Halloween is coming up, and there’ll surely be more translation events happening in late October than I’ve heard about as of press time, so expect this list to expand. So far, all I have are bittersweet events, tributes to beloved members of our community who left us this year.
Wednesday, Oct. 19:
C.D. Wright
A Tribute to C.D. Wright. Wright was a poet rather than a translator per se (though she did do some translation, e.g. in this volume), but she was beloved to and supportive of so many translators that I’m including the event in her honor here, at which a number of translator-writers will be among the readers paying tribute to her friendship and legacy, including Lee Ann Brown, Peter Cole, Monica de la Torre, Carolyn Forché, Brecht Gander, Brenda Hillman, Ben Lerner, Deborah Luster, Frances Mayes, Jane Miller, Michael Ondaatje, Brenda Shaughnessy, Arthur Sze, Jean Valentine, Anne Waldman, and Michael Wiegers, each sharing a favorite poem and a few words about C.D. Wright. With musical performances by Richard Leo Johnson and Toni Hall and a dance performance by Eiko. More information here. CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., Proshansky Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.
Gregory Rabassa in 1960, photo ©Bob Rabassa
Friday, Oct. 21:
Gregory Rabassa, A Celebration: Many translators and friends of translation will gather to pay tribute to Gregory Rabassa, who died earlier this year. Speakers include Edith Grossman, Peter Constantine, Earl Fitz, Ezra Fitz, Esther Allen, Ilan Stavans, Mauricio Font, Elizabeth Lowe, Harry Morales, Daniel Shapiro, Nora Glickman, Declan Spring, Ammiel Alcalay, Stanley Barkan, Catarina Cordeiro, David Draper Clark, and Rabassa’s daughters Clara Rabassa and Kate Rabassa Wallen. In addition, the recipients of the 2016 PEN/Heim Translation Fund grants will be announced and honored as part of the evening, in acknowledgement of Rabassa’s legacy now being carried on by this new generation of emerging translators. More information here. CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., Rooms 9204-9206, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22: