Joanna Scott
(READINGS) People who read Joanna Scott describe her alternately as either "the best contemporary writer I've ever read," or "the most confusing contemporary writer I've ever read." Pulitzer finalist (for her novel The Manikin) Scott throws her intellect into language that is compared to dream worlds and Ovid, channeled in her newest novel, Make Believe, through the person of a 4-year-old boy. Astonishing, atmospheric, ambitious-Scott's an author you won't want to miss. TRACI VOGEL
University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 8 pm, free.
Kestrel's Eye
(FILM) Sometimes you go to the movies to get slapped around by an action-adventure plot, sometimes you go to the movies to learn about different countries and customs. Rarely do you go to the movies to meditate, but that's exactly what you're gonna do if you go see Kestrel's Eye at the Grand Illusion. Two birds sit in a church and watch people get buried in a cemetery, and eventually the birds have babies. That's the "plot," but the movie is more about watching a couple of birds acting like a couple of birds, set against the gray, northern European skies. If you're not sure if you'd rather sit inside and watch the Discovery channel or go for a long, moody walk, then walk on down to Kestrel's Eye. ANDY SPLETZER
Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th (at University Way), 523-3935, Fri-Thurs Feb 18-24, at (Sat-Sun 3) 5, 7, & 9pm.
Shut Up and Love Me
(THEATER) "The Republicans will stab you in the stomach," she said recently. "The Democrats will stab you in the back." Look out: Karen Finley has a bone to pick. As perhaps the most infamous of the "NEA Four"-the pet targets of Jesse Helms' crusade against arts funding-Finley single-handedly popularized the image of performance artists as angry, naked leftists with foodstuffs smeared on their torsos. Politicians certainly picked up on this, and haven't let go since. Finley fights back with Shut up and Love Me, a piece designed to perk up the ears of Helms, Hatch, Gingrich, and even dear ol' Bill. Go see for yourself what all the fuss is about, and write your congressman later. STEVE WIECKING
On the Boards, 100 W Roy, 217-9888, Feb 18-March 4, Fri-Sat at 8 & 10:30 pm, $20.
Zelda & Scott
(THEATER) In the pantheon of celebrated dysfunctional American couples, the reigning monarchs continue to be F. Scott Fitzgerald and his gonzo wife, Zelda. While Scotty drank and raged and provided fodder for the musings of Hemingway and others, Zelda went in and out of mental institutions as though engaged in a vital game of one-upmanship with her famous novelist husband. Nostalgic Company, a new local theater troupe, is staging an original work by Deborah Girdwood that adapts the couple's correspondence, and details their romantic co-dependency from the roaring '20s up to the 1940s. The company is an offshoot of local film organization WigglyWorld Studios and should be well-acquainted with insanity. STEVE WIECKING
Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 329-0071, Feb 18-March 4, Thurs-Sun at 8 pm, $8.
The Catheters
(LIVE MUSIC) Wanna feel like you're in a Mötley Crüe video? Head down to Portland tonight when the Emerald City's HOTTY-est band the Catheters play Union Jack's, a down 'n' dirty strip joint that supports the regional music scene in a way that prude Seattle never can-pantieless! Union Jack's is a favorite place for Puddletown bands to stage release parties, and given the musical entertainment this time out, well, I hope the girls are young and pretty, because the band sure is. On both counts. KATHLEEN WILSON
Union Jack's, 938 E. Burnside, 503-236-1125, Portland, 9 pm.
Exploration of Queer Space
(VISUAL ART) Three timeless semantic quagmires have tormented artists, philosophers, and Jesse Helms alike for eons: What is art? What is gay? And what the hell is "queer space"? The ever-innovative Gay City attempts to shine
some light on the subject with What is Gay Art?: An Exploration of Queer Space, running through March 4 at the Robbie Mildred Gallery. What is Gay Art? features works in various media from local gay and bisexual men, and promises to address the wide variety of queer male perspectives from spiritual, intellectual, and physical viewpoints. Catholic priests wearing freedom rings? Einstein in the shower? Stop by the Robbie Mildred Gallery and find out. ADRIAN RYAN
Robbie Mildred Gallery, 307 E Pike St, 903-1246, through March 4.
Pitch Black
(FILM) The Space Age let us down. It never fulfilled any of its big promises: commodified space travel, star stations for weekend vacations, relocation to new planets. We are still stuck on Earth, and it doesn't look like we are going anywhere soon. This is why we watch any movie set on another planet, 'cause if NASA can't live up to its promises, then we'll have to make do with whatever Hollywood has to offer. The latest space spectacle from Hollywood is Pitch Black, which is directed by David Twohy, who gave us The Arrival back in 1996. Pitch Black is about a spaceship that crashes on a planet with two suns, and one of the nine survivors happens to be a psychopathic killer on his way to a prison in a distant galaxy. But this evil prisoner is not the real danger; there are these weird night creatures that want to kill every earthling before the sun reappears. The director guarantees that this is a great movie. CHARLES MUDEDE
At select theaters.
"Cherry" Tree
Chop a
(HOLIDAY) Celebrate George Washington's birthday the way he used to: with copious amounts of sex and drugs. A child of privilege and the son of a famous whoremonger, young George lived a carefree life befitting a young bachelor and "gentleman soldier." Only when he ran for office did he "settle down," in order to put on a good public face. He married the widow Martha Dandridge Curtis, a pre-fab wife who already had two kids of her own. She never bore him any. Why? Must have been the syphilis. There's little doubt that he continued to frequent whorehouses, and in that spirit-happy George Washington's Birthday (Observed). ANDY SPLETZER
Anywhere, anytime, as long as it feels good, and be careful with those wooden teeth.
Gomez
(LIVE MUSIC) Gomez are one of the biggest U.K. bands of the past few years, so of course, very few Americans have ever heard of them. With that in mind, I devote the rest of this space to reprinting an e-mail from my 14-year-old Welsh cousin, Will, who plays drums in a band in his native Dembeshire, Graigfechan. Will also loves Blur and Mogwai, and is in every way a healthy, normal U.K. youth. "Hi! Well, when Gomez first came out, I thought it was great to see a band who were trying to be themselves, not ripping off Nirvana, Radiohead, Oasis, or anyone else. But the first thing that hit me was how Ben Ottewell sings. I looooooooved the first album recorded in a garage on a four-track!!!!!!! Who would guess 'Tijuana Lady' is a pisstake? True, heartfelt blues from uni-kids like that happens every day. The second album was more indulgent. They had money spent on it, but exposed more heart and soul. When you first heard them, how old did they sound?????????????" ERIN FRANZMAN
Showbox, 1426 First Ave, 628-3151, 9 pm, $12.50/$15 Day of event.
The Now
(LIVE MUSIC) The Now have improved from great, to awesome, to out of this world. I just don't know how they could be better, but each time I see them, they are. Their songs are a delightful blend of the Charlatans, Blur, Cheap Trick, and KISS, and they're contenders for the best live show in town. At the very least, show up to see Jon Bolton's drumming antics, which include playing with a stuffed frog on his head, and pouring water on his kit so that when he hits, the droplets explode like firecrackers. ERIN FRANZMAN
Showbox, 1426 First Ave, 628-3151, 9 pm, $6.
of Harlem
Dance Theatre
(DANCE) There are many reasons why the distinguished dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell was a Kennedy Center honoree in 1993 for his lifetime of contributions to the arts, but the main one is about to head into town for a few days. Back in 1969, following the recent assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Mitchell founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem as both a personal statement and a universal proclamation. The vibrant, energetic company soon expanded the horizons of the world of dance, breaking down barriers and envisioning new and grander vistas for multi-racial artistic opportunities. Its 30th anniversary tour is a well-deserved celebration. STEVE WIECKING
Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-ARTS, Wed-Fri Feb 23-25 at 8 pm, $19-$41.
