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Previous years: 2017 Schedule 2018 Schedule 2019 Schedule 2020 Schedule 2021 Schedule 2022 Schedule 2023 Schedule

January 21, 2019, 7P

A Letter from Pittsfield

WordXWord Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Poets present work that reflects on, is inspired by, or otherwise connects with the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. .


January 28, 2019, 7P

Home in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

For better or worse, there is no place like home (unless you don’t have one). Poets help put a roof on it. .


February 18, 2019, 7P

Odd Couples

10x10 Festival

Collaborative pieces by unexpected pairings, commissioned by WordXWord. We lit the fuse. Let's see what happens.
Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

We love collaborations / multiple voice pieces, but they happen all too infrequently around these hills. With that in mind, we’ve invited 5 of our favorite poets (let's call them our "seed" poets) to invite someone - that might make for an unexpected pairing - to collaborate in the development and performance of a new piece. Although we're calling the program Odd Couples there will be nothing odd about the results!

Our seed poets include Chloë Geffken, Stan Spencer, Chris Carr, Melissa Quirk Cairns, and Lia Russell-Self. With Brian Lewis, Gale Nelson, Brent Ashby, Wes Elliot, and Laureen Vizza.

We lit the fuse. Let's see what happens.


February 25, 2019, 7P

Heart in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

From heart attack to heart throb in the heartland - (don’t) be still my heart. Poets squeeze verse from vital signs.


March 25, 2019, 7P

Health in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Here’s to your health, poets put a stethoscope squarely on the chest and breathe deeply.


April 1, 2019, 7P

Words Between the Stacks

Poets put the public in library and kick the shhhh! out.

Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

WordXWord presents poetry in, over, under and through the stacks at the Berkshire Athenaeum. Words will fall, fly, crawl, beg for mercy or demand their freedom as poets speak their truth to kick off National Poetry Month.

April 29, 2019, 7P

Breathing in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Take a breath. Catch your breath. Hold your breath. Out of breath. From first breath to last, poets wrestle with breathing - in America. .

May 20, 2019, 7P

Age in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Poets of a certain age / all ages / ageless, may or may not act their age when we dive into what age means in America. If age is just a number, let’s do the math. .


June 24, 2019, 7P

Different in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

From inside and out, over and under, what does it mean to be different in America. What is different and who gets to decide.

Poets Creating Conversation challenges poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.


July 21, 2019, 3P

Walkin’ with WordXWord

The Mount, 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA
[Free]

Wear your walking shoes, as poets, dancers and other performers respond to the SculptureNow exhibition on the beautiful grounds of The Mount/Edith Wharton’s Home. In partnership with Jacob’s Pillow, Lift Ev’ry Voice, and The Mount. Sponsored by the Amy Clampitt Fund, a Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.


July 29, 2019, 7P

News in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

[Mis]information is raining down 24/7. Poets help us sort it out or - perhaps - just make matters worse. We’re definitely not fact-checking this. Poet? Found out how you can participate.

Poets Creating Conversation challenges poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.


August 1, 2019, 6P

Poetry sCrawl

Starts at Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Ave, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Wear your walking shoes as poetry takes a walk Upstreet with stops along the way for poetry al fresco. Ends at Dottie’s. .


August 1, 2019, 7:30P

Head-To-Head Haiku

Dottie's, 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Poets compete one-on-one, armed with only 17 syllables. Poetic malpractice? You be the judge.


August 2, 2019, 7P

Crosstalk

Tyler Street Lab, 730 Tyler Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Rumor has it that there will be guitars, puppets, drums, keyboards, a saxophone, words, and more!!! Unlike anything we've WXWed before. Collaborative pieces pairing poets with artists from other performing disciplines. The Lab on Tyler Street is the perfect venue for this mad science! Commissioned by WordXWord. With - Lia Russell-Self & Wes Elliott; Stan Spencer & Manuel Caballos; Brent Ashby & Phil Vivori; Ashley Alafberg & Allister Quilon; Don'Jea Smith & Marg Antonio; Seth Brown & John Ryan; Dylan Lundgren & Morgan Hannaleck; Melissa Quirk Cairns & Brian Bissell.


August 3, 2019, 7P

Accomplice[d]

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Collaborative spoken word pieces by unexpected poet pairings. We lit the fuse. Let's see what happens! Commissioned by WordXWord. With Melissa Quirk Cairns & Bill Yehle; Lia Russell-Self & Wes Elliott; Curtis Elfenbein & Seth Brown; Don'Jea Smith & Marg Antonio; Dylan Lundgren & Brooke Marie Bridges; Curtis Elfenbein & Bill Wright; Donna Motta & Mike Snide.


August 4, 2019, 3P

WXW Invitational Team Poetry Slam

The Mount, 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA
[Free]

In partnership with The Mount, WordXWord brings northeast-based teams to the Berkshires for a gritty, high-energy poetry slam. In this spirited yet friendly competition, things are bound to get "real!"

with - Lizard Lounge Slam (Boston); Mill City Slam (Lowell); Cap City Slam (Albany); & Life*Vest*Poetry (Staten Island)


August 18, 2019, 3P

Walkin' with WordXWord

The Mount, 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA
[Free]

Wear your walking shoes as poets, dancers, and other performers respond to the SculptureNow exhibition on the beautiful grounds of The Mount/Edith Wharton’s Home. In partnership with Jacob’s Pillow, Lift Ev’ry Voice, and The Mount. Sponsored by the Amy Clampitt Fund, a Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.


September 30, 2019, 7P

Dreaming in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Poets tackle the American Dream or poets dream in America. We’ll hold these truths to be self evident. .

Poets Creating Conversation challenges poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.


October 18, 2019, 7P

Story Slam

In a Slump

Dottie's, 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Admission is free, but it's worth noting that Dottie's will have fabulous desserts and fancy beverages available for purchase!

Story Slam? - A story slam is a storytelling competition open to anyone with a five-minute story to share on the event’s theme. Stories are scored by volunteer judges from the audience. Typical story slams are fast paced and high spirited with widely ranging responses to the theme. For October the theme is "In a Slump."


October 28, 2019, 7P

Other[ed] in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

In a time when “othering” has been weaponized, poets reflect on the consequences of being othered - the
experience of being seen as “less than” because of race, origin, language, faith, gender, economic status,
sexuality, age, (dis)abilities, (mental) health, etc. .

Poets Creating Conversation challenges poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.


November 15, 2019, 7P

Story Slam

Connecting the Dots

Dottie's, 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Admission is free, but it's worth noting that Dottie's will have fabulous desserts and fancy beverages available for purchase!

Story Slam? - A story slam is a storytelling competition open to anyone with a five-minute story to share on the event’s theme. Stories are scored by volunteer judges from the audience. Story slams are fast paced and high spirited with widely ranging responses to the theme. For November the theme is "Connecting the Dots." Seating is limited: first come, first served


November 25, 7P

Flavors of America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Poets are asked to reflect - metaphorically, figuratively, or perhaps literally - on all of the “flavors” of America. .

Poets Creating Conversation challenges poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.


December 20, 7P

Story Slam

Family Business

Dottie's, 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

Admission is free, but it's worth noting that Dottie's will have fabulous desserts and fancy beverages available for purchase!

Story Slam? - A story slam is a storytelling competition open to anyone with a five-minute story to share on the event’s theme. Stories are scored by volunteer judges from the audience. Story slams are fast paced and high spirited with widely ranging responses to the theme. For December the theme is "Family Business." Seating is limited: first come, first served


January 6, 7P

Last Year in America

Poets Creating Conversation

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
[Free]

2019 is over, but we're not done with it. Not just yet. We've asked, poets to chop off a piece and have at it. . Originally scheduled for 12/30, but the weather man had other ideas.

Poets Creating Conversation challenges poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.

Originally scheduled for 12/30, but the weather man had other ideas.