Midwinter Queer Words - Poetry, Open Mic, & Karaoke!

Join us for MIDWINTER QUEER WORDS, a celebration of our creative community to break up the winter blues with rainbow hues! The evening will begin with a lineup of some of Philadelphia’s legendary queer poets, followed by an open mic set, then another round of features, and one final open mic. Then, we’ll end the night (or rather, continue the party) with karaoke.

Featuring: Taylor Alyson Lewis, Dimo Ortiz, Sean Hanrahan, Lauren Yates, and Nicole Coladonato.

Hosted by Alison Lubar, Heather Bowlan, and Aaron Gadbury.

Saturday, January 11th @ Philadelphia Small Works Gallery. Doors open at 6:30pm; poetry starts at 7:00pm. $5-10 suggested donation (n.o.t.a.f.l.o.f.).

~Saturday, January 11 - doors at 6:30 pm, poetry begins at 7 pm

~$5-10 - NOTAFLOF

~Free parking across the street or around the corner on Susquehanna

~Accessibility info: One half-step at entrance; bathroom is not wheelchair accessible

~Masks optional

About the featured poets:

Nicole Coladonato (she/her) began performing in her youth and quickly developed an affection for the spotlight. She quit being a failed visual artist to become a writer, embracing this new path with the same passion. Her writing abuses the natural rhythm of language to construct a carnal, surreal experience. Nicole’s poetry is found in zines and at open mics around Philadelphia, where she continues to explore her work.

Sean Hanrahan (he, him, his) is a Philadelphian poet originally hailing from Dale City, Virginia. He is the author of the full-length collections Safer Behind Popcorn (2019 Cajun Mutt) and Ghost Signs (2023 Alien Buddha), and the chapbooks Hardened Eyes on the Scan (2018 Moonstone) and Gay Cake (2020 Toho). His work has also been included in various anthologies and journals. He has taught classes titled A Chapbook in 49 Days, Ekphrastic Poetry, Poetry Embodied, and has hosted and read at poetry events throughout Philadelphia. He can be found on Instagram as gaycakepoet.

Taylor Alyson Lewis is a poet and high school English teacher living in Philadelphia. Taylor has received fellowships to support his writing from Lambda Literary, Fine Arts Work Center, and Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, where he was awarded the Queer Writer Fellowship in Prose.

Diamante “Dimo” Ortiz (She/They) comes from the Los Sures area of Williamsburg, Brooklyn and now is based in Philadelphia [both Lënapehòkink land what was once known as Turtle Island]. Throughout her childhood, she has witnessed how creative + organizing energy within Black, Brown Femme, and Queer spaces alchemizes healing, humanity, and hope. This has inspired them to carry this over into writing poetry, and collaborating with other creatives throughout their writing journey. Dimo’s writing focuses on navigating the nuances of grief, unpacking gender fluidity in nature, and their Afro-Boricua heritage.

Lauren Yates (she/her)is a Philadelphia-based poet and burlesque performer. Lauren earned her B.A. in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis from the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the Philadelphia Burlesque Academy. Lauren’s poetry has been featured in APIARY, Bettering American Poetry, bedfellows, and more. She is known for critiquing pop culture with a wry sense of humor and Frankenstein-ing together concepts that should not work, but, somehow, do.

About the hosts:

Alison Lubar (they/themme) teaches high school English by day and yoga by night. They are a queer, nonbinary, mixed-race femme whose life work has evolved into bringing mindfulness practices to young people. Their poetry collection, The Other Tree, was the recipient of Harbor Editions’ 2024 Laureate Prize. They’re the author of four chapbooks: Philosophers Know Nothing About Love (Thirty West, 2022), queer feast (Bottlecap Press, 2022), sweet euphemism (CLASH!, 2023), and It Skips a Generation (Stanchion, 2023), as well as one full-length, METAMOURPHOSIS (fifth wheel press, 2024). Find out more at http://www.alisonlubar.com/ or on Twitter @theoriginalison.

Aaron Gadbury (he/him) is a poet & co-producer of the poetry and music series House Poet. He first began writing for his college newspaper, The Daily Gamecock at the University of South Carolina where he studied linguistics. Following graduation, Aaron has since lived in Beijing to teach English, New York City to bag groceries, and repeatedly returned to South Carolina in the name of love, until finding meaningful work where he currently resides in Philadelphia. Known as a nightlife legend and dance icon, his poetry has been published in Wingless Dreamer Lit, Moonstone Press, and Pennsylvania Bards.

Heather Bowlan (she/her) is a writer, artist, and community organizer born and raised in NW Philly. She is 1/3 of Philadelphia Small Works Gallery, a space for Philly artists to build community through exhibitions, workshops, readings, and performances. Her poetry collection Highlights & Blackouts was published by _mixlit press in 2023.

About Philadelphia Small Works Gallery:

Open since December 2023, the Philadelphia Small Works Gallery organizes and hosts exhibitions, workshops, readings, and performances by Philly-based artists. We're a space for artists who build community through work that reveals our obsessions, resists oppression, and celebrates our complex connections. Folks who are weird and real and know great things are possible in/for our city. Visit our website for a full list of upcoming events and follow us on Instagram at @smallworksphilly.

Host or Publisher Philadelphia Small Works Gallery