U.S. Embassy Finland was proud to support the travel of two American poets to this year’s Runokuu literary festival. Renee Gladman is a poet, novelist, essayist, and artist, who has published prose works including the Ravicka series of novels and the crime novel, Morelia; the poetry collection, Calamities; and a monograph of drawings, Prose Architectures. At the Runokuu festival, Gladman discussed lyric thinking and the architecture of texts with poets Maria Matinmikko and Taneli Viljanen and visited Kallio high school. On Saturday, August 24, she performed at the main event, Poetry Mixtape Suvilahti.
Sean Patrick Mulroy is an internationally recognized writer, musician, and performer who has presented his poetry and music in many countries. At the Runokuu festival, Mulroy performed at the Queer Poetry Jam IV.
Both guests of honor and a group of literary friends gathered at a reception at the U.S. Embassy Finland on Thursday, August 22. The event was hosted by Vesa Rantama from Nuoren Voiman Liitto. Ansku Marttio and Ansa Kurola from Kallio high school performed their own poetry. Renee Gladman was interviewed by Mikael Brygger and Sean Patrick Mulroy was interviewed by Vesa Rantama.
More images at our Flickr album.
