Sharing California roots, a love of poetry, and a feminist devotion to their mothers, Tijuana native Brian Martin and L.A. native Arturo “Tootie” Alvarez blend English and Spanish to pay homage to their mothers. From a mother’s reminder to always use condoms to her struggle to raise her family on her own to the demoralizing beauty...
This month's Palabra Pura is curated by Daniel Borzutzky, who believes that this month's performers, Duriel E. Harris and Rodrigo Toscano, are two of our present moment's most innovative, most dynamic and powerful and surprising poets and performers. "For these two artists, no distinction can be made between their poetics and their performativity. They write...
Please note this month's Palabra Pura is taking place at a special location: the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center (4048 W Armitage Ave). Three fearless and unique feminine voices with Chicago roots come together for an evening of poetic expressions. Inner and outside landscapes, light, sounds and ultimately, words transmit each artist’s expressions. Arica Hilton,...
Performers Adam Gottlieb and Angelina Llongueras use their original music, poetry and experience as activists, here and in Spain, to pursue the question: Does English matter? For English expression in Latino/a cultural and political communities, when does the implied "Spanish Only" remain empowering, and when does the English-dominant Latino/a activist need to transgress? This month's...
For featured authors Diego Báez and Amy Sayre Baptista, violence inhabits their lives and what they write about. This is a violence that divides our culture and us; this is a colonization of our identity as a man, as a woman, and as a Latina/o. What does it mean to be Latina/o? These poets sing...
According to this month's curator, Emilio Maldonado, challenging each other and the status quo is the responsibility of the committed artist, and he has programmed author/activists Aricka Foreman, Christina Obregon, and Raina Wodatch, and to engage the theme Who stands with us? "During this current wave of open aggression and hostility it is important to...
More information on October's Palabra Pura will be available late summer 2015.
Curated by Cynthia Pelayo October 21 @ 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM $5 | La Bruquena Restaurant, 2726 W. Division in Humboldt Park This month’s curator, Cynthia Pelayo, provides the Guild Literary Complex with our October theme of Memory and Ghosts, featuring readings by Diana Pando, Adriana Galvan. Pelayo explains the theme this way: “historically, autumn has...
PALABRA PURA: NOSSA AMÉRICA NOVEMBER 18 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm | $5 La Bruquena Restaurant, 2726 W. Division in Humboldt Park The last Palabra Pura for 2015 features the theme “Nossa América,” with readings by Rodrigo Garcia Lopes, Jack Martínez and AKaiser. November’s curator Patricia Anzini quotes American poet Walt Whitman as...
The Guild Literary Complex is pleased to kick off the 11th season of PALABRA PURA returning with “One Poet / One Poem”. Come join in the fun 11 years in the making. This year's season will feature 2016 Guest Palabra Pura curators and past readers some telling of plans for the year ahead and others...
Palabra Pura March 16, 2016 7:30 - 9:00 pm “Turnt in Relevant Opacity” Curated by Ricardo Gamboa Current events ranging from cover-ups of police shootings and growing social inequalities further underline just how dark or “opaque” times have become for some of us in this city. These injustices are exasperated when it comes to mainstream...
Palabra Pura with Miguel López Lemus of Lobo Estepario Press presents: Palabra Pura as part of the Guild Literary Complex Una noche bohemia. A bohemian night. Poetry, song, music, storytelling Cuento, poesía, música, canción Sponsored by Pandora lobo estepario productions press. We are mixing it up a bit this month and will have a group...
Chicago icon Diana Solís will be joined by an intergenerational group of Latinx artists and writers for readings and a conversation about the past/present/future of Spanish language poetry in Chicago....
Somos un colectivo de escritores y editoriales independientes con el propósito de promoverla obra en español propia de Estados Unidos. ¡PRÓXIMAMENTE! El español está vivito y coleando en Estados Unidos;...
Palabra Pura Poetry Pop-Up featuring Carlos Cumpián, Inmagela Abreu, Beatriz Badikian-Gartler, and Jonny Fadez, with moderator Mary Hawley. This event is part of Feria del Libro (May 4-6).
Palabra Pura is back! Come join us with a poem or your favorite text for a community reading in English and Spanish, featuring guest host Crystal Vance-Guerra! Have a drink,...
LACASA Chicago, Movimento Artístico Chicano (MARCH), 18th Street Casa de Cultura & Guild Literary Complex Invite you to Marc Zimmerman’s Pre-85th Birthday Book Launch of his most important Chicago Latino...
We are excited to announce, the Guild Complex will participate in FLECHO in Quibdo, Colombia! From March 20-24, members of the Guild Complex along with 4 talented and creative Afro-Latin...
Palabra Pura presents ONE POET, ONE POEM Join the Guild Literary Complex July 17th for our annual Palabra Pura: One Poet, One Poem @ La Bruquena! All poets are welcome...
This event is part of ECOS: A Chicago Latine Poetry Festival, which celebrates Chicago's relationship with and influence on Latine poetry. Sponsored by the Poetry Foundation, the festival features free,...
Luís J. Rodriguez will be reading from his newest bilingual collection, Todos los caminos llevan a casa (All Roads Lead Home). Also present will be Alfonso Vazquez, Founder of Chicanz...
Open Mic + Featuring Eduardo Arocho More details to come
Come celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony of The Record Track, an immersive retail store & live-music venue offering immersive, hands-on music experiences for all! Don't miss out on this exciting event...
The authors Kianny Antigua and Velia Vidal will dialogue about her works with Andrea Change and Mary Hawley. This is a bilingual event in Spanish and English. “enajenada, de Kianny...
Building on a partnership between two cultural initiatives, this panel will discuss the tensions between distinction and community, collectivization and individuality, and the balance between pluralities and connections in cultural...
Pre-screening of the documentary “Juntando Orillas,” followed by a Q&A session with the director, producers, and protagonists.
Join us for a book presentation and celebration for They Call You Back (University of Arizona Press) by Tim Hernandez. A haunting, an obsession, a calling: Tim Z. Hernandez has...
Una celebración de la larga e importante tradición poética de las mujeres uruguayas. Las poetas uruguayas Silvia Goldman y Silvia Guerra compartirán su poesía y la poesía de sus madres...
¡Anímate! The Guild Literary Complex is happy to announce that our annual Palabra Pura: One Poet, One Poem tradition is coming this July. All poets are welcome to perform a poem, whether it...
Poetry open mic hosted by Diego Báez. Featuring performances by Angelica Julia Dávila, Loren Maria Guay, and Yazud E. Brito-Milian. Palabra Pura is a bilingual reading series that promotes literary...