Reading Queer reveals Miami as a center for queer literature with its inaugural week-long literary festival led by nationally and locally recognized queer writers who create hybrid, genre-bending works that address queer identity. The inaugural Reading Queer Festival is the first ever queer literary festival in Miami. The festival, which takes place at several venues in Miami-Dade, will culminate with a performance at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden with headline poet L. Lamar Wilson, whose book, Sacrilegion, has been set to a choir directed by Carl DuPont.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Inaugural Event with Julie Marie Wade, Sandra Simonds and Jan Becker.
Date: Friday, August 22nd, 2014
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm cocktail party/reading/mix and mingle after party.
Location: The B-Bar @ The Betsy Hotel South Beach @ 1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-6100.
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm cocktail party/reading/mix and mingle after party.
Cost: all events are free & open to the public with a suggested donation of $20. Donate here.
RSVP here:
Creative Writing Workshop with Sandra Simonds.
Date: Saturday, August 23rd, 2014
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
Cost: all events are free & open to the public with a suggested donation of $20. Donate here.
RSVP here:
“Cruising Hialeah: Salon”–a tribute to late queer academic José Esteban Muñoz. Created by Celeste Fraser Delgado.
Synopsis: Cruising Miami Salon: Modeled on a site of queer public sex, the salon will encourage a shifting series of writing and performance partnerships centered around the theme of public sex as a form of utopian longing as presented in Muñoz’s work. These couplings will result in the instant gratification of readings/performances presented at the close of the salon.
Date: Monday, August 25th
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
Cost: all events are free & open to the public with a suggested donation of $20. Donate here.
RSVP here:
“Cruising Hialeah: Ghosts of Public Sex”–a tribute performance for the late queer academic José Esteban Muñoz. Created by Celeste Fraser Delgado & based on Muñoz‘s work.
Date: Wednesday, August 27th
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm.
Location: Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
Synopsis: Cruising Hialeah is a video installation with Multiple video projections recreating the texture of the cruising scene in Miami and Fort Lauderdale circa 1984-85, inspired by the late queer studies scholar José Esteban Muñoz who writes about similar scenes in New York City based on his historical research. The projections include a sound piece that documents memories about the scene and coming of age queer in Miami from a number of Miami-based artists. Performers will stand in the garden, approaching viewers as they make their way to or from the installation and inviting them to join them in the shadows where they will whisper text from or inspired by Muñoz’s work. Video installation contains nudity. Event is for mature audiences only.
Cost: all events are free & open to the public with a suggested donation of $20. Donate here.
RSVP here:
“Sacrilegion” by poet L. Lamar Wilson.
Synopsis: Wilson has set his book “Sacrilegion” to a choir in collaboration with vocalist and musician Carl DuPont. This hybrid performance elevates the traditional poetry reading by bringing his poetry to life with powerful vocals set within the lushly landscaped Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
Date: Saturday, August 30th, 2014
Location: Miami Beach Botanical Garden @ 2000 Convention Center Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-7256.
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm.
Cost: all events are free & open to the public with a suggested donation of $20. Donate here.
RSVP here:
The inaugural Reading Queer Festival is made possible by our partners at the Knight Foundation, the Miami Foundation/National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Betsy Hotel, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, JeanPaul Mallozzi, Carrie Sieh and our individual and corporate sponsors.