Burroughs the Artist

Twelve years after William S. Burroughs’ death, Lawrence remains as fascinated with its adopted Beat Generation son as when he was firing shotguns in his east Lawrence backyard. Many of those blasts were directed at his paintings, at least one of which will be on display at retrospective exhibitions this month. Tonight from 6 to 9 is “Naked Leftovers: Burroughs’ Art Objects,” a one-night-only show at Lawrence’s DotDotDot Art Space (1910 Haskell, 785-766-2932) of Burroughs’ stencils, stamps and paint-covered artist implementations. The focus shifts to the Bourgeois Pig (6 East Ninth Street, 785-843-1001) from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday for the opening reception of Naked Leftovers: Paintings by William S. Burroughs. Burroughs’ estate executor, James Grauerholz, will offer remarks, and artists Wayne Propst and Jim McCrary will read selections from Burroughs’ seminal novel Naked Lunch and screen home videos of the eccentric icon. The Bourgeois Pig show stays on view through August 29.— Richard Gintowt

Sat., Aug. 1, 6-9 p.m., 2009