Art, Readings, & Reactions
an annual collaboration w/ArtSpan + Modern Eden
Danny Thanh Nguyen • NCN • Claire Light • Na’amen Gobert Tilahun (curator)
june.16.16 / portraits of friends
Jason Bayani • Keith Ekiss • Dean Rader • Brynn Saito • Tess Taylor (curator)
july.2.15 / superhero / curated by Carolyn Cooke
Brynn Saito • Jay Santa Cruz • Ahmunet Jessica Jordon
Randall Babtkis • Jason Magabo Perez
june.5.14 / fairy tales: the test of time
Nate Waggoner + Carolyn Ho • Denise Benavides
Lucy Tiven • Kwan Booth • Colin Winnette


Dreaming shadows lie along roots in the courtyard,
leaves splaying sunlight into puppet theater.
Leaf cutter ants,
drying clothes dripping,
papaya ripening on their vines.
A few white feathers strewn about the yard.
Two dark bloodspots shimmer among them.
Esperanza is crying in her dark cool bedroom.
Her abuela is washing lemons in the kitchen.
Doña Palacio’s wet hands attract feathers
as she heats water for soup.
Isidora hears her daughter crying
from her bed in the room by the courtyard.
Her head aches,
and she nestles her fever further into the pillow,
listening to her child weep for a friend.
– “Soup” by Karim Quesada-Khoury

Say, young chap
Looks so smart
so decked out
put your piston down
so ready to bore into
the muzzle of this gun
Ah, from our foundry I see
We will be taking it back
that collar snug and high
the plume outrageous
Yes, a good one, excellent caliber
does the job
what arrogance in the locks
such restraint in the recoil
Time to come along
review your allegiance
– “Surrender” by Sandra Wassilie