Pre-event Talk: $8 add-on for general admission and students; FREE for members

Join us for a second exploration of word flow, verses, live music and landscapes as Danny Simmons presents Wordsmith: A Def Poetry Reunion honoring Sonia Sanchez at Grounds For Sculpture (GFS). This partnership is inspired by our 2023 acquisition of Roberto Lugo’s 20-foot vessel Put Yourself in the Picture, which is installed outdoors on our 42 acre campus. The piece is Lugo’s largest work to date, and was created at the Seward Johnson Atelier as part of his 2022 exhibition at GFS. The title of the vessel comes from a poem, performed by legendary rapper, teacher, poet, and philosopher KRS-one, at Def Poetry Jam (a spoken word poetry television series) where KRS-one stated “..visualize wealth and put yourself in the picture”.

We are thrilled to partner with poet, painter, and philanthropist Danny Simmons as he curates Def Poetry Alumni, poets, musicians, activists and scholars to share their artistic practice at Put Yourself in the Picture : Lemon Andersen, Toni Blackman, Kraal “Kayo” Charles, Derick Cross, Lezlie Harrison, Vanessa Hidary, Roberto Lugo, Jessica Care Moore, Abiodun Oyewole, Bonafide Rojas, Ursula Rucker, and Sonia Sanchez.

The evening includes the opportunity to explore the sculpture park, food trucks for pay-as-you-go flavors, and our exhibitions Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World and Slow Motion.

42 acres, poetry, live music, food trucks and a 20-foot vessel: Join us for an unforgettable experience within our art-filled gardens!  

Tickets, set times, and full list of poets will be available by March 1, 2025.

SHOW FLOW

Pre-event Talk: Sonia Sanchez & Abiodun Oyewole with Tammi Lawson

($8 add-on for GA and students; FREE for members)

• 5:30-6:30PM: Join Tammi Lawson as she hosts a momentous discussion between Sonia Sanchez and Abiodun Oyewole. Learn more about Sonia Sanchez, Abiodun Oyewole and Tammi Lawson.

Poetry and live music at Put Yourself in the Picture

• 6-7PM: DJ ItJustAhmad warms up the evening spinning beats. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket, and purchase food from the trucks. We will have a limited number of chairs for guests.
• 7-9PM: Poetry and live music

Rain date: Friday June 13, 2025 | 6-9PM 

Poets may use adult language and/or themes.

 Grounds For Sculpture accessibility information available.

Roberto Lugo, Put Yourself in the Picture, 2022, mixed media, 240 x 132 x 324 inches, Grounds For Sculpture, Partial Gift of the Artist and Partial Purchase, Funds Provided in part by the Kunz/Guindo/Lombard Family & Friends in Loving Memory of Camille Lombard Kunz, photo: Roshni Khatri