• The Guild Goes Dark in August

    It's our annual summer programming break! We’ll be taking some time away to regroup through the month of August. Keep an eye out for our Fall Preview, which will contain information on programming and events for September-November 2015!

  • Palabra Pura: Who Stands With Us

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    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...

    $5
  • 100,000 Poets for Change

    Outer Space Studio 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

    Experiment #89: Fight the Power SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th7pm / doors lock 7:30pm A special event with 100 Thousand Poets for Changehttp://www.100tpcmedia.org On September 26, 2015, many poets around the world will make their voices heard. To declare the change they'd like to see most in the U.S. and throughout the international community, events are being staged worldwide as...

    $4
  • The Lonely (a Writers to Watch reading)

    Schubas Tavern 3159 N Southport, Chicago, IL, United States

    This reading  draws inspiration from the work of the featured writers, each of them exploring themes of loneliness, longing, and love. There is desire, and there is dread. There is even decency. Using personal stories, fiction, and fairy tales, authors Keith Ecker, Jac Jamc and Cecilia Pinto—three of the Guild’s 25 Writers to Watch—will navigate...

    $5
  • Palabra Pura: Curated by Cynthia Pelayo

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    More information on October's Palabra Pura will be available late summer 2015.

    $5
  • PALABRA PURA: MEMORY AND GHOSTS

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

        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...

    $5
  • Auction: Reginald Gibbons’ Library of First Edition Books

    SAVE THE DATE: Reginald Gibbons' Library of First Editions Book Auction Available Starting November 4th Reginald Gibbons is a poet, fiction writer, translator, educator, critic, the former editor of  TriQuarterly magazine and National Book Award finalist. Over the years, Reginald has acquired first editions through his many friendships and literary acquaintances. His collection of first edition, many of them signed, will...

  • Annual Prose Awards

    Chopin Theater 1543 W Division

    Annual Prose Awards Event November 12, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Chopin Theater   Every fall, the Guild Literary Complex acknowledges emerging and established prose writers via a judged competition and recognition event at the historic Chopin Theatre in Chicago. Three semi-finalists in both fiction and non-fiction will read their work at our annual Prose Awards...

    $8
  • PALABRA PURA: NOSSA AMÉRICA

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    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...

    $5
  • Palabra Pura 2016 Season Kick Off ~ One Poet / One Poem Returns

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

      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

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    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...

  • RUTHERFORD’S TRAVELS with Dr. Charles Johnson

    Chicago Dramatists 773 N. Aberdeen, Chicago, United States

    Pegasus Theatre has a special deal this weekend just for Guild Literary Complex fans: This weekend, Pegasus Theatre presents sneak peak readings of RUTHERFORD’S TRAVELS, a spellbinding tale based on the beloved book MIDDLE PASSAGE. Told through Rutherford Calhoun’s 1830s log entries, The newly freed Illinois youth has migrated south to New Orleans seeking fortune,...

    Variable
  • Return Us to Nakedness, A Celebration of Rane Arroyo

    Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center 4048 West Armitage, Chicago, IL, United States

    RANE Flyer, Jpeg Guild Literary Complex, Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, After Hours Press, and the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center invite you to join us for an evening celebrating the life and work of iconic Chicago poet Rane Arroyo. Readings and remembrances for the night will include performances by: • Rey Andujar • Eduardo...

  • RAP 101

    Iridium Clothing CO 1330 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, United States

    Welcome to Chicago's newest DIY underground hip-hop event. On the last Thursday of the month (August and December excluded) the Guild Literary Complex hosts an a cappella hip-hop series with a diy/underground flair. Partnering with Artist AWK and Iron Heart Productions theRAPY 101 is featuring local and national spoken word talent, spin-artists, DJs, and one...

    $10
  • BrooksDay Preview at the MCA, Chicago

    Museum of Contemporary Art 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, United States

    The 4th Annual BrooksDay is right around the corner, and to pique your interest the Guild Literary Complex in conjunction with the Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a preview night of artists who represent the broad scope of the BrooksDay legacy and vision. Showcasing their own work, artists who are part of the BrooksDay...

  • Palabra Pura, May 18, 2016

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    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...

  • RAP 101 meets Real Love No Drama, Artist Talk about women, music, and Mary J. Blige with Author Danny Alexander

    Volumes Bookcafe 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago , United States

    Thursday May 26, 2016. Wicker Park Chicago Guild Literary Complex Presents: Where Margins Meet 5:30 - 7:30 PM Artist Talk with Danny Alexander, Volumes Bookcafe 7:30 Door, 8:00 - 9:45 PM RAP 101, Iridium Clothing Danny Alexander, the author of Real Love, No Drama: The Music of Mary J. Blige will be sitting in with...

    Free
  • 4th Annual BrooksDay, June 7 2016

    Chicago Cultural Center 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, United States

    Welcome to the 4th Annual BrooksDay, a day long celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Time: 10:00 am until 6:00 pm Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602. Our annual celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks is back, this year at the Chicago Cultural Center.  Special features, amazing readers and all things...

  • Where Margins Meet ~ the Guild’s Annual Benefit

    Filament Theatre 4041 N. MILWAUKEE AVE, Chicago , IL, United States

    The GUILD LITERARY COMPLEX is set to party with you on June 22nd 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Filament theatre. Come celebrate nearly 30 years of the Guild's legacy in Chicago as we look to our next 30. Performances, music, fun, food and drink will round out a night with some of your favorite Chicago...

    $15 – $180
  • One Poet/One Poem

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    The Guild’s annual One Poet/One Poem event starts the year off by looking back.  Past Palabra Pura performers are invited to return and share a single poem or other 3-minute piece, painting...

  • Creative Freedom: Writing In and Out of Prison

    Green Line Performing Arts Center 329 E. Garfield Boulevard, Chicago, IL, United States

    A reading and panel featuring formerly incarcerated writers, and writers who teach in prisons, sharing their work and their perspectives on writing in prison, writing outside of prison, and writing...

  • Of Poetry and Protest

    Stony Island Arts Bank 6760 S. Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

    3A panel presented by The Guild Literary Complex + Rebuild Foundation This afternoon with Angela Jackson, Haki Madhubuti, and Eugene Redmond, some of the most important Chicago-area poets working at the intersection of...

  • Performing Identities On (& Off) the Page: Queer Femme Artists of Color

    Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd floor, Chicago, IL, United States

    Building on a conversation begun with last Fall’s Applied Words: Performing Queerness On (& Off) the Page, this reading and performance panel brings together three Chicago-based queer femme artists of color working...

  • BrooksDay 2019

    Chicago State University, Gwendolyn Brooks Library 9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL, United States

    BrooksDay is the Guild Literary Complex’s annual celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks, held every year on June 7th, the anniversary of her birth.  Since 2013, BrooksDay has been a marquee event in...

  • The Guild’s 30th Anniversary Party

    Chopin Theater 1543 W Division

    The Guild hosted an evening celebrating the Guild’s first 30 years, and looking forward to the next 30. Important voices from the Guild’s past introduced the Guild’s 30 Writers to...

  • Of Poetry and Protest Exhibit Opening

    Stony Island Arts Bank 6760 S. Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

    Presented by The Guild Literary Complex + Rebuild Foundation Continuing the collaboration between The Guild Complex and Rebuild Foundation built on the 2016 anthology of African American political art and poetry, Of Poetry and Protest:...

  • Narraciones en Tiempos Distintos / Narrations in Different Times

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    En estos tiempos difíciles y en mérito a la evolucion de la lengua, contamos las historias que nuestros zapatos caminan, desde 4 perspectivas diferentes. Democracia, intertextualidad, el muro, THC, LGBTTQQIAAP,...