Haiku for Lower East Side History Month!

Posted by on 05.19.14 in 2014, Events, Partners in Haiku | 0 comments

Haiku for Lower East Side History Month!

May is Lower East Side History Month, and to that end a host of chalking activity was occurring on the opening weekend due to #chalkLES, a multi-organization effort to write historical tidbits on the streets of the Lower East Side.

The organizer of #chalkLES (and generally amazing LES mover-and-shaker), Ryan Gilliam, invited Guerilla Haiku to add some more chalkdust to the scene. To which we resoundingly said YES!

On the eve of our Saturday frolics, I decorated my beloved Tenement Museum with haiku inspired by its work and mission.

But the day truly began in Seward Park where the melting pot of the Lower East Side was out in full force. After getting some Jehovah’s Witnesses to translate their message into 17-syllables, snapping a photo of a group of @janeswalk participants posing with their Jane Jacobs haiku, and being inspired by a young man translating his glorious haiku into Chinese so his mother could appreciate it with him- we headed onwards!

Next up, the Henry Street Settlement, celebrating Lillian Wald (their founder’s) birthday. And we chalked into a multicultural joyful block-party!! We found ample inspiration (and participated in a number of group dances). Check out our odes to a very special neighborhood!

To Haiku!

Facepainting Happens - but you have to wait for it - better be patient!
Abrons Arts Center - American Realness meets - Queer NY City
Shaking it today - The LES rocking it out - Chayanne and MC
LES is home - So many activities - Lots of access here Rosa and Millie)
The pain of this life - shattered by this loneliness - remembering you
Oh brontosaurus! - They are no longer real - I don't believe them!
The artist writes.
ghm575 May 17, 2014
Basilisa says - The LES is the best - ...
100 years plus - Henry Street provides service - to the LES
Balloons and Chalk
ghm575 May 17, 2014
I have come - to say hello - then I shall go!
Today is the day - what will the other days hold? - tomorrow will tell!
No more death or pain - will suffering ever end? - wipe your tears away
Ryan likes to eat - Crab Rangoon, chicken tenders - and also bagels
Sharon is 5 now - she likes to draw in purple - this is her flower
2 men from Boston - just hanging out for today - Having Adventures!
Our German Bostonians
ghm575 May 17, 2014
First haiku of the day
ghm575 May 17, 2014
Looks like trouble...
ghm575 May 17, 2014
Eighteen-sixty three - Lucas solved housing crisis - for twenty families

If you want to see this album on Flickr, click here.