Community Calendar

Midtown Reader invites you to hear Li Zhuang, recent graduate of FSU's Creative Writing PhD program, to discuss her passionate book of poems, But Octopi Don't Sing, with FSU Professor James Kimbrell.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Li Zhuang’s But Octopi Don’t Sing are poems of self-discovery and, at times, self-defense, but they are also poems of passion, understanding, and hard-won love. Rarely do we encounter a collection with as much energy combined with as much precision, with as much formal inventiveness combined with such vulnerability, as when she asks her titular, three-hearted octopus, “How many hearts do you need / to hold your endless grief?” Her voice is distinctive and her aim true. Zhuang’s But Octopi Don’t Sing is a remarkable debut and marks the arrival of an exciting new poet

——James Kimbrell Author of The Law of Truly Large Numbers: Poems

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Li Zhuang holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Florida State University. In 2019, Li graduated with an MFA in Fiction Writing from Columbia University. Her work has appeared in The Georgia Review, Indiana Review, Pleiades, The Common, Denver Quarterly, The Madison Review, etc. Li is a finalist for The Georgia Review’s 2025 Loraine Williams Poetry Prize and a runner up for Grist’s ProForma contest. Her poetry chapbook But Octopi Don’t Sing, published in March 2026, was selected as the runner-up for the Purple Ink Press’s Chapbook Contest by Chen Chen.

ABOUT JAMES KIMBRELL
James Kimbrell’s poems have appeared in anthologies including the Best American Poetry and the Pushcart Prize Anthology. The recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, his most recent collection is The Law of Truly Large Numbers (Pitt Poetry Series, 2025). He lives in Tallahassee and serves as distinguished research professor at Florida State University.

Join us for the Hope Through the Storm Health Fair on Friday, July 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Life of Christ Church, 8921 Woodville Highway in Woodville. This free indoor event will offer community resources, hurricane preparedness information, free food, and door prizes. Hosted by Ability 1st and Life of Christ Church. For more information, contact Myrtle Hoffman at 850-575-9621 ext. 1029. Together, we can weather any storm!

Through the Fire brings together the work of Mary Ellen Free and selected regional artists who create through processes shaped by flame, heat, and transformation. Featuring ceramics, glass, metal, and other fire-based mediums, the exhibition explores how artists harness elemental forces to transform raw materials into expressive works of art.

United by the alchemy of fire, these works reveal both technical precision and creative vision, celebrating the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and resilience of artists working across disciplines. Through the Fire honors the enduring power of transformation and the vibrant community of makers throughout our region.

Opening Reception
Thursday, July 9 | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Catering Provided by Simply Entertaining. Live music by John Brashears.

Muffins & Mimosas
Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
In-house mimosas, baked goods from Uptown Cafe, and hot coffee provided by Argonaut Coffee.

Prepping for a summer getaway?
Before you head out on your summer vacation, join us on Saturday, July 11, at 9 a.m. at Tom Brown Park. for a conversation with Dr. Adekunle Omotayo about staying healthy while traveling. Enjoy a relaxing morning of exercise and bring your questions.

The event is free and open to all, with no registration required.

Learn More: https://walkwithadoc.org/join-a-walk/locations/tallahassee-fl/

Through the Fire brings together the work of Mary Ellen Free and selected regional artists who create through processes shaped by flame, heat, and transformation. Featuring ceramics, glass, metal, and other fire-based mediums, the exhibition explores how artists harness elemental forces to transform raw materials into expressive works of art.

United by the alchemy of fire, these works reveal both technical precision and creative vision, celebrating the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and resilience of artists working across disciplines. Through the Fire honors the enduring power of transformation and the vibrant community of makers throughout our region.

Opening Reception
Thursday, July 9 | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Catering Provided by Simply Entertaining. Live music by John Brashears.

Muffins & Mimosas
Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
In-house mimosas, baked goods from Uptown Cafe, and hot coffee provided by Argonaut Coffee.

Join us for a special edition of our Muffins & Mimosas Artist Talk featuring exhibiting artist Mary Ellen Free as she shares insight into her practice, process, and the ideas behind her work in Through the Fire.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in the gallery with coffee by Argonaut Coffee, muffins by Uptown Café & Catering, and our signature in-house mimosas while engaging in an intimate conversation with the artist. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the exhibition through the artist’s perspective and connect more deeply with the work on view.

Come sip, listen, and stay awhile.

Through the Fire brings together the work of Mary Ellen Free and selected regional artists who create through processes shaped by flame, heat, and transformation. Featuring ceramics, glass, metal, and other fire-based mediums, the exhibition explores how artists harness elemental forces to transform raw materials into expressive works of art.

United by the alchemy of fire, these works reveal both technical precision and creative vision, celebrating the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and resilience of artists working across disciplines. Through the Fire honors the enduring power of transformation and the vibrant community of makers throughout our region.

Opening Reception
Thursday, July 9 | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Catering Provided by Simply Entertaining. Live music by John Brashears.

Muffins & Mimosas
Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
In-house mimosas, baked goods from Uptown Cafe, and hot coffee provided by Argonaut Coffee.

Through the Fire brings together the work of Mary Ellen Free and selected regional artists who create through processes shaped by flame, heat, and transformation. Featuring ceramics, glass, metal, and other fire-based mediums, the exhibition explores how artists harness elemental forces to transform raw materials into expressive works of art.

United by the alchemy of fire, these works reveal both technical precision and creative vision, celebrating the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and resilience of artists working across disciplines. Through the Fire honors the enduring power of transformation and the vibrant community of makers throughout our region.

Opening Reception
Thursday, July 9 | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Catering Provided by Simply Entertaining. Live music by John Brashears.

Muffins & Mimosas
Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
In-house mimosas, baked goods from Uptown Cafe, and hot coffee provided by Argonaut Coffee.

Attention all Summer B students!

FSU's Museum of Fine Arts, Student Housing, and Art History Association will host a collaborative event, Link Your Legacy, on Monday, July 13, from 8:00-9:30pm.

Come join us on a legacy walk to make intentions and connections with new friends. When you arrive, you will be invited to pick up a paper link to decorate and write your intentions for this year, semester, or whole college experience!

The links will be joined into a chain-link installation, which will be displayed in MoFA’s watercolor studio space the following week. Even if you aren’t able to join the Link Your Legacy event on campus, you are invited to add your wonderful watercolors and intentions to the installation at MoFA!

All materials will be provided.

Through the Fire brings together the work of Mary Ellen Free and selected regional artists who create through processes shaped by flame, heat, and transformation. Featuring ceramics, glass, metal, and other fire-based mediums, the exhibition explores how artists harness elemental forces to transform raw materials into expressive works of art.

United by the alchemy of fire, these works reveal both technical precision and creative vision, celebrating the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and resilience of artists working across disciplines. Through the Fire honors the enduring power of transformation and the vibrant community of makers throughout our region.

Opening Reception
Thursday, July 9 | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Catering Provided by Simply Entertaining. Live music by John Brashears.

Muffins & Mimosas
Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
In-house mimosas, baked goods from Uptown Cafe, and hot coffee provided by Argonaut Coffee.