Dig Rumi?

On the heels of the successful reading at the Baltimore book Festival comes yet another literary event — this one inspired by and celebrating the 800th birthday of the great Persian poet, Rumi.

Whenever Manzar, the owner of the Watermark Gallery in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, was introduced to my novel, WOMB, her first reaction was that it was “mystical, spiritual, surreal,” and that it reminded her of Rumi’s work. I was flattered.


Even more surprising was when she asked me if I would help her organize an event of fiction, poetry, artwork, music, wine, and camaraderie in celebration of Rumi’s 800th birthday — and make excerpts from my own WOMB the centerpiece of the event.


The result: at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 21 at the Watermark Gallery in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, “A Rumi-esque Reading” will take place.


Highlights include readings of Rumi’s work, readings from poets and Rumi scholars Deanna Nikaido and Cliff Lynn, diverse fiction readings from Nitin Jagdish, Caryn Coyle, and Eric D. Goodman (that's me), surreal art by Manzar, eastern music, and a chance to talk to other readers and writers about Rumi’s work and how his spirit lives on in the works of new artists today.


The Watermark Gallery is located in the Bank of America Center, Skywalk Level, right across from the Inner Harbor, at 100 S. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland. The phone number is (410) 547-0452.


Learn more about the Watermark at their online gallery.


http://www.manzar.net/



Check out these photos from last weekend's Baltimore Book Fest reading.


http://www.mwabaltimore.org/events.html#bbf07



Brush up on your Rumi here.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalal_ad-Din_Muhammad_Rumi