If you are interested in poetry, a good place to start is The Spare Room, presenters of this event. At Division Leap www.divisionleap.com 211 SW 9th xBurnside 7:30PM
