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James Sherry


Photo © 2006 Charles Bernstein/PennSound.

PoemTalk Episode #134, Discussing Mei-mei Berssenbrugge's "Hello, the Roses," feat. Evelyn Reilly, Joshua Schuster, and James Sherry

Listen to the complete recording and read program notes for the episode at Jacket2


I See Words: The Life and Work of Hannah Weiner, June 18, 2022, Artists Space, New York

Curated by Jennifer Bartlett and sponsored by Zoeglossia.
Introduction by Jennifer Bartlett
A screening of Hannah Weiner: A Film by Phill Niblock, 1974, with new captions
Reading of Clairvoyant Journal by Darcie Dennigan, Farnoosh Fathi, and James Sherry
Panel discussion with Susan Bee, Judith Goldman, Declan Gould, and Phill Niblock, moderated by Lee Ann Brown
Closing remarks by Charles Bernstein

Reading on October 23, 2017

  • Complete video:
  • Watch on Media.sas
  • Complete recording (40:07): MP3

    Segue Reading at Bowery Poetry Club, March 29, 2009

    Environmental Poetics
    As the environmental model of the planet begins to take hold in the culture, a new set of social classes emerges based on the individual’s view of nature. (Source: Michael Thompson)

    Social Being

    View of Nature

    The Ineffectual

    Lottery Controlled Cornucopia

    The Hierarchist

    Isomorphic Nature

    The Hermit

    Freely Available Cornucopia

    The Entrepreneur

    Skill-Controlled Cornucopia

    The Sectist

    Accountable Nature


    1. Beautiful Poems for My Friends
    2. Against Symbolism Alone
    3. Four Parallel Poems: Environmental Parallel Poem, EPP2, Parallel Anthem, Nature Red in Parallel or the Politics of Fear
    4.. Scenes from Fallen Arches: A Mystery Play in Eden
    5. Mote Removal: Clean Speak

    Incomplete recording (14:17): MP3

    From Charles Bernstein's Portraits Series: James at Home, November 12, 2006

    Watch on Media.sas

    James Sherry
    James moved to his loft on the Bowery (at Houston) about 30 years ago. At the time, it was still skid row. Roof books and Segue Distributing were run out  of the space and from time to time we had readings there too. And our first local talk series, "New York Talks," which I curated in 1984. (mp4, 31 seconds, 5.1 mb)

    Post-Invasion Poetics Reading, Kelly Writers House and Institute for Contemporary Art, October 17-18, 2003

    The Environmental View of Humanity in Nature, The Structural View of the Human Environment (3:33): MP3
    Reading at the Institute for Contemporary Art (5:29): MP3

    Reading for the L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E Poets Series at the Ceres Gallery, New York, October 28, 1998

    1. Introduction (5:39): MP3
    2. Old and New Ben (3:22): MP3
    3. Wet Behind (the Ears) (2:52): MP3
    4. Self Hatred or the PC Section (6:24): MP3
    5. How a Poem is Composed (5:00): MP3
    6. Free Readicals (4:37): MP3
    7. excerpt from Nuke Man (3:06): MP3
    • Complete reading (31:00): MP3

    Wednesdays @ 4 Plus Series, SUNY-Buffalo, February 19, 1992

    1. Opening Poem (2:40): MP3
    2. A Drawing on Strauss (2:52): MP3
    3. When She Comes (1:08): MP3
    4. From In Case (1:43): MP3
    5. More From In Case (0:53): MP3
    6. A Comment on Michael Lally (2:49): MP3
    7. Epistle Apology (4:31): MP3
    8. The Edge of Possession (2:15): MP3
    9. Plain and Fencing Rhetoric (2:58): MP3
    10. Free Radicals (3:59): MP3
    11. Accidentals (3:40): MP3
    12. Live Action Language (6:01): MP3
    13. Empire of Rats I (3:08): MP3
    14. Empire of Rats II (5:49): MP3
    Complete reading (37:37): MP3

    Reading at Reed College, 1991

    Complete reading (25:38): MP3

    Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, November 16, 1991

    Complete reading (26:25): MP3

    Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, February 17, 1988

    Complete reading (35:03): MP3

    Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, February 6, 1988

    Complete reading (35:14): MP3

    Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, December 13, 1986

    Complete reading (29:38): MP3

    Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, November 10, 1984

    1. Introduction (0:52): MP3
    2. Our Nuclear Heritage (0:52): MP3
    3. How History Is Read (1:13): MP3
    4. Don't Give Up the Ship Is the Ship (4:47): MP3
    5. Go Ahead, Press It (1:58): MP3
    6. Pleonexia (3:26): MP3
    7. Osteoid Osteoma (3:20): MP3
    8. Analytic and Synthetic Apparatus (3:01): MP3
    9. Art and Science and Politics (6:08): MP3
    10. A Short Poem (1:20): MP3
    11. On the Skin of Burnt Children (0:20): MP3
    12. The Marginal Arts (0:25): MP3

    Clairvoyant Journal, 1981

    Performed by Charles Bernstein, James Sherry, and Hannah Weiner (20:22): MP3

    Recorded 1981, New York City, and previously unissued.

    Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, Spring 1980

    Complete reading with Hannah Weiner and Charles Bernstein (20:06): MP3

    Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, November 18, 1978

    1. About (2:49): MP3
    2. Do You Know What (2:20): MP3
    3. Aubade (0:42): MP3
    4. Transparencies (3:32): MP3
    5. untitled (2:33): MP3
    6. The Sentences Got Out of Their Box (7:26): MP3
    7. Scripture (1:31): MP3

    Complete reading (23:41): MP3

    Appearing on Public Access Poetry with Yuki Hartman, October 20, 1977

    Watch on Media.sas

    Also of Interest:

    James Sherry on PennSound Daily

    These sound recordings are being made available for noncommercial and educational use only. All rights to this recorded material belong to the author. ©2006-2017 James Sherry. Used with permission of James Sherry. Distributed by PennSound.