Past Events

College of Staten Island Center for the Arts – Recital Hall

2800 Victory Blvd, SINY 10314

An unusual, cross-disciplinary symposium on Tom Sawyer and Mark Twain.

OutLOUD’s Tom Sawyer symposium has something to interest everyone – Scholarship & literature meet performance art & painting. We welcome academics & artists, writers, critics, musicians, teachers & students, all Staten Island residents, anyone who’s interested in Mark Twain.

PANELISTS:  Professor Richard Currie (College of Staten Island), Professor Ellen Goldner (College of Staten Island), Professor/Poet Marguerite Rivas (Borough of Manhattan Community College), Artist/Curator/Educator Robert Bunkin (Curator, Staten Island Museum; Adjunct Lecturer, BMCC), Performance Artist D. B. Lampman, who will present her new piece, Tom And the River

Prof. Goldner will examine masculinity in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as it relates to Westward expansion.  Prof. Currie will consider contrasting views of childhood in Mark Twain and in Charles Dickens.  (For example, Tom and Huck might love to join Fagin’s band of thieves.) 

    Prof. Rivas is a Staten Island poet whose new book Tell No One, will be released in April.  She will use the vehicles of oral history and primary source documents to explore how the adventures of Tom, Becky and Huck played out yesteryear, in the forests, caves and ponds of Staten Island. 

   Painter/Curator Robert Bunkin will don a Mark Twain mask to critique some of the European paintings that Twain mocked in Innocents Abroad.  

   Performance Artist D.B. Lampman (Pollock-Krasner awardee) will debut her newest piece, Tom And the River.  She will portray the Mississippi River (wearing a green wetsuit, goggles and a kinetic sculpture created from 300 feet of sparkly garden hose), while her young son Henry portrays Tom Sawyer.  (www.dblampman.com)

This event will be particularly interesting to adults and young readers age 14 & older.

Artists, writers, educators and students are especially welcome – But all Islanders are invited!

For directions to the College of Staten Island via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

An intimate at-home evening among neighbors – en espanol – in a Victorian home

Space is limited – Location & other details TBA

As part of OutLOUD’s Big Read-Tom Sawyer series, some of our neighbors are hosting special intimate gatherings in their homes.

On Saturday evening, March 3, guests will gather for a Spanish reading & discussion of Tom Sawyer in a neighbor’s charming Victorian.

More at-home events are now being scheduled, and information will be posted as plans are confirmed.These events will include lively readings from Mark Twain, good conversation, and a cup of tea or a glass of wine. If you’re interested in hosting an at-home event, please give us a call at 718-907-0709. The guest list, date & time can be arranged according to the host’s convenience.

Historic Richmond Town’s Museum

441 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306

We’ll read from Mark Twain’s hilarious Tom Sawyer Abroad.

Tom & Huck & Jim ride a balloon from Missouri, clear around the world (almost). When they get to Egypt, their adventure picks up momentum.

Here’s your chance to get familiar with a Twain work that few people have read!

We’ll also read excerpts from Tom Sawyer.

Which chapter would you like to hear? Email us and cast your vote!

Perfect for all ages!

For directions to 441 Clarke Ave via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

Greenbelt Nature Center

700 Rockland Ave, SINY 10314

Tom & Huck found a fabulous treasure chest filled with glittering gold coins –

– But suddenly, the treasure vanished!

You can hunt for lost treasure: Follow a genuine Treasure Map along a short trail . . .

Maybe you’ll find some golden coins (with a tasty treat inside) . . .

. . . or maybe you’ll find a wonderful “nugget of knowledge” about the forest that Tom & Huck knew so well!

Join us for a short & easy hike – dress warm!(Our hike will be on level ground, easy for all ages – weather permitting).Then come inside, sit by the fireplace, read the “Treasure Hunt” chapter of Tom Sawyer.Enjoy a photo exhibit by members of the Creative Photographers Guild. CPG presents this exhibit during Staten Island OutLOUD’s celebration of The Big Read & Tom Sawyer.

Perfect for all ages!

For directions to the Greenbelt Nature Center via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

Port Richmond Branch, NY Public Library

75 Bennett St, SINY 10302

Spanish reading & film, plus a book giveaway of a Spanish-language version of Tom Sawyer.

Perfect for all ages – Spanish speakers will love it, and Spanish-learners are especially welcome!

For directions to 75 Bennett St via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

Every Thing Goes Book Cafe

208 Bay Street, SINY 10301

An open mic event.

Slaying your dragons doesn’t always mean having the courage to do what you love.  Sometimes it means having the courage to do what you don’t want to do, but know that it needs to be done.  This open mic invites you to slay your dragons with us at ETG Book Cafe for community, poetry and music.

Hosted by Hibrido Literatio, Creating Space, and Staten Island OutLOUD.

ETG Book Cafe overlooks Tompkinsvill Park, near the intersection of Bay Street and Victory Boulevard.  It’s just three blocks from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, and is accessible via multiple bus routes.

Free parking on surrounding streets.

Fort Wadsworth’s historic Mont Sec House

Bay Street & School Road, SINY 10305

Some scholars contend that Mark Twain was the ghost-writer of portions of General Grant’s memoirs; others disagree.There’s no question that Twain invested in Grant’s memoirs and worked hard to promote sales, which would help ensure the Grant family’s security.

Twain likely edited many portions that Grant wrote or dictated. Of Grant’s writing, Twain said:

“This is the simple soldier, who, all untaught of the silken phrase-makers, linked words together with an art surpassing the art of the schools.

He put them into something which will still bring to American ears, as long as America shall stand,the roll of his vanished drums and the tread of his marching hosts.”

A caveat to any of you book-collectors: Don’t pay extra for a signed copy of Grant’s memoirs; they were published after he died.

We’ll also feature readings from Tom Sawyer.

What’s your favorite chapter? Email us and cast your vote!

This event is best enjoyed by adults & young readers age 10 & older.

For directions to Fort Wadsworth via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

Café 4 St Pauls

4 St. Pauls Ave (at Victory Blvd), SINY 10301

Twain’s protest writing & readings from Tom Sawyer.

Music by Peter Arvo.

Here’s a chance to get more familiar with Twain’s political writing. He was an Abolitionist, an advocate for animal rights, a pacifist. His commentaries are many and varied, yet contemporary readers don’t often explore these works. We’ll share some of those essays, together with some cogent observations from Tom Sawyer.

Which Tom Sawyer sections would you especially like to hear? Email us and cast your vote!

This event is part of Second Saturday Staten Island …

Second Saturday is a marvelous art-walk, including gallery openings, studio tours and other cool cultural events.

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

Richmondtown branch-NY Public Library, 200 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306

Stories for young readers & very young readers.

Perfect for all ages!

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com