Mountains & craters, books & films: Neruda centenary celebrations
Tuesday March 30, 2004
from Ram Devineni of Rattapallax:
“The writer Gabriel García Marquez wrote, ‘Pablo Neruda was the greatest poet of the twentieth century in any language.’ Dialogue Through Poetry, Rattapallax, and Fundación Pablo Neruda are helping to promote literary programs around the world to celebrate Neruda’s accomplishments and his role as a global citizen. Some notable events are occurring at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.; The Americas Society in New York City; Jardim das Artes in Sào Paulo, Brazil; Auditorio de Comfenalco in Cali, Colombia; and UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
“Working with poets and professional mountain climbers, there will be readings of Neruda’s classic poem ‘Heights of Macchu Picchu’ on Mt. Aconcagua (Argentina); Illimani (Bolivia); Chimborazo (Ecuador); Mt. Everest (Nepal); the Andes in Chile; and at Macchu Picchu (Peru). The program, Neruda on the Peaks, is a continuation of the successful Poetry on the Peaks program started in 2002 to celebrate the United Nations’ Year of the Mountain (IYM). The professional climbing partner is Alpine Ascents International.
“In addition, Pulitzer Prize winner Yusef Komunyakaa (Neon Vernacular: New & Selected Poems) and American Book Award winner Martín Espada (Imagine the Angels of Bread) will travel to Santiago to participate in Chile’s celebration of their national poet on July 12, 2004. The event hosted by Rattapallax will be featured at Universidad Diego Portales. Martín Espada, called by Sandra Cisneros ‘the Pablo Neruda of North American authors,’ says ‘This represents the fulfillment of a dream: to visit Neruda’s Chile and to pay homage to the poet who has most deeply influenced me, as a writer and person.’
“A new documentary, ¡Neruda! ¡Presente!, will also be released this year along with several important anthologies and new translations such as The Poetry of Pablo Neruda edited by Ilan Stavans (Farrar Straus & Giroux) and The Essential Neruda edited by Mark Eisner (City Lights). Rattapallax magazine will present a special issue on poets and musicians influenced by Neruda featuring work from Edward Hirsch, Marjorie Agosin, Martín Espada, musicians Luciana Souza and Marciano, and many others.
“Lastly, to honor Pablo Neruda, a petition has been submitted to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to name a crater on Mercury after the beloved Chilean poet.” For more info, visit Neruda Centenary site.
Related resources:
Our reference page on Pablo Neruda
Our library of links to multilingual poetry & translations
“The writer Gabriel García Marquez wrote, ‘Pablo Neruda was the greatest poet of the twentieth century in any language.’ Dialogue Through Poetry, Rattapallax, and Fundación Pablo Neruda are helping to promote literary programs around the world to celebrate Neruda’s accomplishments and his role as a global citizen. Some notable events are occurring at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.; The Americas Society in New York City; Jardim das Artes in Sào Paulo, Brazil; Auditorio de Comfenalco in Cali, Colombia; and UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
“Working with poets and professional mountain climbers, there will be readings of Neruda’s classic poem ‘Heights of Macchu Picchu’ on Mt. Aconcagua (Argentina); Illimani (Bolivia); Chimborazo (Ecuador); Mt. Everest (Nepal); the Andes in Chile; and at Macchu Picchu (Peru). The program, Neruda on the Peaks, is a continuation of the successful Poetry on the Peaks program started in 2002 to celebrate the United Nations’ Year of the Mountain (IYM). The professional climbing partner is Alpine Ascents International.
“In addition, Pulitzer Prize winner Yusef Komunyakaa (Neon Vernacular: New & Selected Poems) and American Book Award winner Martín Espada (Imagine the Angels of Bread) will travel to Santiago to participate in Chile’s celebration of their national poet on July 12, 2004. The event hosted by Rattapallax will be featured at Universidad Diego Portales. Martín Espada, called by Sandra Cisneros ‘the Pablo Neruda of North American authors,’ says ‘This represents the fulfillment of a dream: to visit Neruda’s Chile and to pay homage to the poet who has most deeply influenced me, as a writer and person.’
“A new documentary, ¡Neruda! ¡Presente!, will also be released this year along with several important anthologies and new translations such as The Poetry of Pablo Neruda edited by Ilan Stavans (Farrar Straus & Giroux) and The Essential Neruda edited by Mark Eisner (City Lights). Rattapallax magazine will present a special issue on poets and musicians influenced by Neruda featuring work from Edward Hirsch, Marjorie Agosin, Martín Espada, musicians Luciana Souza and Marciano, and many others.
“Lastly, to honor Pablo Neruda, a petition has been submitted to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to name a crater on Mercury after the beloved Chilean poet.” For more info, visit Neruda Centenary site.
Related resources:
Our reference page on Pablo Neruda
Our library of links to multilingual poetry & translations
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