Photo Courtesy of Guggenheim
Guggenheim Poet–in–Residence Traci Brimhall Programs August Performance Series as Part of Rashid Johnson Exhibition
August Late Shift Features Comedian Wali Collins in an evening of Jokes and Jazz
The Guggenheim New York’s acclaimed rotunda exhibition Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers includes a dynamic series of live performances and public programs. Each month, a community partner curates spoken word, music, and live art events that bring to life Johnson’s two major installations: Sanguine, a monumental site-specific work on the museum’s top level that includes an embedded piano, and Rotunda Stage, an interactive space for performances on the rotunda floor.
This August, the series features poetry readings inspired by A Poem for Deep Thinkers, programmed by Guggenheim Poet-in-Residence Traci Brimhall. Readers include poets Hala Alyan, Tiana Clark, Alex Dimitrov, and Erika Meitner. Every Sunday, Brimhall and fellow poets will also lead immersive “Dream Walks”: intimate guided experiences through the galleries where selected artworks serve as poetic touchpoints. At each stop, poets will share readings and creative prompts designed to invite reflection, spark imagination, and create space for personal discovery.
Brimhall is the author of five collections of poetry and a professor of creative writing and narrative medicine at Kansas State University. In 2024, Brimhall received the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship, an award that supports poets in civic positions by enabling them to undertake “meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects that enrich the lives of their neighbors, including youth, through responsive and interactive poetry activities.“ Brimhall’s Guggenheim Poet-in-Residence application posed the provocation of museums as spaces for dreaming, making, and being.
“Museums are one of the places I love to visit to activate my sense of wonder,” said Brimhall.
In addition to the ongoing performance series, announced monthly, the Guggenheim will continue its after-hours Late Shift programming, as well as its teen-specific events. On Thursday, August 21, the museum will remain open until 8 pm for Late Shift, featuring comedian Wali Collins (Hulu, Comedy Central) with a night of Jokes and Jazz.
Traci Brimhall’s residency at the Guggenheim will culminate in her curating the December Late Shift–an evening that weaves together the spirit of the August Dream Walks with a cozy, contemplative retreat from winter, serving as the final expression of her poetic journey.
August programming includes:
Late Shift
Thursday, August 21, 5:30–8 pm
Taking place every third Thursday, Late Shift invites visitors to explore the galleries, participate in curated artful experiences, and enjoy refreshments at a cash bar in Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic rotunda after-hours.
August’s edition will feature Jokes and Jazz, a night of music and laughs hosted by Wali Collins. As an accomplished drummer, Collins gained early notoriety playing in various R&B, funk, and jazz bands, even becoming the youngest musician ever to join the New England Jazz Society. With musical talent under his belt, he brought that same energy to stand-up comedy, starting as a club act and later appearing in Netflix’s The Get Down and Hulu’s Difficult People. With Jokes and Jazz, Collins hosts a unique show that blends comedy and music on the Guggenheim’s Rotunda Stage, offering a night of true New York culture and entertainment.
Teen Programming
Learn more and register for Teen Circle
Coinciding with Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, the Guggenheim New York has launched Teen Circle, a free membership program for teens ages 13–18. The circle builds creativity and cultural connection for teens through art, community, and museum access.
Tuesday, August 26, 4–5:30 pm
Free with admission
Church Street School for Music and Art, a long-standing community resource dedicated to public programming and outreach, will activate the museum with two live band performances by local students. The first band features singer and guitarist, Aria Anjali Agneshwar, guitarist Clover Demos, and violinist Connor McMillin. The second band includes singer, rhythm guitarist, and keyboardist Gwen Caetano Morales; lead guitarist Nic Talorico; bassist Julian Schessel; and drummer Alex Beck.
Every Sunday in August, 2:30–3:30 pm
Ticket includes museum admission
In this limited series designed by 2025 Poet-in-Residence Traci Brimhall, contemporary poets will guide visitors in a lucid “dream walk” of the Guggenheim, leading participants on a journey not of answers, but of unfolding questions. Poets leading these walks include Tiana Clark, Heid E. Erdrich, Eugenia Leigh, Erika Meitner, and Brynn Saito.
A Poem for Deep Thinkers August public performance series highlights:
Live performances are Fridays at 4 pm and Sundays at 1 pm (Sanguine piano), and Saturdays at 1 pm and Mondays at 4 pm (Rotunda Stage). Performances range from 15 to 40 minutes.
Saturday, August 2, 1 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Heid E. Erdrich will recite work on stage.
Monday, August 4, 4 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Maya Popa will recite work on stage.
Saturday, August 9, 1 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Brynn Saito will recite work on stage.
Monday, August 11, 4 pm
Rotunda Stage
Guggenheim 2025 Poet-in-Residence Traci Brimhall will recite work on stage.
Saturday, August 16, 1 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Eugenia Leigh will recite work on stage.
Monday, August 18, 4 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Erika Meitner will recite work on stage.
Saturday, August 23, 1 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Tiana Clark will recite work on stage.
Monday, August 25, 4 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Hala Alyan will recite work on stage.
Saturday, August 30, 1 pm
Rotunda Stage
Poet Alex Dimitrov will recite work on stage.
All performances require a general admission ticket to the museum.
Performances and events related to the exhibition will be announced monthly; please visit guggenheim.org/calendar for additional information and updates. Event details are subject to change.
Sponsors
Lead support for Rashid Johnson, A Poem for Deep Thinkersis provided by Ford Foundation.
Visionary support is provided by A4 Arts Foundation, Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Edlis-Neeson Foundation, and Daniel Xu and Flora Huang. Major support is provided by Neuberger Berman. The Leadership Committee for this exhibition is gratefully acknowledged for its generosity, with special thanks to Hauser & Wirth, David Kordansky Gallery, Madeleine Arison, Heather and Felix Baker, Justin Bayless, Marie-Josée Coutu, Nancy and Steve Crown, Natasha and François-Xavier de Mallmann, The George Economou Collection, Anton J. Levy, Jennifer and Alec Litowitz, and David Shuman.
Additional leadership funding is provided by Candace and Michael Barasch, Allison and Larry Berg, Mahshid and Jamshid Ehsani, Alex and Greg Mondre, Dr. Daniel S. Berger Charitable Giving Fund,Tiqui Atencio Demirdjian and Ago Demirdjian, Nicola Erni Collection, Katherine Farley and Jerry I. Speyer, The Forman Family Collection, Paul and Dedrea Gray,John and Amy Griffin Foundation,Stephanie and Tim Ingrassia, Kathy and Mitchell Jacobson, Judelson Family Foundation, LaVon Kellner and Tom Roush, Amanda Precourt, Gary Steele and Steven Rice, George Wells and Manfred Rantner, Debi and Steven Wisch, Marilyn and Larry Fields, Bernard I. Lumpkin and Carmine D. Boccuzzi, Jessica and Brian Robinson, Carol and Lawrence Saper, Ann and Mel Schaffer, The Sherman Family Foundation, Barbara and Bruce Berger, Lizzie and Steven Blatt, and those who wish to remain anonymous. Support is also generously provided by The Kate Cassidy Foundation, The Robert Lehman Foundation, and The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Guggenheim New York’s 2024 International Director’s Council. Yamaha Piano provided by Yamaha Artist Services New York.
About the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation was established in 1937 and is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The international constellation of museums includes the Guggenheim New York; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice; the Guggenheim Bilbao; and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. A “temple of spirit” where radical art and architecture meet, the Guggenheim New York is among a group of eight Frank Lloyd Wright structures in the United States designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. To learn more about the Guggenheim New York and the Guggenheim’s activities around the world, visit guggenheim.org.
@Guggenheim
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