John Giorno's Previous Residence Transforms into one of New York's Hippinest Off-beat Art Hubs
Giorno Poetry Systems Embraces Interdisciplinary Art and Activism
Giorno Poetry Systems, a renowned nonprofit organization, continues to carry forward the interdisciplinary legacy of John Giorno, blending poetry with visual art, music, and performance. Established in 1974 and revitalized by Anthony Huberman in 2020, the organization has been at the forefront of performance poetry and spoken word.
Under Huberman's leadership, the focus has shifted towards live events, films, recordings, and collaborations that extend performance poetry into contemporary cultural discourse. This revitalization involves programming events such as film screenings, like the 2025 screening of Ash Moniz’s film about Gaza, and supporting new artistic projects that resonate with John Giorno’s radical approach.
The organization aims to remain connected to current political, social, and artistic conversations, maintaining its mission of bringing poetry off the page into sound, visual, and political realms via multimedia platforms and collaborations.
The Bunker, a 19th-century YMCA building on the Bowery, serves as Giorno Poetry Systems' hub for ticketed events and free visitation on Tuesday evenings. The space, which houses the perfectly preserved bedroom of William S. Burroughs, has become a platform for artists to share their interests, whether they want to talk about their peers, curate a performance, or host a dinner salon.
Recent events at The Bunker have included Leidy Churchman leading a meditation in total darkness with their teacher steeped in Tibetan Dzogchen tradition, Elizabeth Peyton presenting a concert by Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, and Nick Mauss discussing "writing as artistic intervention" with art historian Emmelyn Butterfield-Rosen.
Upcoming events include artist Niloufar Emamifar convening with sociologist Asef Bayat about protest movements in Iran, and author Dodie Bellamy reading from a forthcoming book.
Anthony Huberman also plans to continue the GPS Records label with new artist-curated releases, expanding the organization's reach in the music industry. The label, started by John Giorno in 1972, has been digitized and made available on streaming services for the first time, featuring works by Allen Ginsberg, John Cage, Frank O'Hara, Sonic Youth, Patti Smith, The Fugs, Bobby Seale, and others.
The ethos at The Bunker is one of community, fostering connections between artists. This is evident in The Bookcase, an artist-curated shop within The Bunker, where books and records for sale are given over to more than two dozen artists including Kim Gordon, Philip Glass, Zoe Leonard, Eileen Myles, Lucy Raven, and Anne Waldman.
In addition, new Dial-a-Poem phone lines have been activated in France, Mexico, and will follow in January in Brazil, expanding the project internationally. This initiative, first launched by John Giorno, allows people to access poetry at any time, furthering the organization's mission to make poetry accessible and relevant to a broad audience.
In summary, Giorno Poetry Systems continues to thrive under Huberman's leadership, keeping John Giorno’s pioneering spirit alive by expanding its activities, engaging a broad audience, and fostering a vibrant community of artists.
- In partnership with artists, the contemporary curator of Giorno Poetry Systems, Anthony Huberman, plans to launch new artist-curated releases on GPS Records, extending the organization's influence into the home-and-garden setting of music industry fans.
- The art world has embraced the revitalized Giorno Poetry Systems' interdisciplinary approach, with art heavyweights such as Elizabeth Peyton, Leidy Churchman, and Kim Gordon participating in its home-and-garden lifestyle events at The Bunker.
- An essential part of Giorno Poetry Systems' mission is to make art accessible to a broader audience, as demonstrated by the international expansion of the Dial-a-Poem project, allowing contemporary lifestyles and home settings to engage with art through this innovative platform.
