Altered Art

## 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

## *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. 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 paint Your own canvas while enjoying a relaxed atmosphere. ‍ Our Wine & Paint Sessions are great whether You're just starting out or have painted before - no pressure, just fun. ‍ ##### **WHEN:** Every Thursday: "Wine & Paint - After-work Edition" - for the early weekend fun * 7.30 - 9 pm 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 (canvas, acrylic paints, oil pastels, brushes & more) + 2 glasses of wine / cocktail (2 × 200 ml) or 2 Soft Drinks & Water LEVEL: All levels COSTS: €28 General \| €5 for DNA\. Members ‍ ##### **SIGN UP & TICKETS:** **‍**No registration needed. Simply come by & get Your ticket at the box office before the class. ‍ 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.

A night of drawing, painting or board gaming. Come to create, play a game and network! Bring your own art supplies everyone is working on their own creations. Board games will be availiable but we advice attendees to bring small new board games for variety. This is a **free event**, but we recommend ordering at least something from the bar for allowing us to host this event (a coffee costs 2.5 Euros). Please read the comment section for more updates!

[*Registration form required below*] **Interested in Japanese sword fighting or Japanese culture? Come join a trial and experience the traditional Samurai art at Katori Shintō-ryū in Schöneberg.** **Trial Fee**: **25€**/ session (2hr). Classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 19:00 to 21:00. **!!SIGN UP HERE**: [Katori Shinto-ryū Berlin Sign-up (google.com)](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBt4A13VgnEcgQQ2PDaruthmYMRWineG4KtUCKsuC9KBsCUQ/viewform) Registration is required before your participation so that we can prepare enough training equipment. **Address**: Belziger Str. 25, 10823 Berlin. **No previous experience required!** The classes are in English and German. **Our website**: [Kenjutsu Berlin - Official school of Katori Shinto-ryu in Berlin (katoriberlin.org)](https://katoriberlin.org/) **Katori Shintō-ryū** is one of the oldest Japanese sword fighting traditions (koryū) still practised today and is recognized by the Japanese government as a cultural intangeable asset. The school was founded in the middle of the 15th century by Iizasa Chōisai Ienao at the Katori Shrine (Katori jingū) and has become the origin of numerous other martial arts schools over the course of its almost 600-year history. The training consists of the continuous repetition of fixed sequences of movements (kata) and includes the use of classic Japanese weapons such as the sword (iai-jutsu, battō-jutsu, ken-jutsu, ryōtō-jutsu, kodachi-jutsu), the long staff (bō-jutsu), the lance (naginata-jutsu) and the spear (sō-jutsu), as well as unarmed disciplines, tactics and spiritual aspects. **The Katori Berlin dojo** is the only official shibu of Otake Nobutoshi-shihan’s dojo Shinbukan in Germany and fully dedicated to the transmission and study of one martial tradition: Tenshinshō-den Katori Shintō-ryū. Through these efforts we aim to contribute to the cultural preservation of this martial tradition. The dojo has one officially appointed shidosha. **Our sensei**: Sebastian Graetz has been active in martial arts since 1997. After almost 15 years of taekwondo in Berlin, he started with Katori Shintō-ryū in Asia in 2014. Since then, he has studied in Japan with Ōtake Risuke-shihan and Ōtake Nobutoshi-shihan, and in Vietnam with Malte Stokhof-shihandai. In 2023, he received his Menkyo license and permission to set up a training group in Berlin the following year.

Finally wanting to figure out anatomy? Our 12-sessions Anatomy Course by artists Rebeca Ventura and Alice Bischof is for you. Grab your sketchbook and join us for the entire course or drop in for a specific session! 🙋🏽‍♀️ 👨🏼‍💻 You can participate in person or online! **Programme:** 17.04.2026 Full Body Proportions 24.04.2026 Torso (Front) 08.05.2026 Torso (Back) 15.05.2026 Legs (incl. Knee) 22.05.2026 Arms (incl. Elbow) 29.05.2026 Feet 05.06.2026 Hands 12.06.2026 Neck + Shoulders 19.06.2026 Full Head Proportions 26.06.2026 Eyes + Nose 03.07.2026 Ears 10.07.2026 Mouth **🎟️ Tickets 🎟️** * The 12-sessions ticket starts at the date of purchase and is valid for the following 12 weeks. * Online: €14 / Session, Offline: €16 / Session * **[Book your ticket here!](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/turnedartist)** 👨🏼‍💻 **Online Participation** 👨🏼‍💻 * If you want to participate online, we will send you a Zoom link ahead of the event. * The Zoom call will start at 15:45 and end at 16:30. * You will have a chance to **send in photos** of their sketches made during the session for **feedback** from the hosting artist after the session is over.

IMPORTANT; This session is clearly weather dependent! If the day will be rainy or anyhow not fitted for an open air, we might need to postpone. We'll be meeting at Volkspark Humboldthain and simply enjoy the lush nature around us and some quiet sketching time together. ***Schedule*** 17:00 - Arrival and chitchats 17:20 - Small warm-up activities 17:50 - Free sketching 18:45 - Share your work and thoughts

**🎨 Painting Classes in English - every Friday in Berlin!** Acrylic painting from observation for beginners and anyone who wants to truly understand how painting works - not just copy images🔥 We learn step by step: • how to create volume and light • how to mix colors and work with acrylics • how to see and paint real objects from life ✨ Small group ✨ Cozy studio atmosphere ✨ 2.5-3 hour class ✨ Tea, coffee & snacks included ✨ All materials provided 💶 30€ per class 🔥 Every 5th class is free for regular participants 📍 Grazer Platz 4, Berlin 🕡 Fridays, 18:30 📅 Next class: June 19, June 26, July 3 ❗️Pre-booking required — limited spots available DM to reserve your spot: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYz8FZmCujZ/?img_index=1

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!

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 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

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.

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.**

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.

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/)

**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.**

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

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!

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 :)

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.

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.