Buffalo Area Poetry & Literature Calendar (week of May 12-May 18)

(Pictured above: Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton, whose exhibition "Turning Breath into Art," opens at the Western New York Book Center this Friday evening. )

Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.: Jillian Hanesworth, poet laureate emeritus of the City of Buffalo, and Second Chapter Books present the Second Annual Free Community Bookstore pop-up as a memorial for the victims of the May 14, 2022 racially-motivated mass shooting at Jefferson Avenue and Landon Street in Buffalo. Free and open to the public.

Tuesday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Tuesdays at Cabernet, monthly open mic poetry and prose reading series hosted by Sinead Tyrone. Cabernet's Wine Café , 9 N. Ellicott St., Williamsville.

Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.: The Screening Room Reading Series hosted by poet Sandy Geary. Featured reader is poet Theresa Wyatt. Open mic reading slots available. The Screening Room Cinema Café, 880 Alberta  Drive, Amherst. $3.

Wednesday, 9 p.m.: Poetry Night at Caffe Aroma, biweekly open mic reading series hosted by Ben Brindise and Justin Karcher. 957 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.

Thursday, 6:30 p.m.: Susan Dworski Nusbaum will read from her new collection of poetry This Uncertain Voyage ( Coffeetown Press, 2024 ) at a book launch event  in the Board Room at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo  The event is free and open to the public. Talking Leaves Books will provide books for signing following the reading.

Friday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Opening Reception for an exhibition featuring the visual artistry of spoken word performer Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton.  For over a decade, Ten Thousand has been creating art from his breath through freestyle  poetry, spoken word poetry and slam poetry. Now he invites you to witness the transformation of his words into visual experiences. In his studio residency with Book Arts, Marquis has been experimenting with letterpress and screen print techniques to translate his poetry into printed works. Journey with Marquis to explore the beauty and transitions of life, captured through this creative expression. Western New York Book Art Center, 468 Washington St., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.

Friday, 6 p.m.: Donna Grace will be the featured reader of the Fourth Friday Reading Series on Friday, May 17th (note the date change) at Dog Ears Bookstore, 688 Abbott Road, 2nd floor, in Buffalo. Additional reading slots available. The reading will serve as the launch event for Grace's new full-length collection Bread & Bisous (LitGarden Writers Group, 2024). Admission to the event is $5. Proceeds benefit the Dog Ears Bookstore, a 501 c (3) not-for-profit organization.