Paul Auster
Kagin Commons, Macalester College, February 15, 2017
At our first event of 2017, acclaimed author Paul Auster presented his new novel 4 3 2 1 to a crowd of nearly 250 people, reading an excerpt about the grade school newspaper editorship of one of his Ferguson protagonists. After the reading, Auster sat down with Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer for an onstage discussion about the novel. To commemorate the event, Rain Taxi published a limited edition letterpress broadside, signed by the author—for more information about the broadside, click HERE.
George Saunders
Parkway Theater, March 1, 2017
Nearly 400 people packed the Parkway Theater to hear the funny and wise words of George Saunders as he presented his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. Joined onstage by HarMar Superstar, Josh Cook, John Moe, and Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer, Saunders and company read the voices and citations that create this moving, unique work of literary art. Afterwards, Saunders sat down with Lorberer to discuss the novel and take questions from the audience. Photos by Jennifer Simonson. To commemorate the event, Rain Taxi published a limited edition letterpress broadside, signed by the author—for more information about the broadside, click HERE.
Susan Stewart and Ann Hamilton
Minneapolis Institute of Art, March 18, 2017
Rain Taxi's first ever event at Mia drew 200 people to see a unique collaborative and mesmerizing performance by poet Susan Stewart and artist Ann Hamilton. This event was presented by Rain Taxi and Mia in collaboration with the College of St. Benedict and Graywolf Press.
Asemic Translations
Minnesota Center for Book Arts, March 25, 2017
A standing room only crowd pushed into MCBA to experience Asemic translations with odd symbols, sounds, and nonsensical, boisterous words. Presenters included John M. Bennett, C. Mehrl Bennett, Tom Cassidy, Maria Damon, Jefferson Hansen, Scott Helmes, Elisabeth Workman, and exhibition curator Michael Jacobson, with musical by Ghostband.
Maria Damon with embroidered piece for Iggy Pop
Jefferson Hanson, Tom Cassidy, C. Merhl Bennet, Jonathan Bennett, and Eric Lorberer
Elisabeth Workman discussed asemic texts in her alley.
Red Pine
Plymouth Congregational Church, April 3, 2017
Famed Chinese translator, Bill Porter, aka Red Pine, read excerpts from his new book Finding Them Gone: Visiting China’s Poets Of The Past, detailing visits to sites of the great Chinese poets, honoring them with pours of rye whiskey. He also sang some poems in the original Chinese (fortified with said whiskey) and read his translations to full house. Want to learn more? See our video interview with Red Pine HERE.
Somalis in the Twin Cities
Open Book, Target Performance Hall, April 18, 2017
From left to right, Jaylani Hussein, Ahmed Ismail Yusuf, Stefanie Chambers, R. T. Rybak. Photo by Jennifer Simonson.
Rain Taxi presented a discussion featuring authors Stefanie Chambers (Somalis in the Twin Cities and Columbus, Temple University Press) and Ahmed Ismail Yusuf (Somalis in Minnesota, Minnesota Historical Society Press), and moderated by Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director of CAIR-Minnesota. The event was introduced by former mayor of Minneapolis R. T. Rybak, author of Pothole Confidential (University of Minnesota Press). The event was co-presented with Trinity College and Minneapolis Foundation.
From left to right, Jaylani Hussein, Ahmed Ismail Yusuf, and Stefanie Chambers. Photo by Jennifer Simonson
Stefanie Chambers and Ahmed Ismail Yusuf sign books.. Photo by Jennifer Simonson.
The Twin Cities are home to the largest Somali American population in the United States, and this community has made important contributions to the political, economic, and social fabric of the region. Given the current uncertainty about immigrant and refugee policy, combined with the challenges the Muslim community faces under the current administration, Rain Taxi hosted this important event at Open Book in Minneapolis. Book sales were handled by Milkweed Books.
Lit Community Picnic
The Commons, Saturday, June 17, 2017 12 to 2 pm
A gorgeous day for a picnic in The Commons! People gathered to learn about upcoming literary events and to celebrate the Twin Cities Literary Calendar.
Adrian Matejka
SooVac Gallery, Saturday September 16, 2017, 8:00 pm
As Rain Taxi’s contribution to the second annual Lit Crawl MN, poet Adrian Matejka read selections from three of his books, Map to the Stars, Mixology, and The Big Smoke. His animated style and big heart kept the audience entranced. To commemorate the event, we published a limited edition letterpress broadside of a new poem by Matejka — for more information about the broadside, see HERE.
Nicole Krauss
Uptown Church, Tuesday, October 3, 2017, 7:00 pm
Acclaimed novelist Nicole Krauss read from her new work, Forest Dark, which follows two different characters along journeys of escape and self-discovery. In intervening discussion moments and a riveting audience Q&A, she provided a fascinating look into her process as a writer as she navigates the uncertainties of creating a story.
Twin Cities Book Festival
Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14, 2017
See recap here
John Hodgman
Kagin Commons at Macalester College, Thursday, November 2, 2017
Author, humorist John Hodgman was joined onstage by local radio personality John Moe to discuss his new memoir Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches to an appreciative and well-disciplined audience. Members of the audience were instructed to help Hodgman plan the evening and keep him on time, with one person yelling "Question Time!" to stop the conversation and another to begin a standing ovation to stop the Q&A. As entertaining as ever, John Hodgman regaled with stories from his book, meticulous instructions on what types of spatula and pans one should use in the kitchen (OXO good grips and vintage cast iron), and his love of making breakfast sandwiches (back up career?).
RAIN TAXI AT MIA
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Thursday, November 16, 2017
Rain Taxi and other great Minnesota literary organizations gathered at Mia's Third Thursday: Art & Lit event for some interactive literary fun. Rain Taxi's editor Eric Lorberer and local poet Paula Cisewski offered Poetry Tarot readings, offering life advice with the aid of the Tarot and their poetic skills!
James P. Lenfestey
Plymouth Congregational Church, Tuesday, December 5, 7pm
James Lenfestey wowed the crowd with his reading from his new collection, A Marriage Book: 50 Years of Poems from a Marriage. Lenfestey was introduced by Milkweed Editions' editor Daniel Slager.
Anne Fadiman
The Soap Factory, Monday, December 18
Anne Fadiman discussed and read from her new book, The Wine Lover’s Daughter to a rapt and appreciative audience, listening to stories about her father, renowned critic Clifton Fadiman. Rain Taxi was ecstatic to have this award-winning author come to the Twin Cities to celebrate this amazing memoir.