David Soldier Public Lecture and Music Performance. Also appearing, Vitaly Komar (of Komar & Melamid) and Rebecca Cherry December 3, 2006

6:00PM ENTERTAINING SCIENCE
Roald Hoffmann

I FORGOT TO LEARN TO FORGET

How do you learn a habit and how can you unlearn it? Why do you not forget how to ride a bike, but it's hard, ain't it hard, to unlearn smoking?

In tonight's exploration of recall and habit, painter and conceptual artist Vitaly Komar will present Three-Day Weekend, interwoven Christian, Jewish, and Muslim symbols that first appeared in his childhood dreams and resurfaced when he discovered the only photo of his intact family in Russia.

Brilliant young violinist Rebecca Cherry, formerly principal violin in the London Symphony, will present selections from The Compleat Victrola Sessions, a collaboration with composer Dave Soldier - an evocation of the allure and danger of addiction in the 1920's, using black and white silent film with nostalgic, surreal virtuoso music.

Neuroscientist Dave Sulzer (David Soldier) will explain how the brain integrates wild stabs at success with feedback from the environment, how that underlies habit learning, and why a decision contrary to habit requires so much effort.

29 Cornelia Street between Bleecker and W. 4th; 212-989-9319. www.corneliastreetcafe.com. Admission $10.

Official Website: http://www.roaldhoffmann.com