Columbia and New York City are packed with amazing culture and inspiring art, and there’s never been a better time to experience it first-hand. “Where Art Thou” is a weekly guide to interesting and notable lectures, events, and performances for the literary/musically/theatrically-inclined.

Your event wasn’t included in Where Art Thou? Send us an email at arts@bwog.com and we’ll be sure to include you! Throughout the year, we do our best to promote arts at Columbia and Barnard to the entire student community, and the best way to make sure your event gets promoted and covered is by reaching out to us.

Directing Thesis: Illusions

• January 26–29, Lenfest Center for the Arts
• The MFA Class of 2023 presents the latest directing thesis by current student Andrew Freeberg. Illusions, a play by Ivan Viripaev, untangles the lives of two couples and the debris they’ve left behind. Tickets are free, registration required.

Pop-Up Concerts: Argus Quartet

• January 24, 6 pm, Miller Theatre
• The Miller Theatre returns to its regular stagings of free hour-long concerts with a performance by the classical Argus Quartet. Onstage seating available. Doors open at 5:30 pm.

Mark Podwal: Drawing on my Eastern European Roots

• January 25, 7 pm, Kent Hall
• The Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies will host Mark Podwal for a lecture on how he incorporates his connections to Eastern European culture in his work. Podwal is the author and illustrator of numerous books, and has collaborated with Elie Wiesel and Harold Bloom. Registration is free, but a donation is suggested.

Vladimir Gandelsman Poetry Reading

• January 27, 6:30 pm, International Affairs Building
• The Harriman Institute celebrates the publication of poet Vladimir Gandelsman’s collection A Man Only Needs A Room. He will be joined by translators Anna Halberstadt, Olga Livshin and Andrew Janco.

Illusion via Wikimedia Commons