Pre-event Talk: $8 add-on for general admission and students; FREE for members
Experience the power of poetry, rhythm, and art under the open sky as Danny Simmons presents Wordsmith: A Def Poetry Reunion Honoring Ursula Rucker, in partnership with Grounds For Sculpture (GFS).
Join our 3rd annual celebration of word flow, live music, and visual art built on the legacy of our 2023 acquisition, Roberto Lugo’s monumental 20-foot vessel Put Yourself in the Picture—his largest work to date. Created at the Johnson Atelier during Lugo’s 2022 exhibition at GFS, the sculpture takes its name from a stirring verse performed by KRS-One on Def Poetry Jam: “Visualize wealth and put yourself in the picture.”
Gather with a vibrant community of Def Poetry alumni, musicians, activists, students and scholars, each weaving their voice into the landscape of our 42-acre sculpture park. We invite you to move through the gardens enjoying an evening under the stars while connecting with others in a multi-sensory experience of words, music, food, nature and visual arts.
Savor the evening as you:
- Wander our art-filled gardens and exhibitions
- Enjoy pay-as-you-go bites from local food trucks
- Immerse yourself in an unforgettable fusion of poetry, music, and sculpture
42 acres. Live music. Food trucks. A 20-foot vessel. Join us for an evening that celebrates creativity, community, and the power of the spoken word.
Limited onsite seating available. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for open-air viewing.
SHOW FLOW
Pre-event Talk
- 6:30-7:30PM: Pre-event Talk is an additional charge; Participants to be announced
Poetry and live music at Put Yourself in the Picture
- 7-8PM: DJ ItJustAhmad warms up the evening spinning beats
- 8-10PM: Poetry and live music – Toni Blackman, Kraal “Kayo” Charles, Derick Cross, Lezlie Harrison, Khemist, Roberto Lugo, Tim Motzer, Bonafide Rojas, Ursula Rucker, Diggy Simmons, and Jamaaladeen Tacuma.
Rain date: Saturday, June 13, 2026 | 7–10PM
Poets may use adult language and/or themes.
Grounds For Sculpture accessibility information available.
Roberto Lugo, Put Yourself in the Picture, 2022, mixed media, 240 x 132 x 324 inches, Grounds For Sculpture, Partial Gift of the Artist and Partial Purchase, Funds Provided in part by the Kunz/Guindo/Lombard Family & Friends in Loving Memory of Camille Lombard Kunz, photo: Roshni Khatri