Philip Roth and R.B. Kitaj became good friends in London during the ’80s, and the painter influenced Roth in many ways, especially for the title character of Roth’s greatest novel, Sabbath’s Theater. Roger Porter, Professor of English and Humanities, Emeritus, Reed College focuses his lecture on Roth and Kitaj’s shared attitudes, or perhaps those of their characters and their painterly subjects, regarding desire, ecstasy, and the inevitable demise. The title of the lecture is a paraphrase of a quote by the protagonist Sabbath on the last page of Roth’s Sabbath’s Theater.
(Photo by Pedro Greig)
White Bird welcomes Australian contemporary circus company, Circa, with their program HUMANS.
After an absence of five years, White Bird is delighted to present the return of the world-famous Australian contemporary circus company, Circa, with the West Coast premiere of their astonishing new work HUMANS. Since 2004, from its base in Brisbane, Australia, Circa has toured the world—performing in 39 countries to over a million people. As was the case in Portland in 2013, with their White Bird debut, Circa’s movement-based circus works have been greeted with standing ovations, rave reviews and sold-out houses across six continents. Under the direction of circus visionary Yaron Lifschitz, Circa’s HUMANS features an ensemble of 10 exceptional, multi-skilled circus artists whose physicality and artistry are put to the test in Lifschitz’ newest work.
Yaron Lifschitz
An article in the Australian Jewish News says: Lifschitz looks back on his career with lots of pride, as do his Jewish parents who may initially have preferred him to be a doctor.
Circa is at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus—pioneering how extreme physicality can create powerful and moving performances. Circa pushes the boundaries of the art form, blurs the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus, and leads the way with a diverse range of thrilling creations that ‘redraw the limits to which circus can aspire“ (The Age).
Over the course of 70 nail-biting minutes, HUMANS explores the limits of human physicality and perseverance. The stage remains stripped bare as the vulnerability of the artists is left exposed throughout this thrilling work. Seamlessly moving from one breathtaking acrobatic act to the next, HUMANS challenges both the artists and the audience members to answer the questions “what does it mean to be human? How can you express the very essence of this experience with your body, with the group and with the audience? Where are your limits, what extraordinary things can you achieve and how can you find grace in your inevitable defeat?” Lifschitz uses this work to report on what it means to be human. “In our limitations are our possibilities,” he says. It is “precisely because we are human that our physical achievements acquire dignity, meaning and poetry. It is in connection to our vulnerability that our strength finds its true articulation.”
In its glowing review, The Guardian (UK) sums up the power and beauty of HUMANS: “Circa’s brand new production Humans is the five-star favorite: a clear demonstration of the artistry of circus and its potential to draw together multiple theatrical forms. What I adored was its fluid take on humanity and gender roles: women caught men falling backwards; men leapt towards and were caught by men. As the ensemble moved themselves into sculptural, abstract shapes, reaching higher to the ceiling for the denouement, I felt moved by their vulnerable, collective humanity.”
Circa’s Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, and National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), where he was the youngest director ever accepted into its prestigious graduate director’s course. Since graduating, Yaron has directed over 60 productions including large-scale events, opera, theatre, physical theatre, and circus. His work has been seen in 39 countries and across six continents by over one million people and has won numerous awards including six Helpmann awards and the Australia Council Theatre Award. He is currently Artistic Director and CEO of Circa, and was the Creative Director of Festival 2018: the arts and cultural program of the 21st Commonwealth Games. In 2018, Yaron directed four new Circa creations, and a new production of Idomeneo which opened in Lisbon at The Teatro Nacional de São Carlos.
White Bird’s 21st season (2018-19) is supported by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, including support from the City of Portland, Multnomah County and the Arts Education & Access Fund; Work for Art; The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and Oregon Arts Commission.
PDX Business Breakfast Series: Blockchain and Bitcoin… the Future?
Join us for a discussion of blockchain, its business applications, and whether it is the next “big thing.”
PSU – Native American Student & Community Center
7:15 – 8:00 am: Networking + Breakfast
8:00 – 9:15 am: Program
FEATURING:
Dr. Joe Kiniry of Galois and Free & Fair
Rob La Forte of Columbia Fresh Transportation Services
Jeff Mazer of moovel North America
Moderator: Joey Fishman of Ritholtz Wealth Management
For more details and to register: oregonjcc.org/pdxbiz
3rd Annual Portland Young Adult Latke Ball
Join us for the annual Latke Ball! Come celebrate Chanukah with food, friends, games, drinks, and dancing.
Cost: $15/advance, $18/door.
(Includes entry, hors d’oeuvres, one drink ticket, cash bar, live DJ, and more!)
At the The Eleanor* (1605 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209)
*Valid I.D. is required at this venue. Must be 21 or older.
Check out the event on Facebook!
Tickets: http://oregonjcc.org/latkeball
Hosted by the MJCC, BB Camp, and Jews Next Dor. In partnership with Moishe House PDX. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.
Hanukkah Donuts + Dancing
Make decorations for your home, take part in Israeli dancing, and eat some delicious sufganiot (jelly donuts) at this family-friendly Hanukkah celebration.
Cost: $10 per family.
Register: oregonjcc.org/donuts
Pianist David Rothman in Recital
Piano virtuoso David Rothman tackles the masterworks of composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Frederic Chopin. The four-part concert series that began in September returns to the J’s December schedule for the final two performances.
David Rothman was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1962. At age 6, he began to study piano, and he was accepted into the Menuhin School in England at age 10. At 17, he was accepted into the Curtis Institute where he studied with Mieczyslaw Horszowski.
Thursdays, Dec. 13 + 20
Cost: $10. Member Cost: $5.
Register: oregonjcc.org/pianoconcert
Pianist David Rothman in Recital
Piano virtuoso David Rothman tackles the masterworks of composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Frederic Chopin. The four-part concert series that began in September returns to the J’s December schedule for the final two performances.
David Rothman was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1962. At age 6, he began to study piano, and he was accepted into the Menuhin School in England at age 10. At 17, he was accepted into the Curtis Institute where he studied with Mieczyslaw Horszowski.
Thursdays, Dec. 13 + 20
Cost: $10. Member Cost: $5.
Register: oregonjcc.org/pianoconcert
This program has been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Israeli Dancing
Join us for a fun, introductory Israeli folk dance class. All levels are welcome. Six people needed to run class.
Wednesday Evenings,
Dec. 26 – Feb. 27
Cost: $100 Members + Guests.
Drop-in Fee: $15 per class.
Registration information: CG105, oregonjcc.org/registration
New Year’s Eve at Noon
Join us for this fun family event as we ring in the New Year! Arts and crafts, games, bouncy house, dancing, snacks, pool float, and our annual countdown to 2019 at noon with the balloon drop!
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Pool Float from 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Free and open to the community.