Gabrielle Calvocoressi's Rocket Fantastic

4th Annual Cox Family Process Speaker Series

The Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) at CU Boulder hosts our 4th annual Cox Family Process Speaker Series on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, and features award-winning poet, artist, and Associate Professor of creative writing Gabrielle Calvocoressi. The Cox Family Process Speaker Series annual programming seeks to bring renowned artists and scholars to CU Boulder each spring to speak about work that made them well-known in their fields of study and research.

 is the author of The Last Time I Saw Amelia Earhart, Apocalyptic Swing (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize), and  (winner of the Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry). This event focuses on Calvocoressi's Rocket Fantastic, which has been described as a "spellbinding reinvention and exploration of self, gender, and family." In Rocket Fantastic, Calvocoressi innovatively uses the musical segno symbol in replacement of traditional pronouns for one of the main characters, allowing readers to engage with the poem’s content while leaving sex and gender as an open question. Calvocoressi teaches at UNC Chapel Hill and lives in Old East Durham, NC, where joy, compassion, and social justice are at the center of their personal and poetic practice. 

The first 30 people to register (and attend the event) will receive a free copy of the book . We will have refreshments and dessert available for all attendees.

Please note that this event is free and open to the public, but registration is recommended. Register here if you wish to attend the event: 

Quote from :

"The thing that’s interesting to me about the Bandleader poems and that [dal segno] symbol has to do with power and how we relate to power in ourselves and others. I think for me in my own body that’s had a lot to do with what I think of as my male body, which is how I identified until I was about seven (and still do in many ways), and how I relate to my feminine body. There’s a quote at the end of the book, “Depending on the day, the Bandleader is this or that”—and I don’t mean that in a trite way; I really mean that. So the Bandleader and the symbol and the intake of breath are me trying to allow the illegibility of my understanding and my need for understanding of my body and my physical space in the world to become apparent—to myself first and then to others. I don’t know if that makes sense."

- Gabrielle Calvocoressi on Rocket Fantastic — October 15, 2017

Review of Rocket Fantastic,

One of the most important qualities of being a writer is a kind of bravery. Rocket Fantastic has this above all else, and in a way that overflows, giving power to the limited and the denied; not only in terms of gender, but those of ideas. The poems resist those invisible structures upon which the political economy insists. To that end, the poems often have violence at their edges, as if an atavistic presence is there working in the background. Poems often play with tone to convey their meanings; others evoke a mood and nothing more; yet when have you read a poem that uses feelings almost as textures, coloring the background, and through which the speaker(s) peer through, are held down by, or escape from? Using emotion in a dimensional way is something this book advances and it’s something from which we could all learn a great deal.

- Sean Singer, Reviewer - November 14, 2017

Event Information

• ​Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
• Time: 5:30pm - 7pm
• Location: in-person at CU Boulder's Norlin Library - Center for British & Irish Studies (CBIS) room, M549
• Registration: 
• Event is free and open to the public.

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Part of the CHA's Difficult Dialogues: Community Conversations series and Colorado Chautauqua's  series.

How do we have difficult conversations with people you care about, but may disagree with? Join us for an enlightening open discussion on how to have productive conversations about controversial subjects.

Explore how a sincere willingness to listen and learn, instead of approaching tough conversations with an argumentative and persuasive effort, can transform challenging conversations. Join facilitators Jennifer Ho and Ami Dayan on March 27th (Wednesday, 6pm - 7pm) to practice having hard conversations, including on the topic of Gaza and Israel.

Event Guidelines

The Difficult Dialogue series brings together local voices to explore complex topics, fostering mutual understanding and a respectful discourse. Difficult Dialogue events aim to create a space for grappling with tough subjects that people may find difficult or uncomfortable to talk about. These events are not debates but platforms for thoughtful exchange.

Our purpose is to hold dialogues on topics considered difficult, provocative, or controversial, among constituents that may have strong conflicting views. Our objective is NOT to necessarily agree, fix anything, prove anyone right or wrong, or alter anyone’s position.

We are committed to fostering productive dialogues in the hopes that minds and hearts might expand. We ask that you:

1. Keep an open mind
2. Be respectful of others
3. Listen with the intent to understand
4. Speak your own truth

We expect to experience discomfort when talking about hard things. Remain engaged and recognize that the discomfort can lead to problem-solving and authentic understanding. 

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A panel event to discuss various forms of reparations for historical harms.

• March 20, 2024
• 12:30pm - 1:45pm
• Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), CASE E390

About the Event

How do we repair harm, when the harm is on a national scale? 

For the March 2024 Difficult Dialogue topic, we will consider how various nations have provided reparations for systemic harm and how we can hold nations, governments, and communities accountable for it. 

While the US government has made reparations to Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II, there are still some groups that have not received any form of restitution, such as to enslaved people taken from African nations or to Indigenous nations for stolen land. Other countries have provided restitution for genocide, such as the German government and businesses to survivors of the Holocaust and the Rwandan government to Tutsi survivors of the 1994 genocide. Our panelists will discuss how we as individuals can encourage and support various types of reparations for harmed communities. For additional reading materials on these topics, visit the CU Libraries Resource Guide:

Questions our panelists will consider:

1. How do we hold nations, governments, and communities accountable for systemic harm?
2. How do individuals engage on this scale with governments to provide restitution to groups harmed? 
3. Closer to home, how do we at CU Boulder contend with land acknowledgments that address settler-colonialism when we are not giving back land?

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Raising awareness and offering pathways to staying informed, engaged, and active. This event includes a staged reading of "" by Maya Arad Yasur, readings of works by acclaimed Palestinian Poets Rashid Hussein, Taha Muhammad Ali, Mahmoud Darwish, and Refaat Alareer, followed by a panel discussion from CU Boulder faculty.

​

• March 10, 2024 at 7:30pm

• Roe Green Theatre, CU Boulder

Co-presented by CU Boulder's Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA), Center for Asian Studies, Department of Ethnic Studies, Department of Geography, Department of Theatre & Dance, Program in Jewish Studies, and The Peace, Conflict, and Security Program (PACS).

What to Expect

The Play

The haunting 20-minute play "How to Remain a Humanist after a Massacre in 17 Steps" opens with a prologue set on the morning of October 7th, 2023. It then sharply transforms to a ‘how to’ course in maintaining humanity in the aftermath of barbarism, poignantly capturing the critical moment when everything changed for the people of Israel, Gaza, and way beyond, enforcing that essential reminder — ‘There are mothers on both sides.’  The play has been presented broadly in Europe, generating a widespread and profound emotional response.

HOW TO REMAIN A HUMANIST AFTER A MASSACRE IN 17 STEPS

By Maya Arad Yasur

Translated by Shir Freibach

Featuring a cast of CU Boulder staff, faculty, and students.

Poetry Readings

After the play, readings of poignant poems by Palestinian writers:

• (1931 - 2011)
• (1936 - 1997)
• (Palestinian National Poet, 1941 - 2008)
• (1979 - 2023), who was killed in an IDF airstrike on December 6th, days after writing his renowned poem If I Must Die.

Setting the stage for a crucial Panel Discussion about the world’s most combustible conflict with CU Faculty and Students.

Panel Discussion

The panel discussion is moderated by  and features the following panelists:

• Dr. Hilary Falb Kalisman, Ph.D, Director of Graduate Studies for the Program in Jewish Studies
• Dr. Karim Mattar, Associate Professor of English 
• Dr. Michael D. English, Director of the Peace, Conflict, and Security Program

Tickets for full series

Proceeds go to and .

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Faculty Celebration of Major Works

2020 - 2023 Showcase of Works and 2023 Magazine Launch

Join us for an exciting celebration for our CU Boulder Faculty!

On February 29, 2024, the Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) will honor the achievements of CU Boulder faculty working in the arts & humanities and their works from 2020 - 2023! This occasion will coincide with the launch of the 2023 Faculty Celebration of Major Works Magazine.

Since 2019, the CHA has celebrated and uplifted faculty publications and major artistic works on campus with a yearly publication of the Faculty Celebration of Major Works Magazine. Our magazine showcases major works spanning from books, art exhibitions, films, musical compositions, and many more remarkable accomplishments crafted by our outstanding CU Boulder faculty in the arts and humanities. This event would not be possible without the efforts of the CU University Libraries team; we can't thank them enough for their support!

This celebration will be open to the public; food and light refreshments will be available to all registered attendees. Let's mingle, mix, and joyously celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of our faculty in the arts and humanities!

RSVP to be part of an event filled with celebration and inspiration: 

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Part of the CHA's Difficult Dialogues: Community Conversations series and Colorado Chautauqua's  series.

For this second event in the series, the Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) and  are hosting a community conversation about the first amendment and freedom of speech. Are there boundaries to what speech can and should be shared publicly? Are there costs to free speech?

• February 28, 2024
• 6pm - 7pm
• Free, open to the public.
• Colorado Chautauqua's Community House - Rocky Mountain Climbers Club

Event Guidelines

The Difficult Dialogues series brings together local voices to explore complex topics, fostering a mutual understanding and a respectful discourse. Difficult Dialogues events aim to create a space for grappling with tough subjects that people may find difficult or uncomfortable to talk about. These events are not debates but platforms for thoughtful exchange.

Our purpose is to hold dialogues on topics considered difficult, provocative, or controversial, among constituents that may have strong conflicting views. Our objective is NOT to necessarily agree, fix anything, prove anyone right or wrong, or alter anyone’s position. 

We are committed to fostering productive dialogues in the hopes that minds and hearts might expand. We ask that you:

1. Keep an open mind 
2. Be respectful of others 
3. Listen with the intent to understand 
4. Speak your own truth

We expect to experience discomfort when talking about hard things. Remain engaged and recognize that the discomfort can lead to problem-solving and authentic understanding. 

Our co-facilitators for this evening will include:

Michele Moses, Professor and Vice Provost, CU Boulder

A well-known scholar in the areas of philosophy of education, policy, and ethics, Professor Michele Moses was recruited to CU Boulder in 2005 and was thrilled to return to CU after having received two graduate degrees here. A philosopher by training, Professor Moses has particular expertise in policy disagreements that involve race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality; moral and political values; democracy and the public good; and equality of educational opportunity.

She has been serving as CU Boulder’s Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs since 2019, after serving as Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Before that, as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the School of Education, Professor Moses founded CU Boulder’s Master’s in Higher Education Program. She has been a Fulbright New Century Scholar, was awarded CU Boulder’s Hazel Barnes Prize, and is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association. Her work has appeared in the top journals in her field including the American Educational Research Journal, Educational Researcher, Harvard Educational Review, Journal of Higher Education, and Journal of Social Philosophy. In addition, Professor Moses is the author of Living with Moral Disagreement: The Enduring Controversy about Affirmative Action (University of Chicago Press, 2016), Embracing Race: Why We Need Race-Conscious Education Policy (Teachers College Press, 2002), and co-editor of Affirmative Action Matters: Creating Opportunities for Students around the World (Routledge, 2014).

In her role as Vice Provost, Professor Moses aims to help foster among faculty a sense of belonging and community on campus, so that faculty members feel supported, informed, and valued. She provides strategic direction for a variety of activities associated with faculty life and academic programming on the Boulder campus centered around four key areas: faculty development and support, faculty personnel actions, academic program review, and faculty data and impact. A first-generation college graduate, Professor Moses holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, an MEd in higher education and student affairs from the University of Vermont, and an MA in Philosophy and PhD in Educational Foundations and Policy from here at CU Boulder.

Patrick O’Rourke, COO & adjunct law professor, CU Boulder

Patrick O’Rourke is Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Colorado Boulder. In this role, he is responsible for the operation of the Strategic �ƹ���Ƶ and Support (SRS) team, which provides operational support for the campus in human resources, information technology, enrollment management, budget and finance, strategic communications, compliance and security, institutional equity and compliance, health and wellness services, and infrastructure and sustainability. SRS partners with the academic administration and faculty to support the university’s mission of teaching, research and service.

Previously, O’Rourke served as Vice President, University Counsel and Secretary of the CU Board of Regents from 2012 through 2020, where he was responsible for coordinating the university’s legal affairs and assisting the board in its governance role. Before serving in that role, he was responsible for overseeing the university’s litigation. He teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Law and the Colorado School of Public Health on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

O’Rourke received his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and his law degree from The Georgetown University Law Center. He is active in the community and has served as a board member of the Denver School of Science and Technology, the Center for Legal Inclusiveness, and the Colorado Judicial Institute.

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Why Don’t You Think Like I Do? 
Navigating the spaces between us

THIS EVENT IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT

Part of the CHA's Difficult Diaolgues: Community Conversations series and Colorado Chautauqua's  series

As we begin 2024, the Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) and are hosting a community conversation about how we form opinions, and what happens when we confront opposing views.

The brings together local voices to explore complex topics, fostering a mutual understanding and a respectful discourse. Difficult Dialogues events aim to create a space for grappling with tough subjects that people may find difficult or uncomfortable to talk about. These events are not debates but platforms for thoughtful exchange.

Our purpose is to hold dialogues on topics considered difficult, provocative, or controversial, among constituents that may have strong conflicting views. Our objective is NOT to necessarily agree, fix anything, prove anyone right or wrong, or alter anyone’s position. 

We are committed to fostering productive dialogues in the hopes that minds and hearts might expand. We ask that you:

1. Keep an open mind 
2. Be respectful of others 
3. Listen with the intent to understand 
4. Speak your own truth

We expect to experience discomfort when talking about hard things. Remain engaged and recognize that the discomfort can lead to problem-solving and authentic understanding. 

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Join us for a salon event hosted by the Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA), where we center the voices of graduate students in the arts and humanities.

• Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
• Time: 12:15pm - 1:30pm
• Location: Rec Center’s Ice Overlook Large Meeting Room (C250)

>> Register Here 

Our aim is to bring together graduate students from various departments and colleges involved in arts and humanities alongside faculty and administrators who support CU Boulder graduate students. 

Through a salon format, we empower graduate students to lead small table conversations on the challenges within arts and humanities graduate education. Our focus is on cultivating an environment where graduate students' perspectives take center stage, enabling collective dialogues to tackle these challenges collaboratively. This salon serves as a platform for understanding, fostering dialogue, and identifying resources to address shared concerns. Faculty, staff, and administrators are encouraged to participate by listening and fostering a deeper understanding of the graduate student experience and collectively working towards solutions.

This salon is part of the CHA’s 2023 – 2024 academic programming theme “Liberty, Freedom, Democracy: The Fight for Ideas”. Food will be provided for all registered attendees. For additional event information or questions about this event, please reach out to the CHA at cu-cha@colorado.edu. 

The Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) strives to create an experience that is accessible and accommodates the needs of those with disabilities. If you identify as having a disability, you will have an opportunity to indicate any accommodation requirements when you register using our online registration system. You may also email us at to let us know how we can better enhance your experience.

Questions include:

• How can the university and departments better financially support arts and humanities graduate students?
• What non-scholarly resources would be helpful for arts and humanities graduate students to feel like they belong?
• How can the university and departments prepare arts and humanities graduate students outside of academia?
• What concerns do graduate students have about the state of the arts and humanities on college campuses and nationwide in general?
• Based on the survey results (shared out prior to event via email), what specific outcomes would you like to see administrators take to better serve graduate students?
• How might we facilitate more interactions and exchanges among arts and humanities departments and/or among any and all academic departments on CU Boulder’s campus?
• How are graduate students mentally and emotionally navigating uncertainty, considering the fact that tenure-track jobs are far from guaranteed after graduation?

Directions:

This salon event is located at the CU Boulder's Recreation Center building in the Ice Overlook Large Meeting Room (C250).
Address: 1835 Pleasant St, Boulder, CO 80302

Map of CU Boulder's Student Recreation Center, highlighting the entrance and room C250, otherwise known as the Ice Overlook Large Meeting Room

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A Panel on Book Bans and the Right to Read in K-8 Schools and Libraries

Oct 25, 2023 | 5:30 - 7:30pm | Boulder Public Library - Canyon Theatre

Part of the 5th Annual Children's Book Festival, partnered with the CU Boulder's School of Education.

In response to the alarming surge in challenges to literature, the Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) is taking a stand. The CHA is co-sponsoring a panel titled "Book Censorship and Honoring the Right to Read in K-8 Schools and Libraries" at the upcoming Children's Book Festival. The event aims to shed light on the critical issue of book bans and the preservation of academic freedom in educational institutions.

We invite teachers, students, families, librarians, and all who are concerned about book bans and challenges to join us for the panel on Book Censorship and Honoring the Right to Read in K-8 Schools and Libraries. This panel event will take place on October 25, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at the Canyon Theater & Gallery -  (Main Library). Opportunity to purchase the festival authors’ books, signing, and a reception will follow the panel.

Panelists

Jo Currier is an accomplished educator holding a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Currently pursuing an EdD in Educational Studies: Innovation and Reform, Jo brings over five years of valuable classroom experience to our panel. As a local teacher and devoted parent with children attending schools in the community, she is committed to bridging the opportunity gap while enhancing equitable access for young learners and their families. 

David Farnan is the Director of Boulder Public Library. He has been a public librarian for nearly 30 years.  His work is guided by the fundamental principles of librarianship and he remains motivated to create a free and open public space that is welcoming to all, an unwavering commitment to ensuring the privacy of the individual's use of the library, and the belief that it is the public library's responsibility to resist censorship in all its forms.  He believes the best way to demonstrate our belief in the freedom of speech is to exercise that right. 

Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of children’s books. Her picture book Watercress was awarded the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, among other accolades. Her other books, The Many Meanings of Meilan, Luli and the Language of Tea, Magic Ramen, and The Nian Monster, have also received awards and starred reviews. Her work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity. She lives in Colorado with her family. For more information about Andrea and her books, visit www.andreaywang.com. 

Adam Crawley, Moderator, Ph.D. is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Literacy Studies in the School of Education at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Prior to joining CU-Boulder, Adam was faculty at the University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma State University. He earned his doctorate at the University of Georgia and was an elementary teacher in public schools for twelve years. Adam brings experience supporting children's book award programs and conferences and serves as the faculty co-chair of the Children's Book Festival sponsored by the School of Education and Boulder Book Store. His teaching, research, and service focus on the use and censorship of culturally diverse children's literature in elementary contexts, especially related to LGBTQ+ representations. 

Event Hosts

This event is in partnership with the CU Boulder's School of Education, , , and the CU Boulder Center for Humanities and the Arts (CHA).

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2023 Culture Crawl

Button Bonanza with Macky Centers - Craft Your Own Personalized Pinback Buttons

More than music and momentous events, did you know that Macky Auditorium is home to a collection of outstanding research and cultural centers? So come craft with us and learn more!

On Tuesday, September 19 from 11am - 2 pm, join us for our event "". This event will be in the Macky Gallery where we will have an array of materials like printed paper, images, and other art supplies available to make a one-of-a-kind pinback button; you just need to unleash your creativity!

The Culture Crawl is a campus-wide event celebrating several cultural heritage sites and groups at CU Boulder. Stop by the different locations and take part in immersive activities, performances, games and shows. Every location you visit gives you a chance to win a prize.

Find the full schedule of events at the Culture Crawl website: www.colorado.edu/libraries/culture-crawl

Event Information

• Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
• Time: 11am - 2pm  
• Location: Macky Auditorium, first floor gallery
• Event is free and open to the public.

Event Hosts

This event is hosted by CU Boulder's Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA), Center of the American West, and the American Music Research Center.

[video:https://vimeo.com/848495692]

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