Tag: Olena Jennings

“Here & Gone” Part 2: Olena Jennings and Rosalie Chandler (Episode 72)

Did you know that two 16-foot-tall stainless-steel statues once stood atop the Astoria Pool locker rooms? Or that thousands of visitors to the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens signed a book that was included in the Westinghouse Time Capsule designed to endure for 5,000 years?

Learn more about the storytellers and the Queens history from the archives of The Greater Astoria Historical Society that inspired this story swap from the second half of our “Here & Gone” show hosted by Ellie Dvorkin Dunn.

My Book About Water by Olena Jennings, performed by Rosalie Chandler

*Peace Through Understanding by Rosalie Chandler, performed by Olena Jennings

*As Ellie noted during the show, we want to let you know that the latter story contains themes related to sexual assault.

Left to right: Story partners Olena Jennings, Rosalie Chander, and host Ellie Dvorkin Dunn. Photo: Sachyn Mital

Stories directed by Erika Iverson. Plus, a special shoutout to Broadway Silk in Astoria!

Congratulations to Olena for receiving a Pushcart Prize for her translation with Oksana Lutsyshyna of Kateryna Kalytko’s collection Nobody Knows Us Here, and We Don’t Know Anyone from Lost Horse Press.

Learn more about the Queens history highlights below. The narratives were written by storyteller Rosalie Chandler with special insights from Bob Singleton of The Greater Astoria Historical Society.

These four highlights also inspired the Queens “Here & Gone” artwork by Yelena Tylkina.

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Special thanks to Rosalie Chandler, Bob Singleton, and Ava Vitali for helping us create these Queens “Here & Gone” highlights. The Greater Astoria Historical Society is the place to learn and celebrate Long Island City and its neighborhoods. Learn more at astorialic.org.

This project is supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.

Unforgettable “Here & Gone” Show!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Thanks to everyone who came out to our “Here & Gone” show. It was a lovely evening that we won’t soon forget.

Left to right: Olena Jennings, Rosalie Chandler, Ellie Dvorkin Dunn, Lakshmi Gandhi, Dan Jessup. Photo by Sachyn Mital

Check out the show program here and more photos on our Facebook page. SPECIAL THANKS to:
  • Our amazing storytellers for boldly sharing their words and embodying their partners’ stories.
  • Yelena Tylkina for her stunning Queens “Here & Gone” artwork.
  • Ellie Dvorkin Dunn for being the best host.
  • Grove 34 for the perfect venue.
  • The Greater Astoria Historical Society for partnering with us on this special theme.
  • Flushing Town Hall, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and New York Foundation for the Arts for your grants and support.
  • Sachyn Mital, for the photos!
  • The whole NYTI creative team for all your work behind the scenes.
And always, the birthday girl Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons for keeping this important series alive!

Look! “Here & Gone” Program (In-Person and Virtual)

May 18 2023 @ 7:00PM

Our Greater Astoria Historical Society team-up show hosted by Ellie Dvorkin Dunn is tonight! In-person at Grove 34 ($10 tickets here!)

  • 7:00 – 7:30: *Reception featuring Queens “Here & Gone” artwork by Yelena Tylkina
  • 7:30 – 9:00: Switched-up Storytelling!

*Drinks and snacks available for purchase.

We’ll also be streaming the show LIVE from our Facebook page at 7:30 if you want to join virtually.

Plus, a chance to win story trivia prizes featuring Queens “Here & Gone” artwork! If you aren’t a winner, click here to purchase “Here & Gone” artwork and more on Yelena’s Fine Art America page.

For this special show, storytellers worked with producer Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons and story coaches Tim Lindner and Pichchenda Bao to engage with Queens “Here & Gone” Highlights featuring the history of the Westinghouse Time CapsuleNorth BeachAstoria Pool Sentinels, and The First Photocopy to inspire their personal stories on the page.

Take a look as they swap stories to embody their partner’s culture, identity, and life experience on stage!

TONIGHT’S STORIES!

Two Continents and a Whole New Ballgame by Lakshmi Gandhi, performed by Dan Jessup, directed by Ellie Dvorkin Dunn

The Certainty of Here by Dan Jessup, performed by Lakshmi Gandhi, directed by Ellie Dvorkin Dunn

My Book About Water by Olena Jennings, performed by Rosalie Chandler, directed by Erika Iverson

Peace Through Understanding by Rosalie Chandler, performed by Olena Jennings, directed by Erika Iverson

Thank you, thank you to everyone who made this night possible!

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Special thanks to Rosalie Chandler, Bob Singleton, and Ava Vitali for helping us create these Queens “Here & Gone” highlights. The Greater Astoria Historical Society is the place to learn and celebrate Long Island City and its neighborhoods. Learn more at astorialic.org.

This project is supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.

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Event Information

May 18 2023 @ 7:00PM

Grove 34 (3183 34th St., Astoria)

Meet “Here & Gone” Storyteller Olena Jennings

May 18 2023 @ 7:00PM

One week until the show! We can’t wait for you to meet our next storyteller, Olena Jennings, whose translation with Oksana Lutsyshyna of Kateryna Kalytko’s poem “Having Lost the Keys . . .” from her book NOBODY KNOWS US HERE AND WE DON’T KNOW ANYONE (Lost Horse Press, 2022), has been selected for the Pushcart Prize 2023. Congratulations Olena!

GET YOUR TICKETS to hear her “Here & Gone” story inspired, in part, by the Astoria Pool Sentinels.

Olena Jennings is the author of the poetry collection The Age of Secrets (Lost Horse Press, 2022) and the chapbook Memory Project (2018.) Her novel Temporary Shelter was released in 2021 from Cervena Barva Press. Her translation from Ukrainian of Vasyl Makhno’s collection Paper Bridge was released in 2022 from Plamen Press and her translation with Oksana Lutsyshyna of Kateryna Kalytko’s collection Nobody Knows Us Here, and We Don’t Know Anyone was released from Lost Horse Press. Her textile art has been shown at Bliss on Bliss Art Projects and the NYC Poetry Festival. She is the founder and curator of the Poets of Queens reading series and press. 

 

Event Information

May 18 2023 @ 7:00PM

Grove 34 (3183 34th St., Astoria)

No, YOU Tell It! “Here & Gone” Celebrates Queens

May 18 2023 @ 7:00PM

Here comes No, YOU Tell It! “Here & Gone” at Grove 34 in Astoria, where our four storytellers will step into each other’s true-life tales inspired by the rich and, at times, unknown history of Queens.

Get your tickets early for this special team-up show with the Greater Astoria Historical Society! Hosted by Ellie Dvorkin Dunn.

  • 7:00 – 7:30: *Reception featuring Queens “Here & Gone” artwork by Yelena Tylkina
  • 7:30 – 9:00: Switched-up Storytelling inspired by the archives of the Greater Astoria Historical Society

*Drinks and snacks available for purchase.

Storytellers (as pictured above):

  • Lakshmi Gandhi
  • Dan Jessup
  • Rosalie Chandler
  • Olena Jennings

Follow @noyoutellit on Insta to learn more about the artist, storytellers, and Queens “Here & Gone” history.

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The Greater Astoria Historical Society is the place to learn and celebrate Long Island City and its neighborhoods. Learn more at astorialic.org.

This project is supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.

Event Information

May 18 2023 @ 7:00PM

Grove 34 (3183 34th St., Astoria)