With a tumultuous U.S. presidential election season and political protests around the world making headlines daily, poet-performer and CalArts faculty member Douglas Kearney joins alumnus and artist-activist Edgar Arceneaux (Art MFA 01) for a program that examines the collision of aesthetics, politics, art and poetry during the Library Foundation of Los Angeles’ ALOUD series tonight (March 13) at 7 pm. Moderating the discussion is Poetry Society of America Program Director Darrel Alejandro Holnes.
The Rocket’s Red Glare: Politics in Art and Poetry features Kearney and Arceneaux discussing the political impetus and implications of their work.
Arceneaux—whose work focuses on the relationship between the art and the social space—currently directs the artist-driven neighborhood redevelopment project, the Watts House Project. The initiative brings residents of the Watts Towers area of LA together in creative partnership with artists and design professionals to revitalize the neighborhood and “re-imagine the environment through inventive programming, community involvement, and functional and creative housing renovations.”
Kearney serves on the MFA Writing Program faculty at the School of Critical Studies at CalArts. He is the author of several books of poetry including Quantum Spit (2010), The Black Automaton (2009) and Fear, Some (2006). Kearney creates poetry that should be both seen and experienced. His work can be both visual and visceral–especially when he’s performing it.
Tickets to the event are free.
The Rocket’s Red Glare: Politics in Art and Poetry
Library Foundation of Los Angeles
Mark Taper Auditorium
Tuesday, March 13, 7 pm
Free | Get tickets