The University of Iowa Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature and the UI School of Art and Art History will present “Exploring the Cinematic Essay: Wandering in Practice and Presentation,” an event featuring UI alumnus Jonathan Rattner, at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, in Room E105 of Adler Journalism Building on the UI campus.

Interested in doing some good in the community? Lending a helping hand could be as easy as eating a cookie. The University of Iowa Ceramics Society and Historic Foodies will host an Empty Bowl Sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in the Old Capitol Town Center.

Today, University of Iowa's Dance Marathon marks its 20th anniversary of helping fund pediatric cancer research at the UI Carver College of Medicine and providing programs for patients and their families at UI Children's Hospital. Those affected most talk about the impact of improving cancer research.

All works choreographed by faculty members and graduate students in the University of Iowa Department of Dance will come to life on stage at the Faculty/Graduate Concert at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 13-15, in Space Place Theater, 101 North Hall, on the UI campus.

The University of Iowa School of Music will present a free performance by the UI Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William LaRue Jones, director of orchestral studies, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union on the UI campus.

Visiting artist Dennis Farber will give a public lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in Room 116 of Art Building West.

Six undergraduate playwrights will have their plays brought to life at the University of Iowa Ten Minute Play Festival. The festival, presented by the Department of Theatre Arts, will hold its first performances at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in Theatre B of the UI Theatre Building. Additional shows will be held Feb. 14-16.

The Old Capitol Museum, in conjunction with the University of Iowa Special Collections and University Archives, will host a spring exhibit, "Poe: A Wilderness of Mirrors," opening Thursday, Feb. 13.

Award-winning Ethiopian-American novelist and writer Dinaw Mengestu will present a free reading at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Frank Conroy Reading Room of the Glenn Schaeffer Library, adjacent to the Dey House.

As the 20th University of Iowa Dance Marathon approaches Friday, Feb. 7, alumni reflect on the many ways the organization has impacted their lives.

The University of Iowa Center for New Music, housed within the UI School of Music, will present a free performance by the CNM Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in Riverside Recital Hall on the UI campus.

Bernard Cooper, visiting professor in the University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program, will read from his work at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The reading also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.