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 Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LEAVES OF GRASS - A Free, Daylong Celebration of Poets and Poetry - Takes Place in Fort Greene Park and along Myrtle Avenue to Commemorate Brooklyn Poet Walt Whitman and the 150th Anniversary of his Literary Masterpiece
Events Scheduled from 11 am to 11 pm on Saturday, June 18, 2005
Activities in Fort Greene Park include writing workshops by The Richard Wright Project and NY Writers Coalition, a library card drive by Brooklyn Public Library/Walt Whitman Branch, music performances by American Opera Projects and the Roving Brass Quartet, presentations of Whitman’s poetry and prose by The Walt Whitman Project, an open rehearsal by Cirque Boom of a new performance piece based on the lives of Whitman and P.T. Barnum, as well as local writers and poets reading their published and newly written works. In addition, Karen Karbiener, the editor of Barnes and Noble’s recently released Leaves of Grass, First and “Death-bed” Editions speaks about Whitman and his role in the creation of Fort Greene Park; and Brooklyn Hospital hosts a table that offers insight into that institution’s history and Whitman’s writings about it. Attendees have the opportunity to hear the words of literary giants Walt Whitman and Richard Wright among others, as well as the chance to meet and chat with contemporary writers, performers, and historians about their endeavors and crafts. The celebration in Fort Greene Park concludes with an open microphone poetry reading that is scheduled from 2pm to 4 pm. All members of the community are welcome to recite their own poetry and spoken word creations or the poetry of Whitman, Wright, and others. Sign up for this community poetry meeting takes place in Fort Greene Park on the day of the event. Danny Simmons serves as emcee. Beginning at 4 pm, activities commence along Myrtle Avenue with a series of guided and self-guided historical walking tours of the area, including tours of important local jazz sites, past and present neighborhood theatres, and the proposed Wallabout historic district. At 5 pm, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and seventeen Myrtle Avenue merchants will host a series of poetry and literature readings, slide shows, film screenings, and gallery exhibitions inspired by Walt Whitman, his poetry, and the historic neighborhood of Fort Greene he once called home.
Major organizations and individuals participating (as of 5/19/05): SPONSORED by LETITIA JAMES, VELMANETTE MONTGOMERY, FORT GREENE PARK CONSERVANCY, WALT WHITMAN PROJECT, MYRTLE AVENUE BROOKLYN PARTNERSHIP, AMERICAN OPERA PROJECTS, RICHARD WRIGHT PROJECT, BAM LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORP, BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE, BROOKLYN HOSPITAL, CARVER BANK, IBEC BUILDING CORP/CLERMONT ARMORY LLC ###
Contact:  © 2008 Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project LDC (MARP) 472 Myrtle Avenue, 2nd Fl, Brooklyn, NY 11205
t: 718.230.1689 | f: 718.230.3674 | info@myrtleavenue.org site by four eyes |
(Fort Greene, Brooklyn, May 19, 2005) -
The 1855 publication of the first edition of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is called “the central literary event of the nineteenth century” by biographer Jerome Loving. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of this poetic masterpiece, more than fifteen Fort Greene community-based organizations will participate in LEAVES OF GRASS, a free, day-long celebration of poets and poetry, and writers and writing. The celebration takes place in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, on Saturday, June 18th starting at 11am, with afternoon and evening events continuing at seventeen businesses along Myrtle Avenue until 11pm, organized by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership (MARP LDC and the new Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn BID).