There's a bit of a double-meaning for Wednesday, Nov. 4th....It was the 35th Birthday Celebration for Charis Books and More, AND it was my own birthday(and I'm not saying which one it was for me).
I was honored to get to Emcee the event for Featured Poets for the kick-off to AQLF(Atlanta Queer Literature Festival).
The visionary Franklin Abbott, incredibly dedicated Megan Volpert and Collin Kelley(co-directors of AQLF) and many others created a festival that is already surpassing previous festivals.
Reading on Wednesday night were, in order:Your host(me),Malika, Kristyl Dawn Tift, Alice Teeter, Louisa Merchant, Maudelle Driskoll(who was generous in giving us her time, after Sharon Sanders had to cancel), Charlene Ball, Libby Ware.
I ended the evening with a few newer poems of my own, and to round out the evening, Ken J. Martin, who treated us to some soulful music and his warm voice.
We had a very attentive audience, and approximately 50 total present, which is super!
Special thanks to all the performers, and to Charis Books and More, for sharing their celebration, and space with us(AQLF).And big hugs to Dan Morrison, who kindly filmed the entire event, and snapped a few pictures of some of us.
Afterwards, several of us landed at Brewhouse Cafe', a British pub, for decidely un-British food(wings, Greek salad, gyros, burgers)and quite a round of conversation--politics, the defeat for LGBT in Maine, and what-do-we-feel-about-President-Obama.(Me? I'm in the please-give-him-time-camp)
Thursday night(only a few hours ago, as I type this), a wonderful mix of styles at Outwrite Books' presentation of "My Diva: 65 Gay Men On The Women Who Inspire Them", a landmark piece of literature incorporating essays(some quite poetic!)by gay men recounting the influence or mentorship of a certain woman(icons, all!) in their lives.
Well-known poets Cleo Creech and Collin Kelley were featured contributors, along with the dynamo who launched this collection, Michael Montlack, as well as featured contributors Reggie Cabeco, and Jim Elledge. Delightfully, wickedly funny, and deeply poignant as well, I know the book(which I immediately purchased) will be as affecting as the reading was!
Props to Philip Rafshoon, owner of "Outwrite Books", for his great space, and his full, unending support of our(LGBT)community!
Coming up? Too many events to list, but read all about them, at the official AQLF site, below!
http://www.atlqueerlitfest.com
Peace, kids.
Showing posts with label Alice Teeter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alice Teeter. Show all posts
Friday, November 06, 2009
Saturday, October 18, 2008
AQLF UPDATE!!!!!!
Wednesday night--Met Kate Evans, and was wowed by her discussion of identity "We ARE, and we ARE NOT..." our protaganists, our stories(in our works of fiction, and I would add, in our poetry--even in our "confessional" poetry, lies are told at times, to get to the larger truth.
Mark Doty was brilliant--tales of his love who has since passed, and his dogs. Tales of his new love.
And Blair! He channeled the essence of Janet and Michael Jackson, and his voice--ringing in both opera, and in his spoken-word, was deeply affecting.
Many big thank you's to:
Collin Kelley, Franklin Abbott, and the irrepressible Megan Volpert, in planning this amazing event.
I was not present for Thursday of the Fest, but you can read plenty of exciting news on AQLF, at Collin Kelley's blog.
Last night (Friday) we had a great crowd at Charis(BIG THANK YOU TO KERRIE AND ALL THE STAFF!!)--enthusiastic, and very mixed--lots of gay men, lesbians, and a couple of bi's, and some parents of the poets.....
Reginald T. Jackson always delivers in his sharp, fearless work. He read several pieces, including "Jigga-Boo..", a commentary in poetic form on hip-hop.
I read in-between each poet, meshing a bit of serious poetry and finishing the evening with my two "Orgasms"(from my nearly-completed "The Orgasm Poems"). Patrique Vosges was fun, witty and shared a bit of his fear of falling-in-love--he's a fresh voice on the scene!I had Alice Teeter read last, and her work has richness to it, but it goes down like a sorbet. She is refreshing, clever, and at times--her work devastates with its informed humanity.
Afterwards, several folks commented they'll be at Downtown Library on Sunday for the 3:00 P.M. performances from Reginald T. Jackson(who will be producing and directing his edg-y "69")and me("The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent").Sounds like Reginald's is very polished, whereas mine is still "in transition". I think I'll be able to give the audience a "sense" of Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Today, it's workshops, all day!
Check it out, at:
www.atlqueerlitfest.com
Link to Charis Books and More, to the right of this column!
Peace, kids!
Wednesday night--Met Kate Evans, and was wowed by her discussion of identity "We ARE, and we ARE NOT..." our protaganists, our stories(in our works of fiction, and I would add, in our poetry--even in our "confessional" poetry, lies are told at times, to get to the larger truth.
Mark Doty was brilliant--tales of his love who has since passed, and his dogs. Tales of his new love.
And Blair! He channeled the essence of Janet and Michael Jackson, and his voice--ringing in both opera, and in his spoken-word, was deeply affecting.
Many big thank you's to:
Collin Kelley, Franklin Abbott, and the irrepressible Megan Volpert, in planning this amazing event.
I was not present for Thursday of the Fest, but you can read plenty of exciting news on AQLF, at Collin Kelley's blog.
Last night (Friday) we had a great crowd at Charis(BIG THANK YOU TO KERRIE AND ALL THE STAFF!!)--enthusiastic, and very mixed--lots of gay men, lesbians, and a couple of bi's, and some parents of the poets.....
Reginald T. Jackson always delivers in his sharp, fearless work. He read several pieces, including "Jigga-Boo..", a commentary in poetic form on hip-hop.
I read in-between each poet, meshing a bit of serious poetry and finishing the evening with my two "Orgasms"(from my nearly-completed "The Orgasm Poems"). Patrique Vosges was fun, witty and shared a bit of his fear of falling-in-love--he's a fresh voice on the scene!I had Alice Teeter read last, and her work has richness to it, but it goes down like a sorbet. She is refreshing, clever, and at times--her work devastates with its informed humanity.
Afterwards, several folks commented they'll be at Downtown Library on Sunday for the 3:00 P.M. performances from Reginald T. Jackson(who will be producing and directing his edg-y "69")and me("The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent").Sounds like Reginald's is very polished, whereas mine is still "in transition". I think I'll be able to give the audience a "sense" of Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Today, it's workshops, all day!
Check it out, at:
www.atlqueerlitfest.com
Link to Charis Books and More, to the right of this column!
Peace, kids!
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