––we are always digging each other out from an intimate
sort of rubble––
– Natalie Diaz
Visiting Writer, Flash, and Fellow Readings
ARC has been fortunate to host an incredible array of visiting writers with our Poetry & the Senses initiative. Begun in January 2020, by this May we will have heard from over 32 poets reading and in conversation, including:
Indira Allegra, Cameron Awkward-Rich, Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Cathy Linh Che, Chen Chen, Natalie Diaz, Camille Dungy, Cornelius Eady, Nadia Elbgal, Safia Elhillo, Chiyuma Elliott, Tarfia Faizullah, Vievee Francis, Ross Gay, Joy Harjo, Terrance Hayes, Lyn Hejinian, Lee Herrick, Claire Meuschke Hong, Kealoha, Aja Monet, Hieu Minh Ngyuyen, Matthew Olzmann, Morgan Parker, Craig Santos Perez, Jake Skeets, Danez Smith, Patricia Smith, Alice Te Punga Somerville, Michael Wasson, Simone White, & Jenny Xie.
Additionally, we are creating an archive of Bay Area poets reading one of their poems in relationship to our yearly theme in our Flash Reading Series; this spring, it will be over 50 voices, with more to come each semester (more here). As well, our Poetry & the Senses Fellows are celebrated at the end of their fellowship with a group reading of poetry they have created during their tenure.
Links to events and recordings below, beginning with our spring 2022 offerings. Enjoy!
Spring 2023 Readings
All events free & open to the public, and archived for asynchronous viewing; if online, each event is live streamed + live captioned and recorded on ARC’s YouTube Channel. In-person readings are recorded and uploaded post-event.

Claire Meuschke Hong: Poetry Reading & Craft Talk
Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
12:10 – 1:00pm – Reading
Lunch Poems, Morrison Library (Located in Doe Library), UC Berkeley
4:00 – 5:15pm – Craft Talk
ARC: Hearst Field Annex D23
Both events free & open to the public.

Michael Wasson & Alice Te Punga Somerville
in conversation with Beth Piatote
Wednesday, March 8th, 2023
2:00 – 3:15pm
ONLINE
More info here!

Noʻu Revilla, D. Kealiʻi MacKenzie, & Donovan Kūhiō Colleps
in conversation with Craig Santos Perez
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2023
5:00 – 6:15pm PST
ONLINE – with live transcription

California Laureate Lee Herrick
Hawaiian Laureate Kealoha
& Oakland Youth Laureate Nadia Elbgal
Thursday, April 20th, 2023,
5:00 – 6:30pm PST
Durham Studio Theater, Dwinelle Hall

Past Events


Detroit Roots: Tarfia Faizullah, Vievee Francis, & Matthew Olzmann
in conversation with Chiyuma Elliott & Jesse Nathan
Thursday, April 28, 2022
5:00-6:30pm PST
More info here!

S2022 Flash Reading Series
20 Bay Area Poets Reading a poem related to the theme Coexistence
Released weekly during National Poetry Month, April 2022, online
Poets include Maxe Crandell, Eric Falci, Ra Malika Imhotep, Mason J, Nathalie Khankan, Ava Koohbor, Tatiana Luboviski-Acostatanea, tanea lunsford lynx, Zouhair Mussa, Shivani Narang, Lucie Pereira, Katie Peterson, Janice Lobo Sapigao, Angie Sijun Lou, Darius Simpson, Maya Sisneros, Monica Sok, Aimee Suzara, Lehua M. Taitano, & Nellie Wong
Visit their readings here!



Poetry & the Senses
Fall 2021 Fellows Reading
Anastasia Le, Gisselle Medina, Lindsay Choi, Vincente Perez, Ahmad Diab, Jesse Nathan, Maurya Kerr, & D’mani Thomas
Wednesday, Dec 8, 2021
5 – 6:30pm PST
Find the event description and register here.

Flash Reading Series
8 Bay Area Poets Reading a poem related to the theme Coexistence
Fall 2021, online
Find the event description here.

Poetry & the Senses
Spring 2021 Fellows Reading
Vethea Cerna Cole, Elizabeth Zhiying Feng, reelaviolette botts-ward, Noah Warren, Ramona Naddoff, Ken Ueno, Sara Mumolo, Maw Shein Win
Monday, May 10th 2021
4:30-6:00pm PDT
This event took place on the ARC YouTube Channel, link here.
Find the event description here.





Joy Harjo, Reading by U.S. Poet Laureate
In conversation with Beth Piatote
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
5:30 – 7:00pm PDT
Co-sponsored by the Arts Research Center and Engaging the Senses Foundation, with additional support from the English and Ethnic Studies Departments, the Native American Studies Program, the Townsend Center for the Humanities, and the Center for Race & Gender
This event took place online.
A short portion of the recording is available here.
Please inquire for an educational copy of the full recording.
Find the event description here.
