A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Elena Karina Byrne is a visual artist, teacher, book reviewer, editor, Poetry Consultant and Moderator for The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, and former 12 year Regional Director of the Poetry Society of America. She is currently Literary Programs Director for The Ruskin Art Club and the Poetry Arts teacher for the Idylwild Arts Academy. In addition, Elena is part of the West Hollywood Book Fair’s Planning Committee and works with Red Car studios editing several documentary film projects including, The Big Read, Muse of Fire and Why Shakespeare? Elena has taught poetry since the 1980's in grade schools, high schools and colleges, including Brentwood High School and the University of Souther n Californa. Since 1991 Elena has organized readings for the Museum Of Contemporary Art’s Night Vision poetry programs, the University of Southern California’s Doheny Memorial Library, the Getty Research Institute at the J. Paul Getty Center, The Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Metro Art live Poetry in Motion annual readings, and the Chateau Marmont “Act of the Poet” series.