Rock icon Patti Smith, whose classic catalog includes Horses and Easter, will appear at City Arts & Lectures this Wednesday for a conversation with Kevin Berger. Smith recently published a memoir, Just Kids, in which she discusses her friendships with Sam Shepard, Jim Morrison, and close pal Robert Mapplethorpe, who took the iconic photo of Smith that graced Horses' cover, and who shared an apartment with her in the Chelsea Hotel. She'll discuss her fellow artists and the era of creative exploration that shaped them, including her own work within the then-emerging punk and spoken-word movements. While she may not be singing at the event, Smith has lived a fascinating life, and her discussion of the tumultuous 70's should be interesting.

Patti Smith will appear at City Arts & Lectures on Wednesday, January 27, at 8 pm. The event will be held at the Herbst Theatre, 400 Van Ness Ave., Civic Center, and tickets are $20.