On July 15, The Chicago Poetry Center had the wonderful opportunity to host our Summer Poetry Gathering! We all gathered in Haymarket House, which provides us with such a fitting place for our community to get together.
We heard from our amazing Poets in Residence including Alyx Chandler, Ola Faleti, Luz Magdaleno Flores, Lisa Low, Maya Odim, C. Russell Price, Luis Tubens, and Christie Valentin-Bati. Their performances brought together a myriad of poetic styles and content, and it was lovely to listen to them all perform.
We also had the opportunity to hear from Jane Wong, the author of her debut memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City (2023). Wong has also written two books of poetry: How to Not Be Afraid of Everything (2021) and Overpour (2016). We felt so lucky to witness her reading live, and really enjoyed the way she captured and expressed imagery so beautifully.
After the performances, audience members and attendees had the opportunity to chat with Jane Wong and get autographed copies of her book. Folks mingled and had a great time celebrating the performances and each other while listening to music by DJ Ryan the Person, over snacks and drinks – courtesy of Revolution Brewing and Wintrust.
Weren’t able to attend the gathering? We livestreamed the event on YouTube, available to watch here!
Thanks as well to Joshua Tatro for joining us and taking beautiful photos of the event. And of course, thank you so much to everyone who came out and joined us on this evening of poetry performances, community building, and celebration!
SUMMER POETRY GATHERING GALLERY:
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
The mission of the Chicago Poetry Center is to connect people with poetry, equitably engage poets with communities, and foster creativity and literacy in schools. We envision a world where poetry catalyzes reflection, connection, and change.
Since the Chicago Poetry Center’s first readings took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 1975, the Poetry Center has been a mainstay of Chicago’s cultural scene. Free public readings continue to be offered monthly in virtual and physical formats. Over 325 poets have participated in public readings, and a digital archive of their work is available on the Poetry Center website. The expansive archive also serves as the basis of a digital module for teaching poetry, which was recently developed by the Center’s Executive Director and is available at no cost to teachers.
