MON, May 5, 7:30 pm | RCINY Auditorium
Contemporary Romanian poetry in translation
Do poets still exist? How do they make a living? Do they eat? Do they fly? Charles Bukowski wrote in one of his short stories about an American poet who decided to move to Mexico (wife and kids included) and hunt his own meals with a bow and arrows, so he could write. What do poets do in Romania? To find out, the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York invited for ten days in May ten acclaimed Romanian poets, some of them translated for the first time in English, others already writing in English: Nina Cassian, Nora Iuga, T.S. Khasis, V. Leac, Dan Sociu, Saviana Stanescu, Eugen Suman, Razvan Tupa, Constantin Vica, Elena Vladareanu.
They are ready to face American audiences first at the KGB Bar (no better place for poetry coming from the other side of the former Iron Curtain) on May 3, 7 pm (hosted by Sharon Mesmer and Saviana Stanescu). Two days later, in the RCINY Auditorium, on May 5, 7:30 pm, poetry meets the sax of Alex Harding (Romanian American Jazz Suite). Not to miss any of these events, as they will be very different! Bows and arrows not allowed for either poets or the general public.
The project, initiated by RCINY and curated by Saviana Stanescu and Constantin Vica, is developed in the framework of a first time consistent presence of Romanian poets in New York during the PEN World Voices festival. Texts translated by Adam J. Sorkin and Saviana Stanescu.
KGB BAR, 85 E 4th St, www.kgbbar.com
FREE ADMISSION. RSVP at icrny@icrny.org, 212-687-0180.
[Artwork by IRLO]
