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The 24th season of The Witte Lectures

02.17.21

Newport Beach Public Library Foundation's 24th season of The Witte Lectures for Winter/Spring 2021 is presented online via Zoom with distinguished speakers P.J. O’Rourke, Sam Quinones, and Shahzia Sikander. Tickets on sale now at npblf.foundation 

According to Janet Hadley, Witte Committee Chair and NBPLF Board Member, “Even in the face of a pandemic, the Witte Lecture series remains steadfast in providing timely, relevant, and vibrant contemporary speakers. Be inspired by the artistry of cooking with Samin Nosrat, political developments of historic magnitude with P.J. O’Rourke, the societal price of addiction with Sam Quinones, and the power of art which can cross-cultural divides with Shahzia Sikander. We offer you a seat at our virtual round table in the comfort of your own home as we present engaging topics during serious times.”

HE WITTE LECTURES 2021 SCHEDULE

P.J. O’Rourke  -- A Time to Laugh!…….A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land
Friday, February 19, 6:19 p.m.    

Leading political satirist, best-selling author, and op-ed contributor to The Washington Post, P.J. O’Rourke, covers current events, combining the skill of an investigative reporter with a comedian’s sense of the absurd. Known as a hard-bitten, cigar-smoking conservative, he unabashedly bashes all political persuasions. Whether dealing with the inner workings of Washington or shifting political and economic sands of the new world disorder, O’Rourke proves to be a savvy guide to national and global affairs. His razor-sharp insights never fail to inform and entertain. With more than 1 million words of trenchant journalism under his byline and more citations in The Penguin Dictionary of Humorous Quotations than any living writer, O’Rourke has established himself as America’s premier political satirist. He has authored 20 books, including his latest, A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land (2020).

Sam Quinones -- Dreamland - Opioids in America: Past, Present, and Future
Friday, March 12, 6:19 p.m.

Sam Quinones’ book Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic (2015) won a National Book Critics Circle Award and was on a dozen Best Book of the Year lists. Why? The book struck a common chord. Quinones is a masterful storyteller and sought-after speaker who shares how the silent tragedy has impacted communities and families coast to coast. And what a tale . . . Dreamland is riveting. Quinones recounts how a pharmaceutical corporation promoted its legal opiate prescription painkiller as non-addictive and the rise of international drug trafficking. The collision of these two forces has led America into the deadliest drug scourge in modern times. Dreamland has also been adapted for a young adult audience, grades 8-12. samquinones.com

*Tickets purchased last spring for this event will be honored.

Shahzia Sikander  -- Beauty, Power, and Extraordinary Realities
Friday, April 16, 6:19 p.m.

Pioneering Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander is one of the most influential artists working today. She is celebrated for her figurative painting, sculptures and installations inspired by traditional Persian miniatures. Sikander will discuss her latest artwork, exhibitions, and forthcoming book Shahzia Sikander: Extraordinary Realities (2021, Hirmer Publishers). We will learn how she expands and subverts traditional themes to explore cultural identity, gender, and other under-represented narratives. Sikander received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2006 and was awarded the State Department Medal of Arts in 2012. Her work has been exhibited around the world including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, Sydney; Irish Modern Museum of Art, Dublin; and the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. shahziasikander.com. Sikander will be in conversation with Meg Linton, Chief Executive Officer, Newport Beach Public Library Foundation.

LECTURE DETAILS
Friday, doors to our virtual auditorium open at 6:p.m. and the program begins at 6:19 p.m. Virtual Presentation followed by Q&A on Zoom
TICKETS / REGISTRATION / BOOK PURCHASE
Tickets on Sale Now at nbplf.foundation  
General $35 per household // NBPLF Members receive 25% Discount  

The opportunity to buy a signed copy of the presenters’ publications is made possible by Laguna Beach Books
Contact jane@lagunabeachbooks.com to buy a copy
QUESTIONS - Contact Director of Programs Kunga Wangmo-Upshaw

kupshaw@nbplf.foundation (New email) or 949-717-3818.

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Dance and Wellness Classes Return to Segerstrom Center

02.15.21

They’re dancing again and watching iconic feature films on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Government-mandated COVID-19 guidelines have been loosened and the Center is again presenting its popular Saturday Wellness Classes featuring African Dance taught by Dr. Jewel, Tuesday Night Dance Classes with Broadway, film and television extraordinaire Lauren Lim Jackson, and Movie Nights, with Hidden Figures (March 5), The LEGO Movie (March 6), Roman Holiday (March 12) and Hello, Dolly! (March 13).

Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.scfta.org/Events/Plaza-Events or by phone at (714) 556-2787 from 10 am to 2 pm.

Wellness Classes

There’s no better place to get physical than the Center’s Julianne and George Argyros Plaza. Dr. Jewel and African Soul International blend tradition, culture, history, and music with these fun and vigorous dance workouts.

Saturdays: February 20 and 27 from 11 am to noon.

Tickets: $10 per person and just 28 spaces are available.

Tuesday Night Dance Classes

Broadway’s Lauren Lim Jackson will teach iconic moves seen on the Great White Way in such hit shows as Chicago, Memphis, Motown, and Pretty Woman. Jackson, who hails from Orange County, credits include Finian’s Rainbow, Wonderland, Memphis, Motown the Music, and Pretty Woman the Musical (coming to the Center in the 2020-21 Broadway Season!). No experience necessary – the Argyros Plaza is strictly a no-judgment zone!

Tuesdays: March 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 per person, 25 spaces available.

The Center's outdoor presentations on the Argyros Plaza comply with government recommendations for Orange County's current tier status. Masks must be worn by all guests upon check-in and until they arrive at their assigned space. Contactless check-in will include wellness and touchless temperature checks. Hand sanitizer stations will be accessible throughout the Argyros Plaza. Chairs will not be provided for Movie Nights. Guests are invited to bring folding lawn or beach chairs, blankets, and dinners and beverages. Barbecues and grills are not permitted. 

600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

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