The Chicago Poetry Center and The Green at 320 S. Canal present Poetry @ The Green at 320, a free, weekly reading and open mic series co-curated by CPC’s Poets in Residence Tarnynon Onumonu and Timothy David Rey.
Join us every Tuesday night from June 28 to September 27 at 5:30 p.m. in this brand new, unique, and beautiful setting to hear outstanding featured poets perform their work in this inaugural partnership between Chicago Poetry Center and The Green at 320 S. Canal (aka The Green at 320). After every poetry performance, there will be an open mic for any individual that would like to share poetry of their own!
ABOUT THE FEATURED PERFORMERS:
28th: Nicole Bond, Joy Young
5th: Kim Chayeb (Cancelled due to weather)
19th: Sunshine Lombre
26th: Jennifer Karmin
2nd: Justus Pugh
9th: Luis Tubens
16th: Chirskira Caillouet
23rd: Del Marie
30th: Melissa Castro Almandina
6th: Christian Aldana
13th: Michelle Shafer
20th: Sabrina Pastard
27th: Brittanii’ Batts, Keisha KJ Light Bennett
ABOUT THE CO-CURATORS:
TARNYNON ONUMONU is an emerging writer, performing and visual artist born and raised in the Jeffery Manor neighborhood on the southeast side of Chicago and is extremely proud of and humbled by her southside citizenship and West African lineage. She has featured at literary spaces and competitions throughout the Midwest and has performed locally everywhere from nightclubs to bookstores to The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Aside from her art, she is committed to social justice and youth empowerment.
TIMOTHY DAVID REY is a writer/ performer who works in poetry, plays, and monologue (both fictional and autobiographical). He teaches creative writing and performance throughout the city of Chicago and its suburbs. He is a 2015 Semi-Finalist for the Guild Literary Complex’s Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Poetry Award, and one of the winners of Project Exploration (The Poetry Center of Chicago 2004). He is the co-founder of the LBGT Solo Performance Showcase, Solo Homo (2002-2011). Timothy’s plays and performance pieces have been seen and heard at venues throughout Chicago as well as out of state and in Panama. Timothy’s writing has appeared in magazines and journals including ’60 Inches From Center,’ and ‘After Hours: The Chicago Journal of Writing & Art.’ ‘His book of poetry and performance, Little Victories, was published in 2012 by NewTown Writers Press. Timothy has performed at Steppenwolf Theater (Lookout Series), New York City’s International Fringe Festival as well as The Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts.
ABOUT THE LOCATION:
The Green is a new public park located in the West Loop, and will be host to many family-friendly activities and events this summer!
The Green at 320 is located behind the building at 320 S. Canal, 1 block west of the river. The main staired entrance to the park is on the corner of Clinton and Van Buren with an ADA-accessible ramp off of Clinton. The park is located 1 block north of the Clinton Blue Line Stop. Please find more detailed transit and location information here.
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.
