Paris and the American Writer: An Evening with Kyle Berlin
Thursday, Aug 27, 2026
6:30 pm — 9:00 pm
Inspired by Decadent Spirit: French Art at the Turn of the Century and presented in partnership with Alliance Francaise De Grand Rapids, join us for an evening at GRAM exploring the enduring bond between American writers and Paris. The evening features a special presentation by Kyle Berlin, a West Michigan native who has spent the past three years living in the French capital.
Kyle is the founder and editor of SOUVENIR, an international literary magazine published three times a year and distributed throughout the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
Drawing on his experiences abroad and his passion for literary history, Kyle will share the stories of American writers who made Paris their home — including Ernest Hemingway, whose own story has deep Michigan roots — how the city became a creative haven for some of America’s most influential authors, and his unique perspective on its literary legacy.
Following the presentation, guests are invited to explore Decadent Spirit: French Art at the Turn of the Century.
This is a free event. Registration is encouraged.
For more information, contact Community Engagement, Shayna Velasquez at community@artmuseumgr.org.
About SOUVENIR
SOUVENIR is a new literary journal of arts and culture, published three times a year in Paris. Founded in the spirit of the early Paris Review, we are dedicated to discovering and promoting new writers and artists, both here in France and across Europe. We publish reportage, fiction, interviews, personal essays, art portfolios, reviews, and cultural criticism, highlighting the best talent from the Anglophone and Francophone literary worlds.
Take a look at Issue 2, which explores the fascinating world of the small Parisian literary magazines of the 1920s.
