Poets House co–founders Stanley Kunitz and Elizabeth Kray envisioned Poets House as a place welcoming readers and writers into the widest practice of poetry, in a home that would balance community and interiority. What a joy it has been to see our new home come alive with so many visitors working in the library—stretching out over manuscripts, sleuthing through stacks—or in lively conversation at programs.
Now the doors of our lovely, transparent new home open wider as the next iteration of our website invites people from all over the world into a virtual Poets House, where they have access to gems from 25 years of programming. The new website better expresses the welcome and airiness of our physical space, the intellectual dynamism of our programs and, ultimately, creates the conditions for us to communicate with one another more closely.
The spring 2012 season continues our 25th Anniversary series of programs that sequentially thread through the history of poetry. Last season we traveled from Gilgamesh to Chaucer. This season, we go from Shakespeare to the Beats, as we augment regular programs for children and families, free class trips for schools, international poetry events and groundbreaking exhibitions.
However you participate, online or in person at in the 50,000–volume collection of The Reed Foundation Library that overlooks the Hudson, we want you to celebrate this remarkable anniversary in a place of possibility with us.
Thank you. Come celebrate with us. Happy 25th Anniversary!
Poets House Is Green
Lodged in a "green" building, Poets House helps raise awareness of environmental issues through its programs.
Poets House Opens to the Public
Poets House opened its new home in Battery Park City to the public in a joyous Grand Opening celebration.
Poets House Thanks Contributors to the Campaign for Poets House
Poets House held a reception for contributors to the Campaign for Poets House and for political officials whose support has been essential to establishing our new home in Battery Park City.
Poets House Opens in Battery Park City
Poets House recently moved from its long-time home in SoHo to a majestic new facility at 10 River Terrace in Lower Manhattan's Battery Park City.
The Campaign for Poets House After surpassing its initial goal of $6.5M and reaching $8.5M, the Poets House Board announced a new Capital Campaign goal of $11M.
Exhibition of Rare Emily Dickinson Manuscripts On View at Poets House
Exhibition of manuscripts, letters, fragments, rare books and archival materials
opens October 20, 2011 with a reception from 6:00–8:00pm
Poets House celebrates the life and work of iconic poet Emily Dickinson in a groundbreaking exhibition of original manuscripts, rare books, and even a recipe from the Donald & Patricia Oresman Collection. With a smaller, concurrent exhibition of poet and artist Jen Bervin's Dickinson-based works, as well as a sequence of related public programs, this fall series will evoke the radical nature of Dickinson’s life and work, opening new doors for Dickinson lovers and inspiring Dickinson neophytes. Both exhibitions are on view through January 28, 2012.
Poets House and Statue of Liberty Join Together in Project
to Create Poetry Through Twitter
Poets House Twitter Followers Help Create New Poem Celebrating the Statue of Liberty's 125th Birthday and Poets House's 25th Anniversary
Statue of Liberty
In the glimmering, salty oscillations
which bore or paint the trip, soothing
green, flicks of white - stands an island,
and, in a land of constant slumber,
when will the sleeping giant wake?
Our Lady of the Sorrows, knackered
in her copper mask, brazen glow
on the left cheek, lifts her spirits
in the fade of days and stands tall.
Despite the day and what it lacks,
from between pursed lips and with
heavy tongue, she silently speaks:
If all of life is both too much, and not enough,
you will find yourself taken here, by sailed seasons.
Take from me what you have not -
Amid the fog and fumes; among
the forlorn and the fallen; at the edge
of a tired world stands an island.
Composed by Poets House intern Zoe Donaldson from lines supplied by our Twiiter followers, in response to writing prompts devised by Mike Romanos in celebration of the Statue of Liberty's 125th Anniversary.
Ten Years After September 11, 2001: Remembrance and Reconciliation Through Poetry
On September 10, 2010, Poets House and Trinity Wall Street, in conjunction with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, presented a reading by some of America’s leading poets as part of the 10th anniversary commemoration of 9/11. Held in the sanctuary of Trinity Church, a few blocks from Ground Zero, poets Mark Doty, Cornelius Eady, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, J. Chester Johnson, Lawrence Joseph and Martha Rhodes read poems of grief, remembrance and reconciliation.
Poets reading Galway Kinnell's "When the Towers Fell" at Trinity Church. Downtown Express photo by Terese Loeb Kreuzer
Trinity Church's webcast of the reading.
To read an article about the program the Downtown Express, click here.
U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin Visits Public Librarians at Poets House
On October 21, 2010, the new U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin visited with public librarians at Poets House in a free program in which he spoke about his commitment to the environment and the importance of introducing poetry to children, among other subjects.
To read an article about Merwin's visit in American Libraries magazine, click here.
W.S. Merwin speaking at Poets House.
Librarians wait in line for W.S. Merwin to sign their books.
W.S. Merwin & Poets House Executive Director Lee Briccetti.
W.S. Merwin signing books.
The Poetry & Music of Haiti Fills Rockefeller Park
On July 7, 2010, Poets House and the Battery Park City Authority presented Poetic City: A Celebration of the Poetry & Music of Haiti with acclaimed Haitian poets Jacqueline Beaugé-Rosier, Anthony Phelps, Josaphat-Robert Large and Janine Tavernier joined by Haiti's oldest big band orchestra, L'Orchestre Septentrional, in Nelson A. Rockefeller Park.
Members of L'Orchestre Septentrional
L'Orchestre Septentrional performed for a crowd that grew as the evening progressed.
An audience member took off her shoes to dance.
Josaphat-Robert Large
Jacqueline Beaugé-Rosier
The 18th Annual Poets House Showcase
Poets House celebrated its 18th Annual Showcase—a display of all the poetry books published in the last year—with a lively opening reception on June 28, 2010. On view through July, this year's Showcase was the first held in Poets House's new home in Battery Park City and featured a series of packed-house readings by poets whose books were included in the Showcase. The series concluded with a reading from the new anthology Persistent Voices: An Anthology of Poets Lost to AIDS.
To read the New York Times article about the Showcase, click here.
Poet Nolan Chessman and Quinn Kunkel examine Nox, Anne Carson's new accordion-style poetry book.
Poets House Librarian Maggie Balistreri & Poets House Intern Gina Scalise pose before the new crop of books.
Attendees of the opening of the Showcase browse and chat.
15th Annual Poetry Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge:
A Benefit for Poets House
On June 14, 2010, Brooklyn Poet Laureate Tina Chang, poets Galway Kinnell, Anne Carson and Thomas Lux, and actor Bill Murray walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and read poems along the way in the company of hundreds of other poetry fans as part of the 15th Annual Poetry Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge: A Benefit for Poets House. The evening also honored Lawrence Ferlinghetti, recipient of the 2010 Elizabeth Kray Award for service to the field of poetry, with readings by Bill Murray of Ferlinghetti's poetry as well as poetry published by his legendary publishing house City Lights Books.
Tina Chang reads from Mayakovsky's "Brooklyn Bridge."
The sun shines through the clouds as walkers descend into Brooklyn.
Galway Kinnell reads from Whitman's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" at Fulton Ferry Landing.
Final Zoo of Five-City Environmental Project Opens Poetry Installations
The Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin unveiled poetry installations on June 19 as part of the Language of Conservation, a Poets House program designed to deepen environmental awareness through poetry in zoos and poetry resources in libraries across the country. The opening of the Milwaukee County Zoo’s installations is the final opening of the five-city project that includes zoos in Jacksonville, FL, New Orleans, LA, Brookfield, IL and Little Rock, AR. The Language of Conservation is made possible with funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. For more information about the Language of Conservation, click here.
Poetry Installations Unveiled at Zoos in New Orleans, LA, Jacksonville, FL & Brookfield, IL
Zoos in Jacksonville, FL, New Orleans, LA, and Brookfield, IL unveiled poetry installations in May of this year as part of the Language of Conservation, a Poets House program designed to deepen environmental awareness through poetry in zoos and poetry resources in libraries across the country. Lines of poems by writers from around the world and across time were artfully installed along viewing windows, zoo benches, walkways and in other surprising locations. The Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin, the final zoo of the five-city project, will open its poetry installations to the public on June 19; The Little Rock Zoo opened its poetry installations on April 17. The Language of Conservation is made possible with funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. For more information about the Language of Conservation, click here.
Bison graze above lines by Thoreau at Brookfield Zoo.
Flamingos amble past lines by Hopkins at the Little Rock Zoo.
Lines of Inuit poetry grace the home of otters at the Jacksonville Zoo.
For a PowerPoint slideshow of poetry installations at our five participating zoos, click here.
Poetry Installation Unveiled at Little Rock Zoo
In partnership with Poets House and the Central Arkansas Library System, The Little Rock Zoo unveiled poetry installations on April 17 as part of the Language of Conservation, a national project aimed at raising environmental awareness through poetry in zoos and poetry resources in libraries. Joseph Bruchac is the Poet-in-Residence at the Little Rock Zoo. Openings for poetry installations at zoos in New Orleans, LA; Jacksonville, FL, Milwaukee, WI; and Brookfield, IL take place later this spring. Click here for more details.
Grand Opening of the Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room at Poets House
Launching extended hours and a new poetry program for toddlers, the Grand Opening of the Poets House Children's Room on April 17, 2010 featured a reading by U.S. Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman and teacher Linda Winston from their new anthology The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science and Imagination. After the reading, Hoberman and Winston wrote a communal poem with the children. The rest of the afternoon was spent writing poems at typewriter stations, browsing through the children's poetry books, reading to stuffed animals and playing with magnetic poetry kits.
Children's Poet Laureate May Ann Hoberman signs a book.
All photos by Tony Gale
Poets House Is Green
Lodged in a "green" building, Poets House helps raise awareness of environmental issues through its programs. Read all about it in the Daily News (Adobe Acrobat Required)
Poets House's first year in residence at its new eco-friendly home in Battery Park City unfolds with programs that explore our connection to nature. In March, 2010, Poets House launched Ecopoetic Futures, a series of events that examine poetry and the environment. This spring, Poets House also unveils the Language of Conservation, a program aimed at raising awareness of the environmental through the installation of poetry in zoos in New Orleans, Milwaukee, Little Rock, Jacksonville, and Brookfield, IL. Complemented by corresponding poetry and nature books and programs offered at local public libraries, the installations will open to the public in April and May of this year. Acting as Poets in Residence at each zoo are Mark Doty in New Orleans, Joseph Bruchac in Little Rock, Alison Hawthorne Deming in Jacksonville, Pattiann Rogers in Milwaukee and Project Leader Sandra Alcosser in Brookfield, IL. For more information, call (212) 431-7920.
Poets House Opens to the Public
On Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2009, Poets House opened its new home in Battery Park City to the public in a joyous Grand Opening celebration that brought crowds of poets and poetry fans from across the country and around the world.
On Friday morning, the day began with a community breakfast of bagels and coffee and a community poetry reading, which included students from nearby Stuyvesant High School; residents of the neighboring Hallmark seniors' residence; and Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate.
Billy Collins
On Friday afternoon, visitors to Poets House made a beeline for the Poets House Reading Room, where they immediately began to browse the stacks and burrow into books.
On Saturday morning, Kurt Lamkin gave a lively performance of poetic stories and songs for families in Elizabeth Kray Hall. Playing the kora, an African stringed instrument, Lamkin inspired listeners both young and old to participate in the fun.
Kurt Lamkin with young poetry fans
On Saturday afternoon, acclaimed poets Meena Alexander, Charles Bernstein, Regie Cabico, Billy Collins, Mark Doty, Cornelius Eady, Kathleen Fraser, Kimiko Hahn, Michael Heller, Marie Howe, Dave Johnson, Galway Kinnell, Philip Levine, Marie Ponsot, Patricia Spears Jones, and Quincy Troupe read poems in tribute to Poets House in Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Poets House's new "front lawn." Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant followed the readings with a performance of poetry-inspired songs. Over a thousand people attended the program, which was cosponsored by the Battery Park City Authority.
Poets House Thanks Contributors
to
the Campaign for Poets House
On Thursday, September 24, 2009, Poets House held a reception for contributors to the Campaign for Poets House and for political officials whose support has been essential to establishing our new home in Battery Park City. The evening began with eloquent remarks by James Cavanaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority, followed by words of wisdom from Margo Viscusi and Robert Kissane, co-chairs of the Campaign for Poets House. Multimedia artist Laurie Anderson then took the podium with an electrifying spoken-word performance. A powerhouse lineup of government officials filled out the rest of the program's first half with praise and congratulations. The speakers included Kate D. Levin, Commissioner of the New York Department of Cultural Affairs; Sheldon Silver, Speaker of the New York State Assembly; Deborah J. Glick, New York State Assembly Member, 66 th District; Michael T. Sillerman, Poets House Board Member and Chair of the Poets House Facilities Committee; Daniel L. Squadron, New York State Senator, 25th District, and Alan J. Gerson, New York City Council Member for District One.
After a brief intermission in which attendees roamed the new Poets House quarters, the second half of the program resumed with remarks by Richard J. Schwartz , former Chair of the New York State Council on the Arts, and Frank Platt, Vice President of the Poets House Board. U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan and actor Bill Murray closed the evening with readings of poems, witty repartee and generous praise for Poets House.
(From left to right): Lee Briccetti, Kay Ryan, Bill Murray and Margo Viscusi share the ribbon-cutting task
Poets House Hosts Members Preview
and Exclusive Film Screening
On Thursday, September 17, 2009, Poets House hosted a Members preview of the new home for Poets House in Battery Park City, followed by a private screening of the film Bright Star. Released to the general public the day after the Poets House Members-only screening, Bright Star is the latest creation of acclaimed director Jane Campion. The poetry-focused film chronicles John Keats's passionate love affair with his next-door neighbor Fanny Brawne.
Members crowded into Poets House's new, sun-drenched residence to sign the guestbook, peruse the books on display in the exhibition space, wander the stacks, and gather for a toast to a new beginning. Poet Edward Hirsch said a few words about Keats before the two-block procession to the Regal Battery Park movie theater for the exclusive screening of Bright Star.
Poets House recently moved from its long-time home in SoHo to a majestic new facility at 10 River Terrace in Lower Manhattan's Battery Park City. Just two blocks south of Chambers Street, on the banks of the Hudson River, this permanent home for Poets House includes Elizabeth Kray Hall, a state-of-the-art programming hall dedicated to poetry-related performance; the Poets House Reading Room and the Reed Foundation Library with sweeping views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty; the Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room, a whimsical, light-filled children's space that will host children's programs throughout the year; and the Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space, a spherical multidisciplinary gallery. With a lease awarded by the Battery Park City Authority through 2069, Poets House's singular poetry collection, public programming, and gathering place will endure for generations. Please come visit us!
Over $9.8 million has been pledged to The Campaign for Poets House, which was launched to raise funds for the construction of a permanent home for Poets House and to establish an endowment and reserves to maintain the new space. In 2004, Poets House was awarded 11,000 square feet in a new building in Battery Park City rent-free until 2069, and the Poets House Board stepped forward with lead gifts to initiate the Campaign.
Since then, the Poets House project has attracted support from public agencies, private foundations, and individual donors to help fulfill our mission to create a place for poetry. As construction continues and the rooms of the new Poets House begin to shape, we invite you to be a part of this pivotal moment in our history. Help us keep poetry present in all our lives and in the lives of future generations! Our goal is to raise a total of $11 million.
Gifts in any amount are welcome. For more information about the Campaign for Poets House and giving opportunities, please read the attached letter to Friends of Poets House from Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Margo Viscusi and Bob Kissane. (Adobe Acrobat Required)
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
