THE POETRY SÉANCE IS A QUARTERLY LITERARY SERIES CURATED TO ENLIVEN POETRY SHOWS AND EMBOLDEN LOCAL WRITERS, EACH SEASON AT A TIME.

A circular design with a five-pointed star in the center, surrounded by a dotted circle and rays extending outward.
Black and white illustration of a chalice with a star on it, inside a rectangular frame with stylized lines.
Black and white illustration of a wand with a star and leaves around it.
Black and white illustration of a sword with a star on the blade, positioned vertically with the hilt at the bottom and the tip at the top.

Performances (winter & summer) feature an ever-shifting roster of poets, artists, musicians, and multidisciplinary collaborations; each show is unique in curatorial vision.

Community readings (spring & autumn) are designed as supportive containers for writers to bring their nascent drafts or works-in-progress; these offerings are open-format, un-curated, and experimental in nature.

A poetry reading event at a venue called The Poetry Séance, with a woman reading on stage in front of an audience in a brick-walled room decorated with flowers and candles.
Blurred black-and-white photo of a woman in profile, with a wavy hairstyle and wearing a patterned top, appearing to be in motion.
A young man with short dark hair and a checkered shirt sitting in front of a large black-and-white portrait of a woman's face projected on the wall behind him.

  • Since its start in 2021, this series has strived to reinvigorate the space of poetry readings with intentionality, elegance, and verve. Underlying each offering is the belief that the spoken tradition of poetry is sacred, energetically transformative, and meant to be shared. Respect for the artist is paramount, therefore, curation of each show is thoughtful and collaborative, and each performer is paid for their contribution.

    At a Poetry Séance show, the multiplicity of voices is integral to the co-created uniqueness of each evening.

    Artists are invited to bring work that is gusty, edgy, and courageous. Audiences are grounded with poetic meditation, and encouraged to bring their voices into the room as to signal moments of resonance to the performers. Purposeful ambience imbues each show with peculiar energy—sometimes whimsical, sometimes moody, always punctuated by our emblem of the candelabra. This is not your quiet, open-mic-behind-a-podium kind of show—it’s a night on the town. The PS summons you to dress up, to be your strange self, to open your heart and mind to the space of poetry collectively created.

    While we keep the dreams big for this series, we humbly hold its grassroots beginnings as imperative to the authenticity and sustainability of our growth. Since our first show—which featured ten readers at Damn the Weather in Pioneer Square, with no mic and a cut-out paper banner—we’ve learned together what nuances and intents truly light up the poetry show. After four years of bouncing between various Seattle venues, the Séance made its home with the artist collective Common Area Maintenance.

  • The Poetry Séance is curated by Seattle-based poet, Emily J. Mundy, whose work reveres the mystical nature of language and often explores spirituality. A public extension of her personal poetic practice, this series is sustained by her belief in poetry as a force that transforms, connects, and illuminates us collectively. With reverence for all that creative community inspires, Emily finds deep meaning in creating this platform wherein artists can showcase their work in brave and joyful ways. Emily’s debut book of poems, What Blooms in the Dark, is published with Moon Tide Press (October, 2024).

  • ☼ Amber Flame ☼ Amy Hirayama ☼ Connor Cash Colbert ☼ Corbin Louis ☼ Derrick C. Brown ☼ Dia Roth ☼ Eric M. Acosta ☼ Eryn Berg ☼ Harry Lee ☼ Joe Milutis ☼ K Van Petten ☼ Lori Goldston ☼ Natalie Meek ☼ Ran Park ☼ Selah Saterstrom ☼ Serena Chopra ☼ Sky O’ Brien ☼ Sullivan Forderhase ☼ Theo Williams ☼

A white, ornate candelabra with five lit candles arranged symmetrically.
Indoor event with an audience seated in darkness, stage decorated with candles and plants, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere, with light patterns projected onto ceiling and walls.
Group of five young adults indoors, posing playfully with tongues out and making gestures, at night, with a window showing a city street with signs and lights outside.
A woman with wavy hair and hoop earrings playing an acoustic guitar in a room with shadows cast on the wall behind her.
A woman with glasses and a leopard print top standing outdoors at night near a microphone, with bright light behind her.