We could not be more excited to announce our Spring 2023 Reading & Lecture Series, which features poetry and prose readings from an exceptional group of writers.
Our fall resident, Nicole Sealey, will present both a reading on Thursday, March 9th during her extended stay in Tucson. Sealey is the author of Ordinary Beast, finalist for the PEN Open Book and Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards, The Animal After Whom Other Animals Are Named, winner of the Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize, and the forthcoming The Ferguson Report: An Erasure, for which an excerpt from the collection was awarded the 2021 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem.
Starting January off is a reading with acclaimed poet, scholar and essayist Roberto Tejada on January 12. On January 28th, we're thrilled to present a reading in collaboration with MOCA Tucson, featuring poet and artist Cecilia Vicuña and poet translators Daniel Borzutzky and Rosa Alcalá. Note that this reading will take place at MOCA, on Saturday, January 28th at noon. Vicuña's latest installation, Sonora Quipu, will be installed at MOCA Tucson during the spring of 2023.
During the month of February, we will host Tyehimba Jess, who will read at the Poetry Center on Thursday, February 9th. Among many other honors and recognitions, Jess won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for his incredible collection Olio. On February 23rd, we're thrilled to welcome former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera back to Tucson in a reading with University of Arizona MFA faculty member Farid Matuk. A prolific writer, with work for audiences of all ages, Herrera's visit will especially focus on the 2022 re-translation and re-publication of Akrílica, one of Hererra's seminal early texts. Matuk worked as one of three translators on the project.
April features a visit from poet Jane Hirshfield on April 13th, a pandemic-delayed reading that we are thrilled to realize this spring! Hirshfield visits in advance of the planned fall 2023 publication of her latest, The Asking: New & Selected Poems, her tenth poetry collection. On April 27th, we'll feature writers Jennifer Elise Foerster and Michael Wasson as readers in the University of Arizona Creative Writing MFA program's Distinguished Visiting Writers Series.
We will end the spring 2023 season with a reading given by the graduating class of the Creative Writing MFA program on May 6th at noon, and a reading from participants in the 22-23 Classes & Workshops at the Poetry Center. The latter will take place on Saturday December 13 at noon.
Looking forward to a spectacular season at the Poetry Center!
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Events take place at the Poetry Center unless otherwise indicated. Additional events and info at poetry.arizona.edu/calendar.
Thursday, January 12th, 7:00 PM
Reading: Roberto Tejada
Saturday, January 28th, noon at MOCA Tucson (265 S. Church Ave)
Reading: Cecilia Vicuña, Daniel Borzutzky, Rosa Alcalá
Thursday, February 9th, 7:00 PM
Reading: Tyehimba Jess
Thursday, February 23rd, 7:00 PM
Reading: Juan Felipe Herrera and Farid Matuk
Thursday, March 9th, 7:00 PM
Reading: Nicole Sealey
Thursday, April 13, 7:00 PM
Reading: Jane Hirshfield
Thursday, April 27 , 7:00 pm
Reading: Jennifer Elise Foerster and Michael Wasson
Saturday, May 6th , noon
Reading: MFA Graduation Reading
Saturday, May 6th , noon
Reading: Participants in the Poetry Center Classes and Workshops program