Sat, Oct 19: (The Palestine Poetry Project): ANTITHESIS / Tibaaq

On October 19th, Palestine Poetry Project returns with ANTITHESIS / Tibaaq, derived from Mahmoud Darwish’s poem, an evening of art as a powerful form and tool of resistance– presented within literature, performance, and poetry.

There will be an open-mic for any and all participants. Those who plan to sign-up are encouraged to arrive as early as possible– there are a limited number of spots and they are granted as first-come-first-serve! Folks are invited to read pieces you wrote, or written by others that inspired you. Bring poems including but not limited to: Palestine, Turtle Island, Sudan, Congo, the struggle, liberation efforts and more. Please make sure that the work you bring will not interfere with the resolution of amplifying marginalised voices- namely Palestinian, Black, and Indigenous voices.

As we seek and build together more sustained liberatory efforts, this event is an invitation for the community to come together as a safe gathering place to express collective grief and build respite amongst each other.

FEATURED ARTISTS: Nora Salem & Pîsimoyâpîs Poetry

Nora Salem (she/her) is an Egyptian-Palestinian visual artist with a diverse background from floral design to abstract mixed media. Over the past year, through a variety of mediums, Nora has explored the impact of growing up as a first generation immigrant on lands that were colonized. During this exploration, she has found words rise to the surface as she processes the death of a world she once believed in, and mourns the parts of herself that have gone with it.

Pîsimoyâpîs Poetry (she/her) is an Indigenous Queer poet from the Stoney Nakoda, Cree, and Métis people from Treaty 6 Territory. She is from Paul First Nation, but currently resides in amiskwacîwâskahikan. She writes free verse poetry and studies at the University of Alberta.

SPECIAL NOTE ON TICKETS

The event is “pay-what-you-can” to any and all Palestinian, Black and Indigenous community members. Please contact us to receive a special discount code through Instagram @poetry4palestine.yeg or e-mail Domi at [email protected]– thank you! Additionally, if the price is a barrier for you, you are welcome to contact us as well for support.

For transparency: the funds collected through ticket sales are to be distributed responsibly. It is our intention to pay our artists, provide mutual aid, and ensure that we can continue this project. At this time, we are not funded through grants or sponsors so we do face limitations. We ask that folks keep this in mind if they have greater capacity.

COMMUNITY AGREEMENT

We are calling on every community member to commit to the following protocols:

“As participants of the Palestine Poetry Project, we are gathering to mourn the on-going destruction, devastation, and displacement of Palestinians and the staggering loss of life in occupied Palestine, West Bank, and Gaza. Palestine has a rich history and tradition of poetry, deeply interwoven with a permeating principle of art as a tool of resistance. As more horrific and depraved developments of israeli aggression unfold– the terrorist, settler-colonial state has expanded its genocidal campaign to Lebanon, particularly the South. We recognize that we are not in any position to penalise or chastise how those affected choose to express their experiences, feelings, and thoughts. We will hold space for one another.

By attending this event, we are held to a collective agreement that each of us will hold genuine, caring space for and listen attentively to the featured performers, for the people of Palestine, for Lebanon, for Turtle Island, the Congo, for Sudan, for all of us who are fighting for heaven on earth. If an individual is behaving violently or otherwise behaves disruptively, heckles, or disturbs the event, they will be considered in breach of this community agreement and will be asked to leave safely. We also request that, in the event of any interruptions, us- as the community- shall commit to the ethos of de-escalation so that we can focus on what this space is for.”

Host or Publisher Felice Noir