Lit & Luz: Live Reading and Conversation with Diana Garza Islas

The Lit & Luz Festival of Language, Literature, and ArtBegan in 2012 (unofficially) with the release of the fully translated—Spanish/English—MAKEMagazineissue 13, "Intercambio/Exchange." In 2014 the Lit & Luz Festival was launched from those pages and ever since has produced yearly events in Mexico City and Chicago, with writers and artists from Chicago, Mexico, and beyond.MAKE Literary Production’s sixth annual Lit & Luz Festival of Language, Literature, and Art, themed "Movement" is an ambitious exchange between Mexico City and Chicago. The week-long festival takes place at over a dozen arts venues and universities throughout Chicago, October 12th-19th. It concludes at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago with our signature event, the “Live Magazine Show." The following February, a similar series of events are held in Mexico City.We are honored to welcome inspiring authors, artists, and arts professionals from Mexico to Chicago. Art and language are key to understanding culture and community, and the cultural exchange between the United States and Mexico. With events such as Lit & Luz, we hope to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, and in particular, to increase the distribution of literature and art from Mexico for Chicago audiences and beyond.

MAKE Literary Productions

Join us at Pilsen Community Books for a reading and conversation with one of Mexico’s most exciting poets and artists, Diana Garza Islas

Pilsen Community Books

Lit & Luz Festival Chicago 2025

The 12th annual Lit & Luz Festival of Language, Literature, and Art returns this fall to Chicago, November 9 - 14. This one-of-a-kind, cross-cultural, bilingual festival brings together renowned writers and visual artists from Mexico and Chicago.

Plumbago and the Sun's Rind: Live Reading and Conversation with Diana Garza IslasJoin us at Pilsen Community Books for a reading and conversation with one of Mexico’s most exciting poets and artists, Diana Garza Islas. Based in Monterrey, Garza Islas has published six books of poetry including Black Box Named Like to Me translated by Cal Paule (<a href="https://uglyducklingpresse.org/product/black-box-named-like-to-me/" title="https://uglyducklingpresse.org/product/black-box-named-like-to-me/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Ugly Duckling Presse</a>, 2024) from which she will read selected excerpts. Following the live reading of these playful, visual and sonic texts, Garza Islas will be joined by Dr. Héctor García Chávez, Director of the Women's/Gender Studies Program at Loyola University Chicago, to discuss her writing process and themes such as language acquisition, sound and translation. Stick around afterwards for a book signing with the author! Presented in partnership with the Lit &amp; Luz Festival, Pilsen Community Books and Loyola University Chicago.//Plumbago y la corteza del sol: Lectura en vivo y conversatorio con Diana Garza IslasAcompáñenos en la librería Pilsen Community Books para una lectura y conversatorio con una de las poetas y artistas más fascinantes de México, Diana Garza Islas. Establecida en Monterrey, Garza Islas ha publicado seis libros de poesía, entre ellos "Caja negra llamada como yo", con traducción de Cal Paule (<a href="https://uglyducklingpresse.org/product/black-box-named-like-to-me/" title="https://uglyducklingpresse.org/product/black-box-named-like-to-me/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Ugly Duckling Presse</a>, 2024) volumen del cual leerá fragmentos seleccionados. Tras la lectura en vivo de estos textos lúdicos, visuales y sonoros, Garza Islas compartirá con el director del Programa de Estudios de la Mujer y el Género de la Universidad Loyola de Chicago, Dr. Héctor García Chávez, una charla sobre su proceso de escritura y temas como la adquisición del lenguaje, el sonido y la traducción. ¡Al terminar, quédese con nosotros para la firma de libros con la autora! Presentado en colaboración con con el Festival Lit &amp; Luz, la Librería Pilsen Community Books y la Universidad Loyola de Chicago. ---The 12th annual <a href="https://www.litluz.org/about" title="https://www.litluz.org/about" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Lit &amp; Luz</a> Festival of Language, Literature, and Art—as featured in, <a href="https://www.wbez.org/reset-with-sasha-ann-simons/2024/10/31/artists-in-mexico-city-and-chicago-come-together-to-ponder-themes-of-saturation-in-midst-of-historic-presidential-elections" title="https://www.wbez.org/reset-with-sasha-ann-simons/2024/10/31/artists-in-mexico-city-and-chicago-come-together-to-ponder-themes-of-saturation-in-midst-of-historic-presidential-elections" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">WBEZ’s Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons</a>, <a href="https://chireviewofbooks.com/2024/10/28/lit-luz-festival-showcases-bilingual-artists-from-chicago-and-mexico/" title="https://chireviewofbooks.com/2024/10/28/lit-luz-festival-showcases-bilingual-artists-from-chicago-and-mexico/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Chicago Review of Books</a>,<a href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/10/23/lit-luz-festival-brings-authors-and-artists-together-from-chicago-and-mexico/" title="https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/10/23/lit-luz-festival-brings-authors-and-artists-together-from-chicago-and-mexico/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Block Club Chicago</a>, and more—takes place November 9 to November 14, 2025. This one-of-a-kind cross-cultural, bilingual festival brings together writers, poets, and visual artists from Mexico and Chicago for a week-long series of public programming at venues throughout Chicago.This year’s festival––under the theme of “Repair/Reparar”–– explores how writers, poets, and artists from Chicago and Mexico critically examine the artist’s role in impacting and offering new perspectives on what it takes to face and reimagine our shared realities.To learn more, visit <a href="https://litluz.org/" title="https://litluz.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">litluz.org</a>

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Lit & Luz: Live Reading and Conversation with Diana Garza Islas

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