Guild Literary Complex

Palabra Pura with Rey Andújar, Jorge Frisancho and Juan Dicent (Bilingual Poetry)

IL, United States

Palabra Pura continues its 2012 season with its first guest-curator evening with open mic and featured readers. Tonight's theme: Mutant Body/Cuerpo Migrante. The evening will present the body as a space for multiple questions related to the state of transition. What does the body leave behind in its translation/transfer? What does it acquire or adapt? […]

free

AWP Conference: Panel on Palabra Pura & Culturally Specific Reading Series

Hilton Chicago, Wilford A (3rd Floor) 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

A panel on the history, evolution and future of culturally-specific reading series like Palabra Pura with a co-founder, former featured artists, curators and hosts of Palabra Pura.

Conference Registration Fee

Open Rehearsal with Poetry Performance Incubator’s “Unnatural Spaces”

3429 W. Diversey Avenue, Suite 208, Chicago, IL, United States

Get a sneak peak at the creative process behind the Poetry Performance Incubator’s new work-in-progress, Unnatural Spaces. This event will take place at the Voice of the City studio at 3429 W. Diversey Avenue, Suite 208. The Incubator artists will do some of the types of writing and performance exercises they've been using for the […]

Free

Palabra Pura “Forgiveness and Memory”

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

Curated by Yolanda Nieves with featured poets Lisa Alvarado & Kristiana Rae Colón Curator Dr. Yolanda Nieves, Assistant Professor, English, Wilbur Wright College Chicago, is creative director of The Vida Bella Ensemble, is part of Teatro Luna’s PlayLab series and her La Matadora/Steel Flags will be produced by Chicago’s Landmark Project Fall 2011. She won the […]

Free

Applied Words/social activism

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum 800 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL, United States

The Guild Literary Complex of Chicago continues its 2012 season with its returning series, Applied Words, which explores creative writing’s intersection with an artistic discipline (e.g. music or visual art) or a non-arts field (e.g. social justice or health). This Applied Words event will explore creative writing as an instrument of social activism - how […]

Teaching Artist Showcase/Multi-University Student Open Mic

Experimental Station 6100 S. Blackstone (take Dorchester to 61st street then head east; free street and lot parking), Chicago, IL, United States

In our new Teaching Artist Showcase series, creative writers who also happen to be teachers will share creative work that was inspired by, developed with or otherwise related to their teaching work. The series will define "teaching artist" broadly -  from university faculty, to in-school elementary and high school writing teachers or after-school program instructors, […]

Free

R.S.V.P. Deadline: “Illuminate” Annual Benefit

April 13th is the official deadline to r.s.v.p. for this year's annual Benefit "Illuminate" - the art and craft of graphic novels, with Nicole Hollander, Audrey Niffenegger, C. Spike Trotman and Chris Ware. A very limited number of tickets will be available for sale at the door - click here for more details...

Palabra Pura “Lives Between Love and Darkness”

La Bruquena restaurant (upstairs) 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

Curated by Gregorio Gómez and featuring Nora Leon and Martin Rubio Jr.   Curator Gregorio Gomez is the MC of Chicago's most infamous and longest running underground poetry venue at "WEEDS".  Gregorio who emigrated from Veracruz, Mexico has been a major influence in the development of the spoken word and many venues of Chicago's poetry […]

Free

“Illuminate” – The Guild Literary Complex’s Third Annual Benefit!

DePaul Art Museum 935 W. Fullerton, Chicago, IL, United States

This year’s theme is the art and craft of graphic novels and features cocktails, appetizers and a panel discussion with Nicole Hollander, Audrey Niffenegger, C. Spike Trotman and Chris Ware! Learn more here.

$75

Palabra Pura “South of the Border: Way South”

La Bruquena restaurant (2nd floor) 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

Curated by Beatriz Badikian Gartler and featuring Fernando Olszanski and Bernardo Navia. Curator Beatriz Badikian-Gartler was born and reared in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has lived in the Chicago area for over thirty-five years. Badikian-Gartler holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago and teaches at various institutions of higher learning. […]

Free

Open Rehearsal with Poetry Performance Incubator’s “Unnatural Spaces”

Voice of the City Studio 3429 W. Diversey Avenue, Suite 208 (upstairs), Chicago, IL, United States

Get a sneak peak at the creative process behind the Poetry Performance Incubator’s new work-in-progress, Unnatural Spaces. The Incubator artists will do some of the types of writing and performance exercises they’ve been using for the past 5 months as they develop the new show set to premiere in October. They’ll even share some of […]

Free

Gil Scott Heron – Passages, Interludes, Subtext n’ Understandin’

Experimental Station 6100 S. Blackstone (south on Dorchester, east on 61st - free street and university lot parking), Chicago, IL, United States

                          Join us for an evening of poetry, music and discussion of the legendary poet/musician/activist. Presented by the Guild's "Applied Words" series, with support from the Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture - University of Chicago, and the Friends of […]

Free

19th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award – final event

Chopin Theatre 1543 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

The Guild Literary Complex closes out its 19th Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award competition with its final event: an American Idol-style evening of poetry performance and audience voting. The semifinalists – named after a combination of traditional judging and a public facebook vote – will perform in a series of rounds followed by audience votes. […]

$5 – $7

Palabra Pura: “Spanish Harlem”

La Bruquena restaurant (upstairs) 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

Exploring Afro-Latino poetry - curated by Marta Collazo and featuring Jeanette. Curator Marta Collazo is a Puerto Rican woman born and raised in Lorain, Ohio. She has lived in the Chicago area for the last fourty years. Collazo studied Communications and Literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a social activist, a […]

Free

Palabra Pura: “Cross-Cultural Latino/a”

La Bruquena restaurant (upstairs) 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

This evening will showcase two poets with a passion for cross-cultural experiences – poetry that travels. Curator Francisco Aragón is Director of Letras Latinas, the national literary program of the Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame, and has been a member of the Institute since 2003. He has published, edited or contributed to […]

Free

Final Open Rehearsal with “Unnatural Spaces” from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Voice of the City studio 3429 W. Diversey Avenue, Suite 208, Chicago, IL, United States

This will be the final sneak peek at the creative process behind the Poetry Performance Incubator’s new work-in-progress, Unnatural Spaces, before it premieres in October. The Incubator artists will do some of the types of writing and performance exercises they’ve been using for the past 9 months to develop the new show. They’ll even share […]

Free

Palabra Pura: “Intercambios Generaciónales con Palabras y Ritmos” (Generational Exchange with Words and Rhythms)

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor, Chicago, IL, United States

Three Poets and a master percussionist demonstrate the continuing contributions of Puerto Ricans to Chicago literature. This evening is curated by Eduardo Arocho and features poet Judy Diaz, poet/musician David Hernandez, and percussionist and musician Peter Vale. Curator Eduardo Arocho has been writing and performing poetry since 1992. He has been featured in many venues […]

Free

Submission Deadline for the 2012 Prose Awards for Short Fiction and Non-Fiction

The Guild's annual contest awards two $250 prizes, one for short fiction and one for short non-fiction. 2012 judges are Amina Gautier (fiction) and David Lazar (non-fiction). The submission deadline to enter this year's contest (for email OR snail mail arrival)  is 5pm, September 28th, 2012. To complete your entry, CLICK HERE for judge biographies […]

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

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

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

Crafting Castoffs into “Unnatural Spaces”

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

As part of Chicago Artists Month, the Guild and Voice of the City will host a workshop featuring the Set Designer and Costume Designer for the Poetry Performance Incubator show "Unnatural Spaces" (playing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October). Because the show's theme is the environmental complexities of urban living, as part of the creative […]

Free

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

Teaching Artist Showcase: “Teaching in the Neighborhood”

Woman Made Gallery 685 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, United States

The Guild Literary Complex presents a sampling of teaching artists who educate students in various, diverse Chicago neighborhoods with its Teaching Artist Showcase series in collaboration with Woman Made Gallery, now celebrating its 20th Anniversary with its 20 Neighborhoods project. This is the second event in our series, and it will featurewriters who teach in middle- and high-schools, hospitals, and other community […]

Free

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

Palabra Pura – “Migrating Words: Contratiempo Poets”

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor, Chicago, IL, United States

The Guild Literary Complex continues its seventh year of its Palabra Pura bilingual poetry series with “Migrating Words: Contratiempo Poets” on October 17, 2012. The event is curated by Dr. Jochy Herrera and features poets from contratiempo magazine. The event will include poetry in Spanish, English and a combination of both. Featured readers will include Jorge Montiel, Silvia Goldman, and […]

Free

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

Crafting Castoffs into “Unnatural Spaces”

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

As part of Chicago Artists Month, the Guild and Voice of the City will host a workshop featuring the Set Designer and Costume Designer for the Poetry Performance Incubator show "Unnatural Spaces" (playing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October). Because the show's theme is the environmental complexities of urban living, as part of the creative […]

Free

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new project from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

2012 Prose Awards for Short Fiction and Non-Fiction – Recognition Event

Chopin Theatre 1543 W. Division (near Milwaukee and Ashland), Chicago, IL, United States

The Guild Literary Complex's Prose Awards (short fiction and non-fiction) help to surface emerging and mid-career prose writers and bring them to the public's attention through an open call for submissions and judged competition. Past judges have included luminaries such as Stuart Dybek, Alex Kotlowitz, Antonya Nelson, and Sam Weller. On October 24, we will […]

$5 – $7

Congratulations to the 2012 Prose Awards Finalists!

Chopin Theatre 1543 West Division Street, Chicago, United States

Congratulations to following finalists of the 2012 Prose Awards  (fiction and non-fiction)!     Fiction Claire Bartlett Jason Lee Brown Sahar Mustafah Non-Fiction Suzanne Scanlon Ingrida Martinkus Jane Hertenstein     This year's finalists were chosen by judges Amina Gautier and David Lazar. Please join us as we reveal the winners on October 24, 7:30 […]

$5

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new show from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

“Unnatural Spaces” – a new project from the Poetry Performance Incubator

Hairpin Arts Center 2800 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, United States

Poetry meets the stage in the new show by the Guild’s Poetry Performance Incubator. Collaboratively written by an ensemble of poets and performers, this piece tackles the humor, outrage and other mixed feelings of thinking about the environment while living in a city. Shows on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, October 5th - 28th at 7pm. […]

$5 – $15

Palabra Pura: “Rooster Footed Devils”

La Bruquena 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor, Chicago, IL, United States

This installment of Palabra Pura will explore the effect on individuals and communities of not fitting in to preconceived Latino identities. It is curated by Jennifer Patiño and featuring poets Beatriz Ruiz, Anthony Michael Cooremans and RIK Vazquez.           Beatriz J Ruiz was born and raised in Chicago and Guanajuato.  She is a […]

Free

PALABRA PURA: “One Poet / One Poem”

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor, Select a Country:

PALABRA PURA: "ONE POET / ONE POEM" Wednesday, Janurary 16, 7:30pm, FREELa Bruquena Restaurant (Upstairs), 2726 W. Division The Guild Literary Complex is pleased to kick off the eighth season of PALABRA PURA with "One Poet / One Poem".  Join us as past readers retake the stage to share their work in Spanish, English, or a combination […]

Palabra Pura: “Weather / Whether”

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor, Select a Country:

The Guild Literary Complex (GLC) continues the eighth year of Palabra Pura with an evening of bilingual poetry titled, “Whether in Chicago.” Curated by Rafael Franco, this event asks us to consider what role, if any, weather plays, whether significantly or not, in writing and how that writing might weather the winds of literary exploration. The […]

FREE

Applied Words: “A Night of Love”

Fulton Street Collective 2000 W Fulton S, Select a Country:

THE GUILD LITERARY COMPLEX and  CHICAGO DANZTHEATRE ENSEMBLE PRESENT: “A NIGHT OF LOVE” “There is a community of the spirit. Join it, and feel the delight of walking in the noisy street and being the noise...” -Rumi The Guild Literary Complex and Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble are pleased to present “A Night of Love”, an evening of performance, poetry, and […]

$15 – $20

Palabra Pura: Poems as Stories, Stories as Poems

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor, Select a Country:

Dawn Herrera   Featuring Dawn Herrera Helphand and Denise Ruiz, Poems as Stories, Stories as Poems explores the ways that poetry opens up narrative possibilities. At once funny and fierce, thoughtful and bizarre, this month's Palabra Pura, curated by Coya Paz, brings verse and storytelling together through the words of two powerful women. Dawn Herrera Helphand […]

FREE

Poetry Performance Incubator: “Tour Guides”

Beverly Arts Center 2407 West 111th Street

  Beverly Arts Center The Guild Literary Complex is pleased to announce the 2013 remount of “Tour Guides”. Produced in 2010 as part of the Poetry Performance Incubator, “Tour Guides”, gives audiences a lyrical tour of the Chicago tourists never see. Originally written by a team of six, "Tour Guides" has had twelve distinct voices […]

$13 – $16

Palabra Pura: “Telling Our Stories Through the Body”

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor

Join us this April for "Telling Our Stories Through the Body," curated by Erika Sánchez and featuring Juana Iris Goergen and Ruben Quesada. More details below. Erika L. Sánchez Erika L. Sánchez is a poet and freelance writer living in Chicago. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois at Chicago, was a […]

FREE

2013 Benefit: “Talkin’ Blues: a Tribute to Sterling Plumpp”

Rosa’s Blues Lounge 3420 W. Armitage

You are cordially invited to our fourth annual benefit, Talkin' Blues, honoring Sterling Plumpp, renowned Chicago-based Blues poet, on May 14. The Guild Literary Complex will pay tribute to his decades-long achievement on stage at Rosa’s Blues Lounge in Logan Square (3420 W. Armitage). Plumpp with be joined by Jeffery Renard Allen, Duriel Harris, Tyehimba […]

Palabra Pura: “Noche de Novelas / Night of Novels”

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor

Join us for a monthly bilingual poetry series, guest curated by Raul Dorantes and featuring Mark Litwicki, Martha Cecelia Rivera, and Febronio Zatarain. On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, Palabra Pura presents “Noche de novelas/Night of Novels,” curated by Raúl Dorantes. This is a rare opportunity to hear three outstanding Chicago writers read excerpts of their novels […]

FREE

BROOKSDAY

The Chicago Cultural Center 78 E Washington St.

  Guild Literary Complex, Third World Press, and The American Writers Museum present the first annual BROOKSDAY at The Chicago Cultural Center! Join us, as we are creating the first annual marathon reading of the works of Gwendolyn Brooks on her birthday!  We want to honor her tremendous legacy as an artist and an iconic figure of […]

FREE

Printer’s Row Lit Fest

Printers Row Between Dearborn and Polk , Chicago

Join us at this year's Printers Row Lit Fest for a special reading by past contest winners and poets from our Poetry Performance Incubator. Reading takes place at noon on June 9 at the Arts and Poetry Stage. More details to come.

Palabra Pura: “Blood, Family, and Tears / Sangre, Familia y Lágrimas”

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor

Our monthly bilingual poetry event. Curated by Johanny Vázquez Paz featuring Dinorah Cortés-Vélez and Teresa Vázquez. Dinorah Cortés-Vélez Dinorah Cortés-Velez Dinorah Cortés-Vélez is from Isabela, Puerto Rico. She has resided in Wisconsin since 1997. She is an Assistant Professor of Latin American literature at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA. She earned her doctoral degree at […]

FREE

Applied Words: Broken Windows POSTPONED

Due to a severe weather forecast we have postponed tonight's event. Applied Words: "Broken Windows" will now be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2013. Visit the new event page for more information.

Palabra Pura: “The Diaspora Daughters Speak”

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor

Afro-Latino(a)s/Caribbeans are challenged to reconcile what are seen as conflicting identities. The Guild Literary Complex sheds poetic light on the topic with “The Diaspora Daughters Speak,” the July installment of our monthly bilingual poetry series Palabra Pura, curated by Sandra Posados and featuring poets Yolanda Nieves and Maya Emma Nnena Ruth Odim (Maya Odim). “The […]

FREE

Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards

Chopin Theater 1543 W Division

Guild Literary Complex is pleased to announce the 20th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards. Join us Tuesday July 23, 2013, 7:00 pm, at the Chopin Theater, 1542 W Division Street, for a live voting event and award ceremony. Preliminary judges, Gwendolyn A. Mitchell and Noël Jones have narrowed the submissions down to just 20 […]

Poetry Performance Incubator Auditions

Free Street Theatre 1419 W. Blackhawk St, Chicago, IL, United States

The Poetry Performance Incubator is seeking poets and other writers to collaborate on the creation of a workshop production of Like Bread, a new theatrical performance about making space for a creative life. We are particularly interested in working with poets from a broad range of aesthetics, backgrounds, ages, and Chicago communities. Inspired by the Roque Dalton poem “Like You,” […]

Applied Words: Broken Windows

Polish Triangle Chicago

If urban design is the language of the city, where is the story – and who tells it? In Applied Words: on Architecture and the Urban Plan, the Guild Literary Complex invites writers to examine our relationships with the built environment. “Broken Windows,” the first reading in a series of three to continue from now […]

FREE

Palabra Pura: Inspiration

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor

Poets meet muse at the September installment of our monthly bilingual poetry series, Palabra Pura, curated by Irasema Gonzalez and featuring poets Diana Pando and Xánath Caraza. “Inspiration” takes place Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at 7:30 PM at La Bruquena restaurant, 2726 W. Division. The program will be spoken in English and Spanish. Admission is […]

FREE

Poetry: Work Is Love Made Visible

Jak's Tap 901 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL, United States

Work Is Love Made Visible will feature visiting poet Jeanetta Calhoun Mish and include Chicago authors Quaraysh Ali Lansana and Eduardo Arocho for an evening of working class poetry and observations. Bring your poetry on the theme to share in the open mic that starts the event! About the authors: Jeanetta Calhoun Mish is a […]

Free

Poetry: What’s Class Got To Do With It??!!

Lunt Lake Co-op Apartments (Community Room) 1138 W Lunt, Chicago, IL, United States

A reading on the theme of “working class poetry,” this is a program of Occupy Rogers Park Chicago and is co-sponsored by Guild Complex and Chicago Consortium For Working-Class Studies. Featured readers include poet and scholar Jeanetta Calhoun Mish and poet Adam Gottlieb. An open mic begins the program, so bring your own poetry related […]

Free

Applied Words: Re-Built: Writers on Architecture and the Urban Plan

The Original Sears Tower 930 S. Homan Ave.

If urban design is the language of the city, where is the story – and who tells it? In "Re-Built: Writers on Architecture and the Urban Plan" the Guild Literary Complex presents Chicago authors examining human-scale relationships with the built environment, the history of Homan Square, and what comes next. This reading is part of […]

2013 Prose Awards

Chopin Theater 1543 W Division

Every fall we recognize outstanding short fiction and non-fiction from across the State of Illinois and award $250 cash prizes to one outstanding writer in each category. Please join us on October 23, 7:30 pm, at the Chopin Theater, located at 1543 W. Division Street, as we celebrate the authors at a special reading and […]

$5 – $7

Palabra Pura: Letras Latinas

The Poetry Foundation 61 W Superior St, Chicago, United States

We very pleased to be partnering with Poetry Foundation and Red Hen Press for this month's Palabra Pura. Celebrate the inaugural winner and judge of the Letras Latinas/Red Hen Poetry Prize. Judge Orlando Ricardo Menes directs the creative writing program at the University of Notre Dame. His third full-length collection, Fetish, won the 2012 Prairie […]

FREE

Poetry Performance Incubator: Like Bread

Free Street Theater 1419 W Blackhawk St

Join us for an in-progress performance of the brand new Poetry Performance Incubator production, Like Bread. Inspired by the Roque Dalton poem “Like You,” Like Bread will explore the relationship between writing and social struggles, the way that writing can transform a life, and how challenging (but joyful) it can be to claim oneself “a writer.” We are […]

Poetry Performance Incubator: Like Bread

Free Street Theater 1419 W Blackhawk St

Join us for an in-progress performance of the brand new Poetry Performance Incubator production, Like Bread. Inspired by the Roque Dalton poem “Like You,” Like Bread will explore the relationship between writing and social struggles, the way that writing can transform a life, and how challenging (but joyful) it can be to claim oneself “a writer.” We are so […]

TONIC: a soulful celebration

Vincent Restaurant 1475 W Balmoral , Chicago

You are cordially invited to TONIC: a soulful celebration! It's been a year of recognition and achievement for the Guild, from inaugurating Brooksday to receiving a major MacArthur Foundation grant. We plan to celebrate with a night of music, libations, and the best company: YOU. It will be a TONIC, something good for the soul, […]

$25 – $50

Palabra Pura: El Amor

La Bruquena restaurant 2726 W. Division, 2nd floor

Our monthly bilingual poetry night returns to its usual destination: the always-fabulous La Bruquena! Join us for this final Palabra Pura of the year as multimedia artist Miquel Lopez Lemus presents a cantologia on love. Twenty-seven (!) Palabra Pura poets contributed a new poem on the theme for this published collection, and many will be on hand to […]

FREE

Chicago Book Expo

St. Augustine College 1345 W. Argyle

The Guild will have a table at the Chicago Book Expo on Sunday, November 24 from 11am-5pm. The Chicago Book Expo has "Chicago’s best independent publishers and authors selling books, plus free author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and bilingual/Spanish programs" available to the public for free! Visit our booth, and enjoy the opportunity to […]

FREE

Poetry off the Shelf: Eduardo C. Corral, Carmen Giménez-Smith, Sheryl Luna and Deborah Paredez

Poetry Foundation 61 West Superior Street

We are very pleased to be partnering with the Poetry Foundation for a special Poetry off the Shelf. Inspired by Cave Canem and Kundiman, CantoMundo is a national collective for Latina/o poets. Carmen Giménez-Smith is the author of four poetry collections—Milk and Filth, Goodbye, Flicker, The City She Was, and Odalisque in Pieces. Sheryl Luna received […]

FREE

An evening with M. Evelina Galang (wsg Angela Narciso Torres)

Women & Children First bookstore 5233 N. Clark Street, Chicago

Angel de la Luna and the 5th Glorious Mystery M. Evelina Galang will read from her new young adult novel, Angel de la Luna and the 5th Glorious Mystery at Women & Children First on Wednesday, January 8th at 7:30 p.m. in an event co-presented by Guild Literary Complex and Coffee House Press. The novel […]

Free

PALABRA PURA: “ONE POET / ONE POEM”

La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago

The Guild Literary Complex is pleased to kick off the ninth season of PALABRA PURA with “One Poet / One Poem”. 2014 guest curators reveal their plans and past readers share a poem during this annual party celebrating poetry (and fiction) in more than one tongue. Contributing authors include: Rey Andújar  |  Beatriz Badikian  |  […]

Free

Applied Words: Notes from the Mainframe

FreeGeek Chicago 3411 W Diversey Ave, Chicago

In the 21st century, we live inside technology like never before. For Applied Words “Notes from the Mainframe,” the Guild Literary Complex invites writers employed in technology to read their work and discuss the poetics of art and science. “Notes from the Mainframe” will include readings by Catherine Halley (Director of Digital Programs, Poetry Foundation), […]

Free

Interdisciplinary Workshop: Dramaturgy of the Body with Rey Andújar

City Lit Books 2523 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago

Rey Andújar, photo by Ariana Drule For Rey Andújar movement, theatre, and writing are inextricably linked. Each facet of his art hinges on the others. In this workshop he will explain his process, discuss his influences, and present his muses. Writers, actors, and dancers alike will not want to miss this one-of-a-kind peek into this […]

Free

Palabra Pura: Greater Than The Sum Of Parts

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

"As Latin@s born and bred in the U.S., our sense of identity, culture, mother tongue and family are often complicated and contradictory. We are not a uniform group and sometimes don’t play well with others – even with our own gente. Yet on our life’s journey, aided by our writing, we find the integrity as […]

Free

An evening with Mario Bellatin: book party for Flowers / The Illustrated Biography of Mishima

Chicago Urban Art Society 600 W. Cermak Rd. Unit 1B, Chicago

7Vientos (7V), an independent publishing house located in Chicago, is releasing two novellas by Mario Bellatin, one of the greatest writers of contemporary Latin American literature. He has published over forty books and his work has been translated into fifteen different languages. The book now published by 7V is a hardcover “flip” edition housing Bellatin’s […]

Free