By  Sylvie Chace & Felix Chrome

Wednesday 5/17

Blessed is the flame:

Concentration Camp Resistance & (A)Nihilism

Sem II D1105. 6 p.m. Free.

Author of the recent book “Blessed Is The Flame” is coming to Evergreen to facilitate a workshop and discussion about the relation between nihilism and resistance. The event will look at examples of the often forgotten, and largely unsuccessful, instances of resistance and struggle within Nazi concentration camps to ask the question, “What does it take to resist in absolutely futile and overwhelming situations?” Blessed is the Flame author argues that, “Within each of these mostly overlooked stories we can find a simmering spirit of anarcho-nihilism, a tendency that challenges us to translate our feelings of hopelessness into wild and joyous forms of attack.” This not to find an optimistic spin for terrible situations but to ground our continued struggles in something stronger than optimism. The event is sponsored by anti-authoritarian student group Black Cottonwood Collective.

Friday 5/19

Between Worlds: Nightmares of Fascism, Dreams of Liberation

Purce Lecture Hall I. 6 p.m. Free.

A long running anarchist news, information, and propaganda cite, CrimethInc. is presenting a workshop on resistance to fascism in the current era. This event will ask the questions,  “When fascism was gaining momentum nearly a century ago, what strategies were effective against it—or could have been? Where are today’s movements succeeding against Trump and the far right? How do we build inner and interpersonal resilience in the midst of these conflicts? And what is the alternative to a world of nationalist violence?” and use examples of resistance to consider what tactics can be best employed for ongoing struggles against nationalism, fascism, and the far-right.

Thursday 5/25

Olympia People’s Mic feat. Joshua Nguyen

Gordon

Ben Moore’s. 6 p.m. Free. All ages.

A night of poetry will be held at Ben Moore’s downtown, featuring accomplished poet Joshua Nguyen. The facebook page states info on Nguyen, “[He] began writing with the Meta-Four Houston Youth Slam Team from 2008-2012 and competed in Brave New Voices. He is an alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin and was part of the UT Spitshine slam team from 2014-2016. He placed #1 in the nation in 2014, won ‘Best Writing as a Team’ in 2015, and was the 2015 CUPSI Haiku Champ. In 2016, he traveled to Washington D.C. as a member of Future Corp to organize the 2016 Brave New Voices International Poetry Festival. He has been published in Freezeray Poetry and Button Poetry. In 2015, he was part of the Word Around Town Poetry Tour (WAT) in Houston, Texas.” If poetry is your thing, then head down to support the artist!

Sunday 5/28

May maker’s market

Obsidian. 12 p.m. Free. All ages.

Be sure to get down to this marketplace filled with local goodies! Maker’s Market is a regular monthly market held at Obsidian, the facebook page for the event says that the market is  “a local craft fair in the back of Obsidian. We want to help micro businesses find an audience and get started. We have an emphasis on handmade, organic, or locally sourced products.” There are 10 vendors in total and cool stuff to expect includes jewelry, herbs, crystals, patches, pins and more! Be sure to get there by noon because free gift bags with handmade products will be given out to the lucky first few at the door once the market opens!