WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.560 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.560 --> 00:00:02.520 align:middle line:90% Hi, everybody. 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:03.180 align:middle line:90% Here we go. 00:00:03.180 --> 00:00:04.080 align:middle line:90% Are you ready? 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:04.580 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:05.140 align:middle line:90% Good. 00:00:05.140 --> 00:00:06.450 align:middle line:84% How many of you were at the event last night 00:00:06.450 --> 00:00:08.039 align:middle line:90% at the Jewish History Museum? 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:09.330 align:middle line:90% You win. 00:00:09.330 --> 00:00:10.830 align:middle line:90% Ah, that was a beautiful night. 00:00:10.830 --> 00:00:12.455 align:middle line:84% And you're lucky if you're here tonight 00:00:12.455 --> 00:00:15.478 align:middle line:84% because you get to hear a second happening that 00:00:15.478 --> 00:00:17.520 align:middle line:84% will be different from what you heard last night. 00:00:17.520 --> 00:00:18.895 align:middle line:84% And we're so excited about what's 00:00:18.895 --> 00:00:21.540 align:middle line:84% happening here this evening and for the visitors that are here. 00:00:21.540 --> 00:00:23.580 align:middle line:84% We were talking at dinner before we got here 00:00:23.580 --> 00:00:25.350 align:middle line:84% that we have visitors from Los Angeles 00:00:25.350 --> 00:00:28.080 align:middle line:84% and from Houston and from Mexico City, which makes Tucson 00:00:28.080 --> 00:00:29.820 align:middle line:90% the Center of that universe. 00:00:29.820 --> 00:00:32.100 align:middle line:90% And so welcome to the center. 00:00:32.100 --> 00:00:34.470 align:middle line:84% I'm glad you guys are here, the Poetry Center, 00:00:34.470 --> 00:00:37.180 align:middle line:90% this Center of that universe. 00:00:37.180 --> 00:00:38.190 align:middle line:90% My name is Tyler Meier. 00:00:38.190 --> 00:00:40.232 align:middle line:84% I work here as the director at the Poetry Center. 00:00:40.232 --> 00:00:42.570 align:middle line:84% I want to just do some very quick details about upcoming 00:00:42.570 --> 00:00:44.660 align:middle line:84% events at the Poetry Center, tell you 00:00:44.660 --> 00:00:47.160 align:middle line:84% about a couple of things and then frame tonight a little bit 00:00:47.160 --> 00:00:49.068 align:middle line:84% and then welcome up and introduce 00:00:49.068 --> 00:00:51.360 align:middle line:84% Ariel Goldberg, who'll tell us more about the poets who 00:00:51.360 --> 00:00:53.560 align:middle line:90% are here with us this evening. 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:55.260 align:middle line:84% First of all, if you haven't noticed, 00:00:55.260 --> 00:00:58.020 align:middle line:84% this weekend is the Tucson Festival of Books. 00:00:58.020 --> 00:01:00.570 align:middle line:84% That's happening, and there's a lot of tents. 00:01:00.570 --> 00:01:02.070 align:middle line:90% So avail yourselves of that. 00:01:02.070 --> 00:01:04.612 align:middle line:84% Lots of great literary things that you can discover and enjoy 00:01:04.612 --> 00:01:05.570 align:middle line:90% it through the weekend. 00:01:05.570 --> 00:01:07.830 align:middle line:84% And you can learn more at tucsonfestivalofbooks.org. 00:01:07.830 --> 00:01:10.200 align:middle line:90% Lots of good stuff happening. 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:13.265 align:middle line:84% Also upcoming at the Poetry Center here on March 14, we 00:01:13.265 --> 00:01:15.390 align:middle line:84% have the poet Natalie Shapero, who will be reading, 00:01:15.390 --> 00:01:16.557 align:middle line:90% who's absolutely wonderful. 00:01:16.557 --> 00:01:19.140 align:middle line:84% And I promise that will be one of the funniest poetry readings 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:20.400 align:middle line:90% that you'll go to. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:23.830 align:middle line:84% She's delightful and amazing and truly great. 00:01:23.830 --> 00:01:26.680 align:middle line:84% So we're glad that she's coming to visit us. 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:28.320 align:middle line:84% We have two events coming up this March 00:01:28.320 --> 00:01:30.900 align:middle line:84% that we offer in conjunction with the theme of poetry 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:33.930 align:middle line:84% and democracy, which is part of a grant-funded project. 00:01:33.930 --> 00:01:35.430 align:middle line:84% The Poetry Center is part of a group 00:01:35.430 --> 00:01:38.340 align:middle line:84% called The Poetry Coalition, a national coalition 00:01:38.340 --> 00:01:40.350 align:middle line:84% of organizations working together 00:01:40.350 --> 00:01:42.240 align:middle line:84% to present common-themed programming 00:01:42.240 --> 00:01:43.230 align:middle line:90% in the month of March. 00:01:43.230 --> 00:01:44.605 align:middle line:84% And so we have a couple of events 00:01:44.605 --> 00:01:46.830 align:middle line:84% connected to this theme of poetry and democracy. 00:01:46.830 --> 00:01:49.470 align:middle line:84% On March 12th, we have a reception for the new exhibit 00:01:49.470 --> 00:01:51.420 align:middle line:90% that's up at the Poetry Center. 00:01:51.420 --> 00:01:52.860 align:middle line:90% It's called Broken Threads-- 00:01:52.860 --> 00:01:54.210 align:middle line:90% Lives Unraveled. 00:01:54.210 --> 00:01:56.700 align:middle line:84% And both of the artists that are represented-- 00:01:56.700 --> 00:01:59.910 align:middle line:84% the artist group's collectives that are represented inside 00:01:59.910 --> 00:02:04.140 align:middle line:84% that exhibit use textile and language to make naming-- 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:08.340 align:middle line:84% to use naming and legibility to make visible lives that 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:11.190 align:middle line:84% have been lost in different times of violence 00:02:11.190 --> 00:02:13.440 align:middle line:84% on both sides of the border in the Sonoran desert. 00:02:13.440 --> 00:02:15.795 align:middle line:84% It's a very beautiful and very powerful exhibit. 00:02:15.795 --> 00:02:17.670 align:middle line:84% And I encourage you to come to this reception 00:02:17.670 --> 00:02:19.138 align:middle line:84% to learn more about it, learn more 00:02:19.138 --> 00:02:21.180 align:middle line:84% about the artists who have worked on that project 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:22.222 align:middle line:90% and that's on March 12th. 00:02:22.222 --> 00:02:25.260 align:middle line:84% It's a Tuesday night, different from our typical programming 00:02:25.260 --> 00:02:26.400 align:middle line:90% here on Thursdays. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.040 align:middle line:84% And it's at 6:00 PM at the Poetry Center, and it's free. 00:02:29.040 --> 00:02:33.663 align:middle line:84% The exhibit is up right now all throughout the ongoing spring 00:02:33.663 --> 00:02:34.830 align:middle line:90% season at the Poetry Center. 00:02:34.830 --> 00:02:36.372 align:middle line:84% So if you want to come by and see it, 00:02:36.372 --> 00:02:37.770 align:middle line:90% you can see it at any time. 00:02:37.770 --> 00:02:39.362 align:middle line:90% The Poetry Center is open. 00:02:39.362 --> 00:02:41.070 align:middle line:84% It's one of the programs that we're doing 00:02:41.070 --> 00:02:42.153 align:middle line:90% with Poetry and Democracy. 00:02:42.153 --> 00:02:44.220 align:middle line:84% The other is one of our Art for Justice readings. 00:02:44.220 --> 00:02:46.637 align:middle line:84% And that's the next reading and the Art for Justice series 00:02:46.637 --> 00:02:47.550 align:middle line:90% on March 21. 00:02:47.550 --> 00:02:50.100 align:middle line:84% And that features two poets-- the poet Evie Shockley 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:53.070 align:middle line:84% and the Patrick Rosal, who will both be coming 00:02:53.070 --> 00:02:56.098 align:middle line:84% to premiere new work that they've written in completion 00:02:56.098 --> 00:02:58.140 align:middle line:84% of commissions that we've asked for and connected 00:02:58.140 --> 00:02:59.225 align:middle line:90% to that project. 00:02:59.225 --> 00:03:01.350 align:middle line:84% So we're really excited to hear new work from them. 00:03:01.350 --> 00:03:03.960 align:middle line:84% That project pairs poets with the problem 00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:05.640 align:middle line:84% of mass incarceration in this country 00:03:05.640 --> 00:03:07.013 align:middle line:90% and ask them to think about it. 00:03:07.013 --> 00:03:08.430 align:middle line:84% And so they'll be reading new work 00:03:08.430 --> 00:03:11.568 align:middle line:84% connected to that in their own inquiries and investigations. 00:03:11.568 --> 00:03:13.110 align:middle line:84% We're grateful to the Ford Foundation 00:03:13.110 --> 00:03:15.730 align:middle line:90% for support in that project. 00:03:15.730 --> 00:03:19.500 align:middle line:84% Lastly, and totally differently, if you-- how many 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:22.180 align:middle line:90% of about Cyclovia? 00:03:22.180 --> 00:03:22.860 align:middle line:90% A lot of you do. 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:23.520 align:middle line:90% OK, good. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.620 align:middle line:84% If you don't, there's just a lot of bicycles 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:28.530 align:middle line:90% involved on streets in Tucson. 00:03:28.530 --> 00:03:30.380 align:middle line:84% I want to encourage you to be very excited. 00:03:30.380 --> 00:03:32.880 align:middle line:84% You'll start seeing more and more of these around this place 00:03:32.880 --> 00:03:33.790 align:middle line:90% and in other places. 00:03:33.790 --> 00:03:36.570 align:middle line:84% This is the map of the Cyclovia route this year. 00:03:36.570 --> 00:03:39.360 align:middle line:84% And it will be themed for National Poetry Month. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.310 align:middle line:84% So we're really excited about this. 00:03:41.310 --> 00:03:44.190 align:middle line:84% More than 40,000 Tucsonans usually participate. 00:03:44.190 --> 00:03:46.230 align:middle line:84% A section of city streets are closed down. 00:03:46.230 --> 00:03:49.710 align:middle line:84% There's bicycling, a celebration of livable streets, 00:03:49.710 --> 00:03:52.080 align:middle line:84% healthy lifestyles, and poetry, all things 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.310 align:middle line:90% we can get excited about. 00:03:53.310 --> 00:03:56.700 align:middle line:84% This year, the map and the route will go by the Poetry Center. 00:03:56.700 --> 00:03:59.880 align:middle line:84% So expect a lot of really wild and delightful poetry 00:03:59.880 --> 00:04:03.690 align:middle line:84% interventions to be coming to you soon on a bicycle. 00:04:03.690 --> 00:04:06.930 align:middle line:84% Our goal is that all 40,000 people experience at least 00:04:06.930 --> 00:04:08.440 align:middle line:90% one poem during the day. 00:04:08.440 --> 00:04:09.420 align:middle line:90% So that's the project. 00:04:09.420 --> 00:04:11.070 align:middle line:90% So come and visit, enjoy. 00:04:11.070 --> 00:04:12.085 align:middle line:90% That's April 7th. 00:04:12.085 --> 00:04:14.460 align:middle line:84% And that map, there's extras of those up here if you just 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:18.329 align:middle line:84% want to learn more about that or what Cyclovia is all about. 00:04:18.329 --> 00:04:20.519 align:middle line:84% Lastly, so tonight's event, last night's event 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:21.422 align:middle line:90% are collaborations. 00:04:21.422 --> 00:04:23.880 align:middle line:84% And we've been collaborating with the Jewish History Museum 00:04:23.880 --> 00:04:25.980 align:middle line:84% here in Tucson, which we're so grateful to be working 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:28.200 align:middle line:84% with them on this project, bringing these poets here 00:04:28.200 --> 00:04:29.370 align:middle line:90% to Tucson. 00:04:29.370 --> 00:04:32.100 align:middle line:84% So I just want to take a quick second to acknowledge and thank 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:35.980 align:middle line:84% our collaborators in this regard, Brian Davis, Ariel 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.280 align:middle line:84% Goldberg, and then Robert Snyderman, 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:41.700 align:middle line:84% in absentia, who sort of put all this in motion long ago. 00:04:41.700 --> 00:04:44.190 align:middle line:84% So thank you to the Jewish History Museum for working 00:04:44.190 --> 00:04:45.750 align:middle line:90% with us and for partnering. 00:04:45.750 --> 00:04:48.220 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:49.540 align:middle line:90% 00:04:49.540 --> 00:04:51.790 align:middle line:84% If you haven't been to the Jewish History Museum, 00:04:51.790 --> 00:04:53.290 align:middle line:90% it's a thing you must do. 00:04:53.290 --> 00:04:56.260 align:middle line:84% And it's here in Tucson, and it's a place to know about 00:04:56.260 --> 00:04:57.670 align:middle line:90% and to visit and to learn from. 00:04:57.670 --> 00:05:01.100 align:middle line:84% So please go see that space if you don't know about it. 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:04.120 align:middle line:84% It's an amazing, amazing beautiful space here in Tucson, 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:06.730 align:middle line:84% doing really incredible work and a lot of really 00:05:06.730 --> 00:05:09.660 align:middle line:90% exciting partnerships. 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:11.850 align:middle line:84% The event tonight is a rare opportunity 00:05:11.850 --> 00:05:15.100 align:middle line:84% to present some of the poets who are here together, 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:16.440 align:middle line:90% which doesn't always happen. 00:05:16.440 --> 00:05:18.270 align:middle line:84% And we're really excited about that. 00:05:18.270 --> 00:05:20.520 align:middle line:84% Both Jen Hofer and John Pluecker have 00:05:20.520 --> 00:05:23.130 align:middle line:84% independent and separate practices as interpreters, 00:05:23.130 --> 00:05:25.380 align:middle line:84% as translators, as poets on their own. 00:05:25.380 --> 00:05:27.090 align:middle line:84% But they also collaborate together 00:05:27.090 --> 00:05:30.970 align:middle line:84% under the rubric or sort of the name of Antena, 00:05:30.970 --> 00:05:33.930 align:middle line:90% which is a radical justice-- 00:05:33.930 --> 00:05:36.960 align:middle line:84% language, justice, and experimentation collaborative. 00:05:36.960 --> 00:05:38.350 align:middle line:84% They do incredible work together. 00:05:38.350 --> 00:05:40.517 align:middle line:84% And tonight, which are going to experience from them 00:05:40.517 --> 00:05:43.290 align:middle line:84% is a presentation from Antena, which we're so excited about. 00:05:43.290 --> 00:05:45.960 align:middle line:84% We're also very excited that Myriam Moscona is here 00:05:45.960 --> 00:05:48.240 align:middle line:84% visiting with us, who's traveled from Mexico City 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:50.133 align:middle line:84% to Tucson, which we're so grateful for. 00:05:50.133 --> 00:05:52.050 align:middle line:84% We'll hear some of her poetry as well and some 00:05:52.050 --> 00:05:54.900 align:middle line:84% of the translation that's happened behind her work. 00:05:54.900 --> 00:05:57.840 align:middle line:84% To tell you more about the poets who are coming tonight, 00:05:57.840 --> 00:06:01.470 align:middle line:84% I want to welcome up my friend and colleague, Ariel Goldberg, 00:06:01.470 --> 00:06:04.470 align:middle line:84% who is the curator of community engagement 00:06:04.470 --> 00:06:05.910 align:middle line:90% at the Jewish History Museum. 00:06:05.910 --> 00:06:07.538 align:middle line:90% Please let me welcome Ariel. 00:06:07.538 --> 00:06:10.466 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:06:10.466 --> 00:06:14.370 align:middle line:90% 00:06:14.370 --> 00:06:15.840 align:middle line:90% Welcome. 00:06:15.840 --> 00:06:17.390 align:middle line:90% Yeah.