Walt Whitman's most famous poem, "Song of Myself," is a "barbaric yawp" that celebrates freedom, inclusion, and democracy. Working with this iconic piece, Compagnia de' Colombari has created seven short films with actors and musicians around the globe, bringing Whitman's words to life in startling and beautiful new ways.

On November 16, 2023, at 7 pm, the films will be screened at the Burchfield Penney Art Center for a Whitman on Walls (WoW!) event. After each film, a local performance poet will offer an original work written in response to the film – conversing with, talking back to, and wrestling with Walt Whitman. The event is free and open to the public.

This week's episode features guests from the Calamus Project - Sam Magavern, co-founder of Calamus and Senior Policy Fellow at PPG; Brandon Williamson, poet, founder of Pure Ink Poetry, president of Ujima Theatre; as well as Dr. Steve Peraza, poet and Senior Researcher and Policy Associate at Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab. Together, they'll discuss the project, explore the beauty of and draw to Whitman's poetry, and offer a sample ahead of Thursday night's event.

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