FRIDAY, JUNE 30 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing on Fridays until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

“Integrating the Spiritual Path with Modern Day Lifestyle” with Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche at 7 p.m. followed by all-day workshop on Sat. Held at Berkeley Shambhala Center, 2288 Fulton St. Cost is $25 for the talk and $75 for the workshop. Registration suggested. 701-1681. 

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. 845-1143. 

SATURDAY, JULY 1 

Farm Stories and Songs Listen to songs and stories then meet the animals at 1 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Kid’s Garden Club for ages 7-12 to explore the world of gardening, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 636-1684. 

Campfire and Sing-a-Long in Tilden. Bring your hot dogs, buns, marshmallows and long sticks, and dress warmly. Meet at the Tilden Nature Center at 5:30 p.m. and we’ll walk uphill to the campfire circle. Wheelchair accessible. 525-2233. 

“Solar Electricity For Your Home” Learn how to size, specify and design your own solar electrical generator. A short field trip to a functioning house/system in Berkeley and current catalog of available equipment are also included. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Building Education Center, 812 Page St. Cost is $75. 525-7610. 

Sunset Walk in Emeryville with the Solo Sierrans Meet at 5:30 p.m. behind Chevy’s Restaurant at picnic table, for an hour’s walk through the marina. Optional dinner afterwards. Wheel chair accessible. 234-8949. 

Teen Summer Reading Program begins at the Oakland Public Library. Anyone entering 7th to 12th grades can earn prizes when they read for school or pleasure. For information visit any Oakland Public Library branch or see www.oaklandlibrary.org 

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St.  

Sick Plant Clinic UC plant pathologist Dr. Robert Raabe, UC entomologist Dr. Nick Mills, and their team of experts will diagnose what ails your plants from 9 a.m. to noon at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. 643-2755.  

Walking Tour of Oakland Chinatown Meet at 10 a.m. at the courtyard fountain in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza at 388 Ninth St. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Origami: Twistfish and Magic Star Learn to fold origami at 2 p.m. at the The Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720 ext 17. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JULY 2 

Felting a Fun Hand Puppet Meet our flock of Black Welsh Mountain Sheep and learn how to turn their wool into a felt project from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. For ages 8 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $7-$12. 636-1684. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Summer Sunday Forum: Homelessness with Kecia McMillian at 9:30 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Jack van der Meulen on Tibetan Yoga: Contacting Beauty at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, JULY 3 

Independence Day Celebration with a cabaret performance by Alan Horan at 1:15 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

McGee Avenue Toastmasters meets at 7:30 p.m. at McGee Ave Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart St. 

Deeksha and Chanting at 7:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Church, 941 The Alameda. Donations accepted. 655-1425. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, JULY 4 

Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina, from noon to 9:30 p.m. A free admission, alcohol-free event, with live entertainment, arts & crafts, food, and activities for children. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Sponsored by the City of Berkeley. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us.  

Fourth of July Open House at Tilden Park Visit the Nature Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to meet critters, make nature crafts and have fun. 525-2233. 

Free Sailboat Rides from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club in the Berkeley Marina. Bring change of clothes, windbreaker, sneakers. For ages 5 and up. cal-sailing.org  

Red Oak Victory Ship 4th of July BBQ at 6 p.m. Music, tour of the ship and a great view of fireworks around the Bay. Cost is $20. Located in Richmond harbor, Berth # 6, off Canal Blvd. Reservations required. 237-2933. 

Save the Bay Fireworks Paddle enjoy the Bay Area Fireworks by canoe off Arrowhead Marsh, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Minimum age 10, children 10-12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Cost is $30-$40. Registration required. 452-9261, ext. 109. www.saveSFbay.org 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your digital images, slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 

Walking Tour of Jack London Waterfront Meet at 10 a.m. at the corner of Broadway and Embarcadero. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

“Super Size Me” a documentary on the physical, legal and financial costs of Americans and fast food, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donations of $5 accepted. 

“Predators and Their Prey” An introduction to live wild animals by Wildlife Associates at 2:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 10 a.m. to noon. Help is needed to support the more than 40 blood drives held each month all over the East Bay. For information call 594-5165.  

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Herrick Campus, Maffley Auditorium, 2001 Dwight Way. To make an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. www.BeADonor.com 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Sleep Seminar at 7 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. 548-9840. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/ 

vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, JULY 6 

First Thursdays at Fruitvale Village A street fair and farmer’s market from 5 to 8 p.m. with music, tastings, and children’s activities. Sponsored by Los Cantaros Taqueria and the Unity Council. 534-6900. www.unitycouncil.org 

Teen Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Club will discuss Poul Anderson’s “The Broken Sword” and J.R.R. Tolkein’s Ring trilogy at 4 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue. 981-6133. 

East Bay Vivarium An introduction to insects, lizards, amphibians and reptiles at 11 a.m. at the Brookfield Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 9255 Edes Ave. 615-5725. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. jstansby@yahoo.com 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755.  

ONGOING 

Find a Loving Animal Companion at the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society Adoption Center (open from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday). 2700 Ninth St. 845-7735.  

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Fri., June 30 at noon, in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Commission on the Status of Women meets Wed., July 5, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Tasha Tervelon, 981-5190. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/women 

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., July 6, at 7:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/housing 

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Thurs. July 6, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7419. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/landmarks 

Public Works Commission meets Thurs., July 6, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jeff Egeberg, 981-6406. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/publicworks 

FRIDAY, JUNE 30 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “Permanent Collection” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through July 23. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatere.org 

Central Works “The Inspector General” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through July 30. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. www.centralworks.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Footloose” the musical based on the 1984 film at 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Contra Costa Civic Theater, 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through August 5. Tickets are $12-$20. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Crowded Fire Theater Company “We Are Not These Hands” a comedy about the friendship between two teenaged girls in a fictional third-world nation, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. through July 16 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $10- $20. www.crowdedfire.org 

Masquers Playhouse “The Fantasticks” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm on uly 2, 9, 16. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through July 22. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Pinole Community Players “Oliver!” the musical, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., selected Sun. at 2 p.m., at the Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Ave., Pinole, through July 15. Tickets are $14-$17. 724-3669, 223-3598.  

Shadow Circus Creature Theater Giant puppets perform “The Laptop Banditos” at 9 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. www.shadowcircus.com  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Flaming: Art from LGBT Communities” Reception for the artists at 6 p.m. at WCRC Gallery, 5741 Telegraph Ave. Runs to July 28. 601-4040, ext. 111. www.wcrc.org 

FILM 

Isabelle Huppert: Passion and Contradiction “La cérémonie” at 7 p.m and “Story of Women” at 9:15 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Gary Younge describes “Stranger in a Strange Land: Encounters in the Disunited States” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Jazz Express at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Jules Broussard Birthday Concert with Bobbe Norris and Larry Dunlop Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Bay Area Classical Harmonies at 8 p.m. at Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Tickets are $15 for adults and $2 for children. 526-9146. 

“Full Circle “ Dream Dance Company and Jose Francisco Barroso and Carlos Mena Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St. at 9th St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$15. 597-1619, ext. 110. dreamdancecompany.org  

Wee and Jon Cooney, singer-songwriters, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Slydini, Moe Staiano at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Killing the Dream, Ruiner, Final Flight at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Broun Fellinis at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

The Family Arsenal, Uncle Funky at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $7. 451-8100.  

Take 6, a capella, at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $28-$32. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com  

SATURDAY, JULY 1 

EXHIBITIONS 

Photo-Quilts by Sharin Smelser Photo montages on paper and fabric arranged in American quilt patterns on display to Aug. 20 at Musical Offering and Cafe, 2430 Bancroft Way. 849-0211. 

“Ted Gordon” Recent works on display at The Ames Gallery, 2661 Cedar St., to Sept. 30. 845-4949. www.amesgallery.com 

“From Isolation to Connection” works by residents of Berkeley’s Bonita House’s Creative Living Center and the City of Berkeley Mental Health Division, on display at Addison St. Windows Gallery, through July 27. 981-7533. 

Paintings from the Gaia Pelt Series by Audrey Wallace-Taylor on display in the student lounge, University YWCA on Bancroft at Bowditch through July. 848-6370. 

Berkeley Public Library Staff Art Show on display throughout the library, 2090 Kittredge St., through Aug. 7. 981-6100. 

THEATER 

“The Lorin District Project” Reading of a new play about the neighborhood at 1 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Followed by dessert and discussion. 841-6500.  

Everyday Theatre “Dreaming in a Firestorm” by Tim Barsky at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway at 2nd St. Tickets are $12-$20. 644-2204.  

FILM 

A Theater Near You: “Days of Heaven” at 6:30 p.m. and “woman in the Dunes” at 8:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Bay Area Poets Coalition open reading from 3 to 5 p.m., at Strawberry Creek Lodge, dining hall, 1320 Addison St. Park on the street, not in Lodge parking lot. Free. 527-9905. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Agualibre, Latin, hip-hop, soul at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12. 525-5054.  

GTS, Downtown Rhythm at 8 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $10. 451-8100.  

Peter Apfelbaum & The New York Hieroglyphics at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

The Morning Line, El Capitan, Amee Chapman and the Big Finish at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Yancie Taylor Jazztet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Meli Rivera, world rock, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. All ages. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881. 

Larry Vuckovich & Buca Necak Duo at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Samantha Raven and Emaluna, singer-songwriters, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Sotaque Baino, Brazilian music at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$12. 548-1159. 

SUNDAY, JULY 2 

FILM 

A Theater Near You: “Days of Heaven” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Dorianne Laux, Geri Digiorno and Nancy Keane at 3 p.m. at Diesel, 5433 College Ave. 653-9965. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Twang Cafe: Kit and Tanya and 3 Mile Grade at 7:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. All ages. Cost is $5-$10 sliding scale. 644-2204.  

Aleph Null at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ.  

Gombajahbari, Latin roots from Puerto Rico at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568.  

Edessa, Blkan, at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. 

The Bobs, a cappella, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Atmos Trio at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

MONDAY, JULY 3 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Al Averbach and Jeanne Lupton read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Poetry Express with Stephanie Manning at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Waybacks at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$8.50. 548-1761.  

Blue Monday Jam at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

Kékélé at 8 and 10 p.m. p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200.  

TUESDAY, JULY 4 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jazz Jam with Michael Coleman Trio at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Free, bring you rinstrument. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Regina Pontillo at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Mal Sharpe’s Big Money in Jazz Band, featuring Faye Carol, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $5. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Bay in Bloom” A Group Show by the artists of The Artful Steps Program, opens at the LunchStop Cafe, MetroCenter, 101 Eighth St., Oakland. 817-5773. 

FILM 

Global Rhythms on Screen: “Step Across the Border” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Hadai Ditmars will talk about “Dancing in the No-FLy Zone: A Woman’s Journey Through Iraq” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Roy Zimmerman in “Faulty Intelligence” An evening of satirical songs, Wed.-Fri. at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2118 Allston Way, through July 27. 800-838-3006. www.themarsh.org  

Calvin Keys Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $6. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Whiskey Brothers, old time and bluegrass, at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Cajun/Zydeco Benefit for Agi Ban at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10.. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Saoco, salsa, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Vital Information at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, JULY 6 

FILM 

Beyond Bollywood: “Kumar Talkies” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Free first Thursday. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India” Guided tour at 5:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. Free First Thursday. 642-0808. 

Word Beat Reading Series with Marc Elihu Hofstadter and Dian Gillmar at 7 p.m. at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave., near Dwight Way. 526-5985. 

Poetry at the Albany Library with Robert Lipton followed by an open reading, at 7 p.m. at 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Junior Reid, reggae, at 10 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $17-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Lost Highway at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jim Grantham Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Trillium, harps and vocals, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

All One Thing, The Fair Saints at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Torrettes Without Regrets at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $7. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Vital Information at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

“Put yourself in my place,” says the well-dressed African American man (L. Peter Callendar as Sterling North), surrounded by canvases of early Modern art that are punctuated by an occasional African mask—as he delivers a careful, frank but controlled account of how he was pulled over by a suburban cop for “no apparent reason” and asked for the registration for his new Jaguar, the first morning he drove to his new job as director of the prestigious (if eccentric) galleries of the Morris Foundation. 

It’s a kind of prologue to Thomas Gibbons’ play, Permanent Collection, at the Aurora. An anecdote on perspective and repeated social experience would seem a good preface to a play on art and racial controversy; the drama presents itself a little as an unfortunate accident of misunderstanding, a bit more as an inevitable collision between mutually uncomprehending types, as the events unfold in a quiet, luminous sanctuary of art. 

The antagonists are North, who, after a career in the corporate world, has been chosen to direct the Morris by the black university, the founder’s will- appointed trustee, and Paul Barrow (Tim Kniffen), who has spent his adult life at the Morris, regarding himself as a kind of protégé of the founder, and who directs the educational program. 

The disparity between the two is emphasized by their appearance and their mannerisms. And both are finally stripped down to knee-jerk, almost Pavlovian reactions to what each regards as slights—racial, professional and personal—from the other. 

It’s really something of a sad, institutional romance gone sour—a triangle, with Barrow, the scholar who wants things to stay as intimate as they are; North the dynamic force for change and expansion into the public world and Gillian Crane (Melissa Gray), the reporter for the ‘B’ section of the city paper, searching for controversy in the quiet suburbs, who gets Barrow’s indignant leaks into print, as well as North’s heated ripostes.  

To make the polar controversy a little more 360 in degree, Gibbons has tipped in North’s young African American administrative assistant, Kanika Weaver (admirably portrayed by Karen Aldridge), who befriends Barrow as kind of a mentor and gets caught in the middle. Kanika’s able to articulate less hardline, less positional views of a different generation, yet the role is clearly one created with that in mind, the relationship with Barrow a made-up one. 

Margarette Robinson plays Ella Franklin, the longtime (and only) African American staffer (the founder’s administrative assistant) when North arrives and the figure of continuity when the dust settles. And the founder himself, Dr. Morris is nicely presented by Robert Hamm, alternately a mischievous, overgrown schoolboy curmudgeon, snickering over his constant swipes at the academic and museum worlds. 

The play consists in great part of monologues and soliloquies. The Aurora production features fine acting and, overall, solid direction from Robin Stanton, plus good design from Richard Olmstead, Jon Retsky, Chris Houston, and Rebecca Ann Valentino (for set, lighting, sound and costume). 

The collaborative effort goes a ways toward fleshing out a play that’s professionally written, about real issues lucidly stated, fictionally expanded from the controversies surrounding the Barnes Foundation near Philadelphia, to touch on the deeper contradictions in our society, between equality and racial (and class) identity, public and private life, and art versus comprehension in a culture of self-expression. 

But Gibbons’ play just lays the groundwork, in itself a somewhat institutional discussion “about” art, race, society. With all its admirable intentions, it doesn’t penetrate much beneath the surface of The News, into what Aristotle called “dramatic action,” that crux of a human situation which, put on a stage before an audience, anatomizes the wellsprings of existence and change.

If you’ve seen or intend to see The Road to Guantanamo, reviewed in this space last week, it might be a good time to revisit Peter Watkins’ 1971 Punishment Park. The two films, 35 years apart, provide perspectives on the abuse of power that are both complementary and contradictory. 

Watkins, an Englishman, came to the United States in 1969 to make a series of documentaries on American history, but the project was eventually canceled. Instead he was inspired by the political turbulence of the era to create Punishment Park, a cinema verité depiction of a government crackdown on Vietnam-era dissidents. The film was released last year on DVD by New Yorker Video as part of a series called “The Cinema of Peter Watkins.” Other films in the series include The War Game, Culloden, The Gladiators and the biopic Edvard Munch. 

Punishment Park imagines a scenario in which President Nixon invokes his rights under the 1950 Internal Security Act and establishes detention camps for dissidents, militants and draft-dodgers—indeed, anyone who has committed an act of “sabotage” or who the government has reasonable cause to believe has the intention of committing such an act. Substitute “terrorism” for “sabotage,” pour yourself a stiff drink, then settle in for 90 minutes of deju vu and despair. 

The storm of criticism unleashed upon the film’s release would be no less anachronistic than the content in today’s heated political climate. The film was assailed as an anti-American polemic, a dangerous and subversive treatise that would provide aid and comfort to the enemy. 

The film cuts back and forth between two lines of action. In the first, a group of detainees faces a right-wing citizen tribunal in a series of improvised confrontations based loosely on the trial of the Chicago Seven. The actors—amateurs selected for their appearance and political views—improvised the dialogue, a creative decision that both helps and hinders the movie, lending the action a degree of immediacy while simultaneously rendering the characters as two-dimensional stereotypes.  

Each prisoner is questioned in turn before each is given the choice of a lengthy prison term or a few days in Punishment Park, a vast expanse of desert in which they will be left to wander while the military police hunt them down in a sort of state-sanctioned version of “The Most Dangerous Game.” 

The contentious environment inside the interrogation tent is further established by the details of photographer Joan Churchill’s framing of the scene: The detainees are disheveled and unkempt and face their interrogators while surrounded by the trappings of power: Guns, billy clubs and uniformed officers lurk always in the background. And while they sit alone in the heat, facing a torrent of abuse, the tribunal’s members pass around a pitcher of ice water, and are later shown taking a break while munching at a catered buffet. 

The second line of action features the previous group of detainees, who have already faced interrogation and have opted for Punishment Park. In a series of interviews with the narrator (voiced by Watkins), the prisoners discuss their predicament as they run from and eventually confront their captors. 

In addition to the cross-cutting and mise-en-scene, the film employs a series of techniques designed to increase the pace and heighten the dramatic tension. The presence of the narrator/filmmaker sets up a confrontational dynamic between the players and the camera, and when the narrator finally drops his objective distance and becomes part of the action, expressing his outrage to the military police who have shot down several detainees in the desert, Watkins raises challenging questions about the role of media, the value of journalistic objectivity, and the civic duty of a democratic citizenry. 

It may be difficult in these times to suspend our disbelief long enough to accept that the federal government would allow media access to such an exercise; Watkins seems not to have anticipated the corporate efficiency or the sheer Orwellian chutzpah of the current administration, which has learned the lessons of the past and imposes severe restrictions on the press. 

The Road to Guantanamo, criticized by some for not telling the government’s side of the story, could not do so because the government simply refuses to tell it. Watkins’ film, on the other hand, is a product of its era, a time when politicians had yet to learn these lessons, allowing their dirty laundry to be aired at the 1968 Democratic Convention, at Kent State, in Vietnam and elsewhere. In that sense, Punishment Park is almost nostalgic.