Maybe you haven't heard of "psychogeography," but it's heard of you. It's the study, through art, of how people interact culturally with the urban landscape. (History animating city streets, for instance.) The City & The City: Artwork by London Writers is a psychogeographic exhibition opening at Wood Street Galleries as part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Sept. 28 Gallery Crawl. As curated by Justin Hopper (a sometime CP contributor), the show gathers seven London-based artists known best for their writing. Performance poet Caroline Bergvall's "Middling English" applies Chaucerian style to modern London. Rod Dickinson (famed for his crop circles) collaborates with novelist Tom McCarthy on "Greenwich Degree Zero," a multimedia installation about an alternate history in which a failed anarchist bombing in 1894 succeeded. Plus: an installation by nonfiction writer Rachel Lichtenstein; "Flying Down to Rio," a video installation by filmmakers Chris Petit and Emma Matthews and psychogeography pioneer Iain Sinclair; and critic, author and historian Sukhdev Sandhu's "Night Haunts," a series of interactive audiovisual accounts of London after dark. Meanwhile, the Crawl includes a couple of dozen other venues' worth of visual art, live music and more. And on Sat., Sept. 29, join visiting artists Bergvall, Dicksinson, McCarthy, Lichtenstein and Sukhdev Sandhu for a free reading and salon at SPACE gallery. Bill O'Driscoll Gallery Crawl: 5:30-9 p.m. Fri., Sept. 28 (Downtown). Reading/Salon: 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 29 (812 Liberty Ave., Downtown). www.trustarts.org
Potlucks breed strange combinations, but few can be as innovative as Slideluck. Compounding "slideshow" and "potluck," the New York-based nonprofit organizes unique evenings of art and food from city to city. Attendees at its Pittsburgh debut should bring home cooking to share before viewing a slideshow of local artists' work at Clear Story Studio. Founder Casey Kelbaugh grew this format from a Seattle backyard shindig in 2000 to a global phenomenon with events throughout the Americas and Europe. The photographer says of Slideluck: "I wanted to foster a sense of community within the industry while presenting works in an egalitarian fashion." Indeed, anyone can submit creative work to be displayed at Slidelucks, where established artists are given equal billing to the unknown. Whatever combinations find their way into your eye-line, or stomach, at Sept. 29's Slideluck PGH, it promises to provide a diverse offering, with additional supplies from Brooklyn Brewery. Catherine Sylvain Potluck: 7-9 p.m. Slideshow: 9-10 p.m. Sat., Sept. 29. 1931 Sidney St., South Side. $10. 412-512-4725 or www.slideluckpotshow.com
Thu., Sept. 27 — Art
"All life on the planet is interrelated," wrote Rachel Carson. On the 50th anniversary of Carson's landmark book Silent Spring, artist (and fellow Chatham University alum) Kate Cheney Chappell offers InterRelated: One Artist's Response to Silent Spring, an exhibit at Chatham University Art Gallery, with more than 50 works from monoprints to installations. Given that Carson's alarms helped spark a DDT ban, Chappell is also collaborating with students on a life-sized eagle's nest, including raku-fired ceramic eggs. A poetry reading by Jean LeBlanc and Marjorie Agosin precedes tonight's opening reception. Bill O'Driscoll Poetry reading: 4 p.m. Reception: 5-7 p.m. Chatham campus, Woodland Road, Shadyside. Free. www.chatham.edu
Thu., Sept. 27 — Film + Music
The only thing creepier than the sound of a theremin is watching somebody play one. The electronic instrument — an antennae-like device played with no human contact — is a favorite for sci-fi soundtracks, and Eric Ross is one of its virtuosos. He's performed on film, radio and television and today will play live at Regent Square Theater for a program presented by the Three Rivers Film Festival. Ross's strange original compositions on theremin, synthesizer and guitar will accompany short experimental films by video artist Mary Ross. Catherine Sylvain 8 p.m. 1035 S. Braddock Ave., Edgewood. $12. 412-682-4111 or www.pittsburgharts.org
Fri., Sept. 28 — Film
A screening of food-industry exposé Forks Over Knives could influence your eating choices at today's Healthy Eating Happy Planet Festival. The documentary draws unsettling connections between degenerative disease and animal-based diets, and its findings will be discussed afterward by guest experts. Samplings from local vegan, vegetarian and fusion restaurants will be featured alongside animal-rights and farm-sanctuary exhibitors at the Environmental Charter School. If the documentary doesn't make you want to try vegetarianism, the cute animals on display might. CS 6:30-9 p.m. (7:30 screening). 829 Milton St., Regent Square. Free. www.ForksOverKnivesPGH.com
Fri., Sept. 28 — Dance
In May, Continuum Dance Theater premiered THE MOVEMENT, and since then artistic director Sarah Parker's troupe has been as busy as any in town. Starting tonight, see how additional seasoning has paid off as Continuum performs THE MOVEMENT: A new perspective. It's a dance work (in the round) in two acts, one depicting dancers' lives behind the curtain, the other the work on stage. There are four performances over two weekends at The Space Upstairs. BO 8 p.m. Also Sat., Sept. 29, and Oct. 5 and 6. 214 N. Lexington St., Point Breeze. $18-35. 412-860-1628 or [email protected]
Sat., Sept. 29 — Green
The Allegheny Green and Innovation Festival might be the county's biggest gathering to promote environmentally sustainable living. The third annual fest, at Hartwood Acres Park, hosts 80-some exhibitors and vendors, covering everything from cleaning our rivers to weatherizing your house and starting a community garden. You can donate reusable or recyclable materials, from bike parts to medical supplies, and the whole event is solar-powered and zero-waste. Also, I Made It! Market hosts a couple of dozen vendors offering crafts made from all recycled or sustainable materials. And it's all paired with Hartwood's Hay Day (hay rides, "Bouncy Castle," petting zoo). BO 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Hampton Township. Free. 412-767-9200 or www.alleghenycounty.us/GreenFestival
Sat., Sept. 29 — Music
It's a rare Pittsburgh visit for bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke. The decorated jazz vet, known for his fusion work with Chick Corea, is in town to lead The Stanley Clarke Trio, with keyboardist Beka Gochiashvili and drummer Ronald Bruner Jr. The two performances at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild launch the MCG Jazz season. BO 7 and 9:30 p.m. (7 p.m. show is sold out). 1815 Metropolitan St., North Side. $56.50. 412-322-0800 or www.mcgjazz.org
Sun., Sept. 30 — Exercise
Today is your last chance to attend the Free Weekly Tai Chi Classes on offer at Schenley Plaza. Earn your Sunday brunch or exorcise a hangover with an hour's gentle martial arts outdoors, taught by Sifu Eric Randolphe of The Tao Applied. The stress-free mornings come courtesy of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and require no reservations, payment or weather worries: The rain location is the Schenley Plaza Tent. CS 10-11 a.m. 4100 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. 412-682-7275 x224 or www.pittsburghparks.org
Sun., Sept. 30 — Exhibits
It's another big Sunday for RADical Days, the Allegheny Regional Asset District's annual offering of free admissions. Today, there's no charge to enter venues including the Sen. John Heinz History Center; the National Aviary; the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History; and the Children's Museum. Expect crowds, perhaps — but think of it as communing with fellow bargain-seekers. BO RADical Days continues through Oct. 13. Full schedule at www.radworkshere.org
Wed., Oct. 3 — Words
With his third novel, Carnegie native Bill Campbell did things differently. In Koontown Killing Kaper, not only did he push racial stereotyping to satirical extremes — are all those rappers being murdered by vampire crack babies? — he marketed the 2012 book with a soundtrack of music by independent artists. Campbell, now of Washington, D.C., returns for a discussion on "author innovators" at the Mount Lebanon Public Library Fall Author Forum. He's joined by local tech-world cartoonist Francis Cleetus, creator of the strip and book It's Geek-2-Me. BO 7 p.m. 16 Castle Shannon Blvd., Mount Lebanon. Free. 412-531-1912
Thu., Oct. 4 — Event
Though it's Japanese for "chit-chat," PechaKucha 20x20 organizes events that are rather more special than casual banter. Since 2003 they've featured in 577 cities. Tonight is Pittsburgh's 13th PechaKucha Night, held in conjunction with AIA's Design Pittsburgh at The Cultural Trust Educational Center. The format is always the same — local artists present slideshows of up to 20 pieces at 20 seconds a slide — but the content never is. Though Pecha Kucha was designed for architects, anyone can request to exhibit their artwork or even holiday snaps. CS 7:20-9 p.m. 805-807 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $10. 412-471-9548 or www.aiapgh.com
