Started by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, April is National Poetry Month, which celebrates the integral role that poetry plays in our culture. It has become the largest literary celebration in the world, and Yonkers has plenty of events throughout the month to commemorate the occasion.
Yonkers Public Library Poetry Celebrations
On April 5th, the opening reception of the exhibit featured a poetry reading where attendees were encouraged to bring poetry written by their favorite feminist poets to read aloud. The exhibit is on display at the Riverfront Art Gallery in the Riverfront Library until May 23, 2025.
Currently on display at the Riverfront Library is Form and Abstraction: A Retrospective, which features the work of Carol Massa and Elisabeth Jacobsen, two feminist visionaries whose work spans the mediums of sculpture, photography, printmaking, painting, and more. Together, their work, as stated in the description, “orchestrates a composition of freedom, social justice, reflection and revelation built on a relationship of mutual love and respect.” Two photos from the “Form and Abstraction: A Retrospective” exhibit at the Yonkers Riverfront Library. A black and white photo of feet under a faucet, and a yellow, black, and red oil painting.
Additionally, at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, the Yonkers Writing Group is offering several poetry trainings to support writers in their creative endeavors and provide networking opportunities. These events are free and open to the public, and anyone who wishes to attend can RSVP on the library website. The next meeting takes place in the Riverfront Board Room on April 26, from 1:00 – 3:00. More information can be found here.
For younger poets-to-be, Will Children’s Activity Station at the Will Library features a Poetry Place Activity Station all month long for kids to engage in crafts, activities, and a seek’n’find game!
Open Mic Night
On Monday, April 21st, Family Meal Open Mic returns to Simple Motive Brewing for another night of poetry readings and performances. This month’s featured poet is Polish John (@JohnDWrites), a local musician, poet, trivia host, and Yonkers native. RSVP on the Family Meal website here.
Sarah Lawrence Poetry Festival
In Northeast Yonkers, Sarah Lawrence College has a free and open to the public poetry festival running from April 25-27. Taking place in April each year, it is the largest, open, student-run Poetry Festival in New York. The festival includes readings, panel discussions, generative sessions, craft talks, and more. For more information, contact slcpoetryfest@gmail.com or follow their social media pages (@slcpoetryfest).
Hudson River Museum Exhibit
Finally, the Hudson River Museum’s current exhibit This Gallery Is a Poem: Unearthing Stories from the Collection “brings visual and literary forms into conversation, revealing how poetry and art enrich one another.” Curated by Westchester Poet Laureate Phylisha Villanueva and Laura Vookles, the Hudson River Museum’s Chair, Curatorial Department, the exhibition features works that speak to the themes of nature, gardening and growth, and invites visitors to experience ekphrastic poetry, writing that draws inspiration from art. Villanueva then invited fourteen poets from across Westchester County to respond to the selected works—including prints, photographs, paintings, and a quilt—with original poems, contributing one of her own as well. Visitors are also encouraged to add their voices, contributing their own poetic and artistic reflections in response to the poetry and art on view.
Left: Phylisha Villanueva. Photo by Ryan Wolliston. Right: Alison Saar (American, b. 1956). Black Eyed Susan, 2024. Linoleum cut on vintage cotton seed sack (edition 12/15). Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Museum Purchase, 2024 (2024.15). Courtesy of Alison Saar and Tandem Press.
As part of the exhibit, on April 27th, the HRM will host a special poetry reading by Phylisha Villanueva and the 14 poets whose works are featured in This Gallery Is a Poem: Unearthing Stories from the Collection, on view in the HRM Community & Partnership Gallery, followed by a Q&A. More information and tickets can be purchased here.
Happy National Poetry Month!
