HYDE PARK — A weekend of events celebrating the 100th anniversary of poet Gwendolyn Brooks’ birth caps off Saturday with a free concert by Jamila Woods and Nicole Mitchell and readings of Brooks’ poems.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet whose work captured life on the South Side would have turned 100 on June 7 and the University of Chicago and the DuSable Museum of African American History are holding a series of events to celebrate Brooks life.
A reading at DuSable Thursday kicked off a three-day conference on Brooks’ works at the university. The lectures and roundtable discussions at the Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., are free and open to the public.
The three days of reflection on Brooks’ work caps off with a new suite of music composed by flutist Nicole Mitchell titled “Gwendolyn Brooks: New Art and Anthem.” The piece includes selections of Brooks’ work read by contemporary poets and music performed by Mitchell and the Black Earth Ensemble.
Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Logan Center for the 7:30 p.m. concert. It is free and open to the public.
Events about Brooks’ life will happen around the neighborhood through June, include a Brooks Day on June 7.
A full schedule of events is available on the Centennial Brooks web site.
