From LIVE ARTS TOLEDO
Live Arts Toledo, in partnership with Starlite Theater Group, has announced “An Evening with Dave Eggers,” a literary event taking place on Thursday, June 11, at the historic Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle. There will be a VIP reception beginning at 6 p.m. The program will start at 7 p.m. and be followed by a Q&A at 8 p.m.
This one-night event marks the national tour launch of internationally acclaimed author Dave Eggers and celebrates the release of his new novel, “Contrapposto” (publishing June 9). Known for his expansive storytelling and cultural impact, Eggers will offer Toledo audiences an opportunity to hear directly from one of today’s most influential literary voices at the start of a major national tour.
The evening will feature a moderated conversation with Amanda Uhle, executive director and publisher of McSweeney’s, the literary nonprofit, literary journal, and publisher that Eggers founded. Together, they will explore the origins of “Contrapposto,” a novel nearly two decades in the making, as well as Eggers’ creative process, artistic influences, and the evolving role of art and storytelling in contemporary culture. The program will also include an audience Q&A and an onstage book-signing.
“Contrapposto” is a character-driven novel that follows two artists across more than six decades, tracing a lifelong relationship shaped by friendship, creative partnership, and ambition. Set against the backdrop of the global art world, the novel examines the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success, while offering a human story about love, rivalry, and devotion to craft. The work draws directly from Eggers’ own background as a visual artist, making it a personal addition to his body of work and his first adult novel in five years.
With his work spanning bestselling novels, nonfiction, and literary publishing, Eggers has sold more than five million books in the United States and has been recognized with honors, including finalist distinctions for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. His appearance in Toledo offers a chance to engage with a literary figure in an intimate and architecturally interesting setting.
“The Peristyle seems an incredibly appropriate backdrop for discussing ‘Contrapposto,'” said Zak Vassar, president and CEO of Live Arts Toledo. “With the novel’s references to classical sculpture and the art world, I can’t imagine a more fitting setting to host Dave Eggers on this tour.”
Attendees will have multiple ways to engage with the event. Standard admission is $25 and provides access to the 7 p.m. program, while the “Book Bundle” option is $45 and includes a copy of “Contrapposto.” A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $65 and offer an exclusive pre-event reception and meet-and-greet with Eggers, along with a signed copy of the book.
Books will be available for purchase onsite in partnership with the Sylvania-based bookseller, Finch & Fern.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit liveartstoledo.com/dave-eggers.
