CHICAGO — The Poetry Foundation's fall event season embraces poetry in an array of offerings that range from an experimental oratorio to an audio installation of a Parisian soundscape to a special evening with superstar soprano Renée Fleming and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mark Strand.
This season is variously local, with the Open Door Readings, focused on Chicagoland writing programs, and a collaboration with the Guild Literary Complex, featuring Ana Castillo; national, with a celebration of Graywolf Press's 40th anniversary; and international, with tributes to Brecht and Leopardi.
Audiences can also hear a lecture by Timothy Donnelly, new poems by A.E. Stallings, Eileen Myles, Carolyn Forché, and Jamaal May, and so much more. The season begins on Thursday, Sept. 4 with the launch of Nepantla: A Journal Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color.
The following events are free admission and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. These events take place at the Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior St., Chicago, unless otherwise specified. More information about our events is available at poetryfoundation.org/programs/events. Highlights include:
Poetry off the Shelf
Launch of Nepantla: A Journal Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color
Thursday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m.
Duriel E. Harris, Ching-In Chen, Ruben Quesada, and Francisco AragÃ"n help celebrate volume 1, number 1 of a new literary magazine whose mission is to nurture, celebrate, and preserve diversity within the queer poetry community.
Co-sponsored with the Lambda Literary Foundation
Poetry off the Shelf
Ana Castillo, Cristina Correa & Paul MartÃnez Pompa
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 7 pm
Award-winning poet, novelist, playwright, and translator Ana Castillo returns to Chicago this year as the Lund-Gill Professor at Dominican University. Author Cristina Correa is a VONA/Voices writer and a Midwestern Voices and Visions awardee. Poet Paul MartÃnez Pompa, who teaches composition and poetry at Triton College, is a recent recipient of an Illinois Arts Council Literary Award.
Co-sponsored with the Guild Literary Complex
Words or Music?
Renée Fleming & Mark Strand
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7 pm
Two of the greatest living practitioners of their respective art forms explore the power of words and music through conversation and readings. Superstar soprano Renée Fleming and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mark Strand contemplate the central theme of Strauss's final opera, Capriccio: which is more expressive, music or poetry? This special event is presented in collaboration with Lyric Unlimited, inspired by Lyric Opera of Chicago's upcoming production of Capriccio ( performances October 6-28 ).
Seating is first come, first served. The Poetry Foundation will be giving away a limited number of guaranteed seats for this event! Find us on Twitter @PoetryFound for your chance to win beginning September 22. #LyricPoetryTix
Co-sponsored with Lyric Opera of Chicago.
This program made possible by the generous support of Richard and Susan Kiphart.
Poetry off the Shelf
Eileen Myles
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m.
Tickets go on sale to Chicago Humanities Festival members on Tuesday, September 2 and to the general public on Monday, September 8. Call ( 312 ) 494-9509 or visit chicagohumanities.org .
Chronicling the life of the writer in a queer, funny, feminist, and ultimately provocative way has made New York poet Eileen Myles's readings a mix of stand-up, Zen talk, and poetry. Myles discusses Afterglow, her new fantasy and dog memoir about her longtime companion Rosie.
Co-sponsored with the Chicago Humanities Festival
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