Upcoming Events
EMILY DICKINSON BIRTHDAY PARTY - Thursday, December 10, 2015, from 7-9 p.m.
Bluestockings Bookstore 172 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002 - FREE
Join us to celebrate the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson! The event will feature performance poet Lisa Markuson reading the poetry of Dickinson, as well as poet Christine Hamm presenting an overview of Dickinson's work and poet Joanna Fuhrman, who will read her original poetry. The art of Alice Garik will also be shown in a video presentation. Guests are welcome to participate in an open mic and read poems written or inspired by Emily Dickinson. Bluestockings is a 100% volunteer-powered and collectively-owned radical bookstore, fair trade cafe and activist center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Joanna Fuhrman is the author of five books of poetry, including The Year of Yellow Butterflies (Hanging Loose Press 2015) and Pageant (Alice James Books 2009). Her poems have appeared in various journals including The Believer, Volt, New American Writing and various anthologies, including the Pushcart Prize 2011. She teaches poetry writing at Rutgers University, through Teachers & Writers Collaborative, and in private workshops in Brooklyn and Manhattan. For more see joannafuhrman.com.
Alice Garik’s passionate relationship with the natural world is at the core of her art. Whether photographing tattooed bodies or making cameraless negatives of flora and fauna, Alice's work declares that we are part of nature. Alice's work is in the collections of The Brooklyn Museum and The New York Public Library. Her art work has been used on sets of “Eat, Pray, Love”, “Mr. Popper's Penguins” and “Gossip Girl”. She has done commissioned art for ORION Magazine and book publishers. Learn more at www.alicegarik.com.
Christine Hamm has a PhD in American Poetics, and is a former poetry editor for Ping*Pong. Her poetry has been published in Orbis, Pebble Lake Review, Lodestar Quarterly, Poetry Midwest, Rattle, Dark Sky, and many others. The New Orleans Review published Christine's latest chapbook, A is for Absence, in the fall of 2014, and nominated her work for a Pushcart.
Lisa Markuson is a performance poet and philosopher of sorts. She runs a company of poets who create unique, interactive experience for eventgoers by asking them a topic and instantly writing them their own unique haiku, on antique typewriters, www.thehaikuguys.com. She writes haiku reviews and does a bit of freelance journalism too, and eats almost exclusively sushi.
Past Events
RUMI POETRY PARTY - Saturday, August 15, 2015, from 7-9 p.m. at AOT Project Salon, 159 Hope Street, Brooklyn (Williamsburg) - FREE
Come enjoy film, art, music, photography and poetry off the page celebrating Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Persian poet and Sufi master born in 1207. Translations of his books have sold millions of copies in recent years, making him one of the most popular poets in the US. This party will include a reading by poet Sarah Sarai and a performances by singer/songwriter Miranda Inzunza and actress Emma Barishman. Also featured will be artwork by Alice Garik, John Neitzel, Luis Pagan and Josh Sachs. Those attending can also participate in an open mic to read or perform Rumi-related works. There will be a cash bar and cupcakes available, too. AOT Project Salon is a non-profit art space that serves contemporary artist’s development and the Brooklyn community in the forms of a salon series, exhibition space, arts education, and a forthcoming artist-in-residence program. Learn more at www.aotprojectsalon.com.
Come enjoy film, art, music, photography and poetry off the page celebrating Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Persian poet and Sufi master born in 1207. Translations of his books have sold millions of copies in recent years, making him one of the most popular poets in the US. This party will include a reading by poet Sarah Sarai and a performances by singer/songwriter Miranda Inzunza and actress Emma Barishman. Also featured will be artwork by Alice Garik, John Neitzel, Luis Pagan and Josh Sachs. Those attending can also participate in an open mic to read or perform Rumi-related works. There will be a cash bar and cupcakes available, too. AOT Project Salon is a non-profit art space that serves contemporary artist’s development and the Brooklyn community in the forms of a salon series, exhibition space, arts education, and a forthcoming artist-in-residence program. Learn more at www.aotprojectsalon.com.
WALT WHITMAN BIRTHDAY PARTY - Sunday, May 31, 2015, from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tickets - $5 (cash at door)
Come celebrate the life and poetry of Walt Whitman at Standard Toykraft, 722 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (near the Graham Avenue stop on the L Train). The event will feature actors Adam Thompson and Rachel Boschen performing the poetry of Whitman along with dancer Johari Mayfield. The photography of Alice Garik will also be showcased during one of the poems. The event will also include local Brooklyn poet, Christine Hamm, who will read her original poetry. Guests are welcome to participate in an open mic and read poems written or inspired by Walt Whitman. There will also be a short presentation about the life and poetry of Whitman, as well as free cupcakes! The venue has a full bar and proceeds will help POPLab to continue to promote poetry off the page through events and performances.
Come celebrate the life and poetry of Walt Whitman at Standard Toykraft, 722 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (near the Graham Avenue stop on the L Train). The event will feature actors Adam Thompson and Rachel Boschen performing the poetry of Whitman along with dancer Johari Mayfield. The photography of Alice Garik will also be showcased during one of the poems. The event will also include local Brooklyn poet, Christine Hamm, who will read her original poetry. Guests are welcome to participate in an open mic and read poems written or inspired by Walt Whitman. There will also be a short presentation about the life and poetry of Whitman, as well as free cupcakes! The venue has a full bar and proceeds will help POPLab to continue to promote poetry off the page through events and performances.
LANGSTON HUGHES BIRTHDAY PARTY - Sunday, February 1, 2015, from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tickets - $5
Hosted by POPLab at the Urban Yoga Foundation in Harlem, 259 West 137th Street
A great way to kick off Black History Month! Come enjoy the poetry of Langston Hughes with dancers Oscar Trujillo and Johari Mayfield, as well as actor Brian Jones performing Langston Hughes poems. The event will also feature two local poets, Robert Gibbons and Jee Leong Koh, who will read their poetry. Guests are welcome to participate in an open mic and read poems written or inspired by Langston Hughes. There will also be a short presentation about the life and poetry of Langston Hughes. Cake and refreshments will be provided. Proceeds will help the Urban Yoga Foundation, www.urbanyogafoundation.org, to educate and empower communities to be proactive about issues affecting their health. Through yoga and related holistic approaches, UYF programs help individuals manage stress, develop mind-body awareness, and health consciousness.
Hosted by POPLab at the Urban Yoga Foundation in Harlem, 259 West 137th Street
A great way to kick off Black History Month! Come enjoy the poetry of Langston Hughes with dancers Oscar Trujillo and Johari Mayfield, as well as actor Brian Jones performing Langston Hughes poems. The event will also feature two local poets, Robert Gibbons and Jee Leong Koh, who will read their poetry. Guests are welcome to participate in an open mic and read poems written or inspired by Langston Hughes. There will also be a short presentation about the life and poetry of Langston Hughes. Cake and refreshments will be provided. Proceeds will help the Urban Yoga Foundation, www.urbanyogafoundation.org, to educate and empower communities to be proactive about issues affecting their health. Through yoga and related holistic approaches, UYF programs help individuals manage stress, develop mind-body awareness, and health consciousness.
SLAM TEAM (a poemsical) - In a drama about four students who help a friend fight deportation, Slam Team brings poetry off the page through a new genre, the “poemsical.” The teens create a poetry club that comes to life in a format similar to musicals, replacing songs with poems and mashing up frustrations of bullies, parents and peer pressure into a poetical punch. This "Poemsical," written by Gina Inzunza and directed by Marcus Yi, features Sakura Lin, Elizabeth Gilbert, Andreas Wyder and Brian Sanchez.
Thespis Theater Festival, www.thespisnytheaterfestival.com/slam-team
Roy Arias Theaters, Stage II, 300 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
Tue. July 22 - 8:45 p.m.; Fri. July 25 - 9 p.m.; Sun. July 27 - 4:30 p.m.
Thespis Theater Festival, www.thespisnytheaterfestival.com/slam-team
Roy Arias Theaters, Stage II, 300 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
Tue. July 22 - 8:45 p.m.; Fri. July 25 - 9 p.m.; Sun. July 27 - 4:30 p.m.
POPLab Meet & Greet
Come join founders Gina Inzunza and Marcus Yi to help brainstorm and plan the mission of POPLab. We welcome anyone who wants to get involved and grow this new nonprofit from the ground up. Pizza and soda provided. RSVP - send email to gina.inzunza@yahoo.com.
Come join founders Gina Inzunza and Marcus Yi to help brainstorm and plan the mission of POPLab. We welcome anyone who wants to get involved and grow this new nonprofit from the ground up. Pizza and soda provided. RSVP - send email to gina.inzunza@yahoo.com.
SLAM TEAM (a poemsical) - Written by Gina Inzunza, directed by Marcus Yi featuring Nicola McEldowney, Luis Restrepo, Thanh Ta and Nick Imperato.
Planet Connections Theater Festivity
Paradise Factory, 64 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003
Fri. May 16 - 4:30 p.m., Tue. May 20 - 6:30 p.m., Sat. May 24 - 1 p.m.,Wed. May 28 - 2 p.m., Thur. May 29 - 5:30 p.m., Sun. June 1 - 9 p.m.
Planet Connections Theater Festivity
Paradise Factory, 64 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003
Fri. May 16 - 4:30 p.m., Tue. May 20 - 6:30 p.m., Sat. May 24 - 1 p.m.,Wed. May 28 - 2 p.m., Thur. May 29 - 5:30 p.m., Sun. June 1 - 9 p.m.
Teen Poetry Book Party - Come celebrate poetry for teens and watch young actors perform excerpts from Inside Voices at the Girl Aquarium. The event will also include a poetry open mic, creative writing workshop activities, theater games and a reading from the author. Bring your favorite poem and a friend. Refreshments provided.
Saturday, November 23 @ 2:30 PM
Bank Street Bookstore
610 West 112th Street, New York, NY 10025 (corner of Broadway)
Saturday, November 23 @ 2:30 PM
Bank Street Bookstore
610 West 112th Street, New York, NY 10025 (corner of Broadway)
Performance Poetry Forum: Bringing On-Page Poems to Life
Saturday, September 21 @ 7 PM
Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002
Join four writers who will discuss how they have transformed on-page poetry into performance pieces, as well as actors performing written works. Hear the challenges and creative ways in which these artists have wrestled with bringing on-page poems off the paper and onto the stage or in front of the camera. Audience discussion welcomed. Featuring Karen Hildebrand, a poet, dance writer and magazine editor; Gina Inzunza, a poet and playwright that combines both genres; Meghann Plunkett, a NYC based writer/performer; and Marcus Yi is a writer/director and performer based in NYC.
Saturday, September 21 @ 7 PM
Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002
Join four writers who will discuss how they have transformed on-page poetry into performance pieces, as well as actors performing written works. Hear the challenges and creative ways in which these artists have wrestled with bringing on-page poems off the paper and onto the stage or in front of the camera. Audience discussion welcomed. Featuring Karen Hildebrand, a poet, dance writer and magazine editor; Gina Inzunza, a poet and playwright that combines both genres; Meghann Plunkett, a NYC based writer/performer; and Marcus Yi is a writer/director and performer based in NYC.