Poetry, Perspective, and the Power of Words: Margaret Gibson Takes the Stage at Arts Café Mystic
At a Glance
What: An evening of poetry featuring former Connecticut Poet Laureate Margaret Gibson
When: Friday, October 23, 2026, 7–9 p.m.
Doors/Ticket Sales: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: La Grua Center
Address: 32 Water Street, Stonington Borough, CT
Admission: $20 general admission; students free
Featured Poet: Margaret Gibson, Connecticut Poet Laureate from 2019 to 2022
Presented By: The Arts Café Mystic
Series: The Arts Café Mystic’s 34th season
Parking: Free parking
Accessibility: Contact the La Grua Center for specific accommodations
Tickets: Available at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Information: TheArtsCafeMystic.org
Event Description
The Arts Café Mystic presents Margaret Gibson on Friday, October 23, at the La Grua Center in Stonington Borough, continuing a literary tradition that has brought distinguished poets and writers to southeastern Connecticut for 34 years.
Gibson, a former Connecticut Poet Laureate and a respected voice in contemporary American poetry, is the featured writer for the October gathering. The evening offers an opportunity to hear her work in the intimate setting of the La Grua Center, where literature and conversation have long been central to the Arts Café experience.
Margaret Gibson: Poetry Rooted in Experience
Margaret Gibson served as Connecticut’s state poet laureate from 2019 to 2022. Her writing explores subjects including memory, family, spirituality, nature, and the complicated ways people experience love and loss.
Her poetry is known for its attention to language and its willingness to confront difficult emotional territory without sacrificing beauty or clarity.
Among her collections are The Vigil, Second Nature, Not Hearing the Wood Thrush, and The Glass Globe. Her work has received recognition from major literary organizations, including the Academy of American Poets.
Gibson’s poems frequently begin with ordinary observations and move toward larger questions about identity, relationships, and the passage of time.
Hearing poetry read aloud by its author can reveal rhythms, pauses, and emotional nuances that are sometimes less apparent on the printed page. For readers familiar with Gibson’s work, the evening provides a chance to experience those poems in her own voice.
For newcomers, it offers an introduction to one of Connecticut’s most accomplished contemporary poets.
A Literary Tradition More Than Three Decades Old
The Arts Café Mystic is celebrating its 34th year of presenting literary and artistic programs.
The organization has developed a reputation for bringing notable writers to the region, creating opportunities for audiences to engage directly with poets whose work reaches well beyond Connecticut.
Its fall 2026 schedule includes three distinguished women writers.
The season opened September 25 with Eleni Sikelianos, a poet, writer, and collaborator whose work crosses literary genres.
Gibson’s October appearance is followed November 20 by Sophie Cabot Black, an acclaimed poet whose work has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Granta, The Nation, and The New Republic.
Together, the three appearances reflect the series’ commitment to presenting established literary voices and a wide range of poetic perspectives.
An Intimate Evening at the La Grua Center
The event takes place at the La Grua Center, a cultural venue located at 32 Water Street in historic Stonington Borough.
Known for its concerts, lectures, exhibitions, and community programming, the center offers an inviting setting for literary events.
Its smaller scale allows audiences to experience readings in an atmosphere that encourages attentive listening and a closer connection with the featured writer.
For those who enjoy poetry, literature, or the arts more broadly, the evening provides an opportunity to spend time with a writer whose work has helped shape Connecticut’s literary landscape.
Admission and Event Information
The program begins at 7 p.m., with tickets available at the door starting at 6:30 p.m.
General admission is $20, while students may attend free of charge.
Free parking is available at the La Grua Center.
The Arts Café Mystic is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the arts and supported in part by the State of Connecticut.
More information is available at the Event Website link below.
Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.