SUNDAY AT AQLFWeeeeel, we did not get a huge number of folks at the Downtown Library for the final day of AQLF, but it did not matter. The few folks we had were enthusiastic, and it was cathartic to get to "do" my take on "Vincent"(My one-woman show on poet Edna St. Vincent Millay).
There were some moments that definitely "clicked" for me, but others were muddled--which means: it's REWRITE/REVISE time!Very edifying, clarifying!
Reginald T. Jackson's "69" started slowly, but mid-way through, the plot accelerated exponentially with every second and the story took on a surreal quality that served the characters well. I think it can work, and work well, with only a bit of trimming from the first scene. Reginald is very talented. In fact, he and I have discussed appearing on the same bill with each other(He--a one-man show on writer James Baldwin; me--my "Vincent").
Special thanks to Franklin Abbott(whose idea it was that I write a show about, and portray Ms. Millay) and Collin Kelley....
All in all, a great week of poetry, prose, theatre, and interaction with fellow-artists, and audience! Next year will be even greater!
By the way, I hope to have coool photos up before the end of the week, including a CUTE one of Kate Evans and me!My technical skills are not vast, and so I've had problems loading my pics from my new "Shine" phone(in camera mode)!
Peace, kids.
Showing posts with label Edna St. Vincent Millay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edna St. Vincent Millay. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
SATURDAY AT AQLF!!!!!!!
What a richly rewarding, healing, FUN day/night!
The morning began with no folks lined up for the acting class I had planned to give, but that's okay, because it freed me up to take a breath, and attend a couple of wonderful workshops! The first, a Prose Workshop given by Judy Doenges, had us discussing character, and the way setting can influence, and inform that character.
Collin Kelley, when asked about his "Conquering Venus", detailed how viewing Wim Wenders' "Until The End Of The World" and especially, lovely actress Jeanne Moreau, literally created one of the characters in his novel."She became what I imagine Jeanne Moreau--the person--to be."
Ms. Doenges and Kate("For The May Queen") Evans were surprised by this revelation(as was I), and this fueled more discussion.
Ms. Doenges gave us a hand-out which featured a short story by Peter Cameron, a favorite of hers.
The second workshop was with Kate Bornstein. Her views on gender/race/class identity are legendary, but it's still amazing to see and hear her, in-person.
She detailed a heirarchy that rivals the one created by Eric Maslow(Maslow's Heirarchy of Human Needs)--the one all us college kids became familiar with. The difference being, this heirarchy is one that defines methodologies that attempt to control, and/or repress us.
Despite her claims of being a completely depressed, pessimistic person most of the time, her bright light shone through. I daresay if she didn't carry some hope in her heart, she would not bother to teach the rest of us. "Hello Cruel World" is her fantastic book. Get it, read it, follow the survival tips. Her main rule? "Don't Be Mean."
It was nearly 2:00 P.M., so Robin Kemp and I headed to Landmark Diner, just down from the Forsyth Street Library, for a quick bite that turned into a rather leisurely lunch(Her--Dolmades; me--Moussakka, Greek salad, french fries, mozzarella sticks). We tried to get caught up with one another--I seldom get to see Robin(the woman works continually!), and we discussed current events.The political acumen and tremendous care she exhibits for this country was humbling. I think Robin ought to run for office!
After this, I headed back to the Library, and was treated to bookmarks, "book-thongs", and candy.
I took the train to Brookhaven, where Hansoo fetched me, and we headed off to browse at Phipps Plaza(even in this upscale mall--with boutiques like Versace, and Jimmy Choo, I saw NO ONE with purchases. Everyone, even old-money-wealthy, was simply browsing). We trundled down to Candler Park by car, to hear some pre-show poetry from Yolo, and Lakara Foster.
Lakara wowed me with her takes on relationships, women-love, bad men, and body-image(by day, she's a counselor for young women). You go, woman!
Yolo is a favorite of mine--his "We Are Not The Boys We Want" is an anthem to a sometimes-hyocritical gay mens' community."Fags Are Not Responsible", a searing indictment of the bigotry and homophobia all LGBT are familiar with.
"Skin Deep", the play that won the Larry Corse Prize for Playwrighting, a $1,000.00 award, and received its' premiere as part of AQLF was fun...lots of broad comedy, and a drag queen diva, to boot!
Sunday: 3:00 P.M.--Reginald T. Jackson will direct a show he wrote, "69", just after I give "The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent" a debut. Both are "staged readings", which means they are not-quite-polished.
I'm planning to ask for feedback, as it will help me to "shape" my telling of Vincent's life.
Then Sunday night, at Eyedrum Gallery, a big night of music and craziness, to cap off the fun five days/nights we've all had!
Peace, kids.
What a richly rewarding, healing, FUN day/night!
The morning began with no folks lined up for the acting class I had planned to give, but that's okay, because it freed me up to take a breath, and attend a couple of wonderful workshops! The first, a Prose Workshop given by Judy Doenges, had us discussing character, and the way setting can influence, and inform that character.
Collin Kelley, when asked about his "Conquering Venus", detailed how viewing Wim Wenders' "Until The End Of The World" and especially, lovely actress Jeanne Moreau, literally created one of the characters in his novel."She became what I imagine Jeanne Moreau--the person--to be."
Ms. Doenges and Kate("For The May Queen") Evans were surprised by this revelation(as was I), and this fueled more discussion.
Ms. Doenges gave us a hand-out which featured a short story by Peter Cameron, a favorite of hers.
The second workshop was with Kate Bornstein. Her views on gender/race/class identity are legendary, but it's still amazing to see and hear her, in-person.
She detailed a heirarchy that rivals the one created by Eric Maslow(Maslow's Heirarchy of Human Needs)--the one all us college kids became familiar with. The difference being, this heirarchy is one that defines methodologies that attempt to control, and/or repress us.
Despite her claims of being a completely depressed, pessimistic person most of the time, her bright light shone through. I daresay if she didn't carry some hope in her heart, she would not bother to teach the rest of us. "Hello Cruel World" is her fantastic book. Get it, read it, follow the survival tips. Her main rule? "Don't Be Mean."
It was nearly 2:00 P.M., so Robin Kemp and I headed to Landmark Diner, just down from the Forsyth Street Library, for a quick bite that turned into a rather leisurely lunch(Her--Dolmades; me--Moussakka, Greek salad, french fries, mozzarella sticks). We tried to get caught up with one another--I seldom get to see Robin(the woman works continually!), and we discussed current events.The political acumen and tremendous care she exhibits for this country was humbling. I think Robin ought to run for office!
After this, I headed back to the Library, and was treated to bookmarks, "book-thongs", and candy.
I took the train to Brookhaven, where Hansoo fetched me, and we headed off to browse at Phipps Plaza(even in this upscale mall--with boutiques like Versace, and Jimmy Choo, I saw NO ONE with purchases. Everyone, even old-money-wealthy, was simply browsing). We trundled down to Candler Park by car, to hear some pre-show poetry from Yolo, and Lakara Foster.
Lakara wowed me with her takes on relationships, women-love, bad men, and body-image(by day, she's a counselor for young women). You go, woman!
Yolo is a favorite of mine--his "We Are Not The Boys We Want" is an anthem to a sometimes-hyocritical gay mens' community."Fags Are Not Responsible", a searing indictment of the bigotry and homophobia all LGBT are familiar with.
"Skin Deep", the play that won the Larry Corse Prize for Playwrighting, a $1,000.00 award, and received its' premiere as part of AQLF was fun...lots of broad comedy, and a drag queen diva, to boot!
Sunday: 3:00 P.M.--Reginald T. Jackson will direct a show he wrote, "69", just after I give "The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent" a debut. Both are "staged readings", which means they are not-quite-polished.
I'm planning to ask for feedback, as it will help me to "shape" my telling of Vincent's life.
Then Sunday night, at Eyedrum Gallery, a big night of music and craziness, to cap off the fun five days/nights we've all had!
Peace, kids.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Having been tagged for a Meme-- by Collin Kelley-- to list the quotes which reflect my philosophy on poetry, I reviewed reams of papers I've saved for years, as well as double-checking(via the Internet) the identity of those quoted...
I should add here that the list I have drawn up also expresses opinion on what the poet him/herself is about, too.
Finally, after you read the famous folks' quotes, you may wish to read a few of my own statements on the art of writing, and writing poetry in particular, listed at the end of this post..
Collin listed a Sylvia Plath quote in his "Top Ten", and it is a long-time fav of mine, but I'll insist you check out Collin's Blog, to see which quote it is!
www.collinkelley.com
Without further delay, my "Top Ten":
"A poet can survive everything but a misprint."
Oscar Wilde
"Peace goes into the making of a Poet as Flour goes into the making of Bread."
Pablo Neruda
"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."
John F. Kennedy
(I, Lisa, think that the Kennedy quote is ESPECIALLY applicable to the times we currently(maybe always)live in.)
"Poets are never young, in one sense. Their delicate ear hears the far-off whispers of eternity, which coarser souls must travel towards for scores of years before their dull sense is touched by them. A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience."
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
"The sign and credentials of the poet are that he announces that which no man foretold."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"A poet is a painter of the soul."
Isaac D'Israeli
"To be a poet is to have a soul so quick to discern that no shade of quality escapes it, and so quick to feel that discernment is but a hand playing with finely ordered variety on the chords of emotion: a soul in which knowledge passes instantaneously into feeling, and feeling dashes back as a new organ of knowledge."
George Eliot(pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans Cross)
"Poetry is to Prose as Dancing is to Walking."
John Wain
"Soar, eat ether, see what has never been seen; depart, be lost, but climb."
Edna St. Vincent Millay
"The distinction between historian and poet is not in the one writing prose and the other verse...
the one describes the thing that has been, and the other a kind of thing that might be. Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are of the nature rather of universals, whereas those of history are singulars."
Aristotle, from On Poetics
"Poetry is Truth, dwelling in Beauty."
Robert Gilfillan
"The poet doesn't invent. He listens."
Jean Cocteau
"I don't create poetry, I create myself, for me my poems are a way to me."
Edith Södergran
Okay, I could not stop at merely ten quotes. So sue me....
I tag:
Cleo Creech, and Theresa Davis!
For the record, here are a few of my own thoughts on Poetry--I'm quoting only the things I've said that others have told me are worth repeating-- so here goes:
When asked why I love Open-Mics/Spoken Word performances:
"That thing that happens, between the poet and the audience, that's Communion. It's a Sacrament...'Poetry Communion' ."
When my father said "Lisa, you have such a bubbly, outgoing personality--how come almost everything you write is, um, so dark?"
I answered, "You write what you don't talk about."
When I was asked recently by a reporter from the AJC Newspaper, in refernce to a Georgia-Tech sponsored competition which asks the poets to "center" a poem around a MARTA station(Atlanta's subway system)
"Lots of songs have been written about trains, but--underground trains--why write about that?"
I got a quick visual in my head, and I replied:
"That's a very perceptive, intuitive question, because you know what? Poetry is about the things just under the skin..."
By the way, that project the reporter Bo Emerson was asking me about, is called "Atlanta Rail", and my poem "For The Girl Who Rode Me To Downtown" was selected for the Arts Center Station in Atlanta... you can discover more about that competition by checking out Collin Kelley's Website, and his Blog for May, 2007, where he provides information on how to submit.....
www.collinkelley.com
Have a great Thursday, kids!
I should add here that the list I have drawn up also expresses opinion on what the poet him/herself is about, too.
Finally, after you read the famous folks' quotes, you may wish to read a few of my own statements on the art of writing, and writing poetry in particular, listed at the end of this post..
Collin listed a Sylvia Plath quote in his "Top Ten", and it is a long-time fav of mine, but I'll insist you check out Collin's Blog, to see which quote it is!
www.collinkelley.com
Without further delay, my "Top Ten":
"A poet can survive everything but a misprint."
Oscar Wilde
"Peace goes into the making of a Poet as Flour goes into the making of Bread."
Pablo Neruda
"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."
John F. Kennedy
(I, Lisa, think that the Kennedy quote is ESPECIALLY applicable to the times we currently(maybe always)live in.)
"Poets are never young, in one sense. Their delicate ear hears the far-off whispers of eternity, which coarser souls must travel towards for scores of years before their dull sense is touched by them. A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience."
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
"The sign and credentials of the poet are that he announces that which no man foretold."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"A poet is a painter of the soul."
Isaac D'Israeli
"To be a poet is to have a soul so quick to discern that no shade of quality escapes it, and so quick to feel that discernment is but a hand playing with finely ordered variety on the chords of emotion: a soul in which knowledge passes instantaneously into feeling, and feeling dashes back as a new organ of knowledge."
George Eliot(pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans Cross)
"Poetry is to Prose as Dancing is to Walking."
John Wain
"Soar, eat ether, see what has never been seen; depart, be lost, but climb."
Edna St. Vincent Millay
"The distinction between historian and poet is not in the one writing prose and the other verse...
the one describes the thing that has been, and the other a kind of thing that might be. Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are of the nature rather of universals, whereas those of history are singulars."
Aristotle, from On Poetics
"Poetry is Truth, dwelling in Beauty."
Robert Gilfillan
"The poet doesn't invent. He listens."
Jean Cocteau
"I don't create poetry, I create myself, for me my poems are a way to me."
Edith Södergran
Okay, I could not stop at merely ten quotes. So sue me....
I tag:
Cleo Creech, and Theresa Davis!
For the record, here are a few of my own thoughts on Poetry--I'm quoting only the things I've said that others have told me are worth repeating-- so here goes:
When asked why I love Open-Mics/Spoken Word performances:
"That thing that happens, between the poet and the audience, that's Communion. It's a Sacrament...'Poetry Communion' ."
When my father said "Lisa, you have such a bubbly, outgoing personality--how come almost everything you write is, um, so dark?"
I answered, "You write what you don't talk about."
When I was asked recently by a reporter from the AJC Newspaper, in refernce to a Georgia-Tech sponsored competition which asks the poets to "center" a poem around a MARTA station(Atlanta's subway system)
"Lots of songs have been written about trains, but--underground trains--why write about that?"
I got a quick visual in my head, and I replied:
"That's a very perceptive, intuitive question, because you know what? Poetry is about the things just under the skin..."
By the way, that project the reporter Bo Emerson was asking me about, is called "Atlanta Rail", and my poem "For The Girl Who Rode Me To Downtown" was selected for the Arts Center Station in Atlanta... you can discover more about that competition by checking out Collin Kelley's Website, and his Blog for May, 2007, where he provides information on how to submit.....
www.collinkelley.com
Have a great Thursday, kids!
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