Date:
June 19 - July 15, 2009 Opening reception: Friday,
June 19, 6-9 p.m
Location:Mars
Gallery, 1139 W. Fulton Market, Chicago,
IL 60607
War Rug will be on exhibit as a video installation
as part of the group show Sepia, curated by Susan
Aurinko, at Mars Gallery, June 19 - July 16,
2009. Opening reception Friday, June 19, 6-9
p.m
War Rug is based on a work of documentary poetics in the form of a book length
poem. Multiple interwoven narratives explore life within zones of conflict as
viewed through the lens of current warfare. The narratives range from passages
inspired by journal entries, firsthand accounts, and news reports to poetic constructs
collaged from military doctrine, Freedom of Information Act released government
documents (like CIA interrogation manuals, and detainee autopsy reports), and
numerous other sources. The film collages and juxtaposes archival source material
with U.S. Military footage in an exploration of alternative narrative interpretations
of the source text.
Do
(not) touch.
Do (not) touch, the film, will be exhibited as a video installation at the Kinsey
Institute's 2009 Juried Art Show. To preview the film click here.
Date:
May 29 - July 31, 2009 Location:The
SoFA Gallery, 1201 E 7th St., Fine Arts 123, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
Caffé Poesia:
Assisi, Italy, July 22 - August 4th 2009
Instructor: Francesco
Levato
Long the social, political, and intellectual hub of a city, the cafe has served as a rendezvous point for artists and poets where great poetry has been inspired, discussed, debated, and ultimately refined to the beauty we find on the printed page.
This workshop seeks to recreate that energetic creative locus from which great poetry springs. Writers will focus on their developing projects and receive feedback from the workshop leader and their classmates with an eye towards honing their craft and working toward the completion of publishable work. Writers will present work for in-depth critique, receive guidance on publishing, and seek inspiration through examination of Italian poets like Amelia Rosselli, Eugenio Montale, and Andrea Zanzotto.
Excerpts from the book-length poem War
Rug forthcoming in: Big Bridge, LUDWIG (Italian translation), The
Potomac, XCP: Cross Cultural Poetics.
Poetry videos forthcoming in: Drunken Boat (The Mechanics of Plastic and The
Knotting of Rope), Zebra Poetry Film Festival, Berlin
(The Mechanics of Plastic and The
Knotting of Rope), Visible Verse 2008, Vancouver (The Mechanics of Plastic, The
Knotting of Rope, and The Right to
Remain).
Excerpt from the book-length poem War
Rug online War Rug is a work of documentary poetics in the form of a book length poem. Multiple interwoven narratives explore life within zones of conflict as viewed through the lens of current warfare. The narratives range from passages inspired by journal entries, firsthand accounts, and news reports to poetic constructs collaged from military doctrine, Freedom of Information Act released government documents (like CIA interrogation manuals, and detainee autopsy reports), and numerous other sources.
Poetry based video series
release The Knotting of Rope is part of Fragments of a
Name, a poetry based video
art series that blends the written and spoken word with film and instrumental
music in an exploration of the fragmented nature of life within zones of conflict.
This piece, in particular, deals with the silencing of dissent.
Click here or
on the image above to launch the video in a new window.
(Requirements: DSL/cable connection and the Adobe
Flash Player)
Review of "Experiencing the War in Iraq"
Francesco Levato is executive director of the Poetry Center of Chicago. Wafaa Bilal is an Iraq-born performance artist now living in the United States. John Paul Hornbeck is a U.S. Army veteran who runs a veterans’ counseling program in Iowa City, Iowa. Rebecca Heyl is a Boston artist and writer who has worked for the Israeli peace movement. Robert Walters is part of a U.S. Navy squadron currently stationed in Iraq.
If you were expecting "Experiencing the War in Iraq," a month-long series of Iraq-themed talks, performances and exhibits organized by a group of local artist-activists, to feature a predictable chorus of antiwar voices, think again. As the names on the above list suggest, “Experiencing the War in Iraq” is far too diverse — and for that reason, much too important — to dismiss as just another chance to vent about the war in Iraq.
