Yonkers First Poet Laureate, Golda Solomon facilitates the following creative writing workshops in part funded by Poets and Writers :
ArtSpeak/From Page to Performance Fall 2024 Schedule
Location: 1 Alexander St. Lobby Conference Area and on ZOOM
New participant/writers, please contact golda Solomon; email: gs@goldajazz.com tel: 914-207-0477 for workshop info and Zoom Get-on Info
FALL DATES
Saturdays: Sept.21 Oct.19. Nov.16 and Dec.14
12:30-5PM Co-Facilitators: Katori Walker and Andrea Wolper
12:30-1PM. GENTLE EDITING
1-3 PM Workshop
3-5 PM Workshop
Cost: $20 Each Workshop.
Scholarships always available. Writers of all levels of writing accepted.
ArtSpeak/From Page to Performance continues to evolve. We are a welcoming group of diverse writers using an Ekphrastic approach (visuals and using ALL our senses) A monthly packet is distributed that includes:
- long and short poetry forms
- poems and writings of new diverse authors
- discussion of craft
- prompts to jump-start your writing
- hone your reading aloud and performance skills
- creates opportunities for writers to perform at BDAC
I believe:
- We are all speakers
- We are all artists
- We are all writers
- We are all poets
“Poetry was Lorde’s ‘survival weapon” and a political call to arms” SURVIVAL IS A PROMISE: the Eternal Life of Audre Lorde, By Alexis Pauline Gumbs
See our calendar for more workshops and performances, such as Po'Jazz Playdates, music and art for adults and kids alike, the 4th Sunday of each month, September - December, 2024.
New Journal!
Hello Hudson, the Hudson as Muse, the Hudson as Teacher
"Summer of 2023 provided an opportunity for the workshop series partially funded by Poets &
Writers and with gracious thanks to Blue Door Art Center and Beczak Educational & Environ-
mental Center and encouraged participants to focus on the Hudson River as both teacher and
muse. July and August Saturday afternoons co-hosted by yours truly, Deborah Maier, Debbi
Dolan, Katori Walker and Andrea Wolper gave writers and artist/writers an opportunity to focus
all writing in poetry, prose and non-fiction and creations of art on water and the Hudson River,
its’ history, its’ majesty. Ekphrastic prompts, poems written about the Hudson, newspaper ar-
ticles, meditations- all were used to jump-start the writing. An amazing body of work emerged
and it soon became evident that these pieces needed to be shared."- golda solomon
View and read Hello Hudson online here
Coffee Table Book
Community Writing Project Journal
The long awaited coffee table edition of the Community Writing Project Journal is here waiting for you. Special thanks to all the talented contributors.
Blue Door Art Center is the proud publisher of the CWPJ a selection of international artists and poets. This journal that started as an idea from Jacqueline Reason evolved. It was interruped by CoVid and crossed the Atlantic from England.
Kudos to: Jacqueline Reason & Golda Solomon, co-editors,Russell Evans, Nakeisha, Diane Falcone, Jim Garber, Paper Clip Design & Book Baby
Copies are $55.00 each if purchased at the Blue Door Art Center and $65.00 mailed in the U.S. Softcover, full color, 167pps.
Learn More and Purchase Your Copy Online Here
ARTSPEAK/FROM PAGE TO PERFORMANCE
Saturdays 1-3 3-5 PM
On Zoom and In-person
1 Alexander St. ( Hudson Park 3)
Jan.20 Feb.24. Mar. 2. April 20. May 18 June 8 June 22
New participants always welcome
Emerging and Seasoned Poets/Writers
13-65+. 15$/Workshop
Scholarships Available
Please contact golda Solomon gs@goldajazz.com for information
Join golda Solomon and co-hosts:
Andrea Wolper (2/24)
Katori Walker 3/2, 4/20,* 5/18 6/8 & 6/22
• 4/20 Special Guest Reader Xanath Caraza
“We are all artists!
We are all writers
We are all poets. ”Golda Solomon, First Poet Laureate, Yonkers and Poet -
in- Residence, BDAC (www.goldajazz.com)
Blue Door Art Center’s longest running writing workshop, partially funded
by Poets & Writers continues to grow and change with the participants
needs. A monthly packet is sent before each workshop. Responding to art
(ekphrastic writing), prompts that jump start your pen, poetry forms, new
and familiar poets and writers, articles of interest, writings stimulated by all
your senses.
Co-hosts Andrea Wolper and Katori Walker expertise brings meditation, art,
vocal excercises that add to performance skills and their respective years of
experience writing and performing to the workshops.
Katori Walker, a self-taught multi-media artist, spoken word performer,
muralist, and educator. She was born in New York City and was also
raised in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.
Katori teaches workshops for various ages and is known for making
“happy art” with her Katori Kids illustrations. She believes writers are
treasures that need to be nurtured with inspiration and positively
empowered.
During the Pandemic, she collaborated with two other artists to create
Art4Wellness. A free zoom platform for artists to create live art while
listening to a live DJ spinning vinyl records. This platform provided a
safe space for artists to be uplifted and nurtured from all over the world.
In 2017, she was awarded a Proclamation from the Westchester Board of
Legislators for all her work in the community.
“An audacious artist who flouts genre limitations, delivering an inventive, thrilling, appealing,”
vAndrea Wolper ocalist-composer-writer “in a milieu that begins with jazz and reaches
“An audacious artist who flouts genre limitations, delivering an inventive,
thrilling, appealing musical vision,” vocalist-composer-writer Andrea
Wolper works “in a milieu that begins with jazz and reaches out to
embrace an expressive area that is uniquely her own.” Andrea performs
in her New York home-base and tours in the U.S. and beyond. In addition
to leading her own projects, she appears as a side-person for artists
across jazz genres. Recordings as leader and side-person have appeared
on many Best-of-Year lists, and she has been awarded composing
residencies across the U.S. and in Europe. Andrea’s poetry and journalism
appear in literary journals and magazines; among her works are two
books, including the first-of-its-kind “Women’s Rights, Human Rights:
International Feminist Perspectives” (Routledge). Andrea teaches vocal
technique and coaches singers in her private studio, and teaches clinics
and master classes in vocal performance, improvisation, and
songwriting. Watch for her newest CD, “Wanderlust,” in Spring 2024.