Category: Poetry

Harriet Monroe-Inspired Workshop on July 25th

07/23/2014

Friday, July 25th (4:30-5:30, 5:45-7:00 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

all ages, free & open to the public

You're invited to come to our next "Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys" workshop, when focus on the life and legacy of Harriet Monroe. During this workshop we will:

Talk about aspects of Monroe's biography;
Read selections of writings by Monroe;
Read poems by great poets with whom she worked;
Write poetry inspired by Harriet Monroe and her legacy.
More info TBA.

These arts workshops are free and open to the public, and all ages welcomed. Participants are invited to bring writing utensils and paper, although supplies will be provided if needed. Sometimes we play music and explore other art forms, so if you have a musical instrument that you'd like to bring, or if you have art supplies (e.g. colored pencils, pastels, etc.) you can bring those. We often use an upright piano during workshops as well.

Location: Mozart Park is in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. It's on the north side of Armitage Ave. -- several blocks east of Pulaski Rd., just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets. Our workshop series happens in the room to the left of fieldhouse lobby; some workshop sessions may happen outside in the park, weather permitting.

Transportation & parking: Mozart Park can be reached by public transportation (such as the #73 Armitage Ave. bus, and not far from the Logan Square and Western Ave. stations on the CTA's blue line. Mozart Park has a parking lot on Armitage, east of Avers.

Registering for Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys: You can register for this workshop series at the Chicago Park District website.

Additional info: You can contact us by clicking here (if you have questions about this workshop or to RSVP). Click here to find out more about the Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop series.

Links:

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Carl Sandburg-Inspired Arts Workshop at Mozart Park

05/19/2014

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You're invited to come to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, May 19 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

all ages, free & open to the public

Come discover, discuss & debate some of the origins of Objectivst poetics during this session, when Matthias Regan reads from his edited volume of Sandburg’s poetry and prose in the International Socialist Review. Here’s all the details:

“That’s when Sandburg was a Niceberg,” writes Edward Dorn in Book IV of Gunslinger. He’s thinking of the radical Carl Sandburg – the poetic brawler who changed the shape of poetry and politics simultaneously in the early years of modernism.

During the Chicago Renaissance, Sandburg was one of the most important innovators in English language poetry. His Chicago Poems (1916) drew on contemporary slang and Native American chants to create free verse poems that spoke to working-class people. He wrote poetry against the robber barons, the war profiteers and the false prophets of Christian morality. Given the popularity of his verse, it’s not surprising that academics and the popular press have “red-washed” Sandburg, portraying him as a bland sentimentalist by excising his early years as a Socialist organizer and muck-raking journalist.

Matthias Regan will read from his edited volume of Sandburg’s writings in the International Socialist Review – the radical journal published by Charles H. Kerr Press in which he published is first and best poems. Using a variety of pseudonyms, Sandburg wrote powerful news stories on union strikes, railroad regulation, the Eastland disaster and “Preparadness Parades.”

Location: Mozart Park is in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. It's on the north side of Armitage Ave. -- several blocks east of Pulaski Rd., just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets. Our workshop series happens in the room to the left of fieldhouse lobby; some workshop sessions may happen outside in the park, weather permitting.

Transportation & parking: Mozart Park can be reached by public transportation (such as the #73 Armitage Ave. bus, and not far from the Logan Square and Western Ave. stations on the CTA's blue line. Mozart Park has a parking lot on Armitage, east of Avers.

Registering for Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys: You can register for this workshop series at the Chicago Park District website.

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Carl Sandburg-Inspired Arts Workshop on April 28th

04/28/2014

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You're invited to come to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, April 28 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

During this workshop we will leverage the work of Carl Sandburg to highlight Chicago as a heroic historical presence, celebrated as a sufficiently significant subject for poetry and other arts created by Sandburg and others.

We’ll spend the first part of the workshop reading and discussing Sandburg's poem "Chicago," as well as poems by workshop participants. Then we’ll talk about common and unique characteristics of Chicago and the works interpreting it, and end with a creative exercise to process our own views that feelings about the city. Participants will be invited to use poetic forms such as haiku, limericks, short ballads, sonnets . . . whatever may catch people’s fancies. Artists may use of media of their choosing (which they must needs also provide) to express their views and impressions of Chicago. This workshop is facilitated by Wayne Allen Jones.

Location: Mozart Park is in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. It's on the north side of Armitage Ave. -- several blocks east of Pulaski Rd., just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets. Our workshop series happens in the room to the left of fieldhouse lobby; some workshop sessions may happen outside in the park, weather permitting.

Transportation & parking: Mozart Park can be reached by public transportation (such as the #73 Armitage Ave. bus, and not far from the Logan Square and Western Ave. stations on the CTA's blue line. Mozart Park has a parking lot on Armitage, east of Avers.

Registering for Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys: You can register for this workshop series at the Chicago Park District website.

Additional info: You can contact us by clicking here (if you have questions about this workshop or to RSVP). Click here to find out more about the Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys workshop series.

Links:

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Our Workshop on April 14th -- Lisel Mueller, Penelope Rosemont & Franklin Rosemont

04/12/2014

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You're invited to come to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, April 14 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

During our next workshop we will focus on the visual art and writings of Lisel Mueller, Penelope Rosemont, and Franklin Rosemont. We will:

Learn about the work and lives of those three Chicago-based individuals;
Listen to Penelope Rosemont talk about some of her experiences writing and creating art;
Read and discuss "Monet Refuses the Operation" by Lisel Mueller, a passage from Dreams & Everyday Life by Penelope Rosemont, and "ON THE ROAD: From Maywood Rhapsodism to City Lights in San Francisco and Armitage Avenue Transcendentalists" by Franklin Rosemont; and
Create works of writing and visual art inspired by those three individuals, including exquisite corpses.

Links:

Surrealism: Here & Now -- review by Janina Ciezadlo

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Tonight at Noon: Celebrating Charles Mingus' Life & Legacy at the Logan Center for the Arts

03/17/2014

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You're invited to come to this special performance event -- when we celebrate the life and legacy of Charles Mingus with music, poetry & visual art!

Friday, April 4 (8 p.m.)

Logan Center for the Arts
Performance Penthouse 901 (9th floor)
915 E. 60th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
phone: (773) 702-2787

$7 suggested donation

The great bassist and composer Charles Mingus was born 92 years ago, and we present this unique program of music and poetry in celebration of that great American genius' work & legacy. This program includes music composed by Mingus, songs by composers who worked with Mingus or were inspired by Mingus, poetry inspired by Mingus, and visual art inspired by Mingus!

Above: Mingus Awareness Project painting by Alpha Bruton, "After Better Get Hit in Your Soul" by Deborah Meadows, and Mingus Awareness Project concert poster image by Josh Josue

poster image designed by Josh Josue

1st set:
David Boykin -- reeds

2nd set:
poetry inspired by Charles Mingus

3rd set:
performance by the Míngtiāns
Jon Hey -- piano
Paul Hartsaw -- tenor saxophone
Jon Griffith -- saxophones
Dan Godston -- trumpet
Jon Godston -- soprano saxophone
Alex Wing -- upright bass
Damon Short -- drums

More about "Tonight at Noon":

The set list will include "Jelly Roll," "Better Get Hit in Your Soul," "Ecclusiastics," "Peggy's Blue Skylight," "Nostalgia in Times Square," "Haitian Fight Song," and other songs.
"portrait" by Steven Schroeder, "Into This Time" (for Charles Mingus) by Jayne Cortez, "Context of Champions" by Andrew Choate and "tonight at noon (mingus in tompkins square park / a free fugs concert -- 1960's)" by Steve Dalachinsky will be performed during the second set.
Artworks by Alpha Bruton, Deborah Meadows, and Josh Josue will be projected during the event.

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Ed Roberson & Sun Ra -- Arts Workshop on February 24

02/18/2014

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You're invited to our next Chicago Heroes & Arts Adventures workshop --

Monday, February 24th (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

all ages, free & open to the public

During this next workshop, we will focus on the work and legacies of Ed Roberson and Sun Ra. Ed Roberson is an amazing Chicago-based poet, and Sun Ra is a pioneering instrumentalist, composer and bandleader whose dynamic vision has exploded conceptions of music, space and identity. We are delighted that Ed will be joining us at the workshop.

After growing up in Birmingham, Sun Ra moved to Chicago where he developed key aspects of his musical approach, including his iconic Egyptology-suffused space persona. Sun Ra later lived in Montreal, New York City, and Philadelphia...but Chicago and Sun Ra have a special connection.

This workshop will include the following:

Ed Roberson will read a selection of his poetry.
We will discuss one or two of Ed's poems.
We will listen to several songs by Sun Ra and his Arkestra.
We will write poetry and create visual art inspired by Ed Roberson and Sun Ra.

Location: Mozart Park is on Armitage Avenue in Logan Square -- several blocks east of Pulaski Road, just south of Dickens and Shakespeare Streets.

Please contact us by clicking here -- if you have questions about this workshop and/or if you would like to RSVP. Thanks!

Links:

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Ekphrastic Poetry: Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys Workshop Session

01/24/2014

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Ekphrastic Poetry Writing Workshop

Monday, January 27 (6:00-7:15, 7:30-8:30 p.m.)

Mozart Park Fieldhouse
2036 N. Avers Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

free and open to the public, all ages

You are invited to participate in an ekphrastic poetry writing workshop -- the inaugural session in the Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys series at Mozart Park.

This workshop will include the following:

We will read and discuss "The Chicago Picasso," an ekphrastic poem by Gwendolyn Brooks. We will also read and discuss a few other poems by Gwendolyn Brooks.
Each participant will select a reproduction of an artwork in collections at the Art Institute of Chicago and Museum of Contemporary Art. Then each participant will write an ekphrastic poem that is inspired by that artwork. (Reproductions of artworks will be provided.)
Participants will share their poems with others in the workshop.

Chicago Picasso, Daley Plaza

Links:

"The Chicago Picasso" by Gwendolyn Brooks
Chicago Black Renaissance
"Chicago's Picasso sculpture" by Alan Artner (Chicago Tribune, 8/15/1967)
Gwendolyn Brooks (at poetryfoundation.org)
Gwendolyn Brooks Center at Chicago State University
an interview with Gwendolyn Brooks (Contemporary Literature (v. 11, no. 1))
"Meditations on 'Mecca': Gwendolyn Brooks and the Responsibilities of the Black Poet" by Elizabeth Alexander
"Pablo and the Boss: The Amazing Story of Chicago's Picasso" (WTTW)
South Side Community Art Center

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Red Rover Series Experiment #67: Private Eyes (They're Watching You)

09/19/2013

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A special event with 100 Thousand Poets for Change featuring:

Darren Angle

Adrienne Dodt

Nina Corwin

Rey Escobar

Cean Gamalinda

Jeanette Gomes

Kevin Gunnerson

Nathan Hoks

Joel Craig

Felicia Holman

J'Sun Howard

Noël Jones

Emily Lansana

Daniela Olszewska

Matthias Regan

Jennifer Steele

Russ Woods

Barbara Barg

Laura Goldstein

Jennifer Karmin

Timothy Rey

Larry Sawyer

Keli Stewart

Lina Ramona Vitkauskas

On September 28, 2013, many poets around the world will make their voices heard. To declare the change they'd like to see most in the U.S. and throughout the international community, events are being staged worldwide as part of 100 Thousand Poets for Change. This night of poetry and activism in Chicago asks the questions: What is freedom of expression? Is surveillance dangerous? Who chooses the information our government can access and censor?

Suggested donation $4
**proceeds to be donated to Kiva**

Logistics --
near CTA Damen blue line
third floor walk up
not wheelchair accessible

Co-presented by the Red Rover Series and Chicago Calling Arts Festival, & curated by 100 Thousand Poets for Change, Chicago Community Council 2013: Barbara Barg, Laura Goldstein, Jennifer Karmin, Timothy Rey, Larry Sawyer, Keli Stewart, Lina Ramona Vitkauskas

https://www.facebook.com/events/580292085360475/

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Harvest Fest: An Interfaith Arts Celebration

09/17/2013

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Sunday, September 29 (2 p.m.)

Peoples Church of Chicago
941 W. Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640

“Harvest Fest: An Interfaith Arts Celebration” features music, poetry, and readings from sacred texts—focused on the themes of harvest, thanksgiving, and autumn. This 2013 Chicago Calling Arts Festival event is co-sponsored by the Peoples Church, Treasures of Uptown, and the Borderbend Arts Collective. Free and open to the public.

Program:

Reverend Jean Darling reads "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver, and talks about Treasures of Uptown.
Ali Khalil reads a passage from the Quran entitled "The Morning Light."
Margaret Shaklee reads "I Give It Back to You" and "Train" by Edwina Gateley.
Allan Johnston reads "Flight" and "Departures" (from Departures), and parts of Sable (a long poem based on the life of Phillis Wheatley)
Mi Yodea performs "Hakafot."

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Mingus Awareness Project 2013

07/08/2013

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Two Mingus Awareness Project concerts happen in Richmond, VA this month:

Sunday, July 21 (9 p.m.)
1st set: Jason Jenkins Quartet
2nd set: No BS! Brass Band

* * * *

Monday, July 22 (9 p.m.)
1st set: Brian Jones Guitar Quartet
2nd set: RVA Big Band

Balliceaux
203 N. Lombardy St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 355-3008

We're planning another Mingus Awareness Project concert in Chicago for the fall.

Congratulations to the No BS! Brass Band for the release of their new Fight Song: A Tribute to Charles Mingus CD. They've been promoting their new CD with a tour, and have been getting a lot of buzz -- with coverage in The Wall Street Journal, Paste Magazine, WBGO (88.3FM in Newark, NJ), and other media outlets. No BS! also released RVA All Day last month; check it out!

Check out the Borderbend media gallery for "Charles Mingus at 90," a year-long celebration of Charles Mingus' life and legacy that happened last year.

Stay tuned for more updates!