Performance: Street Versed

Multidisciplinary Poetry and Storytelling Hosted by José Vadi
Thursday, 4/24/2025
5:00 - 7:30
Koret Auditorium
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400

The documentation and presentation of skateboarding through photography, videography and the written word is a type of storytelling that builds the unique lingo and architectural lens that connects skaters to each other and, in the case of San Francisco, the cities they call home.

Skateboarding's increased urbanization throughout the 1990s overlapped with like-minded cultural explosions, creating an urbanized Venn diagram of creatives coexisting in the City, together. Skateboarding in 1990s San Francisco elicits memories of Bay Area hip hop, unique fashion, local diners, bars, raves and more that intersected with its culture.

Inspired by the multidisciplinary culture skateboarding houses and creates, we've asked local poets and storytellers to speak on the ways cities—from built environments, community third-spaces, and the dynamic changes cities embody—have impacted their lives and shaped their storytelling. Featuring Josiah Luis Alderate, Soledad con Carne, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Pendarvis Harshaw, Kar Johnson and Sophie Yanow. 

José Vadi is an award-winning essayist, poet, playwright and film producer. He is the author of Inter State: Essays from California and Chipped: Writing from a Skateboarder’s Lens. His work has been featured by the Paris Review, The Atlantic, the PBS NewsHour, KQED, Free Skate Magazine, Quartersnacks, Alta Journal and the Yale Review. 

 

Connect: 

José Vadi - Website | José Vadi Social
Sophie Yanow - Website 

Pendarvis Harshaw - LinkedIn| Pendarvis Harshaw - Social
Josiah Luis Alderete - Social  with PC Muñoz - Website

Tongo Eisen-Martin - Social

Kar Johnson - Social 

Soledad con Carne - Social

 

Poetry

Programs designed to celebrate the art of the poem, including readings and talks.

Art, Architecture & Photography

Learn from world-class designers, artists and experts in their fields. 

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.

Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.