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“A” Is For Anarchy, “B” Is For Bookfair | The Anarchist Bookfair’s Sean Boomer could spell out an entire left-wing alphabet for you this weekend.

INCENDIARY PHILOSOPHY!
Anarchy In The Uk(rainian Centre)
It’s an unusually political edition of Arts News this week, and leading off the parade is the Edmonton Anarchist Bookfair — which is fitting, seeing as the participants all probably already own a good pair of marching boots. There are workshops and fruitful exchanges of ideas all weekend long (Oct. 3-5) at the Ukrainian Centre (11018-97 St), but the can’t-miss session is the keynote address by prominent anarchist historian Andrej Grubacic Friday night at 7 p.m. Be sure to pick up a t-shirt from local apparel company Thought Crime Ink as a souvenir — we especially like the “Revolutionary Heart” design.

LIBRARY BONFIRES!
Reading Is Fundamental
As it happens, the Anarchist Bookfair overlaps with the final two days of Banned Books Week, the American anti-censorship awareness campaign and celebration of our fundamental right to read, which runs until Oct. 4. (There’s an equivalent, specifically Canadian event, Freedom to Read Week, in February, but the battle against censorship knows no borders, and the presence of attempted book-banner Sarah Palin in the U.S. presidential race makes it a particularly timely issue.) So go to your library and check out a copy of The Color Purple or The Chocolate War and tell ’em Arts News sent you.

INFLAMED ARTISTS!
Coalition Of The Wilful
And finally, a couple of artsy items related to the federal election. The advocacy group known as the Canadian Arts Coalition wants you to know that if you’re concerned about the Tories’ cuts to arts and culture funding, their website (www.canadianarts-coalition.ca) contains a handy toolkit to help you get your views across effectively to the candidates in your riding. And if you need your memory refreshed as to why art is awesome, be sure to attend The Wrecking Ball on Oct. 6 at The Citadel’s Rice Theatre — it’s a great night of short new political plays featuring dozens of leading local theatre talents.