Altered Art

\* PLEASE NOTE: THIS TOUR WILL TAKE PLACE ON TWO OCCASIONS, EACH VERSION ENTIRELY DIFFERENT - BUT WITHIN A SIMILAR FRAME OF THINKING Saturday, June 20th and Saturday, June 27th, both 13:00 - 15:00 PLEASE SCROLL BELOW TO SEE DESCRIPTION OF SECOND TOUR "The Politics of Memory" is a three-stop tour exploring how acts of collecting, archiving, and exhibiting shape what is preserved and who has the power to decide. Beginning with the historical Wunderkammer, or cabinet of curiosities, the tour examines the origins of collection and display, questioning the hierarchy between collector and collected and challenging traditional systems of classification. It then turns to contemporary approaches to documentation and preservation, exploring how galleries continue to select, organize, and legitimize what is considered worth remembering while raising questions about responsibility once exhibitions end. Finally, the tour considers the archive as a contested and subjective space, reflecting on preservation as an act that can both protect and transform its subjects, and revealing how decisions about what is saved, displayed, or forgotten are ultimately decisions about which stories, truths, and histories are allowed to endure. \*Itinerary is subject to change On our standard tours, we guide you through several thought-provoking presentations in the form of both group and solo exhibitions; on special tours, we have the fortune of visiting an artist studio and gaining insight into the artistic process. Whether galleries, museums, or artist studios - the goal is always to open your mind, discover new ways of thinking, and make new friends! Meeting location: In front of König Galerie at Alexandrinenstraße 118–121, 10969, Berlin Time: 13:00 - 15:00 Please do not go inside the gallery prior to the starting time - it is important that we all begin the journey together. Saturday, June 27th 13:00 - 15:00 \*Acts of Memory\* explores the relationship between personal and collective memory, asking how lived experience shapes identity and what happens when individual histories come into tension with broader cultural narratives. Moving from archives of everyday images and cultural objects to works that revisit inherited political histories, the tour examines memory as something that is not only preserved but constantly reinterpreted. It considers how familiar visual languages can evoke longing, discomfort, or contradiction, and how artists use them to navigate complex relationships with the past. The tour concludes by focusing on the body as a site of memory, exploring how desire, identity, and gender are shaped through cultural narratives, symbolism, and lived experience. Together, the works question who is remembered, what is forgotten, and how memory continues to shape our understanding of ourselves and our histories. Meeting location: In front of Between Bridges, Adalbertstraße 43, 10179, Berlin Please call +49 0157 34341803 if youare running late or can’t find the group.

## A space where creativity flows and inspiration comes to life. Start Your weekend afternoon in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere made for painting, connecting & enjoying the moment. Whether You know it as Drink & Draw, Sip & Paint, or Wine & Paint, this experience brings together the best of art, people & good energy — all in one place. With easy and encouraging guidance from our Creative Teachers, You’ll create Your own artwork using acrylic paints and oil pastels, while enjoying a calm & inspiring environment. ‍ Our Painting Sessions are perfect whether You’re just starting out or already have experience — no pressure, just creativity and fun. ‍ ##### WHEN: Every Friday: "Date & Paint Edition" – for singles & couples to connect and meet new people 4 – 5:30 pm Every Saturday: "Creative Flow Edition" – start Your Saturday with art and inspiration 4 – 5:30 pm Every Sunday: "Chill Vibes Edition" – slow, mindful painting for a smooth Sunday 4 – 5:30 pm > Whether You’re planning a date, taking time for Yourself, or meeting friends, this is Your moment to relax, express Yourself &take home something You created. ‍ ##### INCLUDES: All materials (canvas, acrylic paints, oil pastels, brushes & more) ##### SIGN UP & TICKETS: No registration needed. Simply come by & get Your ticket at the box office before the session. LEVEL: All levels WHAT YOU NEED: All materials provided (canvas, acrylic paints, oil pastels, brushes & more) COSTS: €20 General (Tickets at the Box Office) \- Free FOR DNA\. MEMBERS ‍ See You soon :) Love. DNA

**Saturdays, 13.6. - 11.7.** 18:15 - 21:00 This workshop is designed as a calm and welcoming space to slow down, paint, and reconnect with the joy of making things by hand – while also building a strong foundation in the essentials of watercolour painting. Through guided exercises and individual support, you’ll learn everything from how to work with water and pigment through brush pressure, layering, and colour mixing. The sessions are designed to help you switch off mentally, focus on the rhythm of painting, and settle into a relaxed creative flow without the pressure of perfectionism. This is not a “copy exactly what the teacher does” type of class. The aim is to help you build confidence and control with watercolour, develop a stronger eye for colour and observation, and create paintings that feel personal to you. The atmosphere is intentionally relaxed and open. You can join regularly throughout the full workshop period or simply come when you need a creative evening to reset, focus, and paint alongside others! **[Book your tickets here with Maximiliana!](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/maxmartiskova/2203970)**

**Meditate with Mandalas:** This workshop invites you to step away from everyday life for a while and immerse yourself in the tranquil world of mandalas. Mandala Artist Katja Bode introduces you to the meditative art of mandala drawing. Lines, shapes, and colors emerge step by step, naturally leading you into a meditative, relaxing flow. It's not about perfection, but about experiencing creativity, peace, and the joy of creating. That way, you'll create a personal mandala—an expression of your inner peace and a little respite for body and soul. Part 1: 23. May 2026 from 10.30 to 12.30 Part 2: 06. June 2026 from 11.00 to 13.00 Part 3: 13. June 2026 from 11.00 to 13.00 Part 4: 20. June 2026 from 11.00 to 13.00 **[Tickets via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/medatative-mandalas-workshop-teil-1-4-tickets-1988266559803?aff=oddtdtcreator)**

Hallo zusammen! In Rahmen der PAKD Gallery Kurse bieten wir euch einen Zeichenkurs an. Wenn Ihr Zeichnen liebt und eure Fähigkeiten weiterentwickeln möchtet, dann seid Ihr hier genau richtig. In diesem Video erzähle ich euch von meinem Kurs für realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift - und wie er Eure künstlerische Arbeit auf ein neues Level bringen kann. Hattest Du schon immer das Gefühl, zeichnen können zu wollen - Dir fehlt aber die richtige Anleitung? In diesem Kurs lernst Du realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift, einfach, verständlich und Schritt für Schritt: • Korrekte Perspektive • Licht und Schatten • Materialdarstellung wie Glas, Keramik, Stoff, Metall Der Kurs ist perfekt für Anfänger und für alle, die ihre Fähigkeiten verbessern möchten. Wenn dieses Video Eure Leidenschaft für das Zeichnen mit Bleistift geweckt hat, dann schickt mir einfach eine E-Mail und lasst uns gemeinsam eure Reise in die Welt des realistischen Zeichnens mit Bleistift beginnen. Kleiner Kurs, große Wirkung. Maximal 12 Teilnehmer\*innen! Anmeldung: kifan@pakd-gallery.com Sichere dir deinen Platz, bevor alles ausgebucht ist. Samstag 11:00 - 14:00 Uhr. 25€ für eine einzelne 3- stündige Einheit 200€ für ein 10er-Paket, flexibles einlösbar.

A 2.5 hours oil color - acrylics painting lesson. **About this course** This is a painting workshop with the goal of teaching people how to create paintings using either oil colors or acrylics. The total subject lessons consists of around **27 lessons** that last 2.5 hours each. You can join at any time during the course. On each lesson the first part will be about theory and exercise and the second one about canvas time. Each participant will have the chance to work on canvas and start making paintings as artworks. All materials are provided by us. Each lesson has a subject. We do not follow a particular order, and every lesson is actually unique and many times personalized. This means that every time the attendess will have to do something new and different. You do not have to paint on canvas and with the mentioned art materias, you can also choose to use any of your wish. Most of the observations and exercises work well with all art materials. It is suitable for beginners and or even professionals who want to rationalize the canvas painting process. It is being hosted by the visual artist [Miltos Despoudis](https://miltosdespoudis.gr/). **How much does it cost?** Check below: * 6 Lessons Packet (2.5 hours each) cost **120€.** Prepaid lesson tickets are valid for 6 months. * First lesson try-out costs **17€**. You can do that only once. * 1 x Lesson (2.5 hours) costs **25€.** You can pay either by cash or card at the event. All of the materials are included within the ticket reservation **except the canvases.** You can paint anything on a canvas we will provide you free but if you want to keep the canvas you will have to purchase it at the same cost we bought it. Canvases range from 3 to 9 Euros. **How do I subscribe?** You need to reserve a spot here and come at the event. You can pay at the event. Please verify that you are attending so that we know and prepare accordingly with the art supplies. **What do I need?** Watercolors materials will be provided at the venue. You can also bring your own art supplies, it might be helpful to learn working with what you have. Keep in mind that working with colors might make your clothes dirty, but in general we try to be clean. **More Info** The workshop happens almost every Wednesday. Learn more about the lesson plan here: [https://creativesessions.art/workshops/painting-workshop/](https://creativesessions.art/workshops/painting-workshop/) **Refund Policy** On case by case scenario. If you paid for the tryout session we can refund up to one day before the event starts. If you paid for the lesson packet and used one of the tickets no refunds are possible.

Hallo zusammen! In Rahmen der PAKD Gallery Kurse bieten wir euch einen Zeichenkurs an. Wenn Ihr Zeichnen liebt und eure Fähigkeiten weiterentwickeln möchtet, dann seid Ihr hier genau richtig. In diesem Video erzähle ich euch von meinem Kurs für realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift - und wie er Eure künstlerische Arbeit auf ein neues Level bringen kann. Hattest Du schon immer das Gefühl, zeichnen können zu wollen - Dir fehlt aber die richtige Anleitung? In diesem Kurs lernst Du realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift, einfach, verständlich und Schritt für Schritt: • Korrekte Perspektive • Licht und Schatten • Materialdarstellung wie Glas, Keramik, Stoff, Metall Der Kurs ist perfekt für Anfänger und für alle, die ihre Fähigkeiten verbessern möchten. Wenn dieses Video Eure Leidenschaft für das Zeichnen mit Bleistift geweckt hat, dann schickt mir einfach eine E-Mail und lasst uns gemeinsam eure Reise in die Welt des realistischen Zeichnens mit Bleistift beginnen. Kleiner Kurs, große Wirkung. Maximal 12 Teilnehmer\*innen! Anmeldung: [kifan@pakd-gallery.com](mailto:kifan@pakd-gallery.com) Sichere dir deinen Platz, bevor alles ausgebucht ist. Samstag 11:00 - 14:00 Uhr. 25€ für eine einzelne 3- stündige Einheit 200€ für ein 10er-Paket, flexibles einlösbar.

Today we look at the works of an artist who over the past two decades, has built an oeuvre consisting primarily of screen prints on paper and canvas. Prior to that, the artist had worked extensively in photography, filmmaking, and set design. The screenprinting work is informed by architecture - ancient and modern structures, calligraphy, graffiti, handwriting, and the movement of the masses through big metropolises. Other techniques on paper are included in the visit - from lithography to etching, cyanotype to woodblock printing - and more! Please note, the studio visit starts promptly at 12:00. This studio is located on the top floor and has no elevator: you will have to walk four flights of stairs. Beverages will be served, poetry may be read. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR STUDIO VISITS: Get to know a handful of carefully selected artists who are enhancing, interjecting, and challenging art history through new media, new ideas, and new formats. Every artist builds their own universe, and for one exclusive afternoon, we are welcome into their sacred space of creation. The artist will tell their story and you are free to ask questions, engage in dialogue, and leave feeling inspired - and even with a beautiful new artwork to illuminate your space!

Berlin-based art curator and educator Jenia Yanes invites emerging and mid-career artists to two transformative workshops designed for the realities of the 2026 art world. Kunstraum Heartspace is pleased to invite you to the next pair of workshops with curator Jenia Yanes. This new series is dedicated to the external architecture of an artistic practice: the first workshop (on June 14) focuses on collector circles and long-term relationships, the second (on June 21) on image, reputation, audience, and public communication. ## 21.06.2026 Public Image, Reputation & Audience for Artists How to shape your online presence and communication so they support your artistic growth, attract the right audience, and build the right kind of attention around your work. This workshop is about building a stronger identity around an artistic practice: audience, reputation, communication, symbolic consistency, public opportunities, and long-term trajectory. We will speak about artistic archetype, visual self-presentation, tone of voice, interviews, thematic coherence, audience relationship, PR logic, collaborations, invitations, publications, and the process by which an artist becomes recognisable and needed not only through the work itself, but through a stronger position around it. And of course, we will speak in much greater detail about how all of this can be applied through social media. **The goal is to build the kind of presence that strengthens your artistic trajectory, grows the right audience around your work, and helps you build a reputation that supports both independent and institutional paths of development.** **This workshop is for artists who:** * want to understand how image, communication, reputation, and social media work together, and how to use Instagram as part of a serious long-term strategy rather than as random content production; * want to grow independently without weakening future institutional possibilities, and want to become more legible, memorable, and strategically coherent in public space; **[Please book your tickets here with Jenia Yanes.](https://jeniayanes.com/products/the-artist-collector-circle-public-image-reputation-and-audience-intensive?variant=57769507422556)** **You can attend in person or online.**

The Creative Code Jam is a monthly gathering of artists, makers, designers, illustrators, coders, musicians, performers, learners and anyone interested in the use of computing skills for artistic expression. The event is free and open to all, regardless of age, origin, gender or experience. The jam is an opportunity to meet likeminded people and get creative together in a relaxed and safe environment. Beginners and first-timers should feel especially welcome! WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT? **Bring a laptop** and/or anything you’d like to work on, whether it’s a personal project, an experiment, or a skill you want to learn. You can come with friends or meet new people here. There’s no set agenda: some people code, some sketch ideas, some collaborate, and others just chat and get inspired. SCHEDULE Doors open at noon, then we’ll have quick introductions so everyone can share what they’re planning to work on. Note: arriving on time is the best way to hear what others are up to ;) Around 6 pm, we gather to share what we’ve worked on during the day. BEGINNERS WELCOME! If you’re new to creative coding, we'll be happy to help you get started, and you can find beginner-friendly resources at [creativecode.berlin/learn](http://creativecode.berlin/learn). THIS IS YOUR SPACE We do our best to create a welcoming environment for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. People from group generally underrepresented in open-source, art, and technology fields are warmly encouraged to come by. And if you know someone who might enjoy this meetup but isn’t sure it’s for them, let them know they’ll be welcome! SAFE SPACE POLICY We support the Berlin Code of Conduct: https://berlincodeofconduct.org/ Please make sure you agree with its content. ABOUT MotionLab.Berlin MotionLab.Berlin is Germany’s premier Innovation Hub & Makerspace – an ecosystem for Hardtech, art, creativity, and entrepreneurship. They are an international community with access to state-of-the-art machinery, prototyping machines, coworking spaces, offices, and production facilities. More info: https://motionlab.berlin/ ACCESSIBILITY MotionLab is located on the ground floor, with bathrooms on that same level, although unfortunately they are too small for wheelchairs. FOOD MotionLab has drinks and snacks for sale. Bio food can be found on LPG at Bouchéstr (\~200m). Their cantine has vegan, vegetarian and other food options until 8pm. DO I NEED TO SPEAK GERMAN? We speak mostly English so international guests are more than welcome! Our team also speaks French, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Finnish and German... though language availability may vary depending on which organizers are present :) CONTACT Raphaël de Courville team@creativecode.berlin +49 176 700 70572 or get in touch via [creativecode.berlin](https://creativecode.berlin/)

We meet and sketch each other in Berlin. This is just an art gym that we also exercise our social skills. Afterwards usually we go for lunch as a group. **How Does It Work?** This event is simple, we meet and sketch each other doing portraits. Most of the participants use pencils or watercolors. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. **Structure** A. Warmup Phase: We pose to each other for 1 minute. B. Main Phase: We pose to each other for 10 minutes. C. Showcase Phase: We show some of the drawings we did to each other. **Who We Are** Creative Sessions is an art events group located in Berlin. **Is it Free?** The event is free of charge. It is advisable to get a drink though. This is a cafe, we need to have at least half of the people on each table with a drink. They accept only cash and most hot drinks cost from 2.50 to 3.50. **How to help or donate?** The event is provided for free but many people help this be a regular thing. We also need people to volunteer and help for minor tasks like the serving of the drinks or cleaning up. Just send us a message. If you want to donate and keep this event from happening, via Paypal to the host (Miltos) : https://ko-fi.com/miltosthings/ **Art Materials?** Bring your own art materials. **Our Instagram Profile** Follow us on instagram @icreativesessions Use the hashtag #icreativesessions on your post description there to find out drawings from the event!

\*Facilated in English / Deutsch \*\*2 Drinks (alc / non-alc) per Person are included ## *A space where creativity flows and every sip inspires.* ‍ Start Your Weekend afternoon with a glass of wine in hand and let Your creativity come to life in a friendly, laid-back setting made for painting and having a good time. Our Wine and Paint Sessions are great whether You're just starting out or have painted before - no pressure, just fun. *With easy and encouraging guidance from our Creative Teachers, You’ll paint Your own canvas while enjoying a relaxed atmosphere.* ‍ ##### **WHEN:** Every Friday: "Date & Paint Edition" - for singles &/ couples to get to know new friends * 4 - 5.30 pm Every Saturday: "Wine & Paint - Pre-Drinking Edition" - start Your Saturday right * 4 - 5.30 pm Every Sunday: "Wine & Paint - Chill Vibes Edition" - for Smooth Sundays * 4 - 5.30 pm ‍ Whether You're planning a date, looking to unwind solo, or meeting up with friends, this is Your moment to enjoy the process, get creative, and take home something You made Yourself. *Join us for a relaxed evening of wine and painting — each week brings something new to create, cheers to, and enjoy.* ‍ ##### **INCLUDES:** **‍**All Materials * 2 glasses of wine / cocktail (2 × 200 ml) or 2 Soft Drinks ‍ ##### **SIGN UP & TICKETS:** **‍**No registration needed. Simply come by & get Your ticket at the box office before the class. ...for more info check out www.dna-artclub.com / follow us on IG: @nightart.club See You soon :) Love. DNA. *** \*Members of Dair Night Art e.V. and Subscribers of DNA. Art GbR. \*\*By entering the DNA. ART HOUSE, You agree to comply with the Hausordnung of Dair Night Art e.V. and Geschäftsordnung of Dair Night Art e.V. Please ensure You review these documents thoroughly in advance.

This group is for everyone who is interested in drawing portraits! For me, drawing has been a wonderful way to gain a new perspective on the world and the people within it. Whether you are just starting out or have been drawing for ages — all levels are welcome :) How it works: 1\. We meet at The Castle pub in Mitte and do short sittings of 15 minutes for each other\. The first sitting is divided into 3 warm\-up sketches\, 5 minutes each\. 2\. Before we start\, everybody writes their name on a blank card \(provided by the organizer\); these cards are then used to randomly pick the model every 15 minutes\. 3\. Usually we do 8 sittings\, with a 15\-minute break in the middle \(so after 4 sittings\, or 1 hour\)\. -> The participation is free, but it is expected that everybody orders something from the bar to support the lovely location. Get out your pencils and let's start! Please bring your own art supplies!

Come for a Sunday afternoon of watercolor painting in the park. This is not a formal workshop. It's a relaxed community gathering for anyone who enjoys painting, sketching, creativity, or simply spending a few quiet hours outdoors. Bring your watercolor supplies, a sketchbook, a blanket, and something to drink. If you're completely new to watercolor, you're still very welcome. We'll spend some time painting together, sharing ideas, and enjoying a slower pace for a couple of hours. What to bring: • Watercolor paints • Brushes • Watercolor paper or sketchbook • Water container • A blanket or something comfortable to sit on • Snacks or drinks if you'd like This event is free. The exact meeting point will be shared with attendees before the event. Looking forward to painting together

**Join us for an afternoon of community art and craft time!** Whether you are looking to carve out dedicated creative time, wanting to get a lingering project across the finish line, or just looking to chat with fellow local makers—this is the space for you. 🧵 **What to Bring** Bring any art or craft project you are currently working on, as long as it is portable and quiet. Think: * **Yarn & Thread:** Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand-sewing, mending. * **Paper & Sketching:** Sketchbooks, adult coloring books, watercolors, bullet journaling. * **Digital:** Tablets, iPad drawing, laptop writing/design. * *Please note: Because we are meeting in a shared public space, no power tools, sewing machines, or high-odor materials (like strong solvents or spray glues), please!* **📍 Where to Find Us** * We will be meeting at **Columbus Metropolitan Library - Hilltop Branch** in **Meeting Room 4**. Room is reserved under **CBUS Maker Meetup.** **⏱️ Timeline** * **1:00 PM:** Arrive, grab a seat, get settled, and do a quick round of introductions so we can see what everyone is working on. * **1:15 PM - 3:00 PM:** Open maker time! Chat, craft, relax, and swap creative ideas. **⚠️ A Note on RSVPs** The RSVP count for this event is strictly limited to 10 spots. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot. Please try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel, allowing folks on the waitlist time to check their schedule. *** **We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**

Want to see your work shine and put your pride on display? Then come to July's Creativity Circle! We will be making simple Suncatchers with tissue paper! Seats and supplies limited! Come while you can for as long as you like! Westerville Public Library in Meeting Room D.

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

We are a real world Martial arts group. \ Called DO JUNG ISHU (the art of fighting) \ Based off of Jeet kune do we just continued where Bruce Lee left off. \ We have been around a while. \ Every week we get together and work technical skills and full contact spar. \ Almost all of the instructors have been in everything from street fights to the ring and some still compete in cage fighting. \ If you want to take your skills up, improve your confidence, gain self defense skills, get in better shape, test yourself or just want to kill some time and possibly get hit a bit come on down. \ We will be located at 3923 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214 Outside in the grass between the playground and horseshoe area. our instructors are normally in a black and red art of fighting shirt \ if you can not find us call or text me at 6143570295 Saturday 1:30pm Wednesday 5:45pm From Age 16 and up. attendees under the age of 18 must have a guardian with them. \ Wear workout clothes. \ Bring a MOUTHPIECE! \ WE HAVE GLOVES. \ $10 per class $5 per class if you are wearing a club shirt Club shirts are $25 Hope to see you soon. \ let me know if you have any questions :)

Grab a drink or some food and get to know each other. This is our first event and we can take it slow. I’d love to meet everyone and hear if there’s anything you like to get out of the group. Looking forward to meeting you all!

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. **Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?** In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox. One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread. Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for. **Questions to wrestle with:** * Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving? * Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why? * If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming? * Two principles pull opposite ways here. The principle of mediocrity (the Copernican principle, Sagan's "no privileged place in the universe") says we are ordinary, so what happened on Earth probably happened everywhere, which makes the silence scream louder. The anthropic principle says of course we find ourselves somewhere life was possible, since we could not observe anything else, so our being here may say almost nothing about how common life is. Which lens do you trust, and does the silence still demand an answer once you account for observer selection? * And if we did confirm life out there and had to accept we are not special, what would that do to belief in a higher power, and would shedding (or keeping) that belief help or hurt our odds of pulling together as one species? * Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now? As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.