Fiber art exhibit

The Fifth Annual Barbara K. Kuhlman Scholars Exhibition, featuring recent student work in the Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design, runs through Oct. 2 in the Mann Library Gallery, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Observe the moon

Fuertes Observatory will celebrate the first International Observe the Moon Night, Sept. 18, 6:30-9:30 p.m., featuring opportunities for observing through a variety of telescopes, short talks on lunar topics and outdoor hands-on activities for all ages. The event will take place rain or shine at the observatory on North Campus. Information: http://www.astro.cornell.edu/outreach/.

'Exit Saigon'

Various programs will be held this week with the opening of the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition "Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon," Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., at 215 E. State St., The Commons. "Exit Saigon" consists of 93 panels that focus on the "boat people" refugee exodus from Vietnam, their cultural contributions and the challenges they faced in adapting to American life. These programs include a dinner and several workshops with the exhibit's curator, Vu Pham, M.A. '99, Ph.D. '02, Sept. 23 and 24; a documentary directed by Tammy Nguyen Lee, "Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam," at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Sept. 21 at 7:15 p.m.; and a talk by Keith Taylor, professor of Vietnamese cultural studies, Department of Asian Studies, about the relevancy to present times of Vietnam's 50-year war, 1623-73, Sept. 23 at noon, at the Kahin Center. Information: http://www.ithacalittlesaigon.com and http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Sept10/ExitSaigon.html.

Asian mid-autumn festival

A multitude of Asian student organizations at Cornell will host the Mid-Autumn Festival on the Arts Quad, Sept. 18, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Volunteers will collect disaster relief donations at the event to help respond to the recent floods in Pakistan and China.

Silent films/live music

Cornell Cinema, with support from the Atkinson Forum in American Studies, will explore the merger of live music performances with film showings at the Willard Straight Theatre throughout the fall semester, beginning Sept. 18, when the Colorado-based Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, a five-piece ensemble, will accompany Edward Sedgwick's "The Cameraman" and F.W. Murnau's "Sunrise," one of the last of the silent films. Tickets for "The Cameraman," showing at 4 p.m., are $7 adults, $5 kids 12 and under. The screening of "Sunrise" at 7:30 p.m. is free; passes will be available starting Sept. 13 from the Willard Straight Hall Ticket Desk. Information on these and others in the series: http://www.cornellcinema.edu.

Bad Rap

Glenn Altschuler, the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies, dean of the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions and vice president for university relations, will present the first talk in the Jewish Studies Lecture Series. His talk, "Bad Rap: Public Enemy and Jewish Enmity," is Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m., 108 A.D. White House. A reception will follow. Sponsored by the Program of Jewish Studies and co-sponsored by the American Studies Program. Information: http://www.arts.cornell.edu/jwst/events.html.

Seminar for writers

The Creative Writing Program's 2010 Fall Reading Series features a free seminar on self-discipline for writers by Gabriel Packard, associate director for the Hunter College Creative Writing MFA Program, Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m., 258 Goldwin Smith Hall. Packard has taught creative writing at Hunter, Wellesley and Dartmouth, and his articles have appeared in more than 100 publications worldwide.

Market volatility

Steve Smith, representative from TIAA-CREF, will talk about "Staying on Track in a Volatile Market," Sept. 22, noon-1 p.m., at the G10 Biotechnology Building. He will discuss notable market downturns in the past; rebalancing, reallocating and diversifying a portfolio; and options and opportunities during volatile market conditions. Open to faculty and staff.

Two by Tariq Ali

A London novelist, filmmaker, political activist and editor of the New Left Review, Tariq Ali will present two lectures. The first, "The Birth of Modern Europe and the Expulsion of Muslims and Jews from Spain," will examine the relevance of those events on contemporary Europe's large number of Muslim citizens and will be held Sept. 22 at 4:45 p.m., Kaufmann Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall. The second, "Islam in Spain: The Final Solution," will consist of a panel discussion and film screening and will be held Sept. 23 at 5:15 p.m., sixth floor of the Johnson Museum. Information: http://www.icm.arts.cornell.edu/tariq_ali_2010.html.

Cornell Store book talks

Jefferson Cowie, associate professor of collective bargaining, law and history at the ILR School, will discuss his book, "Stayin' Alive: The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class," Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m., Cornell Store. "Stayin' Alive" connects politics to culture and shows how working-class America hit the rocks in the political and economic upheavals of the '70s. Glenn Altschuler will introduce the discussion. The talk will be filmed by CSPAN's Book-TV.

Sept. 23 at 4 p.m., Daniel R. Magaziner, assistant professor of history, will talk about "The Law and the Prophets: Black Consciousness in South Africa, 1968-1977," his book on the black South African resistance to apartheid between 1968 and 1977. It follows the formation, early trials and ultimate dissolution of the Biko's Black Consciousness Movement.

In the personal book "Anarchy Evolution," Greg Graffin describes his coming of age as an artist and the formation of his naturalist worldview on questions involving God, science and human existence. A Cornell Ph.D. in biology who lectures at University of California-Los Angeles and the lead singer/songwriter of the punk band Bad Religion, Graffin returns to campus to talk about his book, Sept. 24 at noon.

Playing the bandoneón

Guest artist Renato Hanriot opens the Midday Music at Lincoln series Sept. 23 at 12:30 p.m., B20 Lincoln Hall, with a lecture-recital on the bandoneón, including music of J.S. Bach, Astor Piazzolla and others. The bandoneón was originally intended as an instrument for religious as well as popular music and was particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. Information: http://www.indabamusic.com/people/renatohanriot.

Czech president

Czech Republic President Václav Klaus will present a public lecture, "A Return to Cornell: Personal Remarks," Sept. 24, 3-5 p.m., Statler Auditorium. Klaus is serving his second term as president of the Czech Republic and has published more than 20 books on social, political and economic themes. The lecture is part of the Foreign Policy Distinguished Speaker Series.

Destroy the copy!

Plaster casts -- often used for busts of famous artists, rulers and warriors as well as other subjects -- have been around for centuries. A workshop on the fate of plaster cast collections will be Sept. 24, 2-5:30 p.m. (registration starts at 1 p.m.) at the Ruth Woolsey Findley Gallery, Goldwin Smith Hall, and Sept. 25, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Kaufmann Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall. The conference features speakers from Cornell, Maryland Institute College of Art, State University of New York at Buffalo, and the University of Missouri as well as from Tokyo, Berlin, Paris and Australia. Information: http://www.arts.cornell.edu/histart/events_dtc_fall_2010.html.

A Cappella United

Performances by 13 of Cornell's a cappella groups and a special performance by recent graduates Kinetics (Jeremy Dussolliet '09) and One Love (Tim Sommers '10), the songwriters who penned B.o.B.'s Platinum-selling single "Airplanes," will be held Sept. 24, 7-9:30 p.m., Bailey Hall. All proceeds go to the United Way of Tompkins County. Tickets are $7 at http://www.BaileyTickets.com