This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with Auseklis Ozols, founder of the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, and writer John Kemp about their new book, “Auseklis Ozols: The Romantic Realism of an Artist and Teacher.” We’ll also hear from Bill Lavender about the upcoming New Orleans Poetry Festival and Small Press Book Fair, April 19-21.
Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week:
Here in New Orleans:
- Clive Wilson discusses and signs “Time of My Life: A Jazz Journey from London to New Orleans,” Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books.
- Gwendolyn Womack discusses and signs “The Time Collector,” Tuesday, April 16, at 6 at Garden District Book Shop.
- The Algiers Library presents a reading, Spring into Poetry, with poets Ingrid Green, Russell MacClaren, Phyllis Parun, and Valentine Pierce, Wednesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. at the Algiers Regional Library.
And coming up in the future:
- Get ready for The New Orleans Poetry Festival and Small Press Book Fair, which takes place Thursday-Sunday, April 18-21 at the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. and the Dragonfly, 3921 St. Claude, as well as many other venues. The Festival opens Thursday, April 18, with a poetry reading at the Dogfish Reading series, 2448 N. Villere. Barristers Gallery, 231 St. Claude Ave., will host a visual poetry exhibition. International poets appear Friday night at Café Istanbul at 7. And Saturday night at Siberia at 7, there will be reading featuring Kalamu ya Salaam, poet Anne Waldman and her musical group Fast Speaking Music, followed by the poets with bands show featuring Skin Verb and The Call Girls. And throughout the weekend, you can browse the bookfair at the New Orleans Healing Center. You’ll see beautiful books you’ve never seen before. Check out nolapoetry.com for the complete schedule and tickets.
- The West Feliciana Parish Children’s Book Festival takes place all day Saturday, May 4, at St. Francisville. Check out the complete schedule at conundrumbooks.com.
- And mark your calendar for the sixth annual Walker Percy Weekend in St. Francisville, starting Friday, May 31, through Sunday, June 2, with panels, an exhibition of Walker Percy photos, and other events throughout the town’s historic district, with of course, lots of bourbon on hand. Watch for the complete schedule at Conundrumbooks.com.