I got back from Armenia only ten days ago. It was an amazing trip, with a highlight being my “Physical Translating” writing workshop reading at the “Queering Translation” art intervention on August 1. The women involved were incredible: engaged, creative, and generous with each other. They were all interested in the topic of writing about and through the body, but were all ages and from all walks of life. More details on the workshops can be found on the Queering Yerevan blog, here, here and here.
photo courtesty Anahit Hayrapetyan
Upcoming news: I’m excited to be reading with another Armenian women writer, Cathy Salbian,
740 University Avenue
in Rochester, New York
September 9, 7 pm
This is very cool as I just met Cathy last year at the UCLA Armenian Writer’s Conference, and we hit it off, writing on similar themes. I particularly loved her nonfiction about a spiritual ritual: funny, touching, yet also self-aware and questioning. She’s been exploring her family history in Western Armenia, and has also visited Armenia, so we have a lot in common and many stories and ideas to share.
I will also be doing a Gartal/Armenian Poetry Project “On the Road” event in Providence!
Reading with Lola Koundakjian and Michael Akillian
259 Atwells Avenue
Providence, RI
on October 28 , 6 pm
This was Lola’s idea, and is also very cool: bringing a local community event (Gartal and APP) to other cities and inviting local writers to join us. We’ll be contributing visual materials related to our written work for the gallery’s public art window, too. The reading will be part of Gallery Z’s “art food wine” monthly series.
In the winter, I am looking forward to a possible performance in Italy (fingers crossed) and contributing to the “Kin: Mixed Genre of Color” panel at AWP in February in Washington DC. So check back for more details.
Nancy