John Gibson took the mic Thursday night in the name of entertainment and education through impersonation. He assumed the role of three men: a football player who suffered a life-altering injury, a self-loathing drug dealer, and a U.S. soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He told their tales using only rhythmic spoken word. His moving … Continue reading Audience enchanted by Spoken Word Unplugged at BGSU Firelands (via Sandusky Register)
Full Title: "Chapman's Center for Poetry's TAB journal enters its fourth year, gets creative with its presentation (via OC Register)" It’s one thing to simply display poetry but another to caringly craft a design that can feature poetry in a way so unique it can be called a poem itself. This challenge has been met year … Continue reading Chapman’s Center for Poetry’s TAB journal gets creative in its fourth year (via OC Register)
A lot of people in the Philadelphia poetry world are very happy today. On Friday morning, Mayor Kenney is scheduled to announce that Yolanda Wisher, a poet with a long history of publication and community activism, has been appointed Philadelphia poet laureate for 2016-17. The event is to include a short reading by the appointee. … Continue reading Yolanda Wisher named Philly’s third poet laureate (via Philly)
It is rare to discover an artist who deftly weaves healing into their chosen art form. Alameda poet, writer, and teacher Cathy Dana does this seamlessly in her first book of poetry, "My Dad Believed in Love." Dana will read from her new book of poetry and prose from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at … Continue reading Alameda writer to present her first book of poetry (via Contra Costa Times)
One South Dakota State University student has been writing poetry since fifth grade. Now, as a freshman in college, he has published his first book. “No Tears,” a compilation of poems that address social injustice, heartbreak, love and overcoming obstacles was published last week by Kendrick Walton. But the publishing process was not an easy … Continue reading Student looks to change opinions through the power of poetry (via The Collegian)
In two months, America will be celebrating National Poetry Month for the 20th time. Whereas the African-American literary presence within the larger national literary scene is concerned, much has changed since 1996. In the first 78 years of the recognition, from 1918 through 1996, African-Americanpoets were awarded the Pulitzer Prize three times. In the twenty years … Continue reading Another golden age for African-American poetry (via Washington Times)
On poet, Marcus Montgomery. Stephanie Norwood Wayne’s sixth-grade English class became a spoken-word café Tuesday morning thanks to visiting artist Marcus Montgomery. Montgomery is a spoken-word poet, author and educator from Little Rock, Arkansas. He will spend the rest of this week doing creative writing workshops with Milam students as part of the Link Centre’s … Continue reading Spoken-word poet encourages Milam students to find their voice (via DJournal)
The fourth Code Poetry Slam, a competition that encourages poets and programmers to integrate the performance aspect of coding with more traditional notions of poetry, will be held this February. Melissa Kagen, a German studies doctoral candidate, alongside Kurt James Werner, another Stanford graduate student, founded the Code Poetry Slam after being fascinated by how much … Continue reading Fourth Code Poetry Slam to be held in February (via Stanford Daily)
Fred Moten, a professor of English at the University of California, Riverside, is one of five finalists for the prestigious Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, which is presented by Claremont Graduate University. The $100,000 award honors a poet at mid-career and provides resources “that allow the artist to continue working toward the pinnacle of their craft,” … Continue reading Scholar a finalist for prestigious Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award (via University of California)
Placer Arts presented the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest Sunday afternoon at the General Gomez Arts & Event Center in Auburn. Approximately 50 family, friends and poetry enthusiasts gathered to hear seven high school student regional finalists recite poems in the hopes of representing Placer County and advancing to the California State finals on Feb. … Continue reading Voices of passion & poetry (via Auburn Journal)
