Culture & the Arts

The 26th Annual Ezra Jack Keats / NYC Department of Education Bookmaking Competition - Meet the Author/Illustrator: Kristen Balouch

Past "Ezra Jack Keats Book Award" winner, Kristen Balouch, will read from her latest books and discuss her illustrations. For more information please call 718-230-2487.

Funding provided by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.

Global Lens 2012: The Prize - El Premio

A political activist’s life-in-hiding on an isolated stretch of Argentina’s coastline is jeopardized after her seven-year-old daughter is selected to participate in a local school’s patriotic essay contest. Directed by Paula Markovitch, Argentina/Mexico, 2011. In Spanish; English subtitles. 99 min. Co-presented with the Global Film Initiative.

The 26th Annual Ezra Jack Keats / NYC Department of Education Bookmaking Competition - Meet the Author/Illustrator: David Ezra Stein

Past "Ezra Jack Keats Book Award" winner, David Ezra Stein, will read from his latest books and discuss his illustrations. For more information please call 718-230-2487.

Funding provided by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.

Global Lens 2012: Qarantina

A sullen assassin, living above a dysfunctional family in Baghdad, captures the attention of the household’s unhappy mother, setting a dangerous stage for confrontation with the family’s lecherous father. Directed by Oday Rasheed , Iraq, 2010. In Arabic; English subtitles. 90 minutes Co-presented with the Global Film Initiative.

Read Russia - Book Expo America: In Conversation with Edward Radzinski

Renowned Russian historian, writer, playwright and TV personality ponders presents his new trilogy on Stalin "Koba's Apocalypse". Program is in Russian. Registration is required. For registration call 718-230-2222. Limited to 2 tickets per person.

Read Russia - Book Expo America: Genre Literature: Development, Confines and Stereotypes

A sci-fi writer Sergey Lukyanenko, an author of historical detective novels Dmitri Kosyrev (a.k.a. Master Chen) and a horror writer Anna Starobinets discuss the phenomenon and place of genres in Russian literary landscape. The panel is moderated by Eliot Borenstein, NYU professor of Russian and Slavic studies. Program is in Russian. Registration is required. For registration call 718-230-2222. Limited to 2 tickets per person.

Read Russia - Book Expo America: In Conversation with Alexander Arkhangelski

Alexander Arkhangelsky, a journalist, writer, journalism professor, literary critic and blogger, discuss the current state of affairs in Russia. Program is in Russian. Registration is required. For registration call 718-230-2222. Limited to 2 tickets per person.

Read Russia - Book Expo America: Literary Matrix: Writers on Writers

Two years ago, many contemporary Russian writers were approached with a proposal to rewrite a chapter for high school literature handbooks. Each was given a choice of a classical Russian author. The result was a two-volume set "Literary Matrix". Mikhail Shishkin (article of Goncharov), Andrey Rubanov (Shalamov), Sergey Shargunov (Griboedov) will be joined by Pavel Basinsky, an award-winning biographer of Tolstoy, and Alexander Genis, who himself, many years ago, took an alternative look on Russian classical literature in the book "Native Speech", which he co-wrote together with Pyotr Vail. Program is in Russian. Registration is required. For registration call 718-230-2222. Limited to 2 tickets per person.

Brooklyn Open

Co-hosted by Urban Word, Brooklyn Open is a monthly open mic series for teen poets, spoken word artists, emcees, scholars and activists to share their powerful and important voices. These events are run by teens for teens, with youth DJs, youth hosts and a monthly featured poet.

Global Lens 2012: Toll Booth - Gise Memuru

Kenan is a tollbooth attendant who shuffles between a suffocating home with his ailing but domineering father and the monotony of the traffic-hounded box where he works. He falls for a beautiful woman who drives by his booth at the same time each day, but she may not bring happiness for the aging bachelor. Directed by Tolga Karacelik, Turkey, 2010. In Turkish; English subtitles. 96 min. Co-presented with the Global Film Initiative.

What's in a Name? Imposters, Doubles and Identities

It is widely known that Mark Twain is the pen name of Samuel Clemens, but why did poet Sylvia Plath publish a book as Victoria Lucas? Carmela Ciuraru, author of Nom de Plume: A (Secret) History of Pseudonyms talks with Darin Strauss, author of Half a Life; Elissa Schappell, author of Blueprints for Building Better Girls; and Ben Greenman of The New Yorker, about why authors generate alternative identities. The evening includes a "nom de plume" quiz! Co-sponsored by Artists & Audiences Exchange, a public program administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) with leadership support from the New York State Council on the Arts

Sophie Blackall: Meet the Artist

Sophie Blackall will talk about her artwork and inspiration in creating her current exhibition, "Drawn From My Father's Adventures", as well as her illustrations from her book, Missed Connections. Please visit her exhibitions in the Lobby Gallery (next to the Multilingual Center) and the Youth Wing.

Plaza Swing Series: Dennis Lichtman's Braincloud

Dennis Lichtman and his band bring Western swing to the plaza. Their infectious blend American southern roots music and old-timey jazz features hot picking, hard swinging, and the inimitable vocals of Tamar Korn. Swing dance lessons with Eve Polich are at 6:30, band starts at 7 pm. In case of rain, the concert will be held on Thursday, June 14.

Russian Literary Series: Yuz Aleshkovsky

Yuz Aleshkovsky is one of the most revered veterans of Russian literature. He has penned a score of novels which by now have become classics of contemporary Russian literature, but his best-known and most appreciated works are his anti-Stalinist songs, which have become part of an urban folk tradition in the Soviet Union and are even mistakenly considered by some to be anonymous. Yuz Aleshkovsky will answer questions and perform some of his old and new songs. This program is in Russian. Registration is required. For registration call 718-230-2222. Limited to 2 tickets per person.

The Russian Literary Series is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Plaza Swing Series: The Katie Thiroux Quartet

Katie Thiroux is a bassist and vocalist of outstanding talent and determination. She has performed with the likes of Dr. Billy Taylor, Branford Marsalis and Terri Lyne Carrington. Swing dance lessons with Eve Polich are at 6:30, band starts at 7 pm. In case of rain, the concert will be held on Thursday, June 21.

Plaza Swing Series: Swingtime Big Band

This 20-piece band plays authentic recreations of the timeless swing music of such great Big Band leaders as Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Duke Ellington. Swing dance lessons with Eve Polich are at 6:30, band starts at 7 pm.

Brooklyn Open

Co-hosted by Urban Word, Brooklyn Open is a monthly open mic series for teen poets, spoken word artists, emcees, scholars and activists to share their powerful and important voices. These events are run by teens for teens, with youth DJs, youth hosts and a monthly featured poet.

Plaza Swing Series: The Wiyos

Holler, stomp and sing along with a trio whose unique music captures the spirit of blues, ragtime, spirituals, and Appalachian jug-band music. Their eclectic sound features harmonica, washboard, kazoo, banjo and guitar¬. Swing dance lessons with Eve Polich are at 6:30, band starts at 7 pm. In case of rain, the concert will be held on Thursday, July 12.