An unparalleled reading of poetry and prose denoting the rich cultural cross-currents between Cuba and the Canary Islands. Featuring poets and writers from both shores: Alicia Llarena, Magali Alabau, Manuel Adrián López, and Saida Santana Mahmut.
Following the reading, there will be a Q&A, moderated by Hispanic literature Prof. María Hernández-Ojeda, director of the Instituto Canarias-América at Hunter College.
The reading will be in Spanish. Reception to follow.
HUNTER COLLEGE
Faculty/Staff Lounge
8th Floor HW, NYC
FREE ADMISSION / RSVP: info@cubanculturalcenter.org
Alicia Llarena is a poet and short fiction writer from the Canary Islands. In 1995 her first book, Fauna para el olvido, received the International Poetry Prize from the City of Santa Cruz de La Palma. Her poems and short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. Ms. Llarena teaches Hispanic American literature at the Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria. As literary critic she has also published numerous books, including Poesía cubana de los años 80 (Madrid, 1994), Realismo Mágico y Lo Real Maravilloso: una cuestión de verosimilitud (Gaithersburgh, 1997), Espacio, identidad y literatura en Hispanoamérica (México, 2007), and others. Her most recent poetry collection is El arte de las flores secas (2009).
the United States and Latin America. His published books include, among others: Yo el arquero aquel (Poetry, Editorial Velámenes, 2011),Room at the Top (ShortStories, Eriginal Books, 2013), the award-winning Los poetas nunca pecan demasiado (Poetry, Editorial Betania, 2013), El barro se subleva (Short Stories, Ediciones Baquiana, 2014), Temporada para suicidios (Short Stories, Eriginal Books, 2015), El arte de perder/The Art of Losing (Bilingual Poetry, Eriginal Books, 2017) and El hombre incompleto (Poetry, Dos Orillas, 2017). His poetry has been included in numerous anthologies, most recently in NO RESIGNACIÓN. Poetas del mundo por la no violencia contra la mujer (Ayuntamiento de Salamanca, 2016) and Antología Paralelo Cero 2017 (El Ángel Editor).
Magali Alabau, was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba in 1945. Her first book of poem, Electra, Clytemnestra was published in 1986 by Editorial El Maitén, Chile. It was followed by La extremaunción diaria (Ediciones Rondas, Barcelona, 1986), Ras (Ediciones Medusa, New York, 1987), Hermana (Editorial Betania, Madrid, 1989), Hemos llegado a Ilión (Editorial Betania, Madrid, 1992), and Liebe (Editorial La Torre de Papel, Coral Gables, 1993). In 2011, Editorial Betania, published Dos Mujeres and her book of poems Volver was published in Madrid in 2012. Amor Fatal was published in 2016. In 2017 Bokeh published all her books in a volume titled IR Y VENIR: Poesia completa 1986-2086 (Editorial Almenara, Bokeh, Holland). Her poems have appeared in poetry journals in United States, Cuba, Europe and Latin America. She lives in Woodstock, NY since 1996.
Saida Santana Mahmut is an award-winning performer whose career spans the theater, cinema, and television. In recent years
her work has revolved around the search for identity through various creative endeavors. For her, acting, screenwriting, directing, coaching, and teaching are sides of a common polyhedron. Ms. Santana Mahmut has a Masters in Coaching from Universidad Camilo José Cela, with a major in Psychodrama, and a Ph.D. from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, where she also received a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts. Her current theatrical project revolves around the character of La Indiana, alluding to the cultural legacy emanating from the frequent trips made by so many across the Atlantic, from the Canary Islands to Cuba and back.
This event is co-sponsored by the Centro de Estudios Canarias-América at Hunter College
