Cuba has declared this year to be “The Year of Virgilio” in honor of Virgilio Piñera, a writer it once imprisoned. A pioneer of absurd literature and theater, author Horacio Castellanos Moya writes an overview of Piñera, his life and works, in this week’s column.
Read more...
After ten years in prison, Chinese writer Wang Xiaoning is being released from prison August 31. Wang was accused of “inciting subversion of state power” for his articles on publication law, election regulations, and the corrupt military system in China.
Read more...
Prior to the Jazz Poetry Concert on September 8th, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh is presenting Writers in the Garden, a celebration of local poets and the Northside community. This year’s poets include Christopher Medal-winners, Pushcart Prize-nominees and NEA Fellows.
Read more...
A video of Patrick Ness’ lecture, “Should freedom of speech ever have limits?” delivered August 20 at the Edinburgh World Writer’s Conference.
Read more...
U Win Pe, artist, writer, director, and cartoonist is profiled in this week’s Teahouse by Khet Mar. Throughout his career, U Win Pe has drawn the connection between art, writing and freedom of expression. He plans to return to Burma after 18 years of exile.
Read more...
In this video Thomas Sayers Ellis reads several poems, including “My Meter is Percussive” and “Or”. Recorded in June at the annual Cave Canem reading, co-hosted by City of Asylum/Pittsburgh.
Read more...
The poet, teacher and Cave Canem fellow Patricia Smith shares “What Garfield Park Kept Saying” and “An Open Letter to Joseph Peter Naras, Take 2”, two poems from her collection Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah. Smith is a guest poet at City of Asylum’s 2012 Jazz Poetry concert.
Read more...
On June 21, Cave Canem, in partnership with City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, presented its annual Pittsburgh reading where National Book Award winning poet Terrance Hayes read, along with poets Angela Jackson, Nikki Giovanni, Nikky Finney, and Thomas Sayers Ellis.
Read more...
Independent Chinese PEN Center Tienchi Martin-Liao profiles Tsering Woeser, an internationally renowned Tibetan poet and activist writer who reports on the situation in Tibet. Also commentary on the self-immolated monks whose stories Woeser shares in her blog.
Read more...
In this interview National Book Award winner Nikky Finney discusses her journey into poetry, her editing process, why she is frustrated with history’s lion hunters, and the story behind her gripping poem “The Afterbirth, 1931.”
Read more...
World Class Web Hosting® provided as a public service by pair Networks®. Learn more at www.pair.com.
