VISUAL ART In a recent controversial move, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. removed a film considered “insulting to Christians” by the late artist David Wojnarowicz from its exhibition Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture. Henry Art Gallery’s having none of that. As part of a nationwide response, the Henry will show two versions of Wojnarowicz’s short film A Fire in My Belly, A Work in Progress (1986-87) (a part of which was banned in DC), plus his poster project Untitled (One Day This Kid) (1990) and a series of news articles and statements about Wojnarowicz-gate. Dec 16-Feb 13.

FILM Relive the good old days—when David Bowie was the Goblin King and an oh-so-young Jennifer Connelly wrangled with Muppets—at the Labyrinth quote-along at SIFF Cinema. Dec 17-19.

Fans will thrill to see live performances of “Papa Was a Rodeo” and “100,000 Fireflies” in documentary Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields about the chamber-pop band and its enigmatic songwriter, screening at Northwest Film Forum. Thru Dec 16.

CONCERT Roots rockers the Maldives and the Moondoggies coheadline the fifth annual KEXP/No Depression holiday party at Showbox at the Market on Saturday, Dec 18.

Portland Cello Project —all classically trained cellists —rock out to hip-hop covers and indie pop at the Triple Door on Sunday, Dec. 19. For this show, they’ll collaborate with Drew Grow, Typhoon, Golden Bears and Kaylee Cole.

LECTURE Wondering if The Social Network is Best Picture material? Does anything have a chance against Winter’s Bone (see trailer below)? Join the discussion at the Frye tonight at 7; Critics Wrap 2010 moderator Robert Horton (The Herald, KUOW) leads a panel of film writers, including Jim Emerson (scanners.com), Kathleen Murphy (msn.com) and Andrew Wright (The Stranger). Happy hour in the museum cafe 3-6pm; free ticket pickup starts one hour before the program. Dec 16.

ORGANIZED CHAOS If you happen to see 1,000 Santas on a pub crawl through Capitol Hill and downtown Seattle, feel free to suit up and join in. Warning: Things get a little sloppy. SantaCon is on Saturday, Dec 18.

THEATER ACT actors Frank Corrado, Julie Briskman, and Jean Sherrard perform a series of unconventional Christmas stories—including Ron Carlson’s “The H Street Sledding Record,” about a father who honors the spirit of Santa by tossing horse manure on the roof every Christmas Eve — in Short Stories Live at Town Hall on Sunday, Dec 19. (Advance tickets no longer available. Fifty tickets will be on sale at the door starting at 3pm; show starts at 4.)

CLASSICAL & MORE Though the chorus sings “Hallelujah!,” the Seattle Symphony’s performance of Handel’s Messiah is bittersweet, as it marks the midpoint of maestro Gerard Schwarz’s final season as the symphony’s music director. Dec 16-19.

FUN RUN Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and elf ears are customary costume choices at the eighth annual 12Ks of Christmas Lace up for the 5K or 12K race in support of Sleep Country’s Foster Kids.