Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
Tina McElroy Ansa @ South Dallas Cultural Center
AFRICAN DIASPORA–NEW DIALOGUES
SEASON 4: 2017-18
Lonnie Hollie November 9, Tina McElroy Ansa, March 29, Walter Mosley April 29
Save the Date!
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 7:30
Tina McElroy Ansa
Reading and Conversation with Vicki Meek
SOUTH DALLAS CULTURAL CENTER
3400 S. Fitzhugh, Dallas, TX 75210
Admmission is Free
Special Guest Host: Patrick Oliver, Founder, Say It Loud! Readers and Writers
Tina McElroy Ansa’s is an award winning novelist and her accomplishments include being inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent at the Gwendolyn Brooks Center of Chicago State University.
In the fall of 2004, Ms. Ansa established the Sea Island Writers Retreats on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The annual retreats seek to assist emerging and established writers in honing their work and skills in fiction, non-fiction, memoir and editing in sessions with professional writers and editors.
Since then, she extended the writers retreats throughout the country with the Sea Island Writers Retreats…On the Road. These traveling literary retreats are held annually in Atlanta, Georgia on the Spelman College campus at the Women’s Research and Resource Center in April with best-selling authors, screenwriters and editors leading the workshop and lectures.
She also launched an independent publishing company, DownSouth Press, with a focus on African-American literature, fiction and nonfiction. DownSouth Press is the home to thoughtful stories and work – by established and new authors — that is often under-marketed or excluded from the current publishing landscape’s focus on “niche”, “urban” or “street” fiction.
SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 8 pm
WALTER MOSLEY
MORE THAN A LITTLE TO SAY ABOUT IT ALL
The Kessler, 1230 W. Davis St., 75208
Tickets: $25 General Admission
VIP Meet/Greet Tickets are available that include a signed book and pre-show reception with the author
WordSpace and South Dallas Cultural Center welcome Walter Mosley for a rare Dallas appearance, in lively social commentary, storytelling and selected readings of his work. Mr. Mosley’s school appearance will visit with students in a discussion of his children’s books, and Martin Luther King month. Mr. Mosley’s appearance caps the 2018 Dallas Lit Hop as Headliner, in conjunction with City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs Dallas Arts Month activities.
Walter Mosley is one of the most versatile and admired writers in America today. He is the author of more than 43 critically acclaimed books, including the bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins. His work has been translated into 23 languages and includes crime fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, political monographs, and a young adult novel. His fiction has been widely published, and his nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times Magazine and The Nation, among other publications. He is the winner of numerous awards, including the 2016 Edgar Grand Master, two time winner of the NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary work, an O. Henry Award, a Grammy and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in New York City.
Best-selling novelist Walter Mosley will publish a new novel. Down the River Unto the Sea, centers on a former New York City police detective, now working as a Brooklyn PI, who is investigating the case of a Black civil rights activist convicted of murdering two city policemen. At the same time, he’s still trying to piece together the conspiracy that caused his own downfall at the hands of the police.
About This Series: African Diaspora–New Dialogues is a showcase of writers in cultural exchange between African Diaspora writers and audiences in Dallas. It is also provides enrichment to writers without borders who want to keep abreast of the latest advanced development of world literature. This is the 4th Season of this programming collaboration between South Dallas Cultural Center and WordSpace. Lonnie Holley kicked off the African Diaspora-New Dialogues in November 2017.
Past award winning writers include Chris Abani, Mitchell Jackson, Vievee Francis, Dawn Lundy Martin, Tim Seibles, Tyehimba Jess, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and Douglas Kearney. Local award winning writers who have presented their work alongside these visiting writers include Sanderia Faye, Dallas Poetry Slam writer/performers Sherrie Zantea, Javon Rustin, Rage Almighty, Melania Luisa, and Wayne Henry.
WordSpace and SDCC launched the first series in 2014 after a discussion about the “dearth of book readings by African Diaspora authors,” Vicki Meek, Retired Manager of SDCC, says.
In outlining the series, WordSpace and South Dallas Cultural Center aimed to bring new literary voices to Dallas fans and showcase the diversity of cultural offerings at the SDCC. The current series also represents the program’s success in bringing to Dallas distinguished writers of all backgrounds. SDCC also arranges the authors to make Dallas school visits to enrich their educational experience.
“We are all excited to see how this program has grown,” says Charles Dee Mitchell, WordSpace Board President. “Alongside award-winning writers from across the United States, we have presented distinguished international figures from Nigeria and Jamaica. This is exactly the vision we shared when we first sat down to plan the series with Vicki Meek,”
ABOUT WORDSPACE: WordSpace is a 24 year old nonprofit group of artists that support artist. For more information on WordSpace: www.WordSpaceDallas.com.
ABOUT SOUTH DALLAS CULTURAL CENTER: SDCC is a City of Dallas cultural facility operated by Office of Cultural Affairs. John Sprigging, Manager; Daniel Hanchett, Theater Director; Marilyn Clark, Education Director. For more information on SDCC: www.sdcc.dallasculture.org.
This series is made possible by the partial funding support of South Dallas Cultural Center, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts and Ben E. Keith.
Ex Libris @ Dallas Video Festival
WordSpace is honored to co-sponsor with the Dallas Video Fest a screening of Ex Libris, a film directed by Frederick Wiseman.
During his distinguished fifty-year career as a documentary filmmaker, Wiseman has produced in-depth and award-winning films on subjects ranging from the incarceration of the mentally ill (Titicut Follies, 1967), the Paris Opera Ballet (La Danse, 2009), and the his 2011 behind-the-scenes look at the most chic nude review in Paris at The Crazy Horse Saloon.
Ex Libris is a three-hour celebration of the New York Public Library that has won rave reviews at every showing. (It boasts that most elusive of honors, a 100% Ripe rating on Rotten Tomatoes.) New York Times critic Manhola Dargis writes, “He sweeps into atriums and down corridors, pauses in reading and meeting rooms, and lays bare this complex, glorious organism that is the democratic ideal incarnate.”
If you love books, if you love libraries, and if you love movies — do not miss this chance to see Wiseman’s masterpiece on the big screen.
Enjoy the preview here
When: October 7, 11 am
Where: Studio Movie Grill, 10110 Technology Drive, Dallas 75220
Frederick WisemanCredit: Erik Madigan Heck/Zipporah Films
Kelley Baker: The Angry Filmmaker
Who: Kelley Baker
What: First Hearings
When: October 23, 7:30 PM
Where: The Wild Detectives
Kelley Baker calls himself The Angry Filmmaker, although he seems like a nice enough guy.
Since 1982 he has produced thirteen short films and three features, using a DIY approach that he has promoted through countless seminars to aspiring filmmakers and two books:
The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide Part One: Making the Extreme No Budget Film (2009 – 2nd Edition coming in 2017)
The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide Part Two: Sound Conversations With (un)Sound People (2012)
For his WordSpace event Kelley reads and tells stories from his latest book Road Dog, a chronicle of seven years crisscrossing the U.S.A. with his chocolate lab in an endless quest to get his work shown and to spread the word that filmmaking can exist outside of not only Hollywood but just about any structure we usually associate with “the business.”
Come along for the ride.
This event is recommended for aspiring filmmakers (angry or not), fans of Labrador retrievers, and anyone who wants to hear more about teaching sound recording to the employees of a porn company, sharing rum shots at Hank Williams grave, or getting kicked out of the Prayer Tower at Oral Roberts University.
Fable The Poet @ Dallas Poetry Slam
Who: Fable The Poet
What: Dallas Poetry Slam Features
When: December 1
Where: Heroes, 7402 Greenville Ave, 75231
Marcel “Fable” Price is the Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids Michigan
Author of “Adrift in a Sea of M&M’s”. He is a bi-racial North American writer, teaching artist, community activist, and motivational speaker.
Fable The Poet is highly noted for his work with the youth; spreading Mental Health Awareness using his own stories to consume the audience.
“At times, we all feel fragile. We are paper boats entertaining the waves of life.”
He is an official partner of Mental Health America and is known across the nation for crowd-interactive features that leave those attending enlightened and empowered.
Wil Gibson @ Dallas Poetry Slam
Who: Wil Gibson
What: Dallas Poetry Slam Feature
When: October 20, 8 pm
Where: Heroes, 7402 Greenville Avenue, 75231
WIL GIBSON is a writer that has lived in a lot of places or passed through them at some point but has only called a few places home. He currently lives in Humboldt County, California, where the trees are big. He has had 4 collections of poetry published by kind people, had self produced 3 cds and 6 chapbooks, and has been included in a number of anthologies and lit mags, He was a founding member in Portland Maine, has been featured on Button Poetry, and has bee on 7 national poetry teams from coast to coast.
WordSpace is honored to partner with Dallas Poetry Slam
to produce Feature Readers on 3rd Fridays of every month.
Jennine DOC Wright @ Dallas Poetry Slam
Who: Jennine Doc Wright
What: Dallas Poetry Slam Features
Where: Heroes, Greenville Ave., 7402 Greenville, 75231
When: September 15, 8 pm
Admission: $5, Free to WS Members
JENNINE DOC WRIGHT is a mother, writer, artivist and educator in Austin, Texas. She has competed in the Women of the World competition, Southern Fried competition and has been on multiple National Poetry Slam teams to include Killeen Poetry Slam that placed 2nd overall in the nation in 2012 and Neo Soul Poetry Slam coming in 1st in the nation in the group piece finals in 2013, 2nd in 2014, and 3rd in 2015. Jennine was the 2015 season slam champ for Austin’s Neo Soul was recently the coach for the Austin Poetry Slam 2016 national team that made it to semi finals. She currently teaches English at Huston-Tillotson University while serving as Co- Executive Director of the Speak Piece Poetry Project, a youth writing and poetry slam mentorship program. Jennine has one chapbook titled A Long Time Coming and a CD titled Real Talk. Doc focuses her writing on diverse topics to include race, gender, and identity. She is now working on her MFA in poetry at Spalding University.
WordSpace is honored to partner with Dallas Poetry Slam
to produce Feature Readers on 3rd Fridays of every month.
The Stoners, Inferno Texino and Dallas Poetry Slam
It’s that time again!
Join WordSpace (Got To!) for our annual Season Kick Off Party.
With Special Guests: Inferno Texino, The Stoners, Melania Luisa, Wayne Henry, Javon Rustin, Candy, Vicki Meek, Oral Fixation, and More Inimitable WS Presenters
$1 Tacos will be provided by El Padrino to go with your favorite beverage.
7 pm The Wild Detectives 8th and Bishop in the OC 75208
INFERNO TEXINO
These guys…an awesome music project featuring Andy Don Emmons, Clay Stinett, Jason Cohen and other distinguished artists (truth! They are distinguished!) All are regular contributors to WordSpace ArtSpeak series at Mighty Fine Arts. PS: It’s both Andy Don and Sandy Emmons’ birthdays that night.
Promises to be epic.
As always, Special Thanks to our friends and programming partners at The Wild Detectives.
Yuri Herrera-Gutierrez @ Latino Cultural Center
Who: Yuri Herrera
What: TransNational Impressions
When: May 2, 7:30 pm
Where: Latino Cultural Center
WordSpace is honored to partner with Latino Cultural Center to present International Impressions.
YURI HERRERA-GUTIERREZ
Yuri Herrera studied Political Science at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, obtained a master’s degree in Creative Writing at the University of Texas, El Paso and a PhD in Hispanic Language and Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the editor of the literary magazine El perro.
His first novel, Trabajos del reino, won the 2003 Premio Binacional de Novela Border of Words made Herrera into one of the most famous writers of Latin America. The novel was also edited in Spain (Periférica, 2008) and won the Premio Otras Voces, Otros Ámbitos, being considered the best work of fiction published in Spain by a jury of 100 people, including editors, journalists, and cultural critics.
Elena Poniatowska qualified his prose as “stunning” and the novel as an entrance “to the golden gate of Mexican literature”.
Gabriel Wolfson describes Herrera’s work as “amazing, constructed from exchanging cultured language for popular talk, emphasizing the importance of names, and using the forcefulness of certain terms while wisely omitting others”.
His second novel, Signs Preceding the End of the World (And Other Stories, 2015) has led Herrera to being considered one of the most relevant young Mexican writers in the Spanish language.
Saul Williams @ The Kessler
Who: Saul Williams
What: Headliners
When: October 19, 8 pm
Where: Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., 75208
Special Guest Appearance: Candy
WordSpace and Dallas Poetry Slam present
SAUL WILLIAMS
Saul Williams is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, musician, slam poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop and for his lead roles in the 1998 independent film Slam and the 2013 jukebox musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, featuring Tupac Shakur’s music.
He graduated from Morehouse College with a BA in acting and philosophy, then moved to New York City where he earned an MFA in acting from New York University’s Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts. While at New York University he became part of the New York café poetry scene. Williams has also lived in Brazil as an exchange student from 1988 to 1989.
In 1996, he won the title of Nuyorican Poets Cafe‘s Grand Slam Champion. The documentary film SlamNation follows Williams and the other members of the Nuyorican Poets Slam as they compete in the 1996 National Poetry Slam held in Portland, Oregon. The following year, Williams landed the lead role in the feature film Slam, which won the Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize and the Cannes Camera D’Or.
As a songwriter and musician, Williams has performed with Nas, The Fugees, Christian Alvarez, Blackalicious, Erykah Badu, KRS-One, Zack De La Rocha, De La Soul. His first album was produced by Rick Rubin. In 2004, he released his self-titled album, then toured with Nine Inch Nails on their European tour in 2005. He appeared on the Nine Inch Nails album Year Zero, and toured with the group. Trent Reznor co-produce his next album, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust.
Williams’ most recent album, MartyrLoserKing, was released on January 29, 2016.
Williams has been published in The New York Times, Esquire, Bomb Magazine, and African Voices, as well as releasing four collections of poetry. As a poet and musician, Williams has toured and lectured across the world, appearing at many universities and colleges.
Special Guest Appearance: Candy
Sherrie Zantea (Candy) has been writing and performing poetry for over 20 years. Candy made the 2007 Dallas Poetry Slam Team, and to date has been on 10 teams, the first woman to coach 4 and she is the current Slammaster/Executive Director of the Dallas Poetry Slam Organization
Candy is currently a teaching artist for Young DFW Writers, where she teaches curriculum based poetry techniques to students all over the country. In addition to her poetry slam experience, she has added to her resume 2017 Host City Coordinator of the Women of the World Poetry Slam and Individual World Poetry Slam Coordinator. She also maintains a ten-year partnership with WordSpace Non-Profit literary organization where she serves as Administrator and Facilitator of social media affairs. Candy has published a poetry/recipe book “Heirlooms”, a poetry CD “Candy Unplugged”, and continues to provide workshops all over the world.
SPECIAL THANKS!
This event is presented by WordSpace and Dallas Poetry Slam, with partial funding from The City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and National Endowment for the Arts.
