Acclaimed Italian poet Gabriele Tinti and celebrated American author, screenwriter, and actor Jerry Stahl take you on a unique, site-specific performance walk through Downtown Los Angeles. This poetic itinerary weaves through historic memory, urban myth, and architectural grandeur, uncovering the city’s past, from its Franciscan origins at Maguire Gardens to the dark legends of the Biltmore and Cecil Hotels. Marking the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, the performance honors the Franciscan origins of the modest 18th-century settlement that eventually grew into one of the world’s cultural capitals.
On October 19, Ekphrasis. An Evening of Boxing & Poetry, another special evening with Gabriele Tinti, brings poetry inspired by the ancient sculpture The Boxer at Rest to life through film screenings, a panel discussion, and a live poetry reading by actor Marco Rodriguez.
These events are presented as part of the celebrations for the 26th Italian Language Week in the World.
Ekphrasis: An Evening of Boxing & Poetry
October 19, 2026 | 5:00 PM
📍UCLA