Poetry Path: Jayne Cortez

Jayne Cortez was a poet and performance artist, born in 1934 in Fort Huachuca, New Mexico. Cortez founded the Watts Repertory Company in 1964, and her own publishing Company, Bola Press, in 1972. She published twelve poetry collections and performed across the nation, including at the Museum of Modern Art. Cortez passed away in 2012.

Jayne Cortez, excerpt from “I Am New York City” from On the Imperial Highway. Used with the permission of Hanging Loose Press.

The Poetry Path is made possible through a partnership with Battery Park City Authority, partners in design and fabrication of the Poetry Path, with additional support from our Outreach Partner, Goldman Sachs. Special thanks to the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation for funding the Poetry Path planning process, and to the Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation for supporting Poetry Path educational initiatives for youth and children.