Special Event
The Beyond Gala
Saturday, November 2
6 PM
In Person at Playa Studios and Live on YouTube
Get tickets for The Beyond Gala, Beyond Baroque’s 56th anniversary benefit and awards, on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Playa Studios in Culver City! Join us in honoring poets Sesshu Foster, Ashaki M. Jackson, Douglas Messerli, and Exene Cervenka & John Doe, cofounders of the band X, who will be giving a special performance. Just added: UnCabaret's Beth Lapides will be joining us as MC. The evening will also feature cocktails; dinner; and a silent auction, featuring contemporary art, exclusive experiences, and other items.
Upcoming Events
Walton Well Press: Chuck Rosenthal, David St. John, & Sarah Maclay
Friday, October 11
8:00 PM PT
In Person at Beyond Baroque & Live on YouTube
Walton Well Press debuts at Beyond Baroque with book launches from three prominent authors of Los Angeles. David St. John, Sarah Maclay, and Chuck Rosenthal. This press publishes work by writers and “artisans,” for solace and sustenance.
Voice in the Well Presents: What Am I Doing Here?
Saturday, October 12
2:00 PM PT
In Person at Beyond Baroque & Live on YouTube
Enjoy a thoroughly entertaining, thought-provoking afternoon of music and comedy at What Am I Doing Here? The one and only Eric Vollmer hosts this month’s literary cabaret in the Wanda Coleman Theater, featuring talented performers Suzy Williams, Vinnie Caggiano, Catherine Allison, Brian Knudson, Jenny Zepp, Eddie Montes, and Frank Strasser.
The New Series: Mimi Tempestt, Janet Fitch, & Natalie Shapero
Saturday, October 12
7:00 PM PT
In Person at Beyond Baroque & Live on YouTube
Beyond Baroque presents The NEW Series, a series of programs debuting new commissioned writing from nine authors through Fall 2024. Across three installments, an entirely different set of authors respond to one unique theme for the evening. For the second installment, writers Mimi Tempestt, Janet Fitch, & Natalie Shapero respond to the theme, Querencia. Before and after the readings, L.A.-based DJ Eddie, will be spinning tunes for the night.
An Evening of Music & JAZZ Films with Mark Cantor
Sunday, October 13
6:00 PM PT
In Person at Beyond Baroque & Live on YouTube
Cinema historian Mark Cantor screens jazz, blues, folk music, Western Swing and just plain “pop” films drawn from the Celluloid Improvisations Music Film Archive. These rare film clips cannot seen on YouTube, or found on commercial DVDs. Featured on screen, in a full two hours of music on film, will be such artists as Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, Dinah Washington, Phil Woods, Dakota Staton, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Archie Shepp, Louis Armstrong, Lee Konitz, Gerald Wilson and many more.
More Upcoming Events
Upcoming Workshops
Composting Language for Unexpected Poems, A Poetry Workshop with Ash Good
Saturday, October 12
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM PT
In this workshop, ash good will guide you as you dive into the art of crafting centos from lines harvested from both your own writing and the words of others. Anything written and unpolished, be it from old drafts, free-writes, journal entries, or the like are all ripe for composting! Together, we’ll select phrases to remix into poems that reflect your unique voice while honoring the original sources. Just as composting turns organic matter into rich soil, by "turning the pile," we’ll blend lines from personal writing with outside texts. Along the way, we’ll surely uncover unanticipated images and surprising language mashups. Whether you're a seasoned poet or simply curious, come ready to play with words, get your hands dirty (metaphorically, of course), and grow something vibrant and entirely your own.
Learning How to Write a Ghazal from the American Blues
Saturday, October 19
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM PT
In this workshop, we will learn about the ghazal, the premier short form of poetry in the Middle East and South Asia. We will use a familiar American musical genre as a doorway to open into this great form of poetry: the blues. As it turns out, the American blues and the ghazal share a number of key thematic and structural elements that will help you to write a successful ghazal in English. We will take a look at some terrific American ghazals by Aga Shahid Ali, Roger Sederat, and Patricia Smith. We will also listen to and discuss several blues songs.
Ongoing Free Workshops
Monday Night Fiction Workshop with Raquel Baker
Mondays 7:30 PM PT
Via Zoom
A community writing workshop in which participants are asked to bring 2-3 pages of fiction to read and receive feedback. Facilitated by Raquel Baker via Zoom. Registration required.
Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop with Arthur Kayzakian
Wednesdays 8:00 PM PT
Via Zoom
The West Coast’s longest-running free poetry workshop welcomes new and seasoned poets to share new work and provide feedback. Please be prepared to share one poem.
Current Exhibitions
Byron Baker & Will Alexander
Anonymous Steller Ravines vol 1.
October 12 - November 23, 2024
Opening Reception
Saturday, October 12, 5:00 PM
Proxy Gallery Presents
Sally Stein and Las Terminas,
In Dicey Times... Voting Matters Most!
October 11 - November 30, 2024
The present work, created expressly for the Proxy Gallery and titled “In dicey times… voting matters most!” combines symbolism and literalism to powerful effect: The title already prefigures a contradiction: Dice, the aleatory, stand for chance, while voting stands for the strong desire to make a difference in the outcome of the elections. Both these versions are true: the elections could go this way or that, but what is at stake is democracy itself.
We have new merch for you!
New arrivals include our new tote bags, zip bags, journals, candles, and of course, our classic Metaphors Be With You shirt. All proceeds support Beyond Baroque programming!
Visit our shop here
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