Chrystos was born in 1946 in San Francisco. She is of mixed-blood ancestry and identifies herself as an Urban Indian. Chrystos is a writer, an artist, and an activist. She is the author of Not Vanishing (1988), Dream On (1991), In Her I Am (1933), Fugitive Colors (1995), and Fire Power (1995). Her work has also appeared in several anthologies.

With her poetry and activism, Chrystos explores the issues of class, gender, genocide, colonialism, class, and gender, and how these affect women and Indian peoples, especially from a feminist and lesbian perspective. Her personal experiences are also woven throughout her testimonial poetry; her erotic poems are lyrically beautiful and full of unique imagery.

Chrystos is the winner of the Audre Lorde International Poetry Competition in 1994 and of the Sappho Award of Distinction from the Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation in 1995. Join us for this special evening with Chrystos as she reads from various original works.