(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Washington Park Association of Hudson County (WPA) is proud to announce their inaugural Poet in Residence, Yetvart S. Majian. The residency program is part of WPA's Art in The Park series, which includes the Annual Pavement Art Festival, live theater and music performance, and interactive community art—all of which are free to the public.
The Residency includes the completion of four original poems and two public events curated and hosted by WPA’s Resident Poet during a 12-month term. Additionally, their resident poet will be available during set “Park Poetry Hours” for impromptu poetry reading, writing and discussion sessions with local residents.
Washington Park, located just between Jersey City and Union City, is at the crux of a burgeoning Hudson County arts and culture scene. The hope for this residency, “includes uniting the many brilliant poets, artists and poetic spaces within our neighborhoods, and bringing the truth-telling, life-affirming and healing spirit of poetry into our park,” said Majian. Official announcements of his award can be found on his and WPA’s Instagram accounts: @emajian and @wpahudsoncounty, respectively.
A Hudson County native, Yetvart (or Ed) Majian is an Armenian-American poet and graduate of Saint Peter’s University whose work focuses on themes of intersectional justice, healing, the inheritance of genocide identity and the subtleties of human experience. Majian noted: “I’m grateful for how this position affords me a chance to formalize the organizing work I’ve done for the last two years, facilitating our weekly poetry mic and open forum, The {Poetry} Unfold, in Union City. Even while bombs fall from skies, hope can blossom from poetry and solidarity beats from the heart of inclusive community. Poetry isn’t dead, but too many innocent people are. Bearing witness and preserving the precious are among the human needs met in poetry. It’s an honor to join WPA as Resident Poet.”
WPA kicks off its poetry program with a first event on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 6:30pm. Hosted by their Poet in Residence, “Park Poetry” will feature four stellar New Jersey poets, including former Poet Laureate of Jersey City (2018-2020) Rashad Wright, Hailee Martin as Ryan’s Daughter and Jersey City natives Just Putt and Londo Grover. The four features will be preceded by the first poem of the Resident Poet’s tenure and followed by an Open Mic featuring many regulars and luminaries of the local poetry scene.
Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc. (WPA) was founded in 2008 by residents in the vicinity of the Park. WPA is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit managed by dedicated Hudson County residents. They believe that engaging residents in activities that improve their neighborhoods increases civic pride and care, leading to healthier, wealthier progressive communities. Art in the Park is made possible with funding from the Hudson County Local Arts Program and the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund.
