Poetry in Parks 2019

The 5th Annual Poetry in Parks / Ayala Cove on Angel Island

Sunday, Sept 15, 2019, 11:30a – 4pm


A free, family-friendly arts festival
presented by Quiet Lightning, California State Parks, and Kearny Street Workshop

Rough schedule for the day:

11:30: Welcome/introductions
11:45: Youth readings
12:00: Music by Cindy Z
12:30: Literary mixtape
1:45: Music by Cindy Z
2:05: Neighborhood Heroes
3:45: Closing remarks

Here are the ferry schedules: SFTiburon. More details below:



Youth readings

A literary mixtape *
curated by Katie Tandy and July Westhale
Norma Smith » David S. Maduli » Kate Hoyle » Syche Phillips » Abigail Licad » Julia Halprin Jackson » Johnny Alvarez » Glenn Ingersoll » Linette EscobarMaddy Raskulinecz » Donna Laemmlen » Peter Bullen » Christina Newhard » Cassandra Dallett » Eric Darby » C.E. Shue » Kevin Dublin

all selected work published in sPARKLE & bLINK 101 featuring cover art by Connie Zheng, free for the first 100 guests

Neighborhood Heroes, with
Kirin Khan
Genny Lim
Kenji C. Liu
Janice Lobo Sapigao
Truong Tran
Flo Oy Wong

curated by KSW

Music
by Cindy Z

Live painting, by
Joshua Coffy
Nathalie Fabri
Dilcia Giron
and Allison Snopek
curated by ArtSpan

Beer
courtesy Lagunitas

>> RSVP <<

sPARKLE & bLINK 101 cover art by Connie Zheng
free copies of the book for the first 100 people

* For the literary mixtape, we received 85 submissions and accepted 17 (20%). Of those:

  • 8 have never read at Quiet Lightning before (47%)
  • 7 are returning (53%):
    • Norma Smith (2)
    • Julia Halprin Jackson (5)
    • Johnny Alvarez (1)
    • Glenn Ingersoll (2)
    • Linette Escobar (4)
    • Donna Laemmlen (2)
    • Peter Bullen (20)
    • Cassandra Dallett (20)
    • C.E. Shue (2)
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About California State Parks

The mission of CA State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.

About Kearny Street Workshop

Founded in 1972, during the height of the Asian American cultural movement, Kearny Street Workshop (KSW) is the oldest Asian Pacific American multidisciplinary arts organization in the country. We offer classes and workshops, salons, and student presentations, as well as professionally curated and produced exhibitions, performances, readings, and screenings. KSW makes artists out of community members and community members out of artists. For the past 45 years, KSW has nurtured the creative spirit, offered an important platform for new voices to be heard, and connected artists with community.

About ArtSpan

ArtSpan believes in the power of art to enrich lives. For 20-plus years we’ve championed an inclusive art experience and provided diverse audiences with an authentic connection to local art and artists. We support emerging and established artists who contribute to San Francisco’s inimitable creative energy, while bolstering the next generation of artists and encouraging the public to engage in preserving and furthering our vibrant art community.

With crucial support from SOMArts Cultural Center

SOMArts leverages the power of art as a tool for social change through multi-disciplinary events and exhibitions. Equipping artists with the space, mentorship and support they need to shift perspectives and innovate solutions, SOMArts fosters access to arts and culture for collective liberation and self-determination.

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Ferry information / to get to the event

  • There are two ferries departing for Angel Island: from San Francisco at Pier 41, starting at 9:45am ($19.5 round trip, takes about 25 min); from Tiburon, starting at 10am ($15 round trip, takes about 15 min). 
  • It’s suggested you arrive at least 20 minutes early.
  • Tiburon accepts cash and checks only, though you can purchase the SF tickets in advance.
  • Once you arrive on Angel Island, you will see signs and Quiet Lightning greeters, but to get to the event site you simply take a right when you disembark from the ferry, and walk around the cove until you get to the picnic tables. It’s about a quarter of a mile walk on a flat surface.
  • Accessibility is important to us! If you have any special needs, please email evan@quietlightning.org and we will do our absolute best to accommodate you.

Other possibly helpful information

  • You are welcome to bring snacks, though there is a cafe on the island and we will have draft beer, wine, and sparkling water available for purchase. There are water fountains with potable water at the event site.
  • Seating consists of wooden picnic tables, so if you have a cushion, a folding chair, or a blanket you’d like to bring, there’s plenty of space for it. If you need a seat, please email evan@quietlightning.org no later than 48 hours before the event and we will do our absolute best to accommodate you.
  • Dogs are not allowed on the island, service animals excepted. This does not include the use of emotional support animals which are not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • More information to be added here, but if you have any questions at all please direct them to evan@quietlightning.org.

photo: Angel Island by Evan Karp