Nearly 50 people celebrated the release of poet Dana Elkun's Black Box Theater as Abandoned Zoo at Pattie Lee's home in downtown Boulder.

The evening of performative and literary delights began with food, drink and spirited conversation. Then everyone settled in for the main event.

Dana Elkun delighted with an enchanting reading that included personal anecdotes and inspirations, recent work, and poems from her recenlty published, award-winning book. Then, the curtains were hung, the lights were dimmed and the sculptural performance began. Pattie Lee Becker and Lacey Coover brought to life five sculptures they created that were inspired by poems from Black Box Theater as Abandoned Zoo. Orginally conceived of as a puppet show, it evolved into a sculptural performance complete with owl-wing-waves and copper boat, a plush DNA helix and hand-stitched eyes, leopard-teeth-snowflakes and custom curtains by Pattie Lee. Dana read the corresponding poems accompanied by each piece's atmospheric sound composition. The event concluded with a book signing (thanks Tim!) and more mingling and merriment.

Special thanks to :

MATHIAS LEPPITSCH**- welding, construction, lighting, curtains, support & inspiration
LINDSEY WOLF - event prep, butterflies & curtains
TIMOTHY FOSS** - audio/video recording, support & inspiration
LISA MOSES** - event prep & torso repair
EJ POSSELIUS** - sound equipment
JOAQUIN ESPINOSA** - photography, crickets, support & inspiration

**Visit their links.