Get Lit: Poetry in Bloom
Step into the magic of nature at Get Lit: Poetry in Bloom! April is both National Poetry Month and Earth Month, and we’re having one epic party to celebrate. Enjoy a nature-inspired open mic, get artsy with crafts, and enjoy beverages inspired by the natural world.
- Share an original piece of poetry or song during our open mic. Don’t have anything to share? We’ll have pieces from notable American poets and songwriters that you can select.
- Unleash your creativity with river rock painting! Decorate smooth stones with vibrant colors and designs, inspired by the beauty of nature.
- Go on an indoor nature scavenger hunt through the AWM and discover American writers like Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Rachel Carson and more.
- Step into a floral fantasy with our flower photo op, where vibrant blooms create a picturesque backdrop for capturing cherished memories.
- Meet our friends from the Potting Bench Plant Studio.
- Enjoy beer, wine, and the night’s specialty cocktail, The Hummingbird, a bright and bubbly cocktail with hints of lavender. Non-alcoholic options available as well.
As Henry David Thoreau said, “We can never have enough of nature.” We hope you’ll join us in celebrating the harmony between poetry and nature!
More about Tim Youd (pictured above):
Tim Youd (b. 1967, Worcester, MA) is a performance and visual artist working in painting, sculpture, and video. To date, he has retyped 79 novels at various locations in the United States and Europe. Residencies at historic writers’ homes have included William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak with the University of Mississippi Art Museum (Oxford, MS), Flannery O’Connor’s Andalusia with SCAD (Milledgeville and Savannah, GA), Virginia Woolf’s Monk’s House (Rodmell, Sussex) and at the National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud, NE. His work has been the subject of numerous museum exhibitions, including at CAM St. Louis, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, The New Orleans Museum of Art, The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College, Hanes Art Gallery at Wake Forest University, and the Lancaster Museum of Art and History. He has presented and performed his 100 Novels project at the Ackland Art Museum, Weatherspoon Art Museum, Art Omi, Monterey Museum of Art, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) and LAXART, and retyped Joe Orton’s Collected Plays at The Queen’s Theatre with MOCA London. His studio is based in Los Angeles.
More about the Potting Bench Plant Studio:
Hi! I’m Desiree and I’m the owner at The Potting Bench Plant Studio, located at Block 37 in Chicago at the intersection of State and Washington. Previously a Project Manager turned Elementary School Teacher and an absolute “Nature Nerd,” I absolutely love to teach everyone I can about caring for houseplants. I am Female, BIPOC, Queer and Disabled, and because of that I pride myself on cultivating an exceptionally inclusive and welcoming space for everyone. The Potting Bench began as a pop-up in a food co-op in Oak Park and opened our physical location in the Chicago Loop in November 2021. We specialize in helping people of all experience levels find a plant that suits their space and their abilities and really prioritize educating people about the plants they are buying. I am a passionate believer that everyone can cultivate a love for at least ONE plant with the right tools and I LOVE helping people gain exactly that!
Get Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop. Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month, the AWM serves drinks, games, special experiences, and fun activities to get you lit!
A limited number of discounted tickets have been made available for teachers and school librarians. To claim your discount, use the code provided in the AWM education newsletter. You can sign up for the monthly education newsletter here for regular updates. If you are an educator and have questions, please email our Education Team at education@americanwritersmuseum.org.
Buy your tickets today! A limited number of tickets are available at the door. AWM members, use the access code emailed to you to reveal the member ticket price. Tickets include admission to the museum and drink tickets for two complimentary beverages. Additional drink tickets are available for purchase. Guests must be 21+ to attend Get Lit and show a valid ID at the door.
Funds raised at this event will go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools. See our other upcoming GET LIT events here.