Hello,
I hope this note finds you well, resilient & able to enjoy replenishing moments.
On my side, it’s been busy — which is good, because adjusting to life without Pierre is not easy. Grief is a quite a journey, I’m trying to embrace it as best as possible while keeping active, which is, thankfully, my nature.
One major focus has been getting Pierre’s selected poems POASIS II ready. He had finished the manuscript before he passed and had done most of the copyediting. It’s now fresh off the press — and it really looks beautiful.
Please save the date for the upcoming NYC Memorial & POASIS II book launch:
Friday September 12, 2025
Pierre Joris — Poasis: Many Tongues, Many Fires
The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church
131 E 10th St, New York, NY
Reception 7:15PM
Reading: 8PM sharp
The program will feature poetry, music, & tributes reflecting the scope of Pierre’s decades-spanning, boundary-crossing work. — and most of all POASIS II (Wesleyan University Press), selected poems from 2000–2024. Copies will be available at the event, and you can also order the book online if you cannot attend.
Book link: https://www.weslpress.org/9780819501950/poasis-ii/
On this occasion, we are thrilled to launch the Pierre Joris Fund for Radical Reversal. Pierre cared deeply about this program & had a lasting impact on its founder, poet and Executive Director Randall Horton. While earning his PhD at SUNY Albany after returning to society from the carceral state, Randall found in Pierre a mentor who recognized the urgency of his voice: “I am not Dr. Horton without Pierre.”
The fund supports arts programs for young people at the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center in Birmingham, Alabama — providing books, art supplies, and teaching artists to foster healing, self-discovery, and a powerful turn toward a brighter future.
| Other Events: Philadelphia — September 10, 2025 The Kelly Writers House, UPENN Special Episode of PoemTalk: Pierre Joris & Jerome Rothenberg 6:00 PM in person Co-sponsored by: The Creative Writing Program RSVP here to attend in person Albany — September 27, 2025 Pierre Joris — Poasis & Beyond: Always the ManyPart 1: Panel — 4:00–5:30 p.m. in UAlbany Campus Center Auditorium, Sponsored by NYSWI and Department of English. Part 2: Reading & Performance — 6:30 p.m. in UAlbany Campus Center Multipurpose Room following a 5:30 p.m. reception. Hosted by Department of English with support from NYSWI. More details TBA. Presented by The English Department, New York State Writers Institute, and University at Albany, as part of NYSWI Book Festival |
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| Turning to My Own Projects: Bird-State in Iceland! Next week I leave for a two-week artist residency at Gullkistan, Center for Creativity in Iceland. I’m excited to immerse myself in the landscape, document birds, and work in that extraordinary environment while pursuing my ongoing project Bird-State.If you missed the spring exhibition Bird-State: Amor de Lohn, there is a full documentation of the project here |
Voilà! Voilà Kitchen! September Launch
With my great friend Ariane Daguin — co-founder of D’Artagnan, culinary celebrity, & champion of sustainable, high-quality ingredients — we are launching Voilà Voilà! Kitchen, a social media cooking channel.
We’re thrilled to continue a family tradition — our parents collaborated on gastronomy projects starting in the 1960s. Our videos bring that spirit to today’s kitchen: quick, flavorful recipes, a good dose of Gascon humor, and the great joy of cooking together.
And yes! we’re definitely counting on all of you to help make us viral!
So please, tune in soon to “like” & comment!!
You will find us on:
Instagram: @voilavoilakitchen
Facebook: @voilavoilakitchen
TikTok: @voilavoilakitchen
YouTube:@voilavoilakitchen
Keep in touch!