Jaimy Gordon wins the National Book Award!

Jaimy Gordon, author of Belladonna chaplet #61: A Month of Love, wins the National Book Award for fiction.

THE WIDE ROAD is now available for pre-order

Long awaited by many since the early 1990’s, The Wide Roadis a master collaboration between two of our most necessary language innovators. Self- described as a “picaresque buddy being,” The Wide Road explores the simultaneity of thinking and communicating in present time. As such it is a mobile text, at once a constant and shifting travelogue, a celebration of the female body, an investigation into the intersections of female friendship, mothering, writing, community-making, activism and thought.

2011 • $16.00 • 148 pages • ISBN: 978-0-9823387-4-2

Now available to pre-order!

Choose between two different covers!

14 Benefit Items Still Available!

Belladonna* FALL FUNDRAISER for a Year in The Commons

During our fundraiser benefit on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, you helped us raise over $3000! Belladonna is grateful for the generous donations from dozens of organizations and individuals. Thank you! This helps us tremendously for our Year in The Commons!

There are still a few more items available from the fundraiser including original works of art and small press subscriptions.

Click here to purchase the items and see more!

PREVIEW THE SILENT AUCTION ITEMS!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010; 7:30 pm

Belladonna* FALL FUNDRAISER for a Year in The Commons

Click here for a preview of the silent auction items!

Location: Dixon Place: 161 Chrystie Street New York, NY 10002

Belladonna* FALL FUNDRAISER

Tuesday, October 12, 2010; 6:30 pm

Belladonna* FALL FUNDRAISER

for a Year in The Commons

Join Belladonna* for a benefit performance and reading to support our new year of readings, and our 2011 subscription series!

Location: Dixon Place

161 Chrystie Street New York, NY 10002

Purchase Your Fundraiser Tickets Here:

Supporter: $50.00Super Supporter: $100.00Belladonna* Lover: $200.00

For more details on the fundraiser and the levels of support, please click here.

Elders Series #1: SOLD OUT

The Elders Series: Volume 1, E. Tracy Grinnell & Leslie Scalapino is now sold out.

Volumes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 are still available.

LESLIE SCALAPINO; 1944 – 2010

“Scalapino makes everything take place in real time, in the light and air and night where all of us live, everything happening at once.” —Philip Whalen

Leslie Scalapino passed away on May 28, 2010 in Berkeley, California. She was born in Santa Barbara in 1944 and raised in Berkeley, California. After Berkeley High School, she attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon and received her B.A. in Literature in 1966. She received her M.A. in English from the University of California at Berkeley in 1969, after which she began to focus on writing poetry. Leslie Scalapino lived with Tom White, her husband and friend of 35 years, in Oakland, California.

In childhood, she traveled with her father Robert Scalapino, founder of UC Berkeley’s Institute for Asian Studies, her mother Dee Scalapino, known for her love of music, and her two sisters, Diane and Lynne, throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. She and Tom continued these travels including trips to Tibet, Bhutan, Japan, India, Yemen, Mongolia, Libya and elsewhere. Her writing was intensely influenced by these travels. She published her first book O and Other Poems in 1976, and since then has published thirty books of poetry, prose, inter-genre fiction, plays, essays, and collaborations. Scalapino’s most recent publications include a collaboration with artist Kiki Smith, The Animal is in the World like Water in Water (Granary Books), and Floats Horse-Floats or Horse-Flows (Starcherone Books), and her selected poems It’s go in horizontal / Selected Poems 1974-2006 (UC Press) was published in 2008. In 1988, her long poem way received the Poetry Center Award, the Lawrence Lipton Prize, and the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation. Her plays have been performed in San Francisco at New Langton Arts, The Lab, Venue 9, and Forum; in New York by The Eye and Ear Theater and at Barnard College; and in Los Angeles at Beyond Baroque.

In 1986, Scalapino founded O Books as a publishing outlet for young and emerging poets, as well as prominent, innovative writers, and the list of nearly 100 titles includes authors such as Ted Berrigan, Robert Grenier, Fanny Howe, Tom Raworth, Norma Cole, Will Alexander, Alice Notley, Norman Fischer, Laura Moriarty, Michael McClure, Judith Goldman and many others. Scalapino is also the editor of four editions of O anthologies, as well as the periodicals Enough (with Rick London) and War and Peace (with Judith Goldman).

Scalapino taught writing at various institutions, including 16 years in the MFA program at Bard College, Mills College, the San Francisco Art Institute, California College of the Arts in San Francisco, San Francisco State University, UC San Diego, and the Naropa Institute.

Of her own writing, Scalapino says “my sense of a practice of writing and of action, the apprehension itself that ‘one is not oneself for even an instant’ – should not be,’ is to be participation in/is a social act. That is, the nature of this practice that’s to be ‘social act’ is it is without formation or custom.” Her writing, unbound by a single format, her collaborations with artists and other writers, her teaching, and publishing are evidence of this sense of her own practice, social acts that were her practice. Her generosity and fiercely engaged intelligence were everywhere evident to those who had the fortune to know her.

Scalapino has three books forthcoming in 2010. A book of two plays published in one volume, Flow-Winged Crocodile and A Pair / Actions Are Erased / Appear will come out in June 2010 from Chax Press; a new prose work, The Dihedrons Gazelle-Dihredals Zoom will be released this summer by Post-Apollo Press; and a revised and expanded collection of her essays and plays, How Phenomena Appear to Unfold (originally published by Potes & Poets) will be published in the fall by Litmus Press.

Her play Flow-Winged Crocodile will be performed in New York at Poets House on June 19th at 7 pm and June 20th at 2 pm by the performance group The Relationship, directed by Fiona Templeton and with Katie Brown, Stephanie Silver, and Julie Troost. Dance by Molissa Fenley, music by Joan Jeanrenaud, and projected drawings by Eve Biddle. This production is co-sponsored by Belladonna* and the Poetry Project.

There will be a memorial event for Scalapino at St. Mark’s Poetry Project on Monday, June 21st.

A Zen Buddhist funeral ceremony will be conducted by Abbott Norman Fisher in about a month with the arrangements in a subsequent announcement. Tom requests that in lieu of flowers, Leslie's friends consider a charitable donation in her memory to: Poets in Need, PO Box 5411, Berkeley, CA 94705; Reed College for the Leslie Scalapino Scholarship, 3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard, Portland, OR 97202-8199; The AYCO Charitable Foundation, PO Box 15203, Albany, NY 12212-5203 for the Leslie Scalapino-O Books Fund to support innovative works of poetry, prose and art; or to a charitable organization of their choice. Condolence cards may be sent to Tom & Leslie’s home address, 5744 Presley Way, Oakland, California 94618-1633.



to make my mind be actions outside only. which they are.
that collapses in

grey-red bars. actions are life per se only without it.
(so) events are minute — even (voluptuous)

—Leslie Scalapino

Catherine Daly reviews Bharat jiva for New Pages

"The book represents a leap in style, control and application of language, and scope of address and content over hir earlier works, disobedience, iduna, and a day in the life of p. For example, whereas obedience continually lists and refines those lists, working from inclusion and exhaustion, Bharat jiva has a huge scope, a generous posing of questions against lists..."

Read the entire review here.

Upcoming Events

Join us for these FREE upcoming events (more info on our reading series page):

Monday - Tuesday, May 3 - 4, 2010

Annual Chapbook Festival
The Festival celebrates the chapbook as a work of art and as a medium for alternative and emerging writers and publishers. Now in its second year, the festival features a two-day bookfair with chapbook publishers from around the country, workshops, marathon poetry readings, and a closing-night reading of prize-winning Chapbook Fellows.
Location: CUNY Graduate Center: 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Admission: FREE
To attend workshops, please register for free by e-mailing abozicevic@gc.cuny.edu

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Monday, May 3, 2010; 7:00 pm
“Talk Show”
Presented by Ugly Duckling Presse
Hosted by Jon Cotner and Andy Fitch with Rachel Levitsky, Dodie Bellamy, Alex Stein, Matthew Rohrer, and Marina Temkina
On the occasion of the release of two new books, Ten Walks/Two Talks and Made-up Interviews with Imaginary Artists, Ugly Duckling Presse presents “Talk Show” — an evening of interviews, poetry, and unscripted surprises in the format of a late-night talk show. Hosted by Jon Cotner and Andy Fitch (Ten Walks/Two Talks). With poets Dodie Bellamy, Rachel Levitsky, Matthew Rohrer, and Marina Temkina. Plus interview-aritst Alex Stein (Made-up Interviews with Imaginary Artists) interviewing Cecilia Vicuña.
Location: The Kitchen, 512 West 19th Street, NY
Admission: FREE
This is a seated event and admission is limited. Please arrive early.

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Friday, May 7, 2010; 7:00 pm
Rachel Levitsky reads from Neighbor (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2009).
Location: Cafe Istanbul: 4130 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Admission: FREE

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Saturday, May 8, 2010; 7:00 pm
Rachel Levitsky reads with Kate Zambreno and Michael Dumanis
Location: Visible Voice Books: 1023 Kenilworth, Cleveland, OH
Admission: FREE

Durand and Queyras on Eco-Poetics and Eco-Criticism

Great little interview and poem by two Belladonnas: here

Special Belladonna Issue of Belgian Literary Magazine

We are the theme of a Dutch Language Belgian Literary Magazine, DWB.

Belladonna Events in April - AWP and a reading

Thursday - Saturday, April 8-10, 2010
Join Belladonna* at AWP in Denver, CO
Locations: Hyatt Regency Denver & Colorado Convention Center

Belladonna* will be at the conference book fair at TABLE X, a Publishing Commune.
Belladonna* members will also be a part of many panels, readings, book signings, and other events.

AWP events featuring Belladonna* members and authors:

CLMP Panel — Face Out:
Maximizing the Visibility of Emerging Writers
Thursday, April 8; 9:00 am - 10:15 am
Room: 106 - Colorado Convention Center
Panelists: Rachel Levitsky, E. Tracy Grinnell, Matvei Yankelevich, Rebecca Wolff
Description: A discussion about how small presses present and market experimental work by emerging writers—work too often misunderstood as possessing the least market potential.

And the Beat Goes On...
Thursday, April 8; 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Room: Agate Room, Hyatt Regency
Participants: Elizabeth Robinson, Reed Bye, Anselm Hollo, Maureen Owen
Description: Since its inception, Naropa University's Writing & Poetics program has been a living model of "outrider" traditions. This roundtable includes poets who have lived through and shaped poetic movements central to the 20th & 21st centuries: from Beat and Black Mountain experiments through New York School and Language poetries, this roundtable offers conversation with Naropa poets who have been at the center of American poetic history.

Orbiting Salt
Thursday, April 8; 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
Room: 111 - Colorado Convention Center
Participants: Sawako Nakayasu, Dawn Lonsinger, Cris Mazza, Alan Michael Parker, Blake Butler Description: This reading features writers recently published in Quarterly West, Western Humanities Review, Barrelhouse, and Versal. Spanning the traditional and the experimental, the regional and the global, it celebrates the diverse and powerful work of four journals with editors currently studying creative writing at the University of Utah.

Latin American Poets in the USA
Friday, April 9; 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Room: 201 - Colorado Convention Center
Participants: Lila Zemborain, Mariela Dreyfus, Eduardo Chirinos, Víctor Rodríguez-Núñez, Carmen Valle, Eduardo Espina
Description: This bilingual poetry reading (Spanish and English) aims to present six outstanding Latin American poets in mid-career. It is a very representative selection, with authors coming from strong poetic traditions all over the continent, namely Argentina, Cuba, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. All these authors are long-time residents in the U.S and their poetry collections have been either partially—or fully—translated into English.

Reading by Anne Waldman & Gary Snyder
Friday, April 9; 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Room: Four Seasons Ballroom,
Colorado Convention Center
Participants: Anne Waldman, Gary Snyder

Siren Songs From Across the Seas:
Women Poets in Translation
Saturday, April 10, 9:00 am - 10:15 am
Room: 107 - Colorado Convention Center
Participants: Sawako Nakayasu, Henry Israeli, Forrest Gander, Susanna Nied, Kristin Dykstra Description: Extraordinary women poets from around the world have recently been given voice by a number of American poets and translators. This panel will feature readings of the work of Luljeta Lleshanau (Albania), Coral Bracho (Mexico), Inger Christensen (Denmark), Ayane Kawata (Japan), and Reina María Rodríguez (Cuba), followed by a discussion about capturing the poets' distinct voices in American-English.

CHAX Press Reading
Saturday, April 10, 1:30 am - 2:45 am
Room: 201 - Colorado Convention Center
Participants: Leslie Scalapino, Jane Sprague, Charles Alexander, Hank Lazer, Kyle Schlesinger, Elizabeth Treadwell

Can Poetry Save the Earth?
Saturday, April 10, 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
Room: 201 - Colorado Convention Center
Participants: Brenda Iijima, Leonard Schwartz, Sandra Alcosser, John Felstiner, Jonathan Skinner Description: This panel will investigate the relationship between poetry and ecology, ranging from historical imperatives to contemporary ecopoetics. These panelists—representing activist poets working in zoos and parks, scholars illuminating the vital role of Western nature poetry, and writers redefining our relationship to language and ecology—are at the leading edge of the conversation where poetic language meets environmental education and global sustainability.

The Future of Feminist Publishing
Saturday, April 10, 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
Room: 303 - Colorado Convention Center
Participants: Rachel Levitsky, Amy Scholder, Brooke Warner, Kate Khatib, Jocelyn Burrell Description: This panel brings together five feminist publishing professionals to discuss these issues: how is the scope of feminist publishing changing with the times? What is a feminist book? Do readers respond differently to self-defined feminist books? Why should authors seek out feminist presses to publish their work?

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Closing Event!

Belladonna's Year of New Releases

Come join us for a reading and celebration of four great poets and their new work! We will be toasting:

Brenda Iijima (revv. you’ll—ution, Displaced Press; If Not Metamorphic, Ahsahta Press; eco language reader, Nightboat Books)

Dorothea Lasky (Black Life, Wave Books)

Eleni Stecopoulos (Armies of Compassion, Palm Press)

and David Wolach, (Occultations, Black Radish Books)

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 7:30 pm

Dixon Place
161 Christie Street; New York
$6.00

Bharat jiva is a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award

kari edwards' Bharat jiva is a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award.

Winners will be announced May 27, 2010.

Interview with Sawako Nakayasu

Sawako Nakayasu is interviewed by David F. Hoenigman on Word Riot.

ON: CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE NO. 2

ON: CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE NO. 2 features Rosa Alcalá, Cara Benson, Mónica de la Torre, Erica Hunt, Jennifer Scappettone, and more Belladonnas.

"what is a body that can be a body not constantly exposed": A Celebration of the work and life of kari edwards

Robin Tremblay-McGaw blogged about Bharat jiva and NO GENDER on X Poetics

Confinement as Commons

Rachel Levitsky is a guest blogger for the Poetry Project during February

Notes on Thoughts on Confinement #3

Rachel Levitsky is a guest blogger for the Poetry Project during February.

Thoughts on Confinement 2: “Hey”

Rachel Levitsky is a guest blogger for the Poetry Project during February.

The Figure Wanders on Along

Rachel Levitsky is a guest blogger for the Poetry Project during February.

Winter Sale Special

Through February 7th!

Buy 4 chaplets, get 1 free! (Plus free shipping)

Buy NO GENDER and Bharat jiva and get free shipping!

Order on our site belladonnaseries.org

Dixon Place Reading Tuesday February 9th!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010; 7:30 pm
Three First Books In English!

Sarah Dowling (Security Posture)
Michelle Taransky (Barn Burned, Then)
Marina Temkina (What Do You Want?)
Dixon Place
161 Christie Street; New York City
$6.00

Complete subscriptions to the Elder Series are sold out!

You can still buy individual books from the series through our books page.

The Elders Series is named one of The Best Poetry Picks of 2009

The Elders Series is named on of The Best Poetry Picks of 2009
Selected by Bob Holman for About.com

"Emma’s unstoppable spirit is the nerve that drives [The Elders Series #4], that and her brilliant writing, her mind. To engage with this book is to engage the unknowable, yet to know a little tenderness of this artist in the making."

—Bob Holman and Margery Snyder for About.com