An Eye on the Oculus Series
Have you noticed the new “Oculus Series” events popping up on our calendar over the past few months? Since its launch last September, we’ve hosted four incredible events: novelists Jesmyn Ward and Louise Erdrich, cookbook author and Milk Bar CEO Christina Tosi, and MSNBC’s Chris Hayes. The Oculus Series is inspired by two essential elements of Town Hall: our programming model, and our building’s architecture. Programmatically speaking, new book releases drive a typical Town Hall talk — the latest hardcover by your favorite author or a hot-off-the-press graphic novel. The rest of our calendar is a blend of concerts, panel discussions, workshops, or events held by our Rental Partners. (Fact: Half of Town Hall events are rental events!)
But this season, we wanted to develop a series curated specifically to bring the most memorable, curiosity-driven conversations to our stages. Enter the Oculus Series. At the heart of each Oculus Series event is a desire to elevate the voices of the most impactful writers, thinkers, and creators of our time — whether they are on tour or not.
Architecturally, an oculus is a round opening at the top of a dome. A hallmark of Neoclassical structures like Town Hall, the oculus lets light filter in, gently illuminating the space below. At Town Hall, the oculus glows at the crown of our beloved building, symbolizing the connection between our shared community space and the world of ideas beyond. Illuminating. Mind-opening. Thoughtful. Connective. That’s the Oculus Series. We’re thrilled by the opportunity to continue to experiment with the series, exploring new themes and fine-tuning as we move through this season — and the seasons to come. We hope to see you under the oculus at an upcoming event!
COMING UP IN THE OCULUS SERIES
March 12 at 7:30 PM
Amanda Nguyen, Astronaut and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
May 11 at 7:30 PM
Rebecca Solnit, Historian and Writer
May 30 at 4:00 PM
Alison Bechdel, Cartoonist and Author
Tickets Coming Soon
The Oculus Series is made possible with generous support from William Donnelly and our season sponsors.
