On May 31, 2025 we launched THE GATE OF MEMORY, eds. Brynn Saito and Brandon Shimoda, and HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE US, eds. George Abraham and Noor Hindi. 

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Anthology contributors and community artists gathered at It’s OK* Studios (468 Queen St West, Toronto) to share poetry, art, food and conversation with community. Featured poets included Leanne Toshiko Simpson, Bassam Jamil (calling in from Lebanon), Mona Oikawa, Hajer Mirwali, shō yamagushiku, and Erica H Isomura. 

This afternoon event included readings, paper art installations by Nawal Serhan and Paper Cranes for Palestine, tsuru folding, a print fundraiser for Hamza Salha, and book sales by Another Story bookshop.

https://www.thegateofmemory.com/toronto-reading-53125

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cover art: poppies by Nawal Serhan / photo by Yumi Numata

audio recorded by Jess B

THE GATE OF MEMORY x HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE US (05/31)

Self Control (Live) - Justice Der (Frank Ocean Cover)

Naked

This is a remix i did of Ella Mai - Naked song, hope you like it.

Ella Mai - Naked (DETOUCH Remix)

Blessed (Live)- Justice Der (Daniel Caesar Cover)

White Ferrari (Live) - Justice Der (Frank Ocean Cover)

Nikes (Live) - Justice Der (Frank Ocean Cover)

'Indigenous Internet' is a spokenword poem written by Taran Kootenhayoo. This piece is a collaboration with Ian Foster on the piano and Janet Rogers as the vocalist and rattle. 

http://ianfoster.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/poetlaureatevictoria

Taran - Indigenous Internet   

Indigenous Internet

Recorded on July 4, 2018, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Hanif Abdurraqib: "How Can Black People Write About Flowers at a Time Like This"

MAP (ft. Taran Kootenhayoo)

"Safety Cage Diary" by Kyla Jamieson, published in Vallum issue 17:1, "Home"

“Safety Cage Diary” is part of the audiovisual suite of poems titled Hold Me In The Palm Of Your Mind which will be released in late 2020 and is a collaboration with Natalie Podaima and Ananya Rao-Middleton.

"Safety Cage Diary" by Kyla Jamieson

"how can u listen to frank ocean and not be frank with ur emotions?" -a tweet i once read

THE GATE OF MEMORY x HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE US (05/31)

erica h isomura