IVY WRITERS PARIS // Bilingual Reading Series // Lectures Bilingues: About us (En)

Ivy Writers Paris is a monthly bilingual experimental poetry reading series curated by Jennifer K Dick that brings together the music of two languages: French and English. Ivy authors read in their native tongue, (often French from France or Francophone countries and English from the USA, Canada and on occasion the UK), though Ivy has also had readers who were Japanese, Argentinian, Finnish, Lebanese, Italian, German and Tunisian. Sometimes a sampling of new translations is provided, and we are always thrilled to celebrate the undertaking of and publication of new translations. However, the real goal is to enter into the music of whatever language(s) are being read.

What makes us special? The ambiance. Before the reading starts, we gather for a drink and chat with new friends and old alongside invited authors. After the reading, books can be purchased and signed and then everyone who wants to comes along for dinner. The reading is thus sandwiched between social space, allowing listeners to really get to know guest authors. Ivy gives you the opportunity to talk to the writers you love and to their publishers, as well as other authors, translators and aficianados of poetry in attendance. Poetry is an eternal conversation, after all.

History of Ivy Writers Paris

Founded by American authors Michelle Noteboom and Jennifer K Dick, The Ivy Writers series began in a gallery in the 11th arrondissement in 2005. It then moved to Les Voûtes St Honoré before a 5+ year stint in Le Next on rue Tiquetonne. Currently Ivy meets at Delaville Cafe on Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris 75005. Some notable Anglophone readers have included original L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E school poets Lyn Hejinian, Carla Harryman, Hank Lazer and Barrett Watten, Paris resident poets and translators Alice Notley, Sarah Riggs, Marilyn Hacker, and Joe Ross and French contemporary authors Jérôme Mauche, Suzanne Doppelt, Jean-Michel Espitallier, Véronique Pittolo, Jacques Sivan, Vannina Maestri, Marie-Céline Siffert, Rémi Bouthonnier, Anne Kawala, Fréderic Forte, Michael Batalla, Gilles Weinzaepflen and many many others. Special events linked to literary reviews or book publications have featured VERSAL magazine from Amsterdam, Upstairs at Duroc from Paris and Counterpath Press among others. Since 2010, guest co-curators have included Sarah Larivière and Jacob Bromberg. Other interns and assistants include Leela Chanterelle, Frederic Benhaim, Ferhat Haddouche, Deborah Heissler.

In the summer of 2016, Ivy Writers Paris officially became an association 1901 with the intention of aquiring the support of its members and the Franco-American writing communities to publish an bilingual anthology of work by the poets who have read for us over the past decade+. More news on how to become a member, get involved, and the book will be forthcoming throughout the 2016-2017 season.