Post-2023
I am writing post most of the year that was 2023. I am post-move, post-publishing, and post-first infection. Of course, we are still not post-pandemic or post-genocide. I hope you’ve had recent moments of rest and joy, perhaps facilitated by the time vortex of the end of the year.
I want to share some highlights from the last few months here:
Launching This is your receipt and is not a ticket for travel was one of the most significant accomplishments of the year. I am so grateful to Jason and to all of the readers and venues along the way for their support of these gay little transit poems. I am quite proud of this collection, which was almost ten years in the making and now fully sold out (!). (There won’t be a second printing, but the PDF is available here!)
At the Museum, this year’s highlight was producing a new performance and day-long symposium with (actual McArthur) genius Magda Campos-Pons:
This year, I shot my first roll of 35mm film on a Kodak Ektar H35 Half Frame Camera. I’m excited for this practice to develop (so to speak), just for my enjoyment.
Here are a few highlights (with thanks to Exposure Therapy):
This fall, I was part of an exhibition curated by Sarah Higgins and Karina Teicher of Art Papers in Atlanta titled A Tremulous Force. I (with brilliant footage and editing by Karina) made a new video poem called PAPER FROM TREES - TREES MAKE PAPER:
Most recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing JJJJJerome Ellis ahead of his revelatory performance at National Sawdust, which celebrated his recent piano release Compline in Nine Movements and book of poems Aster of Ceremonies. What a thrill to be in community with him and this magnetic work.
(Here is my previous essay for National Sawdust on the opera (!) Paraíso, and a recent essay part of the first issue of Movements Journal out of Brown University titled “Fold Maps, Class Maps, Text Maps, Blurred Maps”)
I’m continually proud of the work that my friend Em Marie Kohl and I do with exquisites, which as grown from a monthly reading series to include workshops and publications. I am especially grateful for Em’s friendship and partnership, especially in the last month where COVID made it so I missed a big weekend of readings and performances, including two collaborations with Mimi Tempestt and her brilliant new collection The Delicacy of Embracing Spirals.
Despite (or perhaps because) of the ongoing crises, violences, and genocides, I remain optimistic and grounded for the next year. I know that I will continued to be buoyed by art, poems, care, and solidarity.
Some things I’m looking forward to:
Stating the year with the Poetry Project Marathon (of course).
Joining the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn gem No, Dear Magazine.
A new venture (of course) called the Long Poem Support Group, which was started when Ry Cook and I were gushing after the Segue Foundation reading where Laura Henriksen read from her magnificent and forthcoming Laura’s Desires. The plan is to meet monthly to discuss a long/book-length poem as well as our own writing. (Fill out this interest form by 1/5 if you want in!) I’m looking forward to collectively creating this space of longer attention.
Another year of exquisites readings, workshops, and publications! Join us for our first virtual reading of the year on Thursday, January 4th (7:30 pm set by a certain DJ Queer Shoulders / 8 pm EST readings) with Hot Pink Magazine and Light Jacket Reading series, and then for our first virtual workshop on Saturday, January 20th (3pm EST).
Shooting several rolls of film I got on a sale.
Continuing what I’ve been trying to manifest as my “film era” by watching more movies (and finally joining Letterboxd).
Seeing you all in community in the Zoom room, among art and poetry, and, of course on the streets chanting for liberation.
Continuing this newsletter more consistently. Ritual is good for me.
And a few things that are bringing me joy:
Full-hearted, unapologetic actions, readings, and art in solidarity with Palestine. Too much meaningful organizing to name but some of what I’ve witnessed (and been inspired by) have been readings by The Poetry Project, AAWW, Words is Change, Brooklyn Poets; dear presses like Nightboat committing to PACBI; free posters distributed by Ghost Proposal and Shoestring Press; rallies by Within Our Lifetime, Brooklyn Families for Palestine, and Queers for a Liberated Palestine.
This poem by Timothy Donnelly recently published by Poem-A-Day.
This deeply queer painting by Florine Stettheimer I saw at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; a pink menagerie of bent genders and a perfect pup in the bottom corner.
T-Pain’s On Top of the Covers (Live From Sun Rose)—what a revelation.
With care always,
d