An Afternoon of Poetry & Music at the Paul Robeson Center
Overview
An Afternoon of Poetry & Music
Join CSU for an Los Angeles poets will perform their original work acompanied by a performance from Local Musicians - The Robyn’s Nest Quartet. The event is organized and hosted by CSU Board Member David Lloyd.
About the Poets
LA native Pam Ward recently released her poetry anthology, “BETWEEN GOOD MEN & NO MAN AT ALL” (World Stage Press) and is the author of novels “WANT SOME GET SOME,” (Kensington) and “BAD GIRLS BURN SLOW” (Kensington). A UCLA graduate, California Arts Council Fellow and Pushcart Poetry Nominee, Pam is also a founding member of the Leimert Park Book Fair. Published in numerous publications, including Voices of Leimert Park, New York’s Renaissance Noir, and the Los Angeles Times, she was recently honored by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs in 2025 as the city’s Trailblazer writer. In 2024, Pam participated in the first Poetry Olympics in Paris and has been writer in residence and a board member of Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Foundation as well as The World Stage in Leimert. Pam conducted workshops for Black Women for Wellness, Art Center College of Design, the California African American Museum, and runs a design business as well as the community press, Short Dress Press. She’s the program director for the feminist political poetry troupe, THE OVARY OFFICE which showcased at the LA Festival of books. She recently completed a YA novel, STOVES DON’T CRY and the historical novel, “I’ll Get You My Pretty,” based on her family’s role in the Black Dahlia Murder. https://pamwardwriter.com/
Paul Vangelisti is the author of more than thirty books of poetry, as well as a noted translator from Italian. His latest book, Just in Time, came out with Lithic Press in 2024. Prior to that his collaboration with artist William Xerra, Fragment Science, was published by Edizioni il verri (Milan, 2022). In 2015 he edited Amiri Baraka’s posthumous collected poems, S.O.S.: Poems, 1961-2014, for Grove Press. In 2006, Lucia Re’s and his translation of Amelia Rosselli’s War Variations won both the Premio Flaiano in Italy and the PEN-USA Award. In 2010, his translation of Adriano Spatola’s The Position of Things: Collected Poems, 1961-1992 was awarded the Academy of American Poets Prize. From 1971-1982 he was co-editor, with John McBride, of the literary magazine Invisible Cityand, from 1993-2002, edited Ribot, the annual report of the College of Neglected Science (CONS). He lives in Pasadena and Bagnone, Italy.
Robyn’s Nest Quartet, featuring musicians:
Jeff Kaye - trumpet
Karen Hammack - piano
Jeff Takaguchi - bass
Kendall Kay - drums
About the Host
David Lloyd is a retired professor of English at the University of California Riverside and has been involved with CSU since 2011. As well as a teacher, he’s a poet and playwright and has been involved in several social justice movements, from divestment against apartheid to Irish political prisoners’ rights. He is currently also on the Advisory Board of the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (usacbi.org) and a member of the Pacifica Radio collective for South and West Asia and Northern Africa Region that produces KPFK’s weekly SWANA Region Radio show (https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/swana-region-radio/). Having grown up in Ireland, he has written extensively about the Irish famine, food policy and hunger in the context of colonial capitalism.
Dennis Phillips at Effie St. Reading!
Pub. Date: November 14, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-9926955-2-6
Magra Books is pleased to announce the publication of The Cartographer’s Lament, by Dennis Phillips. Now included in this masterful, book-length sequence, Magra first published Phillips’ 17 Meditations on Time in 2021. The poet, in his Lament, seeks to capture the evanescent, to grasp the ungraspable, wrestling with that oldest and most unmappable of mysteries, time. In this remarkable project, Phillips shows himself to be a true practitioner of the impossible.
Book designed by River Jukes-Hudson
with Drawings by Courtney Gregg
Invitation from David Lloyd
Dear Friends,
After another hiatus, during which we were able to refurbish the back yard and make a yet more attractive space for our guests, the Effie Street reading series will resume March 8, 2026 at 1 pm, with poets Dennis Phillips and Rick Snyder. Light foods and drinks, alcoholic and not, will be served, as always.
Dennis Phillips was born in Los Angeles in 1951. He is the author of 20 books of poetry, most recently, The Cartographer’s Lament (Magra Books, 2025), Mappa Mundi (Talisman House, 2019), 17 Meditations on Time (Magra Books, 2021), and Sonnets (Magra Books, 2022). In 1998 he edited and wrote the introduction for a book on the early essays of James Joyce, Joyce on Ibsen (Green Integer). His novel, Hope, came out in 2007 (Green Integer). Phillips has translated or co-translated the works of Italian poets Milli Graffi and Susanna Rabitti. He is a professor in the department of Humanities and Sciences at Art Center College of Design, in Pasadena California, where he has been teaching literature and writing since 1979.
Rick Snyder is the author of Here City (Parlor Press, 2021), Escape from Combray (Ugly Duckling, 2009), and six chapbooks. His poems have recently appeared or are forthcoming in the Bennington Review, Fence, Hanging Loose, Lunch Break, and other journals. He currently lives in Long Beach, CA, and teaches in the classics department at the University of California, Irvine. For more information, see ricksnyderpoet.com.
In the event that it rains, or in the case of uncomfortable chill, we can move inside, so do come whatever the weather.
Parking may be easiest west of our home, up the hill on Redesdale, which runs between Berkeley Ave and Effie St.
Please feel free to forward this information to any individuals you think might be interested in this or future readings. We plan to host regularly again, with the usual open-air format, weather permitting.
Hope to see you 1 pm, Sunday March 8 at 3018 Effie Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026.
…
David
Magra Books on Panel for Translation and Publishing as Book Arts
Panel Description
How does a book travel from one language to another, and what skills make that possible?
This panel brings together poets, translators, and independent publishers to explore translation and publishing as creative, material, and collaborative practices central to bookmaking. Featuring Paul Vangelisti (Magra Books), Renata Morresi (Arcipelago itaca), and Ramón García, the conversation will consider translation not just as linguistic transfer, but as editing, curating, designing, and circulating texts across communities and geographies.
What does it mean to “make” a book in more than one language? How do small presses shape literary exchange? What craft decisions shape the life of a translated work?
Moderated by Sean Pessin, this discussion will illuminate the behind-the-scenes labor that transforms manuscripts into books and books into cross-cultural conversations.
Ideal for writers, editors, translators, and anyone interested in translation!
Magra Books @ CSUN Book Arts Fair
Magra Books is tabling at the CSUN Book Arts Festival!
Pretty Punks: A Launch Party & Reading
Hosted by Dylan Fahoome
with
Temperance Agamohammadi
Emily Daniel
Mira Cameron
Cecily Chen
Colin Lavery
featuring
Three corpora in one, Pretty Punks forges a complex and intertwined aesthetics drawn from the American South, Irish/ Irish-American folk traditions, and the complexities of gender. "Poems" takes Yeats as a starting point and diverges with great urgency. "Portrait" offers a compelling told-tale about Louisiana bull riding and loss. "Play" features players contemplating the existential punishment of both facing and being death.
With drawings by Emma Wolgast.
Pub. Date: December 1, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-9926955-0-2
Magra Books @ Beyond Baroque
The series’ debut, Saturday, December 6, at 2pm, at Beyond Baroque, will highlight readings and discussion by Phillips, Mohr and McCarty, as well as introductory comments by Magra’s editors, S.E. Pessin and Paul Vangelisti. Books will be available for signing by the authors.
Magra Books @ North Fig Bookshop
Come enjoy an intimate reading from three fabulous Magra personæ!
Come enjoy an intimate reading from three fabulous Magra personæ!
Readers
Host
Jessie McCarty in Conversation with Northridge Review
Event Details
September 24, 2025
4pm–5pm Pacific
ZOOM: 862 6128 1695
Join Northridge Review, CSUN’s oldest literary magazine, as they virtually welcome Jessie McCarty to discuss writing, archiving, and producing literary culture.
Music and Poetry: Paul Vangelisti & Vincent Katz
Celebrate these two lyrical traditions with readings from new works by Paul Vangelisti and Vincent Katz.
Vangelisti’s reading will be accompanied by performances from jazz ensemble Robyn’s Nest, featuring Robyn Javier, trombone; Mark Massey, piano; Jeff Kay, trumpet; Jeff Takaguchi, bass; Kendall Kaye, drums; and vocalist Polly Geller. Katz’s reading will be accompanied by Colburn School musicians Gabriel Crist, piano; and Esther Zhang, cello.
Books will be available for purchase.
This event is part of Colburn School's Poetry Week, sponsored by the Library Learning Lab, and produced by Sean Pessin.
AWP Book Signing: Just In Time
Paul will be signing copies of Just In Time at booth 750 in the AWP 2025 Bookfair!
What Books Press and Friends: A Celebration of Small Presses from LA and Beyond
The Schedule
6:20 - 6:45: 7.13 Books
6:45 - 7:10: Magra Books [featuring Bill Mohr and Dennis Phillips
7:10 - 7:35: El Martillo Press
7:35 - 8:00: Beyond Baroque
8:00 - 8:20: break
8:20 - 8:45: Tía Chucha Press
8:45. - 9:10: Walton Well
9:10 - 9:35: What Books / Giant Claw
9:35 - 10:00: book signing, etc.
Event Photos
Featuring
Poets House 29th Showcase Exhibition
Magra Books is proud to feature the following titles, published in 2022–2023 for the 29th Poets House Showcase Exhibition:
Unfamiliar Terms, by Amy Allara, with drawings by Michele Lombardelli
In the Margins, by Avery Burns, with drawings by Giulio Lacchini
Sonnets, by Dennis Phillips, with drawings by Courtney Gregg
Terra Terra, by David Lloyd
Cancellations, by Lorenzo Mari
Eight, by Amy Allara
Displacements, by Bill Mohr
The Accelerated Abbott, by Gianluca Rizzo
The Beyond Gala
Magra author Douglas Messerli (On Marriage, 2018) is being recognized for distinguished service by Beyond Baroque at their annual Beyond Gala, alongside Sesshu Foster, Ashaki M. Jackson, Exene Cervenka, and John Doe in a celebration of the literary arts of Southern California.
Paul Vangelisti will offer a speech in recognition of Messerli.
Event Recording
Magra Books at LITLIT 2024!
Join Magra Books as we table at The Little Literary Fair (LITLIT) this year, presented by Los Angeles Review of Books and the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Just in Time: Poetry & Jazz
Featuring
Poetry by Paul Vangelisti
Music by Robyn’s Nest Quintet
with Vocalist Polly Geller
$10 tickets are available at the door.
Books will be available for purchase at the Beyond Baroque Bookstore after the event for $20.
Join a discussion about international small press publishing
L’autrice e poeta Renata Morresi, curatrice della collana Lacustrine per Arcipelago Itaca, converserà con il redattore capo Paul Vangelisti e il redattore generale Sean Pessin sulla storia e il futuro di Magra Books.
Author and poet Renata Morresi, editor of the Lacustrine series for Arcipelago Itaca, will converse with editor-in-chief Paul Vangelisti and editor-at-large Sean Pessin about the history and future of Magra Books.
Just in Time: Paul Vangelisti, Polly Geller, and Robyn's Nest — Poetry, Jazz, and Small Press Publishing
To commemorate the publication of Just in Time by Lithic Press, Paul Vangelisti will read poetry, with Polly Geller contributing vocal performance, and Robyn’s Nest, led by Dr. Robyn Javier, providing music. A conversation moderated by Sean Pessin about writing and making art — including publishing books with Magra — will follow.
Poets House 28th Showcase Exhibition: 2020–2021 (The Pandemic Years)
Magra Books are on exhibition at Poets House!
From the Poets House event page:
The 28th Poets House Showcase features over 2,600 books from more than 600 different presses and publishers. For nearly three decades, the Showcase has helped to keep our collection current and relevant, building one of the most extensive collections of poetry in our nation—an expansive record of the poetry of our time, freely available and open to all.
The exhibition features our following titles:
A Theory of Consequence, by Amy Allara, with collages by Courtney Gregg
The Insistent Island, by Art Beck, with drawings by Michele Lombardelli
Furrow Archive, by David Lloyd, with smoke drawings by Jessica Huang.
More Fuges, by Susanna Rabitti, with collages by Courtney Gregg
Document, by Amelia Rosselli, with drawings by Giuliano Della Casa
A full catalog of participating presses and titles is available on their website.
Magra Books at North Fig Bookshop
Join us at North Figueroa Bookshop, Sunday afternoon, December 10 at 5pm., to celebrate Magra Books 2023 publications. We will feature Lorenzo Mari’s Cancellations, Bill Mohr’s Displacements and Amy Allara’s Eight, with in-person readings and book signings by Mohr, and Magra authors Avery Burns, David Lloyd, Dennis Phillips and Martha Ronk also featured.
Magra Book editors Sean Pessin and Paul Vangelisti will be on hand to introduce and discuss their project.
Voci/cancellazioni. Poesia, editoria e traduzione
Featuring Paul Vangelisti, Fabio Orecchini and Lorenzo Mari
When we talk about poetry, publishing and translation, both nationally and internationally, reasoning about “voices” and “cancellations” is the order of the day. The meeting with the authors and translators Paul Vangelisti, Fabio Orecchini and Lorenzo Mari will focus on some issues related to the publishing and translation of poetry starting from two texts that, incidentally, are entitled precisely to “voices” and “cancellations”.
VOCI (Argolibri, 2023) is the masterpiece of an author born in Conflenti, in the province of Catanzaro, and naturalized Argentine, Antonio Porchia (1885-1963). It is a collection of very short texts that oscillate between the form of the aphorism and that of the lyrical fragment, such as: «I would like to be part of something, so as not to be part of everything». The book is translated by Andrea Franzoni for the “Talee” series by Argolibri, which Franzoni directs together with Fabio Orecchini; Franzoni has also translated Alejandra Pizarnik, an Argentine poet, who wrote about Porchia (L’altra voce 1955-1972, Giometti & Antonello, 2019): «I believe that Porchia is the purest writer in Argentina. He managed to restore words to their primordial mission: that of illuminating the essence of the human being, like Blake, Hölderlin or Rimbaud».
CANCELLATIONS (Magra Books, 2023) is a booklet by Lorenzo Mari, translated and edited by Paul Vangelisti. The selection of texts comes from the book Soggetti a cancellazioni (Arcipelago Itaca, 2022), a book in which the author experiments with various codes, including the QR code, and with the creation of virtual reality environments.
The meeting is also part of the California Rare Book School Italy 2023, a tour of meetings and presentations for UCLA librarians and students on book culture in Italy.
Hosted at MODO INFOSHOP.
•••
Lorenzo Mari is a teacher, translator and poet. In 2022 he published the book of poetry Soggetti a cancellazione (ed. Arcipelago Itaca). He has translated from Spanish (César Vallejo, Trilce, Argolibri, 2021) and from English (Joshua Clover, Riot sciopero riot. Una nuova epoca di rivolta, Meltemi, 2023).
Fabio Orecchini is a poet, artist and permaculture artist. In recent years he has been involved in research on a possible form of underground theatre, working on therioscriture and interspecies imaginaries, in which poetic writing, performance and visual and sound research can coexist. He also edits the Talee and Fuori catalogo series for the Argolibri publishing house.
Paul Vangelisti is a poet, editor and translator of much Italian poetry from the second half of the twentieth century (from Amelia Rosselli to Adriano Spatola, from Corrado Costa to Giulia Niccolai). He recently published Fragment Science / Tecnici del bianco, in collaboration with the artist William Xerra (Edizioni del Verri, 2023). For years, he has co-organized the California Rare Book School Italy
Intervengono Paul Vangelisti, Fabio Orecchini e Lorenzo Mari
Se si parla di poesia, editoria e traduzione, a livello tanto nazionale quanto internazionale, ragionare di “voci” e “cancellazioni” è all’ordine del giorno. L’incontro con gli autori e traduttori Paul Vangelisti, Fabio Orecchini e Lorenzo Mari metterà a fuoco alcune questioni relative all’editoria e alla traduzione di poesia partendo da due testi che, incidentalmente, sono intitolati appunto alle “voci” e alle “cancellazioni”.
VOCI (Argolibri, 2023) è il capolavoro dei un autore nato a Conflenti, in provincia di Catanzaro, e naturalizzato argentino, Antonio Porchia (1885-1963). Si tratta di una raccolta di testi brevissimi che oscillano tra la forma dell’aforisma e quella del frammento lirico, come ad esempio: «Vorrei essere parte di qualcosa, per non essere parte di tutto». Il libro è tradotto da Andrea Franzoni per la collana “Talee” di Argolibri, che Franzoni dirige insieme a Fabio Orecchini; Franzoni ha tradotto anche Alejandra Pizarnik, poetessa argentina, che di Porchia (L’altra voce 1955-1972, Giometti & Antonello, 2019) ha scritto: «Credo che Porchia sia lo scrittore più puro d’Argentina. È riuscito a restituire alle parole la loro missione primordiale: quella di illuminare l’essenza dell’essere umano, come Blake, Hölderlin o Rimbaud».
CANCELLATIONS (Magra Books, 2023) è una plaquette di Lorenzo Mari, tradotta e curata da Paul Vangelisti. La selezione dei testi proviene dal libro Soggetti a cancellazione (Arcipelago Itaca, 2022), libro in cui l’autore sperimenta con vari codici, tra cui quello del QR code, e con la creazione di ambienti di realtà virtuale.
L’incontro è anche parte del California Rare Book School Italy 2023, un tour di incontri e presentazioni destinato a bibliotecari e studenti dell'UCLA sulla cultura del libro in territorio italiano.
Ospitato presso MODO INFOSHOP.
•••
Lorenzo Mari è insegnante, traduttore e poeta. Nel 2022 ha pubblicato il libro di poesia Soggetti a cancellazione (ed. Arcipelago Itaca). Ha tradotto dallo spagnolo (César Vallejo, Trilce, Argolibri, 2021) e dall’inglese (Joshua Clover, Riot sciopero riot. Una nuova epoca di rivolte, Meltemi, 2023).
Fabio Orecchini è poeta, artista e permacultore. Negli ultimi anni è impegnato in una ricerca su una possibile forma di teatro sotterraneo, lavorando su terioscritture e immaginari interspecie, in cui far convivere scrittura poetica, performance e ricerca visiva e sonora. Cura inoltre le collane Talee e Fuori catalogo per la casa editrice Argolibri.
Paul Vangelisti è poeta, editore e traduttore di molta poesia italiana del secondo Novecento (da Amelia Rosselli a Adriano Spatola, da Corrado Costa a Giulia Niccolai). Ha recentemente pubblicato Fragment Science / Tecnici del bianco, in collaborazione con l’artista William Xerra (Edizioni del Verri, 2023). Da anni, co-organizza il California Rare Book School Italy
Magra Books at Singapore Art Book Fair’s CUT COPY PASTE 2023, Day 3
Visit Magra Books on exhibition at the CUTCOPYPASTE 2023 Zine Potluck!
The books are available for purchase via QR code.
This event is hosted by Singapore Art Book Fair (SGABF), Thing Books, and Temasek Polytechnic.
Magra Books at Singapore Art Book Fair’s CUT COPY PASTE 2023, Day 2
Visit Magra Books on exhibition at the CUTCOPYPASTE 2023 Zine Potluck!
The books are available for purchase via QR code.
This event is hosted by Singapore Art Book Fair (SGABF), Thing Books, and Temasek Polytechnic.
Magra Books at Singapore Art Book Fair’s CUT COPY PASTE 2023
Visit Magra Books on exhibition at the CUTCOPYPASTE 2023 Zine Potluck!
The books are available for purchase via QR code.
This event is hosted by Singapore Art Book Fair (SGABF), Thing Books, and Temasek Polytechnic.
Magra Books with Argolibri
Lorenzo Mari, with Fabio Orrecchini & Andrea Franzoni from Argolibri, and with Paul Vangelisti & Sean Pessin from Magra Books discuss small press publishing and the labor of translation at La Confraternita dell’Uva, a cozy bookshop itself named after a translation the John Fante work.
In conjunction with California Rare Book School.
SMOL FAIR 2022
https://www.smolfair.com/
SMOL Fair is an alternative book fair which will be 'live' from March 19-26, 2022. In addition to featuring small presses, we will be organizing readings and opportunities for readers to connect with authors and publishers.
The SMOL Fair is being organized by Jesi Buell, Mandana Chaffa, Wendy Fox, Annelyse Gelman, Miette Gillette, Lori Hettler, and Kamden Hilliard. Thanks to past contributor Jason Teal.
Dennis Phillips and Rocío Carlos at Effie Street Readings
Dennis Phillips has just published a new volume of poems, Mappa Mundi with Talisman House and is the author of over a dozen other books of poetry, most recently Desert Sequence (Magra Books, 2016), Measures (Talisman, 2013) and Navigation: Selected Poems, 1985–2010 (Seismicity, 2011). His work, both poetry and commentary, regularly appears in various national and local poetry journals. Phillips is also the author of the novel, Hope (2007).
Rocío Carlos is the author of Coyolxhauqui, Los Angeles (Archetype Press, 2012), A World Below (Mindmade books, 2014), and (the other house) (Civil Coping Mechanisms 2019) and co-author of ex.her.pt (wirecutter collective, 2016). Her poems have appeared in Chaparral, Angel City Review, The Spiral Orb and Cultural Weekly.Her work was included in LACMA’s Pacific Standard Time exhibition, Those of This America. With the poet Terry Wolverton, she participated in the DIS.ARTICULATIONS project through Entropy Magazine. Her collaborative book, Attendance, with the poet Rachel Mcleod Kaminer appeared with The Operating System in 2018. She is co-publisher of the Wirecutter Collective and is currently completing a book entitled (the other house). She was selected as a 2003 PEN Center Emerging Voices fellow.
Please email in advance for the address.
Magra Books at the Small Press Book Festival
Join Magra Books as we table at the Small Press Book Festival!
Organized by Beyond Baroque, the Culver City Arts Foundation and Vagabond Books with the Wende Museum of the Cold War.
Magra Books in Folding Days at Eightfold Coffee
Folding Days is a retail installation of independent publications highlighting local small presses and makers. It acts as a small survey of recently printed works that focus on design, community, art, and Los Angeles. Bringing these projects together highlights the variety and richness of the creative community in LA.
A project from Days: an LA-based experimental retailer specializing in curating independent projects around a conceptual theme, hosting thoughtful events, and providing support and feedback to makers. Days presents a flexible, forward-thinking model of retail that is not tied to one particular location or idea. This instance is located in Eightfold Coffee.
Featuring projects from: Actual Source, Akina Cox, Autre Magazine, Bullhorn Press, Carla, Co-Conspirator Press, Curious Publishing, Coloured Publishing, Dirty Looks, Fulcrum Press, Golden Spike Press, Hat & Beard Press, Hesse Press, Insert Blanc Press, Inventory Press, The Kingsboro Press, Llano del Rio Collective, Los Angeles Contemporary Archive, Love's Remedies, Magra Books, Mouthfeel Magazine, Native Strategies, Nonsensical Press, Norma Studio, Paper Chase Press, Sibba Hartunian, Small Spells, Sming Sming books, Talis, Tan and Loose Press, Thick Press, Tiny Splendor Press, Todd Lerew, Use All Five, Wendy's Subway, Wendy's Subway and Press Press, Women's Center for Creative Work, X Artists Books, X-TRA Magazine
Magra Books at LITLIT, Day 2
LITLIT, or The Little Literary Fair, is a two-day book fair celebrating independent booksellers, book publishers, and book makers from Los Angeles and beyond. The book fair, free and open to the public, will take place from 20 – 21 July, 11 am – 6 pm at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles. Hosted by the Los Angeles Review of Books and Hauser & Wirth Publishers, LITLIT brings together the eclectic contemporary in publishing, creating a unique opportunity for independent publishers to offer a range of books, while sharing their missions with Angelenos of all stripes. Presented in partnership with the 2019 LARB Publishing Workshop, LITLIT is an exciting addition to the landscape of summer activities for the culturally curious. Programming throughout the weekend will include interviews and panel discussions with publishers, authors, artists, and community organizers. Participating publishers, booksellers, and vendors include: Angel City Press, Artbook, BookSwell Counter Culture Coffee, DoppelHouse Press, Gayettes, Harvard Square Editions, Hauser & Wirth Publishers, Hay House, Inlandia Institute, Insert Blanc Press, Interlude Press, Inventory Press, Jaded Ibis Press, Kaya Press, LARB Books, LARB/ USC Publishing Workshop, The Los Angeles Press, Los Angeles Public Library, Magra Books, Not a Cult, Nouvella, PEN America, Prospect Park Books, Rare Bird, Red Hen Press, Tia Chucha Press & Centro Cultural, Tsehai Publishers & Harriet Tubman Press, Two Lines Press & Center for the Art of Translation, Unnamed Press, Vagabond Books, Words Uncaged, World Stage Press & Community Lit Initiative, Writing Workshops Los Angeles, and X Artists’ Books. Schedule of Events Sat, 20 Jul 11 am - Panel: Arts & Books Join artists, publishers, and vendors as they define what makes an art book. Participants include Dagny Corcoran of Art Catalogues, artist and X Artists' Books co-founder Alexandra Grant, artist Paul McCarthy, and Dr. Michaela Unterdörfer of Hauser & Wirth Publishers. 1 pm - Panel: Activism In Words An exploration of how activism and publishing work together. Participants include Jessica M. Wilson Cárdenas of Tia Chucha, Dawn Finley of the Feminist Library On Wheels, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy of Words Uncaged, Tobias Tubbs of Words Uncaged, and Elias Wondimu of Tsehai Publishers. 4 pm - Conversation: Absurdity & Writing Writers Melissa Broder and Alissa Nutting discuss how absurdity in their writing creates humor – and drama. Sun, 21 Jul 4 pm - Conversation: Latinx/LA Poetics Poets Yesika Salgado and Vickie Vértiz explore Latinx poetry from – and for – Los Angeles and beyond. – No booking is necessary. This event is free to attend and open to the public.
Magra Books at LITLIT, Day 1
LITLIT, or The Little Literary Fair, is a two-day book fair celebrating independent booksellers, book publishers, and book makers from Los Angeles and beyond. The book fair, free and open to the public, will take place from 20 – 21 July, 11 am – 6 pm at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles. Hosted by the Los Angeles Review of Books and Hauser & Wirth Publishers, LITLIT brings together the eclectic contemporary in publishing, creating a unique opportunity for independent publishers to offer a range of books, while sharing their missions with Angelenos of all stripes. Presented in partnership with the 2019 LARB Publishing Workshop, LITLIT is an exciting addition to the landscape of summer activities for the culturally curious. Programming throughout the weekend will include interviews and panel discussions with publishers, authors, artists, and community organizers. Participating publishers, booksellers, and vendors include: Angel City Press, Artbook, BookSwell Counter Culture Coffee, DoppelHouse Press, Gayettes, Harvard Square Editions, Hauser & Wirth Publishers, Hay House, Inlandia Institute, Insert Blanc Press, Interlude Press, Inventory Press, Jaded Ibis Press, Kaya Press, LARB Books, LARB/ USC Publishing Workshop, The Los Angeles Press, Los Angeles Public Library, Magra Books, Not a Cult, Nouvella, PEN America, Prospect Park Books, Rare Bird, Red Hen Press, Tia Chucha Press & Centro Cultural, Tsehai Publishers & Harriet Tubman Press, Two Lines Press & Center for the Art of Translation, Unnamed Press, Vagabond Books, Words Uncaged, World Stage Press & Community Lit Initiative, Writing Workshops Los Angeles, and X Artists’ Books. Schedule of Events Sat, 20 Jul 11 am - Panel: Arts & Books Join artists, publishers, and vendors as they define what makes an art book. Participants include Dagny Corcoran of Art Catalogues, artist and X Artists' Books co-founder Alexandra Grant, artist Paul McCarthy, and Dr. Michaela Unterdörfer of Hauser & Wirth Publishers. 1 pm - Panel: Activism In Words An exploration of how activism and publishing work together. Participants include Jessica M. Wilson Cárdenas of Tia Chucha, Dawn Finley of the Feminist Library On Wheels, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy of Words Uncaged, Tobias Tubbs of Words Uncaged, and Elias Wondimu of Tsehai Publishers. 4 pm - Conversation: Absurdity & Writing Writers Melissa Broder and Alissa Nutting discuss how absurdity in their writing creates humor – and drama. Sun, 21 Jul 4 pm - Conversation: Latinx/LA Poetics Poets Yesika Salgado and Vickie Vértiz explore Latinx poetry from – and for – Los Angeles and beyond. – No booking is necessary. This event is free to attend and open to the public.