Fellows, faculty members, and staff at the 2023 Kundiman Retreat. Photo credit: Jess X. Snow
From June 21st–25th, we held the 18th Kundiman Retreat at Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus. It was an affirming and inspiring week where Fellows gathered together to write, read, discuss craft, and make new connections.
Rajiv Mohabir, Lehua M. Taitano, Solmaz Sharif, Lysley Tenorio, Ryka Aoki, and Megha Majumdar. Photo credit: Jess X. Snow
Fellows attended craft classes and mentorship sessions with poetry faculty members Rajiv Mohabir, Lehua M. Taitano, and Solmaz Sharif, and fiction faculty members Lysley Tenorio, Ryka Aoki, and Megha Majumdar. Craft classes explored radical revision, the examination of plot, mantras and aphorisms within Asian and Pacific cultures, and more.
Talking about plot in Megha Majumdar’s craft class.
A Q&A in Solmaz Sharif’s craft class. Photo credit: Shirley Cai
In seminars, we discussed the evolution of Asian American literature from a social justice lens, considered our younger selves as our readers, reimagined the Norton Anthology of American Literature, and explored embodied methods of revision.
On Saturday afternoon, we headed to the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx for a spark writing exercise.
Photo credit: Shirley Cai
Rain or shine! Walking from the Fordham University Campus to the New York Botanical Gardens. Photo credit: Jess X. Snow
Evan Chen led the spark writing exercise, which asked us to consider the spaces around us and engage with nature without attempting to master or possess any of it.
Photo credit: Jess X. Snow
Photo credit: Shirley Cai
Photo fun in the Botanical Gardens.
Photo credit: Michelle Peñaloza
Photographer Jess X. Snow also paid us a visit to take group photos and individual author photos for this year’s cohort. Here are some lovely group shots of each home group.
In between classes and seminars, there was time for knitting, tarot cards, haiku slushies, and evening talks.
Morning basketball game. Photo credit: Tariq Luthun
Learning to knit. Photo credit: Muriel Leung
Haikus for slushies. Photo credit: Muriel Leung
Haikus, friendship bracelets, and board games.
Evening karaoke
Tarot card readings
Congratulations to this year’s graduates Angela Peñaredondo, Sally Wen Mao, and Leah Shlachter, who attended their third and final Retreat!
A beautiful display for Closing Circle, made by Muriel Leung and Rona Luo. Photo credit: Shirley Cai
That’s a wrap on another Kundiman Retreat! We are grateful to the brilliant Retreat faculty, incredible staff, and inspiring Fellows who made this space and community so special. We had an unforgettable week and can’t wait for the next Retreat.
Applications for the 2024 Retreat open in December.
Photo credit: Shirley Cai