Eugene Weekly : Calendar : 03.02.06

For the second March in a row, eternally optimistic Aussie singer-songwriter Ben Lee arrives in Eugene for a show at John Henry's. Still touring for 2005's Awake is the New Sleep, Lee is coming off a successful European tour. He notes on his blog at ben-lee.com that he recently recorded a duet with his friend Leona Naess, who just happens to be the opening act for this tour. Naess hasn't released a record since her 2003 self-titled album, but three delicate, intimate new songs, showcases for Naess's clear voice, are available at myspace.com/leonanaess. See Saturday Calendar.

In a bit of perfect timing following this issue's cover story, EW's Lois Wadsworth appears at this week's City Club of Eugene meeting to discuss, with UO professor Debra Merskin, "How Good is That Movie, Anyway? And Who Says So?" Each will give a short presentation, then discuss money and art in the movie world before taking questions from the audience. This is possibly Lois's last appearance as EW's film critic, so if you've ever wanted to pick her brain a little, now's your chance! See Friday Calendar.

Starting Tuesday, The Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival takes over the McDonald Theatre for five days of juried films and videos on archaeological and indigenous topics. The festival's mission, according to the website, is "to exhibit for our audience the wonderful diversity of human cultures past and present in the exploration of our place in history and in our world." This year's selections include the two-part Blood of the Vikings, which examines the legacy of the Vikings in Britain; Slave Island, below, about the discovery of a slave burial ground in lower Manhattan; and Queen of the Mountain, the story of Theresa Goell, a woman who chose adventure and challenge in what was, in her time, a man's field: archaeology. Beyond the great and varied slate of films, other festival events include Stone Age Day at Dorris Ranch and a keynote speech by renowned archaeological writer Brian Fagan. See www.archaeologychannel.organd Tuesday Calendar.

Join Jerry Williams for this month's Lane Arts Council First Friday ARTWalk, which kicks off at 5:30pm Friday evening with the grand opening of Imagine — Eugene Artisans Gallery, an eight-member artists' collective. Stop #2, the Campbell House, presents "Atmosphere," an impressionism exhibit by Debra Wade. At Fenario Gallery, stop #3, the work of glass artist Marcel Braun (pictured at left) is on display, along with "Fenario Retrospective 2005." Wind down the walk with a steaming hot cup of coffee at stop #4, The Beanery, which features local artists and live music. As always, many other downtown galleries and shops are open late but not part of the walking tour. See www.lanearts.organd Friday Calendar.

We have lift-off: Portland-based Pendulum Aerial Dance Theatre propels dance and theater into a hypnotically airborne feat in their March 7 performance of "Crimson Cabaret." Portland is known for its microbrews, its mass-transit — and for its trapeze. No doubt about it, PDX is a swingy town, with Do Jump! and others making the Rose City safe for disproportionate upper-body strength. Pendulum is in good contemporary company, too, with NY's long-running off-Broadway amphibian spectacle "De La Guarda" and global juggernaut Cirque de Soleil still packing 'em in. So what's the draw? Like a human lava lamp, aerial dance is inherently appealing to watch: Weightlessness allows dancers to twist and flip in inhumanly contorted, sometimes goofy, and even transcendent ways. With the aid of trapezes, bungee cords, aerial silk and other inventive flying apparatuses, Pendulum dancers charge into the vertical space, to the envy of audiences and certain consternation of muttering stage crews. Check out the interdisciplinary results when the UO Cultural Forum presents Pendulum Aerial Dance Theatre at the Hult Center's Soreng Theater this week. See Tuesday Calendar. —Rachael Carnes