Wikipedia

Sholeh Wolpé

(Redirected from Sholeh wolpe)

Sholeh Wolpé (Persian: شعله ولپی; born 1962) is an Iranian-born American poet, playwright, librettist, and literary translator.[1][2] She was born in Iran and grew up there until the age of 13. After that she lived in Trinidad and England during her teenage years before settling in the United States. She lives in Spain and California.

Sholeh Wolpé
Wolpé in 2013; photo by Jordan Elgrably
Wolpé in 2013; photo by Jordan Elgrably
Native name
شعله ولپی
Born1962 (age 61–62)[1]
Tehran, Iran
OccupationPoet, playwright, librettist, editor, literary translator
Alma materGeorge Washington University,
Northwestern University,
Johns Hopkins University
Website
www.sholehwolpe.com

Biography

edit

Sholeh Wolpé was born in 1962 in Tehran, Pahlavi Iran.[1] where she lived until age 13. She was then sent to Trinidad to live with her aunt and grandmother. She was later sent to a boarding school in Eastbourne, UK (Moira House School) where she completed her high school. She continued her higher education in the United Stages.[3][4][5][6] She lived in Washington DC, Virginia, Chicago, Redlands, and Los Angeles. In 2018 Wolpé became the inaugural Writer-In-Residence at UCLA. [7] Presently she lives with her husband, sociologist Edward Telles,[8] in Barcelona and Irvine where she is the Writer-In-Residence at University of California, Irvine.[9][10][11][non-primary source needed]

The Poetry Foundation has written that “Wolpé’s concise, unflinching, and often wry free verse explores violence, culture, and gender. So many of Wolpé’s poems deal with the violent situation in the Middle East, yet she is ready to bravely and playfully refuse to let death be too proud.”[12]

Wolpe's literary translations have garnered several prestigious awards and established her as a celebrated re-creator of Persian poetry.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Literary career

edit

Wolpé began her literary career as a poet. After the publication of her first book, "The Scar Saloon" (Red Hen Press), American poet Galway Kinnell encouraged her to translate Iran's iconic poet Forugh Farrokhzad.[22] Wolpé took his advice and became the first bi-lingual and bi-cultural female poet from Iran to translate Farrokhzad's work into English. Her book, "Sin: Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad" (University of Arkansas Press) went on to receive 2010 Lois Roth Persian Translation Award from Lois Roth Foundation.[23] The judges wrote that they “found themselves experiencing Forugh’s Persian poems with new eyes.”[24]

Wolpé has continued writing and publishing collections of her own poetry, as well as anthologies and translations. In 2007 Wolpé turned her attention to the stage. Her first play, SHAME (alternately titled The Silver Bangle) went on to become a finalist or semi finalist at multiple important theater festivals[25][26] and was later published in a World Drama anthology titled "New Iranian Plays" by Aurora Metro Books in the U.K. She went on to write more plays among them LET ME IN and HOLY CORONA.[27][28][non-primary source needed]

In 2005 Wolpé turned her attention to Iranian poetic masterpiece The Conference of the Birds by the 12th Century Iranian Sufi mystic poet "Attar". Her preliminary work was lauded by PEN America as an “artful and exquisite modern translation ”and was awarded the PEN Heim Translation Fund Grant.[29] Soon after the book was acquired by W.W. Norton & Co and published in 2007.[30][non-primary source needed]

Wolpé's sole translation from English to Persian is Walt Whitman’s "Song of Myself" (آواز خويشتن) which was commissioned by the University of Iowa International Program. She co-translated it with Iranian poet Mohsen Emadi and is currently on the University of Iowa’s Whitman website.[31][non-primary source needed]

In 2017 Oakland Theater Project (then known as Ubuntu Theater) commissioned Wolpé to adapt "The Conference of the Birds" for the stage. The play was produced in 2017 by the Inferno Theater in Berkeley, California,[32][non-primary source needed] in 2018 by Ubuntu Theater.[33][non-primary source needed] In 2022 it was staged by the Northern Illinois University School of Theater and Dance.[34][non-primary source needed]

In 2019 Wolpé began a collaboration with composer Fahad Siadat and choreographer Andre Megerdichian. Their work culminated in "The Conference of the Birds- A Movement-Driven Oratorio". The work garnered support form the National Endowment for the Arts, Farhang Foundation, and Scripps College, among others and went on stage in Pasadena at The Noise Within[35][non-primary source needed] and in Los Angeles at The Broad Stage. [36][37][38]

Wolpé continued her work with composers such as Aida Shirazi (Language of Loss)[39][40][non-primary source needed] and Saunder Choi (Song of Exile)[citation needed], as well as providing lyrics for Jazz: Effervescence for Grammy nominated San Gabriel 7’s third jazz album, Lost My Heart, featuring Australian vocalist Ingrid James.[citation needed]

Sholeh Wolpé is also a performer. Her multi-media performance "Seven Valleys" commissioned by The Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles was presented to audiences in 2022.[citation needed]

Wolpé's Memoir, "Abacus of Loss - A Memoir in Verse" (University of Arkansas Press) is her 2022 book in which she combines several genres (memoir, poetry, and reportage) to shape and deliver her story. It was lauded by The Mary Sue journal as "One of 8 Beautiful, Contemporary Novels Written in Verse That Make Poetry Accessible."[citation needed]

Playwright and Lyricist

edit

2023 — Brooklyn Art Song Society, Abacus of Loss – Art Song , composed by Aida Shirazi, text by Sholeh Wolpé. – Premiere: Brooklyn, Newyork

2023 —Resonance Collective, The Conference of the Birds album

2023 — Arlington Choir Song of Exile, libretto: Sholeh Wolpé Composer: Saunder Choi, Premiered in Arlington Va

2023 — And Here I am, A lonely Woman. Composer: Huba de Graaf, Netherlands [41]

2022 —The Getty Villa Museum — THE SEVEN VALLEYS, an original commissioned musical drama utilizing text from Attar’s The Conference of the Birds. By Sholeh Wolpé (event photos)

2022 —The Broad Stage, Santa Monica — World premiere of THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS, A MOVEMENT-DRIVEN ORATORIO composed by Fahad Siadat, Libretto Sholeh Wolpé

2022 —Northern Illinois University, School of Theater and Dance —THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS

2022 —Scripps College, School of music — Soft premiere of THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS, an ORATORIO composed by Fahad Siadat, Libretto Sholeh Wolpé

2021 —Town Street Theater, Los Angeles— BROTHERS AT THE CANADIAN BORDER

2021 —Long Intermediate School, Bryan, TX — LET ME IN

2020 —The Alternative Theater Company, “Believeability” Festival — HOLY CORONA

2018 —Inferno Theater, Berkeley, Ca — THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS

2018 —Oakland Theater Project, Oakland, Ca — THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS

2017 —Centenary Stage Women Playwrights Series — staged reading SHAME

2015 —New Ohio Theater, New York City — staged reading SHAME

2013 —The Marilyn Monroe Theater, West Hollywood — staged reading SHAME

2007 —Open Fist Theater, Los Angeles — Staged reading SHAME

Publications

edit

Poetry

edit
  • Wolpé, Sholeh (2004). The Scar Saloon: Poems. Red Hen Press. ISBN 9781888996036.
  • Wolpé, Sholeh (2007). Rooftops of Tehran. Red Hen Press. ISBN 9781597091107.
  • Wolpé, Sholeh (2013). Keeping Time with Blue Hyacinths: Poems. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 9781557286284.
  • Wolpé, Sholeh (2017). Cómo escribir una canción de amor. Colección Olifante. Olifante Ediciones de Poesía. ISBN 9788494674815.
  • Wolpé, Sholeh (2018). The Outsider. Vol. 14 of IPSI chapbook. International Poetry Studies Institute (IPSI). Australia: Recent Work Press, University of Canberra. ISBN 9781740884792.
  • Wolpé, Sholeh (2022). Abacus of Loss. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-1-68226-198-9.[42][43]

Anthologies

edit

Translations

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Sholeh Wolpé, Irán, 1962. Poemas bilingües" (in Spanish). 2016-07-30. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  2. ^ Poetry Foundation, Sholeh Wolpe Archived September 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Interview With Writer Sholeh Wolpé". Words With Writers. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  4. ^ schenelle, Author (2009-10-11). "Interview With Sholeh Wolpé (January 2005)". Susan Chenelle. Retrieved 2024-05-21. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ ""We Carry Home within Us": A Conversation with Laleh Khadivi & Sholeh Wolpé, by Persis Karim". World Literature Today. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  6. ^ BrookdaleTV (2017-08-08), Visiting Writers Series Interview with Sholeh Wolpé, retrieved 2024-05-21
  7. ^ thisisloyal.com, Loyal Design | hello@thisisloyal com |. "Sholeh Wolpé, UCLA's inaugural writer in residence, retains author's intent when translating poetry - Department of English UCLA". UCLA English. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  8. ^ Observer, Culver City. "The Broad Stage at Home - Red Hen Press Poetry Hour - July 16". Culver City Observer. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  9. ^ "Lecturers & Visitors". www.humanities.uci.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  10. ^ "Comp Lit Writer-in-Residence, Sholeh Wolpe, released a new video "Abacus Of Loss: A Memoir in Verse"". www.humanities.uci.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  11. ^ "uci social sciences". www.socsci.uci.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  12. ^ "Sholeh Wolpé". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  13. ^ "Sholeh Wolpe". The Lois Roth Endowment. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  14. ^ "PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant Recipients - PEN America". pen.org. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  15. ^ Walch, Louis (2017-04-05). "Can Literature Save the World? On Translating Attar's "The Conference of the Birds"". Words Without Borders. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  16. ^ Walch, Louis (2016-06-07). "The Translator Relay: Sholeh Wolpé". Words Without Borders. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  17. ^ Walch, Louis (2018-08-22). "Women Translating the Classics: An Interview with Emily Wilson, Sholeh Wolpé, and Arshia Sattar". Words Without Borders. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  18. ^ Walch, Louis (2019-01-22). "2018 at WWB: 11 Groundbreaking Works". Words Without Borders. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  19. ^ "Attar, the Sufi Poet and Master of Rumi, by Sholeh Wolpé". World Literature Today. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  20. ^ "The Long Journey Home | Perspectives". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  21. ^ McCombs, Theodore (2017-10-05). "Sholeh Wolpé: If I Do Not Translate, It's A Sin". Guernica. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  22. ^ Terrain.org (2015-04-01). "Poetry is Impervious to Bullets: Interview with Sholeh Wolpé". Terrain.org. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  23. ^ "Persian Translation Prize Archives". Roth Foundation. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  24. ^ "Sholeh Wolpe » The Lois Roth Endowment". Rothendowment.org. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  25. ^ NUTT, BILL. "Women Playwright Series returns to Centenary". Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  26. ^ "Women Playwright Series returns to Centenary stage in April". New Jersey Hills. 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  27. ^ Let Me In.
  28. ^ "BelieveAbility July Reading Program". AlternativeTheater. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  29. ^ "The Conference of the Birds | PEN America". pen.org. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  30. ^ "The Conference of the Birds". wwnorton.com. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  31. ^ "بخش:۱ | IWP WhitmanWeb". Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
  32. ^ "The Conference Of The Birds w/ Ubuntu Theater". Inferno Theatre. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  33. ^ Liere, Carly Van (2018-12-10). ""Conference of the Birds": A Flutter of Wisdom & Fun, at Ubuntu, Oakland". theatrius.com. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  34. ^ "The Conference of the Birds - NIU - School of Theatre and Dance". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  35. ^ "The Conference of the Birds". A Noise Within. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  36. ^ rwarecki (2022-06-03). "In the Media: Broadway World Highlights The Conference of the Birds at the Broad Stage | Scripps College in Claremont, California". Scripps College News. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  37. ^ "Conference of the Birds-Theatre - Farhang.org". farhang.org. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  38. ^ Salazar, David (2022-06-03). "The Broad Stage to Work Premiere 'The Conference of the Birds'". OperaWire. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  39. ^ "New Voices Festival 2024: Departures II / Brooklyn Art Song Society". Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  40. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  41. ^ "And Here I Am / a Lonely Woman – Huba de Graaff". Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  42. ^ Karim, Persis (September 2022). "Abacus of Loss: A Memoir in Verse by Sholeh Wolpé". World Literature Today. 96 (5): 58–59. doi:10.1353/wlt.2022.0221. ISSN 1945-8134. S2CID 251573951.
  43. ^ Abinader, Elmaz (August 4, 2022). "An Instrument of Remembering: A Review of Sholeh Wolpé's "Abacus of Loss"". PRISM international magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  44. ^ "PAF Shab-e Sher, Featuring An All-Star Lineup". Radio Javan. 2010. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  45. ^ Davenpost, Arlice (2012-08-05). "The Tortured Face of Iran". The Wichita Eagle. pp. C3. ISSN 1046-3127. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  46. ^ Heiniger, Abigail (2014). "Breaking the Jaws of Silence: Sixty American Poets Speak to the World by Sholeh Wolpé, ed". World Literature Today. 88 (3): 110–112. doi:10.1353/wlt.2014.0133. ISSN 1945-8134. S2CID 245661908.
  47. ^ "Translation brings to life poetry of courageous Iranian woman". The Santa Fe New Mexican. 2007-12-02. pp. Z017. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  48. ^ McCombs, Theodore (2017-10-05). "Sholeh Wolpé: If I Do Not Translate, It's A Sin". Guernica. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sholeh_Wolpé&oldid=1252439836"