May Blue Hour Featuring Nadia Alexis & Keith S. Wilson

The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop. Our May featured readers are Nadia Alexis and Keith S. Wilson.

Each event takes place at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) and includes a brief open mic followed by two featured poets. Pre-registration is free and recommended. The open mic includes five readers drawn lottery-style from a hat that goes out at 7:15. The reading starts promptly at 7:30. Each open mic poet reads one poem or for three minutes, whichever comes first.

ABOUT THE FEATURES:

Nadia Alexis is a poet, writer, and photographer from Harlem. She is the author of "Beyond the Watershed" (CavanKerry Press), a hybrid poetry and photography collection and finalist for the Ghost Peach Press Prize. Born to Haitian immigrants in Harlem, her work has been published widely and exhibited in the U.S. and Cuba. A Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Artist Fellowship recipient, 92Y Discovery Poetry Contest semifinalist, Haitian Creatives Digital Awards Poet of the Year Honoree, and fellow of the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop and The Watering Hole, she holds an MFA and PhD from the University of Mississippi.

Keith S. Wilson is a game designer, an Affrilachian Poet, and a Cave Canem fellow. He is a recipient of an NEA Fellowship, an Elizabeth George Foundation Grant, and an Illinois Arts Council Agency Award, and has received both a Kenyon Review Fellowship and a Stegner Fellowship. Additionally, he has received fellowships or grants from Bread Loaf, Tin House, the MacDowell Colony, Vermont Studio Center, UCross, the Millay Colony, and James Merrill House, among others. Keith was a Gregory Djanikian Scholar, and his poetry has won the Rumi Prize and been anthologized in Best New Poets and Best of the Net. His book, "Fieldnotes on Ordinary Love" (Copper Canyon), was recognized by the New York Times as a best new book of poetry.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: The mission of the Chicago Poetry Center is to connect people and poetry, equitably engage poets with communities, and foster creative literacy in the city and beyond. Learn more about our programs at www.poetrycenter.org.

ABOUT THE SPACE - Accessibility, Health, & Safety:

- All restrooms at Haymarket House are gender-neutral, including single-user and stalled restrooms.

- Each event includes ASL interpretation. Haymarket House is ADA compliant and fully wheelchair-accessible; email curator@poetrycenter.org to ensure ramp access and with any other accessibility needs.

- Masks are currently strongly encouraged for all indoor events, and the space is equipped with a professional air filtration system.

PARKING: Limited free and paid street parking is available near Haymarket House. The parking lot at Disney Magnet School is relatively close and is a paid lot; there are also locations nearby available through SpotHero.

Looking for the Workshop? Register here.