2015 Rain Taxi Readings

Scott McCloud

mccloud on stage-web

Macalester College, February 15, 2015

Nearly 200 fans clamored on a cold day to hear comics genius Scott McCloud in conversation with Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer as they discussed McCloud's new 500 page graphic novel, The Sculptor.

RAIN TAXI @ AWP

Association of Writers and Writing Programs 2015 Conference
Minneapolis Convention Center
April 8 - April 11, 2015

A three-day extravaganza of panels, book fair, and off site events kept everyone busy. Click here to see some highlights from Rain Taxi's busy time at AWP!

NEW SWEDISH POETRY:
Aase Berg and Johannes Göransson

Goranson-Berg-ASI

American Swedish Institute
April 23, 2015

The spare and stunning poetry of these Swedish poets entranced the elegant room at ASI. They then discussed the history and trends of Swedish poetry, touching on maximalism and surrealism and the looming anxiety of influence of Tranströmer.

Martian Dawn at Northern Spark

Rain Taxi Revue Players-small

Walker Art Center, June 13, 2015

Mad cap fun was had by all as scenes from Michael Friedman's Martian Dawn and Other Novels were performed at the Walker Art Center for the 2015 Northern Spark Arts Festival. Performers included: William Gamble, Dylan Hicks, Anne Labovitz, and Mo Perry.

Rain Taxi interviews CHARLES BURNS

charles burns interview

Autoptic Festival, August 8, 2015

Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer interviewed acclaimed comics creators Charles Burns, who discussed the arc of his career and his newest work, and revealing his punk rock proclivities. Charles Burns appeared at the Autoptic Festival, a two-day celebration of indie culture and comics.

Rain Taxi at Read and Ride Day

September 2, 2015 at the Minnesota State Fair

Rain Taxi offered some unusual literary fun all day in the Carousel Park for the MELSA-sponsored Read and Ride day at the State Fair. John Colburn began the day with Good Morning poems, guiding people through the process of writing a poem. Kevin Carollo initiated people into the world of Animal Lit, cutting out cardboard animals and releasing their inner roar, bark, hoot. Paula Cisewski offered Tarot readings that culminated in a personal made-to-order-by-the-cards poem. Dessa met with fairgoers and signed her chapbook A Pound of Steam. Brian Laidlaw offered Songwriting Mad Libs, creating lyrics for a one-of-a-kind tune. And Ursula Murray Husted enticed with a Collaborative Comics project.
Read-and-Ride-Day-collage

Portraits of Jack

October 1, 2015 Walker Art Center

Kearney-horizIn this unique in-gallery program, poet Douglas Kearney, musicians Davu Seru and Pat O’Keefe, and dancer Deja Stowers responded to the paintings of Jack Whitten through dance, music, and poetry.

2015 Twin Cities Book Festival

Saturday, October 15th

Laila Lalami kicked off Opening Night of this year’s festival with a special reading. The following one-day celebration of the written-word included special guests Jabari Asim, Christian Bök, Matt Burgess, Christopher Cardozo, Susan Cheever, Lin Enger, Allen Eskens, Lauren Fox, Sheyna Galyan, Brian Henry, Jennifer L. Knox, and Amy Klobuchar. Click here for more highlights!

Rain Taxi 20th Anniversary Event
MARK Z. DANIELEWSKI

Danielewski reading 1

November 2, 2015, Uptown Church

Cult favorite Danielewski read to a rapt crowd from his second volume of The Familiar series, Into The Forest, and later took questions from the audience. This event helped kick off a celebration of Rain Taxi's 20th Anniversary with a cookie reception and music performed by The Starfolk.

Rain Taxi 20th Anniversary Event
EILEEN MYLES and CHRIS MARTIN

myles-martin

November 3, 2015, Uptown Church

Despite suffering an injury, Eileen Myles soldiered on with a spectacular reading from her new collection, I Must Be Living Twice, among other works, to die-hard fans in the late evening. Local poet Chris Martin kicked off the event with a great reading from his new book, The Falling Down Dance. The event continued Rain Taxi's 20th Anniversary celebration with a cookie reception and music performed by Old Moon.

Rain Taxi 20th Anniversary Event
GEORGE SAUNDERS

SaundersPodium

December 7, Kagin Commons, Macalester College

A packed room of 400 people greeted beloved author George Saunders as he read from a new release of his 2000 book The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip as well as a short story from his collection The Tenth of December. This event culminated Rain Taxi's celebration of twenty years of championing the best of literature!