Literopolis: A Weekly Round-up Of Portland Literary Events

Monday, September 22, 2014

Deborah Reeves, GoLocalPDX Contributor

The American Library Association is celebrating Graphic Novels during 2014's Banned Books Week (Sept. 21-27).

Despite their "serious literary merit" and popularity, graphic novels are frequently subject to challenges and censorship, according to the ALA and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

When the MacArthur Fellowships were announced last week, cartoonist Alison Bechdel was a wonderfully atypical choice for the award. Bechdel is known for her graphic memoir, 'Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic' which explores sexuality, suicide, and dysfunctional family dynamics. The memoir was embroiled in a university funding dispute this year when South Carolina lawmakers objected to literature with gay themes being assigned to Freshman students.

Portland is a strong champion of the comic book form and, this week, The Projects III festival celebrates experimental comics and narrative arts at the IPRC and other locations in Portland (Sept. 25-28).

The festival's mission highlights "creative process, idiosyncratic expression, and inspiration, leaving behind the flat model of comics as commerce."

Events kick off Thursday at Floating World Comics with an international art exhibit featuring work from visiting comic artists. 5-8pm, 400 NW Couch St. FREE

Friday, the festival moves to S1, Portland's newest underground exhibit and performance space. 8pm-Late, 4148 NE Hancock.

The main event is happening Saturday at the Independent Publishing Resource Center. Workshops and activities are free and open to the public. Luke Ramsey will paint a new mural and there will be live music and performances on the rooftop beer garden. All Day, 1001 SE Division, FREE.

And on Sunday, Floating World Comics will hold a free book fair at the IPRC with visiting and local artists. An after-party at Holocene Sunday night will close out the festival but an appreciation for the graphic literary form will hopefully linger long after. See FWC for further details.

In other Banned Books Week news, on Saturday, Cafe Banned presents "To Cut Or Not To Cut: A Conversation About Censorship" in which Reed College Professor, Pancho Savery, will facilitate a discussion around the complexities of censorship. US Bank Room Central Library, 3:30-4:30pm, 801 SW 10th Ave., FREE (first come, first served).

Also happening in Portland this week:

Monday welcomes acclaimed historical-fiction author, Sarah Waters to Powell's Books on Burnside. Waters will be joined in conversation by Lydia Yuknavitch. 7:30pm, 1005 W Burnside, FREE.

Tuesday: Topside Press authors, Casey Plett and Sybil Lamb will join "local trans-lit luminaries" for a reading at Floyd's in Old Town. 7-10pm, 118 NW Couch St. FREE.

Wednesday: PNCA will host a lecture evening with Cheryl Strayed. The event is free and open to the public. 7:30pm-10pm, 1241 NW Johnson St.

Friday: David Mitchell brings his highly anticipated novel, The Bone Clocks, to Powell's Cedar Hills location. 7pm, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. FREE.

Sunday at Valentine's celebrates contemporary literature with readings from Annelyse Gelman, John Barrios, and Robyn Bateman. 5pm, 232 SW Ankeny St. FREE.

Also on Sunday, Poor Claudia celebrates the release of chapbooks 'Ideal Machine' by Ashley Toliver and '24 Hours' by Portland poet, Matthew Dickman. The authors will read from their work at Church (the bar). 6pm, 2600 NE Sandy Blvd. FREE (with no-host bar). Chapbooks will be $10.

Deborah Reeves is an Irish writer, happy to call Portland home after many years of traveling. An avid reader, she blogs about books and writing at deborahrosereeves.com. You can reach her @debrosereeves on Twitter.

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