Guest Post on jdbrecords, Philly Reading and Other May Bits

A long overdue post (something I started to write and meant to share back in September when The Erotic Postulate was released!) is up on jdbrecords. Much like this post from 2012 where I took my dear readers on a storyboard tour of Skin Shift (also on jdbrecords), this post walks you through four of the paintings behind four poems central to The Erotic Postulate.

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I’ll be reading in Philadelphia for the first time this coming Sunday, May 31st, 5pm at Giovanni’s Room (345 S 12th St) with Dean Kostos, Paul Lisicky, Kelly McQuain and Jim Provenzano. Here is the Facebook event page for details.

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Speaking of readings, I’ll be reading with other Sibling Rivalry Press authors at the NYC Poetry Festival on Governor’s Island on Saturday, July 25th, 3pm.

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And speaking of SRP, their entire body of printed work – every printed full-length collection of poetry, chapbook, novel, anthology, and every issue of every journal – has been acquired by the Library of Congress for housing in their Rare Book and Special Collections Division. From the curator: “Please do share the information with your authors, letting them know that their works will now reside among history’s greatest poets—in perpetuity—in the Rare Book and Special Collections vault, in the world’s biggest library.” Exciting!

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Stephen Mills is the next guest editor for OCHO: A Journal of Queer Arts. Send him your work! Guidelines here.

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I was traveling so much in April for National Poetry Month, that I forgot to share this fun link. A tumblr devoted to poets and their shoes, curated by the fabulous Aimee Nezhukumatathil. If you were ever curious about what we poets wear on our feet, now you have pages and pages of visuals to scroll through. Here is my entry.

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My villanelle “I Am Not a Myth” was performed at the National Poetry Month edition of Emotive Fruition by actor Lucas Hall.

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And I had a fun time in Chicago where I spent an event-filled weekend with one of my oldest friends in the world, Lori Felker. Big highlight was the opening of the “Immortality & Vulnerability” exhibit at Zhou B Art Center where I felt like a rock star posing for photos next to my portrait. A visitor even wanted to buy one of my poems right off the wall! Thanks again to Didi Menendez (who I finally got to meet in person!) for creating these opportunities for poets and artists, and to Nadine Robbins for the amazing portrait. Here are a few photos from the event:

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Me signing one of my poems for a patron who wanted to buy it while editor and publisher Didi Menendez looks on.

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The painter of my portrait, super talented Nadine Robbins.

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Replacing my portrait with the real thing.

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This, all night.