Chicago - Guild Literary Complex celebrates its 25th anniversary year with a host of new programs and twists. Founded in 1989 and originally the programming outlet of Guild Books bookstore, the Guild Complex continues to travel against conventional wisdom, challenging audiences to expand their literary boundaries. This year's programming sees signature events like Palabra Pura, Brooksday, and Prose Awards highlighted by new collaborations with Columbia College Chicago's Story Week, Facets Multi-Media, About Face Theatre and more, all guided by the Guild's mission to cross and connect lines between identities, cultures, and artistic visions.
John Rich, Director of Guild Complex says, "This May we celebrate a silver anniversary, a remarkable milestone for any literary organization. But the Guild is not just any literary organization. The Guild is a tonic. A tonic stimulates. It imparts vitality. And the Guild does exactly that for Chicago's lit scene."
Guild programs are shaped to represent human experience though diverse voices and ideas, and are often curated by members of the community. The Guild provides a platform for writers at all stages of their careers, paying honorariums to featured writers whether they are emerging or established. Maintaining a commitment to accessibility, these predominantly free events are produced across the city.
Spring program highlights include:
"Voices of Protest", April 25 & 26, draws attention to the plight of exiled authors and celebrates a global literature. The Guild will host Manal Al-Sheikh and Mazen Maarouf, two Middle Eastern poets currently living in exile in Scandinavia for their work as writers and journalists. "Voices of Protest" is a part of the Guild's regular Applied Words program, which uses the literary arts to creatively describe and enhance our understanding of disparate subjects.
As part of this program two short films will be screened which are included in "Poets of Protest," an Al Jazeera produced documentary series by British filmmaker Roxana Vilk. The series focuses on six Middle Eastern authors and the relationship of their work to initiatives for democracy and social justice across the Middle East. The poets Al-Sheikh ( Iraq ) and Maarouf ( Palestine ) will be in Chicago to give readings of their work, and various auxiliary programs will be included.
Support for "Voices of Protest" is provided by the MacArthur Foundation International Connections Fund. It is co-sponsored by Facets Multi-Media, Al Jazeera America, Words Without Borders, and HotHouse.
The Guild joins Columbia College Chicago's Story Week to expand the presentation of Latino and Chicano writers during the annual festival. While Story Week officially takes place in March, the Guild is producing programs in February as a prologue to the main events. The extended collaboration includes the following readings and author events:
February 19, Palabra Pura: "Greater than the Sum of Parts"
Curated by Teresa Vázquez
February 22, "An evening with Mario Bellatin"
March 18, "An evening with Cristina Garcia"
March 19, "Translation Matters" panel featuring Cristina Garcia, Kolin Jordan, Valeria Luiselli, Achy Obejas
March 19, Palabra Pura: "Noche de novelas/Night of Novels" featuring Valeria Luiselli with special guests Raul Dorantes and Fernando Olszanski
March 20, "Literary Rock & Roll"- a tribute to David Hernandez with Street Sounds
The 18th Annual Story Week Festival of Writers is presented by the Fiction Writing Program of the Columbia College Chicago Department of Creative Writing and is co-sponsored by the Chicago Public Library, Metro, and Guild Complex. The festival offers readings, conversations, panel discussions, performances, screenings, and book signings that are free and open to the public. This Story Week 2014 collaboration is made possible by a generous grant from The Chicago Community Trust.
CALENDAR OF ADDITIONAL EVENTS
March 11, Applied Words: "It Gets Better"
In collaboration with About Face Theatre and in conjunction with their production of Brahman/i, we present a night of comedic stories about history, mythology, gender roles and high school. Hosted by comedienne Tamale and featuring Lily Be, Greg Ledger and others, "It Gets Better" is part one of a 2-part series on comedy.
March 26, Applied Words: "Unseen Worlds"
A look at the intersection of writing and science, writers will read stories responding to the idea of the unseen. Authors include Joe Austin, Ph.D., Paul Gorski, and Anne Yoder. Hosted by micro/cellular biologist Stephanie Levi, founder of Science is Sexy.
April 16, "Palabra Pura"
Our monthly bilingual reading series is curated in April by Eduardo Arocho with guests Laurie Ann Guerrero and Rich Villar.
April 30, "Food Justice, a live GuildCast"
In cooperation with the University of Chicago's Studs Terkel Festival "Let's Get Talking," our live version of the Guild's monthly podcast will be hosted by journalist Debbie Carlson and include writers and activists working towards food justice in Chicago and beyond.
May 15, Guild Annual Benefit + 25th Anniversary Party
At this party benefiting the Guild, we will acknowledge our significant past but focus on the future. Twenty-five "voices to watch" will be announced, as will a new series.
May 21, "Palabra Pura: Two poetic voices of the new Latin American territory"
Our monthly bilingual reading series is curated in May by Febronio Zatarain and features Emmanuel Ayala and Miguel Marzana.
May date TBA, "Applied Words: Humor and Black Vernacular"
Part two of our exploration of the intersection of writing and comedy.
June 7, "Brooksday"
Brooksday continues for a second year honoring the tremendous legacy of Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks. In a marathon reading, people from all walks of life read from Brooks' work, sharing the breadth and depth of her influence.
June 18, "Palabra Pura"
Our monthly bilingual reading series is curated in June by Diana Pando.
July 16, "Palabra Pura"
Our monthly bilingual reading series is curated in July by Maribel Mares.
July date TBA, "Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award"
Founded by the poet Brooks herself twenty-one years ago, this vibrant performance poetry contest lets the audience choose the winners, with a cash prize of $500 to the top poet. Submission guidelines will be announced in May.
September 17, "Palabra Pura"
Our monthly bilingual reading series in September features Ana Castillo and is curated by Cristina Correa.
September & October dates TBA, "Poetry Performance Incubator: Like Bread"
An experiment in collaborative writing and theater production, "Like Bread" asks its cast of poets to make poetry matter. This is the premier of our newest Incubator project.
October 15, "Palabra Pura"
Our monthly bilingual reading series is curated in October by Cyn Vargas.
October date TBA, "Prose Awards"
Our annual Prose Awards recognizes outstanding short fiction and non-fiction from across the State of Illinois and awards cash prizes to one outstanding writer in each category. Submission information will be announced in July.
November 19, "Palabra Pura"
Our monthly bilingual reading series is curated in November by Paul MartÃnez-Pompa.
November date TBA, "TONIC"
Not just another party, this event celebrates the lively tonic nature of the Guild.
Venue details, times, and other information will be made available at www.guildcomplex.org, and press releases will be sent each month for upcoming events. Programs are subject to change.
ABOUT THE GUILD LITERARY COMPLEX
Founded in 1989, the Guild Literary Complex ( the Guild ) is a Chicago-based literary organization that present and supports diverse, divergent, and emerging voices through innovative programs, performances, and readings. Actively working with individuals and organizations from Chicago's many neighborhoods, the Guild seeks to connect people, groups, and geographies through literature—bringing unexpected writers, programs, and audiences together. The Guild believes that vibrant literature contributes to society and community, and that all people should have access to dynamic, engaging juxtaposition of voices. The Guild's programming includes Palabra Pura ( bilingual poetry ); the Poetry Performance Incubator ( collaborative theatre and poetry ); and open-submission writing contests such as the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award and Prose Awards for short fiction and non-fiction. Since its formation, the Guild has established itself, in the words of the Illinois Arts Council, as "Chicago's premier literary center." The Guild has been twice selected as a model literary center by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Visit our website for more details: www.guildcomplex.org .
