In 2021 Witte goes virtual via Zoom! Even in the face of a pandemic, the Witte Lecture Series remains steadfast in providing timely, relevant, and vibrant contemporary speakers. Be inspired by the artistry of cooking, political developments of historic magnitude, the societal price of addiction, and the power of art which can cross cultural divides. We offer you a seat at our virtual round table in the comfort of your own home as we present engaging topics during serious times.

Sam Quinones

Dreamland – Opioids in America: Past, Present, and Future
Friday, March 12, 6:19pm

Sam Quinones’ book Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic (2015) won a National Book Critics Circle Award and was on a dozen Best Book of the Year lists. Why? The book struck a common chord. Quinones is a masterful storyteller and sought-after speaker who shares how the silent tragedy has impacted communities and families coast to coast. And what a tale . . . Dreamland is riveting. Quinones recounts how a pharmaceutical corporation promoted its legal opiate prescription painkiller as non-addictive and the rise of international drug trafficking. The collision of these two forces has led America into the deadliest drug scourge in modern times. 

Dreamland has also been adapted for a young adult audience, grades 8-12. www.samquinones.com

*Tickets purchased last spring for this event will be honored.

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 Shahzia Sikander

Beauty, Power, and Extraordinary Realities
Friday, April 16, 6:19pm

Pioneering Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander is one of the most influential artists working today. She is celebrated for her figurative painting, sculptures and installations inspired by traditional Persian miniatures. Sikander will discuss her latest artwork, exhibitions, and forthcoming book Shahzia Sikander: Extraordinary Realities (2021, Hirmer Publishers). We will learn how she expands and subverts traditional themes to explore cultural identity, gender, and other under-represented narratives. Sikander received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2006 and was awarded the State Department Medal of Arts in 2012. Her work has been exhibited around the world including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, Sydney; Irish Modern Museum of Art, Dublin; and the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. www.shahziasikander.com.

Sikander will be in conversation with Meg Linton, Chief Executive Officer, Newport Beach Public Library Foundation.

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Event details and RSVP Information: 

• Location: NBPL Foundation’s ZOOM Webinar Room 
• Virtual doors open at 6:19pm
• Virtual presentation followed by Q &A
• General $35 per household// NBPLF Members receive 25% discount 
• Opportunity to buy a signed copy of the presenters’ publications is made possible by Laguna Beach Books

 Questions? Contact Director of Programs Kunga Wangmo-Upshaw kupshaw@nbplf.foundation or 949-717-3818.