Pictured: Kent Evans, a Stamford native and author, will perform at Franklin Street Works.
Damien Wood, the protagonist in Stamford native Kent Evans’ latest novel, is more robot than human.
A successful artist and globetrotter, his existence is seemingly unaffected by the people and situations around him. He travels from continent to continent, relationship to relationship, but he remains stuck outside his experiences, unable to feel.
That all changes after a series of tragedies — the death of his mother, the Sept. 11 attacks, a corrosive relationship — trigger a torrent of emotion. Filled with the birth pangs of humanity, Damien embarks on an alcohol and drug fueled adventure through Southeast Asia — an experience that radically upends his mechanical existence.
Evans will share the book, “A Crash Course on the Anatomy of Robots,” in an evening of readings and music at Franklin Street Works in Stamford on Thursday, Sept. 20, from 5:30-7 p.m.
In the book, Evans uses a variety of narrative techniques: direct conversation with the reader, second person journal entries, first person travelogue blog entries, third person narratives and free-form poetry. The book follows a non-linear pattern as Damien’s thoughts wander through memories of different cities, experiences and relationships.
“It’s all part of my commentary on how the character views himself and the world — locations change, times jump, girlfriends come and go, but for him, there isn’t movement,” Evan said. “Feeling socially and emotionally detached is where the robot comes in.”
Evans, who released a full-length soundtrack to accompany the book, will be joined at Franklin Street Works by violinist Laura Wilson and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Trudeau. Holly Danger, a Stamford visual artist, will provide projections during the performance.
Evans is also the author of “Malas Ondas: Lime, Sand Sex and Salsa in the land of conquistadors,” a semi-autobiographical novel about self-destruction throughout Latin America and finding love.
Following the event, audiences can enjoy Franklin Street Work’s current group show, “VHS The Exhibition.” Curated by Rebecca Cleman, the show explores VHS as a tool and inspiration for artistic experimentation, with a heavy dose of ephemera from the ‘80s analogue culture.
