Join us for the PEN World Voices Festival!!
Schedule of Events:
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm: Through Her Eyes: Exploring Gender Discrimination in Fiction
For centuries, women's contributions have been sidelined, miscredited, or outright erased from history. What about the iconic works we celebrate today-were they truly created by the names we know, or were women's contributions hidden behind the masks of male figures? Stories like that of Rosalind Franklin, the women of Hidden Figures, and Zelda Fitzgerald reveal how often women's achievements have been misappropriated, their hard-earned credit handed to men who stood beside or in front of them.
Join bestselling authors Jodi Picoult (By Any Other Name) and Fiona Davis (The Stolen Queen), as they explore these overlooked narratives in a discussion moderated by bestselling author Adriana Trigiani (The Good Left Undone). From the true authorship of Shakespeare's works to the lost contributions of ancient Egyptian female pharaohs and modern-day female archaeologists, this discussion will look at the long history of gendered barriers across industries, challenging us to imagine a future where women's work is rightfully acknowledged and celebrated.
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: ArtLords Public Mural (Day 1)
ArtLords, together with Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) and the vibrant community of New York City, will ignite the PEN World Voices Festival with an electrifying live mural creation event. This groundbreaking artistic endeavor is poised to magnify the transformative power of art in championing social change, advocating for freedom of expression, and fortifying cultural resilience.
The mural will be a canvas of solidarity, embodying the resilient spirit of artists who defy adversity to express their truth. It will intricately interlace narratives of struggle and victory from across the globe, paying homage to those navigating conflict zones or enduring oppressive censorship.
In an inclusive gesture, the community at large is warmly invited to contribute to this monumental canvas of freedom and unity-art materials will be readily provided. Come, join us in painting a vibrant testament to the indomitable spirit of artistic freedom and collective solidarity.
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: House of SpeakEasy Bookmobile
Join House of SpeakEasy on the North-West end of Union Square Park to visit their Bookmobile! Launched in 2017, The SpeakEasy Bookmobile is a direct response to the proliferation of "book deserts," neighborhoods where bookstores are in short supply-or worse, nonexistent. The modified box truck is outfitted with 54 linear feet of shelving that accommodate a variety of books for all ages. House of SpeakEasy believes that book ownership should be a right, not a privilege. In partnership with the PEN america World Voices Festival, the SpeakEasy Bookmobile will deliver books and book culture to our audience members, ensuring that books can be made available to all readers.
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm: Transmediation: Visualizing Verse
When poetry meets visual art, the result is a stunning cross-medium experience. During the pandemic, author, philosopher, publisher and translator Michael Eskin hosted a virtual weekly poetry hour. Globally renowned visual artist, designer, and illustrator Raanan Gabriel created visual interpretations of the poems from these convenings, reinterpreting the aesthetics and themes of the poems through illustration.
Join poets Michael Eskin (The Emprise of Poetry), Forrest Gander (Mojave Ghost) Moira Egan (Synæsthesium: Poems), and artist Raanan Gabriel as the author and poets respond to Ranaan's striking artistic reimagining of their work. This event will blend poetry, animation and live discussion to create an unforgettable dialogue that transforms how we read, see, and understand poetry across forms.
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm: Deep End: An Evening with Ali Hazelwood
Join New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood (Deep End) and author Katie Holt (Not in My Book) for an exciting conversation about Hazelwood's sizzling new romance, Deep End. Set against the backdrop of Olympic dreams, Deep End follows a competitive diver and an ace swimmer as their chemistry heats up in the pool and beyond.
In this lively discussion, Hazelwood and Holt will explore how the romance genre empowers women, promoting bodily autonomy and challenging the stigmatization of women's pleasure. Don't miss this chance to dive deep into the world of romance and athletics!
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm: Bringing Back Books They Love
While much is discussed about the process of writing, a book's release, and its critical reception, one part of a book's journey often flies under the radar: the re-issue. The moment a beloved title is reintroduced to readers, complete with a fresh cover, updated blurbs, and a new life.
Join Joyce Carol Oates (Broke Heart Blues) and Carmen Boullosa (Texas: The Great Theft), and moderator Sabir Sultan, for an insightful conversation about revisiting their works in a world vastly different from when they were first released. What drew them to revisit these titles now, what do they love about the books and how do their evolving interests as writers shape their view of these works today?
Explore the re-issue process as a unique chapter in a book's life, and discover how these beloved works continue to resonate today.
