Guggenheim New York Announces Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers Public Performance Series for May

• Programming curated by Grammy Award–winning jazz musician Wayne Escoffery and the Teachers & Writers Collaborative  

• Live performances every Friday–Monday 

• May 15 Late Shift and Teen Circle programs announced

As part of Guggenheim New York’s exhibition Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, the museum will present a dynamic series of live performances and public programs. Each month, community partners curate spoken word, music, and live art events that bring to life Johnson’s two major installations— Sanguine, a monumental site-specific work on the building’s top ramp with an embedded piano, and Rotunda Stage, which bookend the exhibition.  

Live performances:  

Sanguine Piano: Fridays at 4 pm and Sundays at 1 pm

Rotunda Stage: Saturdays at 1 pm and Mondays at 4 pm 

Performances range from 15 to 40 minutes.

This month’s performance series features readings on the Rotunda Stage by poets and writers programmed by the Teachers & Writers Collaborative (T&W), featuring Daemond Arrindell, Trace Howard DePass, Joshua Garcia, Alba Delia Hernández, Dave Johnson, Libby Mislan, Nkosi Nkululeko, Stephanie Pacheco, DS Waldman, and Donnie Welch, among others. Grammy Award–winning jazz musician Wayne Escoffery curates musical performances for Sanguine, showcasing artists such as ELEW, Lawrence Fields, Mike King, and Miki Yamanaka.  

The public performance series will continue to be announced monthly throughout the run of Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers. In addition to the performance series, the Guggenheim will host the after-hours event Late Shift monthly as well as programming specifically for teens. The museum will also remain open until 8 pm on Thursdays from June 5 through July 31, offering audiences extended summer evening hours.  

Taking place every third Thursday, Late Shift invites visitors to explore the galleries, participate in curated interactive experiences, and enjoy refreshments at a cash bar in Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic rotunda after-hours.   

 On May 15, in conjunction with Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, both Teachers & Writers Collaborative and Wayne Escoffery will activate the event with live programming. National Youth Poet Laureate Stephanie Pacheco will present original poems on the Rotunda Stage alongside invited guest poets. The evening will culminate in a jazz concert by Wayne Escoffrey and his quartet, featuring Ugonna Okegwo, Orrin Evans, and Mark Whitfield Jr.   

Reserve tickets 

On May 2, the museum will host Teen Fest in conjunction with the Teen Collaborative, an initiative that brings together local students to work with the museum’s staff to foster an even stronger relationship between young people and the arts. Coinciding with the opening of Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, Guggenheim New York has also launched a new free membership program for teens ages 13–18. Teen Circle builds creativity and cultural connection for teens through art, community, and museum access.   

Learn more and Register for Teen Circle

Friday, May 2, 4–7 pm  

Teen Fest featuring Urban Word NYC and Girl Be Heard 

Rotunda 

Inspired by the museum’s current exhibitions, Teen Fest is a celebration created by teens, for teens. The program features art making, gallery exploration, and live activations by our community partners. Youth poets from Urban Word NYC perform a group piece inspired by Rashid Johnson’s work. The event closes with a performance by Girl Be Heard, an organization that amplifies and celebrates the voices of girls, young women, and gender-expansive youth.  

Register

Tuesday, May 27, 4–5:30 pm  

Teen Tuesday 

Rotunda 

Wayne Escoffery organizes a special Teen Tuesday performance on the Rotunda Stage, featuring Zuri McCune & Ben Sherman Group. McCune and Sherman––winners of the 2025 Charles Mingus High School Competition Outstanding Soloist Award. 

Register 

Friday, May 2, 3 pm  

Traci Brimhall: 2025 Guggenheim Poet-in-Residence 

Rotunda Stage 

Pop-up reading by 2025 Guggenheim Poet-in-Residence, Traci Brimhall.  

Friday, May 2, 4 pm  

Lawrence Fields 

Sanguine Piano 

Jazz pianist Lawrence Fields performs a solo set on the Sanguine piano, sharing his unique blend of vintage ideals and contemporary mindset.  

Saturday, May 3, 12–2 pm  

Make a Poem, Take a Poem  

Rotunda Stage  

An interactive poetry writing workshop led by T&W teaching artist Dave Johnson. Visitors are invited to write poems inspired by calligrams and Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers. Select poems will be read aloud from the Rotunda Stage. 

Sunday, May 11, 1 pm  

Emet Vitale-Penniman 

Sanguine Piano 

Emerging jazz musician Emet Vitale-Penniman will perform live at Sanguine. 

Saturday, May 17, 1 pm  

Selis Manor: Creative Aging Reading with Writers from VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired 

Rotunda Stage
Hear the Visionaries, writers from T&W’s eight-week spring residency, present original work and visual art inspired by the Bauhaus, William Shakespeare, and LEGO.  

Monday, May 19, 4 pm  

El Puente Academy for Peace & Justice Poetry Ambassadors Reading 

Rotunda Stage 

Student poets from El Puente Academy share original works developed during their eight-week poetry mentorship program.  

Saturday, May 24, 1 pm  

New York State Teen Poets Reading 

Rotunda Stage 

Student poets from T&W programs including Poetry Out Loud and New York State Youth Poet Laureate finalists read original works. The program includes a reading by 2024–25 New York State Youth Poet Laureate OlaRose Ndubuisi. 

Friday, May 30, 4 pm  

Miki Yamanaka 

Sanguine Piano 

Japanese-born pianist Miki Yamanaka performs a solo set at the Sanguine piano.  

All performances require a general admission ticket to the museum. Through June 1, all tickets purchased online will be available for the discounted price of $28.  

More performers and events will be announced monthly; please visit guggenheim.org/exhibition/rashid-johnson-a-poem-for-deep-thinkers  for additional information. Event details are subject to change. 

Lead support for Rashid Johnson, A Poem for Deep Thinkers is provided by  Ford Foundation. 

Visionary support is provided by Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Edlis-Neeson Foundation, and Daniel Xu and Flora Huang.  

Major support is provided by Neuberger Berman.

The Leadership Committee for this exhibition is gratefully acknowledged for its generosity, with special thanks to Hauser & Wirth, David Kordansky Gallery, Madeleine Arison, Heather and Felix Baker, Justin Bayless, Marie-Josée Coutu, Nancy and Steve Crown, Natasha and François-Xavier de Mallmann, The George Economou Collection, Anton J. Levy, Jennifer and Alec Litowitz, and David Shuman.  

Additional leadership funding is provided by Candace and Michael Barasch, Allison and Larry Berg, Mahshid and Jamshid Ehsani, Alex and Greg Mondre, Dr. Daniel S. Berger Charitable Giving Fund, Tiqui Atencio Demirdjian and Ago Demirdjian, Nicola Erni Collection, Katherine Farley and Jerry I. Speyer, The Forman Family Collection, Paul and Dedrea Gray, John and Amy Griffin Foundation, Stephanie and Tim Ingrassia, Kathy and Mitchell Jacobson, Judelson Family Foundation, Amanda Precourt, Gary Steele and Steven Rice, George Wells and Manfred Rantner, Debi and Steven Wisch, Marilyn and Larry Fields, Bernard I. Lumpkin and Carmine D. Boccuzzi, Jessica and Brian Robinson, Carol and Lawrence Saper, Ann and Mel Schaffer, Barbara and Bruce Berger, and Lizzie and Steven Blatt.  

Support is also generously provided by The Kate Cassidy Foundation, The Robert Lehman Foundation, and The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation.

Additional funding is provided by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s International Director’s Council.

Yamaha Piano provided by Yamaha Artist Services New York.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation was established in 1937 and is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The international constellation of museums includes the Guggenheim New York, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Guggenheim Bilbao, and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. A “temple of spirit” where radical art and architecture meet, the Guggenheim New York is among a group of eight Frank Lloyd Wright structures in the United States designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. To learn more about the Guggenheim New York and the Guggenheim’s activities around the world, visit guggenheim.org.