A free public poetry installation has been set up across Coney Island. Visitors to Coney Island can view site-specific poems at local family-run businesses, landmarks and amusement park rides from now through Oct. 31.
The poetry project features 25 original poems displayed across the island, including four poems at New York City landmarks. All 25 poems can be seen together at the “Poetry Wall” at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, located at 3059 West 12th Street. Adventurous visitors are encouraged to pick up a free poetry map and view each work individually throughout Coney Island’s residential neighborhood and amusement park area.
The poetry map project aims to "[shift] the notion of what a poetry event can be, creating a unique poetry experience and drawing out the poetry from within the Coney Island cityscape," said Amanda Deutch, Director of Parachute Literary Arts in a press release.
The poetry project includes poets from Coney Island as well as many New York City poets who’ve been inspired by the destination. Featured poems include "You're in Coney Island" composed by 11-year-old Coney Island resident, Nikolai Ilyusha and "Coney Island Cyclone" from former Brooklyn Poet Laureate, Tina Chang.
Founded in 2009, Parachute Literary Arts is a Coney Island-based community arts organization. The mission of Parachute Literary Arts is to celebrate Coney Island’s vibrant literary culture through public performance, education, and outreach.
Featured poets include: Penny Arcade, Amber Atiya, Kurt Boone, Cheryl Boyce Taylor, Tina Chang, Lydia Cortes, Steve Dalachinsky, SM Gray, Anna Gurton Wachter, Modesto “Flako” Jimenez, JP Howard, Nikolai Ilyusha, Vincent Katz, Rachel Levitsky, Philomena Marano, Rachel Morrison, Carol Lipnik, Tracie Morris, Sparrow, Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, Edwin Torres and Hua Xi.
