this week in literature

FREE SUMMER EVENTS JULY 15-22

come out and play

The free summer arts & culture season is under way, with dance, theater, music, art, film, and other special outdoor programs all across the city. Every week we will be recommending a handful of events. Keep watching twi-ny for more detailed highlights as well.

Sunday, July 15
Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Keith “the Captain” Gamble and the NU Gypsies, Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, 2:00

Monday, July 16
Piano in Bryant Park: Daryl Sherman, July 16-20, Bryant Park, 12:30

Tuesday, July 17
High Line Art: Kerry Tribe Artist Talk, panel discussion with Kerry Tribe, moderated by Melanie Kress and Ana Traverso-Krejcarek, about Tribe’s Exquisite Corpse film, the High Line at Fourteenth St., 7:00

Black Mother will be shown in Socrates Sculpture Park on July 19

Wednesday, July 18
Outdoor Cinema: Black Mother (Khalik Allah, 2018) and Symphony of a Sad Sea (Carlos Morales Mancilla, 2018), Socrates Sculpture Park, with live performance at 7:00, film at sunset

Thursday, July 19
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot: Hamlet, starring Jane Bradley and directed by Karla Hendrick, Clemente Parking Lot, 114 Norfolk St., July 19-21 & 26-28, 6:30

Piano in Bryant Park continues weekdays at 12:30

Friday, July 20
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival: Anoushka Shankar, Land of Gold, My Brightest Diamond, Prospect Park Bandshell, 7:30

Saturday, July 21
Come Out & Play, Manhattan Bridge Archway Plaza, DUMBO, family-friendly activities 1:00 – 5:00, adult games 7:00 – 10:00

Sunday, July 22
SummerStage: Ginuwine, the Ladies of Pink Diamonds, and DJ Stacks, Corporal Thompson Park, Staten Island, 5:00

FREE SUMMER EVENTS JULY 8 – 14

Rebecca Manson’s “Closer and the View Gets Wider” will be installed in Tribeca Park on July 9 (photo courtesy Rebecca Manson)

Sunday, July 8
Summergarden: New Music for New York: Juilliard Concert I: New Music for Mixed Ensembles, featuring Tanada II by Shin-ichirō Ikebe, Leonora Pictures by Philip Cashian, and A Sibyl by James Primosch, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, Museum of Modern Art, 8:00

Monday, July 9
Public Art Opening: Rebecca Manson at Tribeca Park, installation of “Closer and the View Gets Wider,” Tribeca Park, 6:00

Tuesday, July 10
Bryant Park Reading Room: Poetry, with Shara McCallum, Jill McDonough, Alessandra Lynch, and Donald Revell, produced in partnership with Alice James Books, Bryant Park, 7:00

Wednesday, July 11
Films on the Green: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (Luis Buñuel, 1972), J. Hood Wright Park, 351 Fort Washington Ave., 8:30

Moonstruck will screen for free at Oculus Plaza on July 13

Thursday, July 12
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival: Antibalas, Combo Chimbita, DJ Nickodemus, Prospect Park Bandshell, 7:30

Friday, July 13
Tribeca Drive-In Presents Westfield Dinner and a Movie: Moonstruck (Norman Jewison, 1987), Oculus Plaza, 7:30

Saturday, July 14
NYC Audubon: “It’s Your Tern!” Festival, Governors Island, 12 noon – 4:00

WILL RAWLS, UNCLE REBUS

Will Rawls, I make me [sic], TBA Festival, 2017 (photo by Maggie Heath)

Who: Will Rawls
What: High Line Performance Art
Where: On the High Line at Seventeenth St., Sunken Overlook
When: Tuesday, July 10, through Thursday, July 12, free with RSVP, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Why: Brooklyn-based choreographer, curator, writer, and performer Will Rawls will present the site-specific Will Rawls, Uncle Rebus on the High Line in the Sunken Overlook at Seventeenth St. and Tenth Ave. on July 10-12 from 6:00 to 8:00; admission is free, but advance RSVP is required. Rawls, who has performed with Shen Wei, Marina Abramović, Nicholas Leichter, Maria Hassabi, Tino Sehgal, Jérôme Bel, Noemie LaFrance, and others and is half of the performance art duo Dance Gang (with Kennis Hawkins), reimagines the controversial Uncle Remus narrator and his Brer Rabbit tales, joining Trinity Bobo, Stanley Gambucci, and Jasmine Hearn, in costumes by Eleanor O’Connell, as they use a custom keyboard to tell a rather different story in the form of a choreographed meditation on language, race, tradition, and the human body.

BOOKCON 2018

Chuck Palahniuk will be signing copies of Adjustment Day at BookCon

Javits Center
655 West 34th St. at 11th Ave.
Saturday, June 2, $45, and Sunday, June 3, $40 (kids six to twelve $10 per day)
www.thebookcon.com
www.javitscenter.com

As BookExpo America became more and more an industry trade show, ReedPOP started BookCon, two days of literary events at the Javits Center organized for book lovers not necessarily in the business. Taking place June 2 and 3, BookCon includes panel discussions, Q&As, autograph sessions (must be digitally ticketed in advance), screenings, quiz shows, podcasts, sneak peeks at new books, and more, divided into Kids & Family, Adult & Fiction, YA, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, and Aspiring Writers. Among the 2018 participants are Amanda Lovelace, Angie Thomas, Brad Meltzer, Cassandra Clare, Charlaine Harris, Chuck Palahniuk, StacyPlays, Trista Mateer, David Baldacci, Holly Black, Kiersten White, Jacqueline Woodson, Jason Reynolds, Kami Garcia, Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, Sandra Brown, Tahereh Mafi, Walter Mosley, Megan Abbott, and many others. Below are only some of the highlights. (Full disclosure: In another part of my life, I work in children’s book publishing.)

Saturday, June 2
Marching Along with Congressman John Lewis, with John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Afua Richardson, Downtown Stage, 12 noon

Love Them More: Taye Diggs and Shane Evans, moderated by Jason Reynolds, Room 1E10, 12:30

Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives, with Viet Thanh Nguyen, Thi Bui, Porochista Khakpour, Joseph Azam, and Novuyo Tshuma, moderated by Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Room 1E16, 1:45

Social Justice Warriors: Redefining Youthful Rebellion, with DeRay Mckesson, Angie Thomas, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds, moderated by Kwame Alexander, Room 1E10, 3:00

Spotlight on Diane Guerrero, with Diane Guerrero, moderated by Cristina Arreola, Downtown Stage, 3:15

Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Val Emmich will discuss the making of the Dear Evan Hansen novel at BookCon

Sunday, June 3
President Bill Clinton & James Patterson / The President Is Missing, with President Bill Clinton and James Patterson, Main Stage, 11:00 am

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel, with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Val Emmich, moderated by Crystal Bell, Room 1E10, 12:15

PBS: The Great American Read, with Veronica Roth, Daniel José Older, Glynnis MacNicol, and Yahdon Israel, Main Stage, 2:15

RE-orientation: LGBTQ Creators of Mass Media, Culture, and the Stories People Want to Read, with Emily Jordan, Damon Suede, Dhonielle Clayton, Harper Miller, Heidi Heilig, and Mackenzi Lee, Room 1E16, 2:30

Beyond Books, with Zach King, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Tiffany Jackson, moderated by Sarah Enni, Room 1E16, 3:30

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF THE SISTERHOOD: SOOOO . . . THAT HAPPENED!

secret society of the sisterhood

Green-Wood Cemetery Chapel Steps
Fifth Ave. & Twenty-Fifth St.
Tuesday, May 29, $25-$30, 7:00 – 11:00 pm
www.green-wood.com
www.thesssshow.com

The Secret Society of the Sisterhood is making its New York City debut on the night of the full moon, May 29, at historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Dubbed “An Evening of Storytelling for Women and Fierce Allies of Women,” the show is hosted by BanterGirl founder Trish Nelson, a self-identified producer, performer, writer, and waitress who hopes “that other women across the land will be able to see that no matter where you come from, or where you currently are in life, you do not have to wait around for someone else to give you permission to execute your dreams.” The theme of the May 29 event is “Soooo… THAT happened!,” with actress and poet Amber Tamblyn, writer and activist Lorri Davis, bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton, and comedian Ayanna Dookie sharing true tales. There will also be live music by Kaki King and a song by Treya Lam, visual art by Aditi Damle, Rebekah Harris, and Marguerite Dabaie, and a dance party led by DJ Tikka Masala. Proceeds from the festivities will go to Girls Write Now, which provides mentoring programs, college prep courses, reading series, digital exhibitions, workshops, and more to empower young women. So you’re not going to want to miss this opportunity not only to hear and see cool things — it all takes place under candlelight — but also to get to hang out at an amazing cemetery during a full moon. We already can’t wait to tell people, “Soooo… THAT happened!”

VULTURE FESTIVAL 2018

Maggie Gyllenhaal will be at the Vulture Festival to discuss The Deuce and four other projects

A POP CULTURE EXTRAVAGANZA
Milk Studios (and other venues)
450 West Fifteenth St. between Ninth & Tenth Aves.
Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, free – $160
vulturefestival.com/ny

New York magazine’s fifth annual Vulture Festival takes place this weekend at Milk Studios and other locations, celebrating pop culture. Below are only some of the nearly three dozen events that encompass film, music, comedy, art, podcasts, books, and more; all tickets include complimentary access to the Vulture Lounge following the event. Among the other participants are Julianna Margulies, Rachel Bloom, Adam Pally, Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Darren Star, Wendy Williams, Johnny Knoxville, Cameron Esposito, Marti Noxon, Rachael Ray, Adam Platt, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Groff, Liev Schreiber, David Edelstein, Bo Burnham, and Wyatt Cenac.

Saturday, May 19
John Leguizamo: In Conversation, moderated by Matt Zoller Seitz, followed by a book signing, Milk Studios — Penthouse, $30, 11:30 am

One Book, One New York, One Event: Jennifer Egan in conversation with Adam Moss, Milk Studios — Studio 1, free with advance registration, 2:30

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Five Acts, conversation focusing on five of her projects, Milk Studios — Penthouse, $30, 4:00

Roxane Gay and Amber Tamblyn Present Feminist AF, with special guests Jennine Capó Crucet, Sharon Olds, and Morgan Parker, Milk Studios — Studio 1, $30, 6:45

Tracy Morgan in Hilarious Conversation, moderated by Matt Zoller Seitz, Milk Studios — AT&T Studio, $30, 8:00

Claire Danes and Jim Parsons will be at Milk Studios on May 20 to discuss their new film, A Kid Like Jake

Sunday, May 20
Jerry Saltz’s Masterly Tour of the Met Breuer, tour of the Met exhibit “Like Life” led by Jerry Saltz, Met Breuer, $150, 9:00 am

Boozy Brunch with Your Best Friends Gillian Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer, and Phoebe Robinson, conversation with stars of new Netflix film Ibiza, moderated by Michelle Buteau, Milk Studios — Studio 4, $30, 12 noon

Claire Danes and Jim Parsons’s A Kid Like Jake, discussion of new movie with actors Claire Danes and Jim Parsons, director Silas Howard, and writer Daniel Pearle, Milk Studios — Studio 1, $30, 2:15

In Conversation with Samantha Bee, the Full Frontal Team, and Rebecca Traister: discussion with Samantha Bee, Melinda Taub, Ashley Nicole Black, Allana Harkin, Mike Rubens, and Amy Hoggart, moderated by Rebecca Traister, Milk Studios — AT&T Studio, $40, 5:45

Ava DuVernay and the Cast of Queen Sugar, with Ava DuVernay, Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Kofi Siriboe, Milk Studios — Studio 4, $30, 6:45

CELEBRATE CHITRA GANESH

Chitra Ganesh (b. 1975, Brooklyn, NY); Dakini Eclipse; 2018; mixed media on paper; 40 x 60 in.; courtesy of the artist

Chitra Ganesh, “Dakini Eclipse,” mixed media on paper, 2018 (courtesy of the artist)

Rubin Museum of Art
West 17th St. between Sixth & Seventh Aves.
Friday, May 4, $10-$15, 6:00 – 11:20
Programs continue through June
Exhibitions run through November 4 and January 7
rubinmuseum.org
www.chitraganesh.com

The Rubin Museum is handing over much of its always fascinating programming for May and June to innovative multimedia artist and Brooklyn native Chitra Ganesh, whose “drawing-based practice brings to light narrative representations of femininity, sexuality, and power typically absent from canons of literature and art,” as explained in her artist statement. In February, the Rubin opened Ganesh’s “The Scorpion Gesture,” featuring magical large-scale animated interventions in the “Gateway to Himalayan Art” and “Masterworks” exhibitions, and “Face of the Future,” a fellowship program consisting of new works on paper and collage-based pieces by Ganesh in addition to contributions from emerging artists Maia Cruz Palileo, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, Tammy Nguyen, Jagdeep Raina, Sahana Ramakrishnan, Anuj Shrestha, and Tuesday Smillie. On Friday, May 4, Ganesh will be at the museum for “Celebrate Chitra Ganesh: A Night with DJ Rekha, Special Tours, and Performances,” including a dialogue with the art collective BUFU, remarks by Ganesh, docent-led tours of Ganesh’s two shows, a performance by Jacolby Satterwhite (Blessed Avenue), a dance party in the K2 Lounge with DJ Rekha, and a screening of Fred M. Wilcox’s 1956 sci-fi classic, Forbidden Planet, introduced by Ganesh.

Chitra Ganesh will participate in a series of special events at the Rubin Museum (photo courtesy Brooklyn Museum)

Ganesh, a Rubin Museum Future Fellow whose “Eyes of Time” was on view at the Brooklyn Museum in 2015, has also selected the films and speakers for the Cabaret Cinema “Face of the Future” series, which continues May 11 with Gojira (Godzilla) (Ishiro Honda, 1954), introduced by Nguyen; May 18 with Ghost in the Shell (Mamoru Oshii, 1995), introduced by Ramakrishnan; June 8 with Born in Flames (Lizzie Borden, 1983), introduced by Smillie; and June 22 with Barbarella (Roger Vadim, 1968), introduced by Palileo. In addition, there will be a series of conversations pairing scientific and legal experts with artists and activists, beginning May 9 with “The Future of Feminism” with Linda Sarsour and Ganesh and continuing May 16 with “The Future of Transformation with Qasim Naqvi,” May 23 with “The Future of Evidence” with Alexis Agathocleous and Elizabeth Phelps, May 30 with “The Future of Science Fiction” with Nisi Shawl and the Otolith Group, June 6 with “The Future of #Mood” with Janelle James and Richard Friedman, June 13 with “The Future of Mythology” with Mimi Mondal and Ganesh, June 20 with “The Future of Responsibility” with the Guerrilla Girls and Ganesh, and June 27 with “The Future of Justice” with sujatha baliga and Robert Yazzie.