McNally Jackson

Each of McNally Jackson’s seven city-wide locations, from SoHo to Downtown Brooklyn, will house artfully made “tiny poetry libraries” dedicated to the poet and his work. A limited number of tote bags and commemorative bookmarks will be available for free. Additionally, McNally Jackson has curated a series of three literary talks for the Festival with writers and intellectuals who will deeply consider Cavafy’s work, identity, and artistic footprint: In honor of the Festival and aligned with National Poetry Month, McNally Jackson will be highlighting the Complete Poems of C. P. Cavafy translated by Daniel Mendelsohn, as its April 2023 book-of-the-month selection.

They will also be hosting a series of events with writers and intellectuals who are Cavafy experts and who are working in the tradition of his work.

April 19, 2023 | 19:00 at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art

An evening of conversation exploring Cavafy’s identity as a gay writer and his influence on generations of LGTBQIA+ writers, artists and thinkers presented and curated in partnership with Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, Onassis Foundation, McNally Jackson and co-presented by New York Arab Festival (NYAF) on April 19 (6:30pm Doors, Event 7-9PM) at Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, 26 Wooster Street.

The event features LLMA’s Director of Curatorial Programs, poet Richie Hofmann, artist and writer Jason Wee and Egyptian writer, theater maker and dramaturg Adam Elsayigh.

Accessibility: Cart will be provided for this in-person gathering. For additional access requests, please contact info@leslielohman.org at least one week in advance of your planned visit.

April 27, 2023 | 19:00 at McNally Jackson - South Street Seaport

Celebrated Cavafy scholar and a noted translator of his work Daniel Mendelsohn will engage in conversation with acclaimed poet Jana Prikryl on Cavafy’s stature as a “poet of the world,” which will consider the poet’s biography, the global influences on his work, as well as the art of translation, and the process of bringing his work into another place and time.

May 6, 2023 | 17:00 at McNally Jackson - South Street Seaport

A spirited conversation between raconteur Paul Holdengräber and André Aciman – another Alexandria-born writer – will give insight into their yearslong fascination with Cavafy, and why so many artists share this passionate interest in his work.