Buffalo Area Poetry & Literature Calendar (week of July 14-July 20)

Photo: Poet and Martin House Creative Resident t’ai freedom ford


Monday, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Buffalo Reading Invasion—a flash mob-like gathering to celebrate the role of books, reading, public space, and community in our lives.  Bring a book, a chair, and several friends or family members for an hour of quiet reading in one of Buffalo’s best-loved public spaces.  This month's location: East lawn, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo. Visit http://buffaloreadinginvasion.com/ for additional details.

Tuesday, 6 p.m. to  8 p.m.: Letterpress Printing Basics Workshop with teaching artist Jameson Alea. Learn the ins & outs of letterpress printing a three night class.  Participants will learn the basics of hand setting type and building simple sound designs, paper prep & press set-up and printing on the Book Arts Center's Vandercook presses. Each participant will finish the class with a uniquely designed hand-printed poster or set of greeting cards. Please note the class is geared towards an understanding of the craft process, and while personalized creations will be made, the designs will be simple in nature in order to dedicate enough time to designing, typesetting, forme building, printing and press operation, and materials/clean up. Cost: $200, $185 WNYBAC members. More information and registrations forms at:https://wnybookarts.org/event/letterpress-basics-workshop-5/
Western New York Book Arts Center, 468 Washington St., Buffalo.

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

Thursday, 6 p.m.: Poets Nava Fader and Andre Toth read from their new work at Fitz Books, 431 Ellicott St., Buffalo.

Saturday,  2 p.m.: Pure Ink Poetry Slam, a monthly, two-round spoken word and poetry slam competition series hosted by Brandon Williamson.  Pure Ink Poetry Slam is always an open slam without specific themes or requirements other than the general rules of slam. Sign up is from 2:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Open mic and slam starts at 2:30. $5 for slammers, free for spectators. Cash prize for the winner. Visit the website www.pureinkpoetry.com for more information. Bidwell Park, Bidwell Ave. and Elmwood Ave. (near Caffe Aroma), Buffalo.

Saturday,  6 p.m.: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House presents an evening of poetry with Martin House Creative Resident t’ai freedom ford. She will read from her multimedia chapbook, Façades, along with other new work. During an open mic slot, students from ford’s workshop will have an opportunity to share their own poetry along with members of the community. Copies of Façades will be available for audience members to purchase. The event will take place in the Greatbatch Pavilion at the Martin House, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo. Event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at https://martinhouse.org/

Saturday, 7 p.m.: "...And They Were Roommates: A Night of Sapphic Poetry & Burlesque," presented  by the Glam Vamps and hosted by poet and artist Bianca L. McGraw and featuring poets Jazz DeNero, Layla, and Axel B. Kolcow. Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Venue: 26 Allen, Buffalo.