Literary Arts Week is a new initiative from GBCA. Working with the Maryland State Arts Council and CityLit Project, several literary events were coordinated to take place on one week to show the breadth and diversity of literary events in the region. All of the events are free as part of Free Fall Baltimore.
October 15
Kathleen Koch, a Washington-based freelance journalist, talks about her book, Rising from Katrina: How My Mississippi Hometown Lost It All and Found What Mattered. Her book tells the story of her personal experience witnessing and dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Enoch Pratt Free Library, Roland Park Branch, 5108 Roland Avenue. 2pm. 410-396-5430. Prattlibrary.org
Leonara “Peachy” Dixon talks about her book, A Peachy Life, in which she recalls the happy days of her childhood, a nightmarish marriage, and the courage it took to leave her marriage and provide for her daughters. Looking back on the decisions she made and the friends she met, she describes her life as “peachy.” Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue. 1pm. 410-396-5430. Prattlibrary.org
Persona Workshop. Join Baltimore Review editors and friends for an afternoon of tips, tricks, improvisation, writing exercises, and performance. The Persona Workshop is about incorporating the art of the dramatic monologue into your fiction and poems. Email editor@baltimorereview.org to reserve a spot. Minás Gallery, 815 W. 36th Street. 1-3:30pm. Baltimorereview.org
510 Readings. The monthly 510 readings feature writers from all over the world. This months readers are Kathy Fish, John Rowell, and Mark Cuigini. Minás Gallery, 815 W. 36th Street. 5pm. 410-917-9374. 510readings.blogspot.com
October 16
Greg Myre and Jennifer Griffin talk about their book, This Burning Land: Lessons from the Front Lines of the Transformed Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Arriving at the conclusion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be solved anytime soon, the couple reports on their experiences covering the conflict as correspondents for major news outlets. Central Library (Poe Room), 400 Cathedral Street. 2:30pm. 410-396-5430. Prattlibrary.org
Lost and Found: Opening Day Talk by Curator Will Noel. Co-author of the book, The Archimedes Codex: How a Medieval Prayer Book Is Revealing the True Genius of Antiquity’s Greatest Scientist, Will Noel discusses the development of this exhibition at the Walters Art Gallery. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles Street. 2-3:30pm. 410-547-9000. Thewalters.org
October 18
Nathaniel Philbrick talks about his new book, Why Read Moby-Dick? If deciphering metaphors involving whales, boats, and good and evil is not your specialty, Mr. Philbrick, author of several best-selling novels, will guide you through Herman Melville’s classic novel, Moby-Dick, illuminating the book’s humor and timelessness. Central Library (Poe Room), 400 Cathedral Street. 6:30pm. 410-396-5430. Prattlibrary.org
Literary Mount Vernon Walking Tour. Take a guided 90 minute walking tour with the Maryland Humanities Council past Mount Vernon’s elegant mansions and majestic cultural institutions and follow in the footsteps of the many famous authors, poets, and editors who sojourned in Baltimore’s cultural hub. Meet at The Old St. Paul’s Rectory in the front garden. 24 W. Saratoga Street. 10-11:30am. 410-685-0095. www.mdhc.org
October 19
Dorothy Bailey talks about her new book, In a Different Light: Reflections and Beauty of Wise Women of Color, in which she tells the stories of 90 women from or with strong ties to Maryland, all born in or before 1940. Central Library (Wheeler Auditorium), 400 Cathedral Street. 7pm. 410-396-5430. Prattlibrary.org
Dramatic Reading and Discussion of Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Alexie’s book is a powerful, laugh-out-loud funny, yet bittersweet account of life on and beyond a Spokane Indian reservation, told from the viewpoint of a Native American teenager. Come watch actors from the Strand Theater read excerpts from this story and join the dialogue about Alexie’s powerful book. Strand Theater, 1823 N. Charles Street. 7pm. 410-685-0095. www.mdhc.org
The BaltiVORE Plays. Playwrights Group of Baltimore presents readings of seven new ten-minute plays, each of which has something to do with Baltimore foods. Come hear how Old Bay, Berger’s Cookies and Utz chips have inspired some of Baltimore’s most creative dramatists. Andre White Student Center at Loyola University (The Reading Room, third floor), 4501 N. Charles Street. 8pm. 410-812-4181.
October 20
Life Rolls On, One Day at a Time. Surfer and motivational speaker Jesse Billauer comes to the Southeast Anchor Library to discuss the challenges he overcame after a surfing accident in 1996 that left him a quadriplegic. Great for all ages. Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue. 6:30pm. 410-396-5430. Prattlibrary.org
Breaking the Barriers; Helping Black Males Achieve Academic Success. Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, associate professor at Howard University, is senior research analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Negro Education. He discusses the alarming fact that only 50% of black males will graduate from high school and what educators can do to reverse the trend. Central Library (Wheeler Auditorium), 400 Cathedral Street. 7pm. 410-396-5430. Prattlibrary.org
Across Words was conceived by The Love Movement and CityLit as an evening of storytelling and art that crosses boundaries and creates community. Performances and readings by Adeke Rose (poet), Baynard Woods (nonfiction), Pages (poet), Em Sea Water (poet), Temple(poet), Jessica Anya Blau (fiction), Drew Law (Poet) and The Wayfarers (Irish folk music). Student Center Theater at University of Baltimore, 21 W. Mt. Royal Avenue. 7-9pm. 410-274-5691. www.citylitproject.org
October 22
Literary Mount Vernon Walking Tour. Take a guided 90 minute walking tour with the Maryland Humanities Council past Mount Vernon’s elegant mansions and majestic cultural institutions and follow in the footsteps of the many famous authors, poets, and editors who sojourned in Baltimore’s cultural hub. Meet at The Old St. Paul’s Rectory in the front Garden. 24 W. Saratoga Street. 10-11:30am. 410-685-0095. www.mdhc.org
Launching of Michael Fallon’s New Book, The Great Before and After. Following mini-readings by about a dozen Brick House Books’ authors and poets, Michael Fallon will read from his newest book of poems. 50-cent out-of-print books, including some genuine collectors’ items will be for sale at the reading. Minás Gallery, 815 W. 36th Street. 5-7pm. 410-235-7690. www.brickhousebooks.wordpress.com
Free Fall Baltimore is made possible by presenting sponsor Susquehanna Bank and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, The Abell Foundation, William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, American Trading and Production Corporation (Atapco) and Baltimore Community Foundation.
Special thanks to Free Fall Baltimore media sponsors: The Baltimore Sun, The City Paper, The Urbanite, The Jewish Times, The AFRO-American Newspapers, Maryland Public Television, WBAL-TV, WJZ-TV, WBFF/Fox45-TV, CW/Baltimore-TV, WMAR-TV, WUTB-TV, WYPR Radio, WEAA Radio, Radio One: Magic 95.9; Spirit 1400; WOLB; 92Q, and CityPeek.
