On an evening in late April Saint Joseph's Art Society hosted another luminous edition of Poolside Poets, presented by Decentered Arts alongside curators Rhea Joseph and Liz Cahill. In this breathtaking historic venue - founded by Ken Fulk - poetry, music, dance, and fashion gathered once again for an evening celebrating Earth Day through performance and community.

Guests arrived dressed in their best “Elemental.”

Think: flowing water-blue gowns, airy sheer capes catching invisible winds, flame-toned silks and glowing reds, mossy greens and earth textures, nature prints, ocean shimmer, volcanic glamour, forest mysticism - mix & match: linen, chiffon, cotton, velvet, recycled fabrics, thrifted treasures, upcycled pieces honoring the beauty of the planet.

Featured Poets: Jesse Nathan, C. Anne Gardner, and more poets joined the lineup.

Featured Musician: Hidden Thread Music

Dancers: Erica Knox and Tobias Echeverria

Throughout the evening, more artists appeared as the soaring halls of Saint Joseph’s Arts Society filled with poetry, music, movement, and celebration in honor of the elements and the living world around us.


Poolside Poets at Saint Joseph's Art Society 

Poolside Poets returned to Saint Joseph's Art Society - an Earth Day edition featuring poetry, music, dance, and elemental fashion celebrating nature and community.

On an evening in mid-March Saint Joseph's Art Society hosted the return of Poolside Poets, presented by Decentered Arts alongside curators Baruch Porras Hernandez, Rhea Joseph, and Liz Cahill. In this breathtaking historic venue—founded by Ken Fulk—poetry, music, dance, and fashion unfolded together in a dreamy evening of performance and community.

Guests arrived dressed in their best “Forbidden Fruit.”

Think: mysterious masquerade, red velvet and black lace, dark glamour and desirable anonymity, cherry-printed dresses and strawberry jumpsuits, masks, silk gloves, lush crimson tones, leafy greens, temptation couture, decadent textures—mix & match: satin, lace, velvet, mesh, silk, whatever felt deliciously forbidden.

The evening also featured the debut of the Forbidden Words Quilt Project, led by Lorraine Woodruff-Long and Trisha Hickey. This international community quilt highlighted 384 words and phrases banned or scrubbed from U.S. government communications, as identified by PEN America. Created by more than 200 contributors across every U.S. state and six countries, the quilt transformed censorship into collective storytelling through fabric and thread.

Featured Performers: Tasha Malan, Hidden Thread Music, Baruch Porras Hernandez, Maze

Dancers: Jin Lee Baobei, Erica Knox, Tobias Echeverria

More artists joined throughout the night as the soaring halls of Saint Joseph’s Arts Society filled with poetry, music, movement, and celebration.


Poolside Poets returned on March 18 at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society—featuring poetry, music, dance, the debut of the Forbidden Words Quilt, and a Forbidden Fruit masquerade.

On an evening in mid-January, Saint Joseph’s Arts Society hosted Poolside Poets, presented by Decentered Arts.

Guests arrived dressed in their best “Resort Wear,” leaning into White Lotus fantasy and poolside glamour — flowing whites and tropical prints, silk sarongs and linen suits, seashell jewelry, breezy dresses, relaxed tailoring, and playful swimwear layered with elegance. Linen, silk, cotton, raffia, shells, and foliage mixed freely, creating a vacation-ready, indulgent atmosphere.

The evening featured poetry from Baruch Porras Hernandez, Giovanna Lomanto, Arthur Kao, Drew Sage, Tucker Bryant, and additional voices that joined throughout the night.

Music was provided by Hugo de la Lune, whose live set carried the room between readings.

Dancers Erica Knox and Tobias Echeverria added movement and visual poetry, weaving through the space and completing the lush, poolside dream.


Poolside Poets returned in January at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society—resort-glam poetry, music, dance, and Decentered Arts magic.

On an evening in mid-October the Phoenix Hotel hosted the Poolside Poets Anthology Launch.

Guests came dressed in their best "Dress to Impress"

Think: sequined blazers and silk gowns, sharp suits with bold prints, velvet tuxedos, statement heels and dramatic coats, feathered fascinators, glittered makeup and slicked-back hair, satin slip dresses with chunky boots, tailored jackets over slip skirts, bold colors with classic black, jewel-toned suits and theatrical accessories — mix & match: silk, velvet, sequins, brocade, tulle, leather, metallics, whatever screamed celebration

Featured Poets: Tongo Eisen-Martin, Tucker Bryant, Rhea Joseph, Lorrie Change, Liz Cahill, Drew Sage, Eyra Dordi, Charlie Getter, Char Lacsina, Alex Miller

Featured Musician: Elijah Malik ( Spotify: <https://open.spotify.com/artist/2WLfCdBLX8d9BTrE0K9bjT?si=lFymly6gRtmNEJFtwFFtCg> )

Dancers: Erica Knox & Tobias Echeverria


Poolside Poets 20 Litquake and Anthology Launch

Poolside Poets turned two! We had a special evening planned with Litquake and celebrated the launch of our anthology.

On an evening in mid-August the Phoenix Hotel hosted our 19th Pooslide Poets. 

Guests came dressed in their best "Walk of Shame"
Think: disheveled glam, club top and sweatpants, slip dress and sneakers, messy bun, one earring, sunglasses indoors, flannel over sequins, heels with gym shorts, trench coat over pajamas, yesterday’s makeup, wet hair, hoodie and mini skirt, neon with fur, lingerie as outerwear, suit pants no shirt, oversized blazer and bare legs, socks and sandals, bedhead and smudged eyeliner, crocs with fishnets, morning-after eyes, last night’s outfit reimagined, regret couture, mix & match: satin, flannel, mesh, leather, denim, silk, whatever survived the night

Featured Poets: Carlos Quinteros III, Elijah Madnewton, Heather Gibbons, Jennifer Elizabeth, Liam Clickenger, London Pinkney, May-Li Khoe, MH Lopez, Niambi Walker, Nicole Rose Schoonbrood

Featured Musician: FREQz **<https://www.instagram.com/freqzzzz/?hl=en>**

Dancers: Erica Knox & Ai Yin


Poolside Poets August 2025

An evening of beautifully disheveled fun. 

On an evening in May the Phoenix Hotel hosted Poolside Poets.

Guests came dressed in their best "Dreamscape"

Think: flowing chiffon and shadowy velvet, ethereal tulle with leather accents, gauzy capes and dramatic eyeliner, moonlit slip dresses, deconstructed suiting, sheer layers over structured corsets, cloud-soft knits with metallic boots, surreal makeup and trompe-l’oeil florals—mix & match: chiffon, velvet, lace, leather, tulle, metallics, mesh, whatever felt dreamlike or deliciously nightmarish

Featured Poets: Liz Cahill, Anoah East Wang, Joseph Kidney, Philip Staley, Willy, Zoellen, Emlen Metz, Pasich, Alexandra Kostoulas, Angelica La Marca, Eliza Alma Ramazzini

Featured Musician: Noah Solt & Xiao Zhang ( Spotify: <https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ahNmULLhWIi6zVFJl2MYp?si=VxpPCOWpSmy6ycQhVpdsXA> )

Dancers: Remi Blakesley & Erica Knox


Poolside Poets May 2025

Poets bloomed in dream world glam—guests floated in chiffon, nightmares, and neon while dancers and soundscapes dissolved the Phoenix into fantasy.


On an evening the Phoenix Hotel hosted Poolside Poets.

Guests came dressed in their best "Denim on Denim"

Think: double denim combos, jean jacket and jorts, bedazzled denim tops with denim gowns, cutoff shorts with denim trench, denim corset over a slip, patchwork jeans with sequins, oversized trucker jacket and mini skirt, denim shirt tied at the waist, denim blazer with bare legs, distressed jeans and silk blouses, hooded denim vests with combat boots, denim overalls reimagined as eveningwear, denim-on-denim mismatches, thrifted denim with metallic accents, jean shorts with tights, socks and sandals with denim, layered jean pieces and leather, lace under denim, whatever survived the wash

Featured Poets: Ladi Rev, Rhea Joseph, Papi Grande, LexThePen, Meg, Curandera Frida, Tera da poet, Shane King Zackery, Tucker Bryant, Tawo, ThaIllNai, Meg.

Featured Musician: Unorthodox Free Order aka UFO (Music: <https://linktr.ee/UFO1111>)

Dancers: Remi Blakesley & Erica Knox


Poolside Poets March 2025

Poets took the stage in head-to-toe denim—frayed, glittered, and reimagined—turning the Phoenix into a blue-jean dreamscape.

On an evening in mid-January the Phoenix Hotel hosted Poolside Poets.

Guests came dressed in their best "Darkness Lifts Softly"

Think: lacy floor-length gowns and tactile velvet coats, sheer slips under oversized trenches, tactile lace with chunky boots, long chiffon layers and leather corsets, dramatic collars and soft gloves, floor-skimming skirts with combat soles, crochet capes and satin hoodies, feathered shawls with sturdy boots, tactile knit wraps and metallic accents, textured layers, muted noir palette with surprising shimmer—mix & match: lace, velvet, chiffon, knit, leather, satin, mesh, whatever felt soft, bold, and ready to rise

Featured Poets: Liz Cahill, Drew Sage, Rhea Joseph, Esperanza, Mr. Beal, Tifa Love, Vika, JR Rice, J. Enrique Martinez.

Featured Musician: Animal Prince (Spotify: <https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FiNgS5mawvNhPpOn00Qnp?si=O1Dyy-AaTSyJm4mwtirAjQ>)

Dancers: Nehemiah Aldrich, Erica Knox


Poolside Poets January 2025

Goth fairies in lace swayed through candlelight as poets whispered new year spells—guests WORE softness like armor and ritual.

Erica Knox

Artist at:

DECENTERED
ARTS