Pre-event Talk: $8 add-on for general admission and students; FREE for members
Due to the forecasted weather, Wordsmith: A Def Poetry Reunion Honoring Ursula Rucker will now be held indoors. This shift allows us to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all attendees regardless of weather conditions.
Experience the power of poetry, rhythm, and art 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 first large-scale sculpture. 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 connect with others in a multi-sensory experience of words, music, food, 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. Join us for an evening that celebrates creativity, community, and the power of the spoken word.
SHOW FLOW
Pre-event Talk
- 6:30-7:30PM: Join us for an intimate conversation with Ursula Rucker and Lamar “Black Ice” Manson, hosted by Keia Carter Simmons, on the spoken word movement before and after the advent of Def Poetry.
Poetry and live music
- 7-8PM: DJ ItJustAhmad warms up the evening spinning beats
- 8-10PM: Poetry and live music – Ursula Rucker, Kraal “Kayo” Charles, Derick Cross, Lezlie Harrison, Khemist, Roberto Lugo, Lamar “Black Ice” Manson, Tim Motzer, Bonafide Rojas, and Jamaaladeen Tacuma.
Learn more about the Def Poetry Reunion performers
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