SAL/ON

A Blog of Seattle Arts & Lectures

Category: 2019/20 Season

The interesting arched stained glass window and columns of Town Hall are the focus of this image, with Hanif Abdurraqib small in the right corner, emphatically gesturing at a lectern with a book in his hand. He is wearing a graphic, long-sleeved tee and a baseball cap.

Introductions: Hanif Abdurraqib

On October 23 at Town Hall Seattle, Hanif Abdurraqib read from his latest collection, A Fortune For Your Disaster, and gave us all excellent writing-slash-life advice. SAL Associate Director Rebecca Hoogs introduced Hanif for this event, which was part of our 2019/20 Hinge Series. By Rebecca Hoogs, SAL Associate Director We are honored to be the Seattle stop […]

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From left of right, Quenton Baker, Gianni Johnson, and Hanif Abdurraqib, stand on a dramatically purple-lit stage at Town Hall, with their arms all posed the same, clasped in front of their torsos. They all have serious expressions.

Listen to Hanif Abdurraqib Read a Poem by Mary Ruefle

Hanif Abdurraqib, for SAL’s Hinge Series on October 23, 2019, opened his reading with a poem from Mary Ruefle’s latest collection, Dunce—hear him read it again in the video above, and view the best snaps from the night! Mary Ruefle will be joining us this month as part of our Poetry Series on Thursday, November […]

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Ragini Gupta stands against a very tall bookcase, smiling.

Welcome, Ragini Gupta, WITS Intern!

We’re giving a warm welcome to Ragini Gupta of the University of Washington, who recently joined the SAL team this fall as a Writers in the Schools intern. We’re so grateful to have such a talented creative writer on board—learn a little bit more about Ragini’s passions below. Welcome, Ragini! Tell us a little bit […]

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Chimamanda Danita Egboh laughs backstage at Benaroya Hall. Her hair is in braids, and she's wearing a blue and white striped cardigan.

“I Am From,” by Chimamanda Danita Egboh

I Am From I am from Nigeria, the western part of Africa From the sandy roads and hot sunny days I’m from delicious egusi soup with pounded yam, jollof red, fried rice with chicken and my favorite African salad, all simmering in the very dim lit kitchen the only light, a kerosene lantern I’m from […]

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Gianni Johnson stands at the podium, smiling and speaking into a microphone, with one hand raised.

“Turf,” by Gianni Johnson

We don’t have to kill our environment to make beautiful things If life was on a dark path, should we continue on to see what life brings? Self-inspired hope after finding new ways to cope Dealing with demolition would leave one so pessimistic Watching it all fall then running off in the distance Returning to […]

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Lydia Ganz reads from a wood lectern, hair held back by a blue headband as she leans forward to look at her paper.

“Ode to Cinnamon,” by Lydia Ganz

Cinnamon O, cinnamon Soft but sharp quiet but demanding You are the tall red spruces old as time cutting the sky and stretching beyond You are clouds who knit together casting a blanket of gray swallowing the earth and casting soft raindrops You are the bear prowling through the forest lumbering paws slapping the mud […]

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Introductions: Richard Kenney

By Rebecca Hoogs, SAL Associate Director Twenty years ago this fall, I walked into the deep time of Richard Kenney’s classroom at the University of Washington. I was young and dumb—and by dumb I mean dumb but also quiet—painfully shy and silent, writing an all-thumbs poetry. I can’t blame Professor Kenney for making me older—we […]

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Get Spooky in Seattle: WITS Writers at Lit Crawl

Like a choice bowl of Halloween candy, this year’s Lit Crawl on October 24 is sprinkled with a healthy dose of our Writers in the Schools (WITS) and Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) programs. But which WITS writers will be where? Here’s a handy guide to help you map it out. But readers be warned—you have […]

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All at SAM: Exhibition Openings, WITS Broadsides Showcase, & More!

Tomorrow, on Thursday, October 17, the Seattle Art Museum will be opening its doors to the public to celebrate the opening of their new exhibit, Flesh & Blood. The exhibit features Italian masterpieces from the Capodimonte Museum, offering a rare opportunity to experience the fierce beauty of art from the 16th and 17th centuries. What’s […]

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