Acclaimed Author, Artist and Comedic Storyteller Robert Farid Karimi to Join MCPL’s ‘Contemporary Conversations’ Series on Saturday, Sept. 28, in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Acclaimed author, artist and comedic storyteller Robert Farid Karimi will be the featured speaker at Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) “Contemporary Conversations” series in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The free event, “Poetry and Play: An Evening with Robert Farid Karimi,” will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Wheaton Library (Social Hall, second floor). The evening also will feature a live performance by the Pepe Gonzalez Afro-Cuban/Latin Jazz Ensemble.

The Wheaton Library is located at 11701 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton. Advance registration is required to attend. For more information and to register, visit the MCPL website.

Mr. Karimi, of Iranian-Guatemalan-Mayan descent, is a renowned performer, author and social engagement artist who is celebrated for his innovative approach to interactive and immersive experiences. As a Creative Capital artist and Pushcart Prize-nominated writer, his work has been showcased on platforms including National Public Radio, The Smithsonian, HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and the Los Angeles Times. Beyond his artistic achievements, Mr. Karimi is the co-director of the Public Practice + Generative Play StudioLab and serves as an assistant professor in the Music, Dance and Theater department at Arizona State University.

“The Contemporary Conversations series provides an important space for our community to engage with pressing cultural and societal topics,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Robert Farid Karimi’s unique blend of art, storytelling and humor brings people together and offers a fresh perspective on cultural identity. We are excited to honor Hispanic Heritage Month by featuring his dynamic voice in this series, and I hope this event inspires meaningful dialogue among our residents.”

The event will explore the intersection of storytelling and poetry. Mr. Karimi will share insights into his creative process, including a cherished Guatemalan recipe passed down from his grandmother—illustrating how culinary traditions bridge cultural divides in his Muslim-Catholic upbringing.

This “Contemporary Conversations” program is co-sponsored by Friends of the Library Montgomery County (FOLMC), the Montgomery County Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ), the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights (OHR), the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) and Classroom 2 Community (C2C).

For information about previous speakers, click here.

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Release ID: 24-415
Media Contact: Jennifer Garfinkel 240-962-1506
Categories: Education, Library