By The Poetry Foundation

Shame Every Rose: Images of Afghanistan, a photography exhibition currently on view at the Poetry Foundation gallery, 61 West Superior Street, displays the works of photographer and filmmaker Seamus Murphy and complements the June issue of Poetry magazine, “Landays.”
A form of oral folk poetry, landays – the term references a short, poisonous snake – are composed by and circulated among Pashtun women. Dense with emotion, these short, couplet-style poems are featured in the June issue of Poetry alongside Murphy’s images of Afghanistan.
“I wanted to shoot the drama, emotion, humor and darkness of their poetry,” said Murphy about his photos and his short film, Snake.
Taken over a period of 18 years, the photographs in this exhibition are sequenced to suggest the form of a landay and are meant to be read (or viewed) from left to right. The exhibition is free and open to the public and will run until August 24th.

Read More

Posted on June 28, 2013

By The Guild Literary Complex

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 until October, will take place on Tuesday, July 9, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., in the Polish Triangle located at the intersection of Division Street, Ashland Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue.
The free event will include an open mic and stories from Paul Durica, Maribel Mares, and Sarah Ross. A free afternoon workshop on “place making” will be lead by architect Katherine Darnstadt, founder of Latent Design, from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Open mic sign-up begins at 5:30 pm.

Read More

Posted on June 24, 2013

Plus: Reading From Your Diary And Why Rudyard Kipling Hated Chicago

1. Harry The Hit Man Apparently Had Another Side That We Should All Appreciate.
“In the history of organized crime in Chicago, few were feared as much as Harry ‘The Hitman’ Aleman,” NBC Chicago reports.
“Federal authorities believe his body count is 18 or higher.”
*
Quite.
*
“Aleman died in prison a little more than two years ago. Now his step-daughter, Franky Forliano, is writing a book she says will show her father’s other side.
“In an interview at her west suburban townhome, Forliano talked about the unapologetic tribute to father.”
*
Here’s the report:

Read More

Posted on June 14, 2013

The Intersection of A Style Rookie, The Smartest Kid On Earth And Ernie Pook

Video by seijinlee.
Tavi Gevinson.

Read More

Posted on June 10, 2013

By The Society of Midland Authors

The Printers Row Lit Fest isn’t just one of the region’s biggest literary events, it’s also a chance to buy autographed books from writers in the Society of Midland Authors. During the festival this Saturday and Sunday, please visit our table (tent space G-3) on Dearborn Street just south of Harrison Street in Chicago’s South Loop area. The following authors are scheduled to sell and sign their books at our table.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Mark Zubro, author of Another Dead Republican, Black and Blue and Pretty Dead Too.

Read More

Posted on June 7, 2013