After Sunset: Poetry Walk on the High Line

To Celebrate National Poetry Month, Friends of the High Line hosted a stroll on the High Line at sunset, where the audience could encounter a series of poetry performances along the park; ten blocks of traditional readings, spoken word, and ASL Poetry. Presented in collaboration with the Academy of American Poets.

The walk got started with poetry readings by Sarah Gambito, Saeed Jones, Taylor Mali, David Tomas Martinez and Leigh Stein at the spurs of the Flyover.

Next, participants enjoyed a performance by top New York artists whose primary language is American Sign Language: Maleni Chaitoo, John McGinty, Lewis Merkin, Lynnette Taylor, Alexandria Wailes and Jon Wolfe-Nelson, based on poems by Darren Fudenske, David Rivera, and Anne Tomasetti. Created by Other Voices.

Walkers witnessed the creative process unfold at the Chelsea Grasslands as Wendy Chen, Mariama J. Lockington and Camille Rankine revealed writing improvisations projected on large screens.

They also got inspired by the powerful spoken word performances of some of the Nuyorican all stars at the Sunken Overlook: Lemon Andersen, Nancy Mercado, Maria Rodriguez-Morales, Edwin Torres and Emanuel Xavier. Finally, there was a closing party with National Book award winner Mark Doty and music.