BGC October (Halloween theme) Book

We will be discussing Fledgling over one the best bloody mary's in town in early November. Location and exact date TBA.

BGC Summer Reading: The Warmth of Other Suns

Join us September 30th at Harold Washington Library, 400 S State, for... 

Congo Square presents "The Warmth of Other Suns" reading.

Starts at 6pm. Followed by discussion and cocktails downtown, TBD.

Art Is Bonfire: The Seattle Cypher (Fundraiser starts next week)

I'm so excited for everyone to have an opportunity to contribute to our efforts to bring Art Is Bonfire to Seattle. Our kickstarter page will feature a phenomenal promo video created by Leslie Monique visuals. The kickstarter will be only place to check that out but in the meantime here's a preview to the kickstarter fundraiser description:

Kickstarter goal: $1,000

Thank you for visiting our kickstarter page and welcome to the Art Is Bonfire family!

I am Pyro Poet TIff Beatty. Among many things, I am a spoken word artist and founder and host of Art Is Bonfire. Art Is Bonfire is a fire-inspired poetry and rhythm cypher that takes place around a fire pit in a public park. 

We have been hosting Art Is Bonfire at Promontory Point on the South Side of Chicago since 2011. In 2013, we are taking Art Is Bonfire on the road for the very first time ever! First stop, Golden Gardens Park in Seattle, WA. 

It seems only natural the Pacific Northwest host this event since it's my first and only true "home." Although, Chicago has developed me into the artist I am today, Tacoma, WA, where I grew up is the place that made me the person I am today. I have so much family and so many friends who want and deserve to experience what I consider my greatest contribution to my community thus far.

I have been so honored to have such strong support for this event in Chicago and am looking forward to the opportunity to experience that same love and community with my "first family." Since this event is completely unique and one of a kind in the world (as far as I know) here is a short description:

Each event includes a social hour of roasting marshmallows and making s'mores, a performance cypher in which poets, emcees, singers, drummers all get down around the fire and a burning ritual that gives everyone an opportunity to burn something that they want to give to the fire.

There is no line up or featured artist for this event. It's simply a time for diverse artists and creative souls to come together in a public space to celebrate self-expression and the healing power of art, fire and other natural elements. The cypher "goes down" with the sun as the creative souls in attendance take turns receiving and giving energy to the fire. 

Some bring instruments, original work, or memorized poetry; some bring something they've waiting to burn; some just write down a word or phrase that symbolizes the thing they would like to burn. As we let fire die out around the time the park closes. we say peace until next time. 

Art Is Bonfire is always completely FREE and open to the public. Because of the public park location, the event is accessible to everyone. People walking by can stop for as long as they are intrigued, some may even choose to join the cypher. Unexpecting park-goers are exposed to spoken word and other forms of tribal expression and ritual and many urban poets and performers have an uncommon opportunity to be inspired by fire, nature, community and the opportunity transform a public space into a safe space for creativity and expression of passion.   Poets and their friends and families come because this experience can be spiritual and inspiring but many times, the people who have the most powerful experiences are those who just happen to be walking by when they see or overhear the magic of the cypher.

We are extremely excited about the potential of bringing this ritual to the Pacific Northwest. But of course, WE NEED YOU to help us make this happen.

If you've ever been to Art Is Bonfire or have a strong enough imagination, I don't have convince you of the potential of this event and surrounding movement. If you're not completely convinced, this fundraiser and the rewards we are offering are designed to engage you with the movement. The gifts are either personalized, promotional or directly connected to what makes the event a success, the artists. 

The artists who participate and support this event are apart of a network we call "The Pyro Circle." These artists are some of the most talented, passionate and inspiring, yet underexposed artists in the country. By donating to this movement you are fueling the kind of artists we need more in this world and encouraging authentic expression of all human beings. 

Please join us in The Pyro Circle, where The Fire is the Cypher and Art Is Bonfire!

Art Is Bonfire Chicago: June 23rd at Promontory Point

Poets, performance artists and our friends from all over the city are coming together once again at Promontory Point, where for one night ART IS BONFIRE and THE FIRE IS THE CYPHER.

There will be no list or featured artist for this event. It's simply a time for artist and art-lovers to come from all around the city to a public space to celebrate self-expression and the healing power of art.

Here are the general guidelines for the event:

1. On this evening we will be acting as one with nature so the "cypher" will go down as soon as the sun does.

2. We take turns receiving and giving energy to the fire. Bring an instrument, an original or memorized poem, something you've been waiting to burn!!!

3. When the fire dies out we will say peace until next time...

The event is completely FREE and open to the public. 

Donations accepted.

Hosted by Yours Truly Pyro Poet Tiff Beatty!

BGC May: I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings

Discussion and goodbye party for Katie will be: 

Wednesday June 13th @ 7pm.

Parrot Cage, 7059 S South Shore Drive.

http://apps.ccc.edu/parrotcage/home.html

Cocktail: Yellow Bird
•1 cup light rum
•½ cup Creme de Banana
•¼ cup Tia Maria
•3 cups orange juice
•¼ cup pineapple juice

Excuse me bitch, I mean Sis...have you seen my new video?!

Click HERE to watch!

BGC March/April Book: Warrior Poet

Discussion will be early May.
Cocktail: TBA

Pyro Poet Tiff Beatty Presents....

Art Is Bonfire

Inspiring creativity through fire, ritual, poetry & rhythm.

Est. 2011

THE FIRE IS THE CYPHER

2013 SEASON DATES

June 23

July 7 (Tacoma, WA)

September 8 

September 29

Art Is Bonfire (AIB), Chicago’s only bonfire cypher, is a fire inspired ritual featuring spoken word poets, hip hop artists, musicians, and other creative souls.

AIB hosts a social hour of roasting marshmallows and making s’mores prior to the cypher ritual, which kicks off at sundown and lasts until the park closes. Art Is Bonfire happens 4 times a year—twice in early summer and twice in the latter part of the summer or early fall and is hosted by its founder, Tiff Beatty.

#icant #2000 (spoken word)

Click #icant #2000 for the audio version.

Have you ever been as high

As the sun? Like chased the fire

But the fire didn’t run?  You know like freeze, you’re IT fire…

But the fire didn’t freeze? Wanna hit this blunt?

I froze and got burnt like California trees. And California love feels like wildfire to me. So at 16
I'm feeling California free. Cause I been sitting around the fire with my sibblings
singing “because I got high” Though we forgot the chorus. And forgot
what DARE stands for, so of course we forgot our chores. Little sister
speaks  ageless wisdom from behind a fat swisher sweet
From the front porch to hot boxing in the bathroom and rolling on the floor laughing
in back room. Mommy must be back from work, I heard somebody say
I don't hear that vacuum. Now she's coming up the stairs. She hears our laughter, smells
her fears--automatic response was tears. She pokes her head in, her eyes pierce.
"It's just weed mom." sounds like something I might have said. But if I could said anything
you can bet it would be, I mean you can bet I would beg, you can bet I would plead, 

Please don’t give me that look.  Don’t make your eyes so hard,

Your lips so tight. Don’t make your nose wrinkled. Don’t

Make your tongue into a knife.

Like you don't know that suicide is high  
Under these cloudy skies and 

I was stuck on this block, with nothin but smoke and
Rain in my eyes before I decided to

To fly. I mean abondon my wings for the chance to see a 
Christian concept of Heaven fade and enter another stage,

where Kool-Aid and Doritos taste heaven made or

heaven sent to me. Or heaven sent for me like God said
Can somebody please go get Tiffanie?
Hear I come!

Oh don't give me that look.

I know you're lonley and you're vulnerable and you're scared. But this is not you're story.
This is not the scratchy voice of an aging alcoholic, yeah I drink but i'm saying 
you started at 8— 8am, 8 years old. You were 8 years old when you had your first sip.
Addicted by 11 and I was 7 when our home was raided by narcs. They put an AK 47 in my
baby brothers face. His daddy caught a case and they took us all away.
But these eyes have never shut all day 
just to tweak in the dark. And these hands have never had the shakes or begged 
For meds from a hospital bed. This mouth has never lied 
about going to buy ice cream, and getting high instead.

So please before you shut that door... don’t make your eyes so hard, 
your lips so tight. Don’t make your nose wrinkled. 
Don’t make your tongue into a knife. Because  
I chased the fire and the fire didn't run. I froze and got burnt
like California trees. And you gonna always be my OG but this
California cush got me feeling California free. Eyes low, speech slow.
It's too close to home, too soon I know.
But you know it's different for me, not an addiction for me. Excuse the 
diction but when I'm hittin it's
like Mary Jane be addicted to me.
See we share soil and blood and history, but this..

This shit right here.
This shit right here.
We can't share this.