I was thrilled to get to see noted actress and provocateur Ms. Pam Grier at Outwrite Books in Midtown Atlanta, on Wednesday evening.I invited great pal, Diane Davis Weeks to go-with, and we sat with Collin Kelley and his BFF, Tina M.
Owner of Outwrite, Philip Rafshoon was delighted by the crowd, which began assembling quite early.
There was no mistaking her arrival, as spontaneous cheers went up through the crowd.
A hush fell over us, as we awaited her presence; we were mesmerized as Ms. Grier floated up to the mic.
I was already two-thirds into her memoir, "Foxy", so I knew some of the stories she recounted for the benefit of her fans. Stories of heartache and abuse are peppered throughout this great-read, which manages--like the woman herself--to be an homage to hard work, discipline, diligence, and faith. With a big nod to extreme, unbridled sex appeal, too!
Thanks, Pam. I'll treasure the meeting, and the autograph!
Pictures to follow. Check out my Facebook page, too, by Friend-ing me at the Auto-Link for my Facebook page, see "Lisa's Links" to the right of this column, by scrolling down.
Peace, kids.
Showing posts with label Outwrite Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Outwrite Books. Show all posts
Friday, June 18, 2010
Sunday, November 16, 2008
GALVANIZED.
That's the word I'd use to describe the feeling of being not only shored-up, and supported, but excited to work towards the very just, and very fair goal of having marriage:
Civil, Legal marriage available to ALL!
LGBTQ persons have been stripped of that right in California, and several other states have also passed voter-driven resolutions to deny this, and other rights to LGBTQ!The State of Arkansas now says you cannot even adopt a child if you're LGBTQ!
The excitement yesterday was palpable, at The State Capitol, where we(over 1,000 of us, perhaps 1500) gathered to hear various speakers as we protested PEACEFULLY, with signs that read: "NO H8"(No Hate), and (Thank you, Stacey Boschma!)"I'd Vote for YOUR Family".
I was deeply moved that several members of the religious communities showed up to SUPPORT our LGBTQ Civil and Human Rights! Among those present:
A female Presbyterian(from Central Presbyterian Church, directly across the street) minister, a male Christian minister and counselor, and the always-amazing Evelyn Coleman, a Christian woman who authors books for children. Ms. Coleman brought tears to my eyes as her voice nearly broke when she said "I am a Christian, and you are my brothers and sisters..." She went on to detail how her 91-year-old mother had said to tell the LGBTQ folks gathered, "Tell them I am with them, that I am a Christian, that God loves us all as we are, that they they are loved." I was actually quite surprised at the spiritual, even religious tenor of the entire day. I found it inspiring, and very uplifting.
BUT. In order for us to obtain our Civil and Human Rights, we must stay on-point about the nature of this, and that is:
We must get Civil and Human Rights while emphasizing this is about Civil, Legal Marriage. There are some religious groups who are NOT supportive, and IMHO, they need not be concerned with our obtaining legal, civil marriage, as it will NOT affect them. As I said in an earlier post, we are not going to come running into their (bigoted) churches, demanding to be married there.
If we want spiritual and religious support, it's out here for us, as was clearly evidenced yesterday.
After the Protest Prop 8 at the Capitol, strawberry-blond and lovely Jess Hand and I walked towards(in cold, very windy weather) Midtown. We got to catch up with each other on what's happening in our lives
(I interviewed Jess for the article I wrote for Curve Magazine, for this past June's PRIDE edition, that was the last time I got to speak with her at length),grabbed a bite on Peachtree Street, at the Broadway Diner(their mashed potatoes are sheer heaven--light, and buttery), and then we headed out on foot again, to "Outwrite Books " where the "Candlelight Vigil" had turned into a car-honking, flag-waving, music-blaring, voices lifting, street party. Albeit with many candles lit!
I spoke with Outwrite Books' owner, Philip Rafshoon, and the celebration of Outwrite's 15th Anniversary had begun that evening, as well!(Be sure to drop in at Outwrite for an amazing moist, luscious cupcake, a rich cup of coffee, and a great read, soon.(Now Being Featured: books on Gay Marriage!).
I love spending time there--the bookstore/cafe' is simultaneously calming, quirky, and fun! See Link to Outwrite, to the right of this column.
Jess and I carried our signs, and received "OBAMA PRIDE" stickers(complete with logo featuring rainbow colors!). I signed up to be more active in Jim Martin's(for State Senator; he is opposing Saxby(booooooooo!)Chambliss) campaign.
Special Thank You's to:
Collin Kelley:
check out his blog,"Modern Confessional", complete with photos of yesterday, at:
www.collinkelley.blogspot.com/
C. Cleo Creech, who snapped the photos. Find Cleo at:
www.cccreech.blogspot.com/
and Dustin Brookshire, whose "I Was Born Doing Reference Work In Sin" also featuring photos from yesterday, can be found, at:
www.dbrookshire.blogspot.com/
Yesterday reminded me what a great time it is, to be alive. We can ALL make a difference, if we try.
Let's try, okay?
Peace, kids.
That's the word I'd use to describe the feeling of being not only shored-up, and supported, but excited to work towards the very just, and very fair goal of having marriage:
Civil, Legal marriage available to ALL!
LGBTQ persons have been stripped of that right in California, and several other states have also passed voter-driven resolutions to deny this, and other rights to LGBTQ!The State of Arkansas now says you cannot even adopt a child if you're LGBTQ!
The excitement yesterday was palpable, at The State Capitol, where we(over 1,000 of us, perhaps 1500) gathered to hear various speakers as we protested PEACEFULLY, with signs that read: "NO H8"(No Hate), and (Thank you, Stacey Boschma!)"I'd Vote for YOUR Family".
I was deeply moved that several members of the religious communities showed up to SUPPORT our LGBTQ Civil and Human Rights! Among those present:
A female Presbyterian(from Central Presbyterian Church, directly across the street) minister, a male Christian minister and counselor, and the always-amazing Evelyn Coleman, a Christian woman who authors books for children. Ms. Coleman brought tears to my eyes as her voice nearly broke when she said "I am a Christian, and you are my brothers and sisters..." She went on to detail how her 91-year-old mother had said to tell the LGBTQ folks gathered, "Tell them I am with them, that I am a Christian, that God loves us all as we are, that they they are loved." I was actually quite surprised at the spiritual, even religious tenor of the entire day. I found it inspiring, and very uplifting.
BUT. In order for us to obtain our Civil and Human Rights, we must stay on-point about the nature of this, and that is:
We must get Civil and Human Rights while emphasizing this is about Civil, Legal Marriage. There are some religious groups who are NOT supportive, and IMHO, they need not be concerned with our obtaining legal, civil marriage, as it will NOT affect them. As I said in an earlier post, we are not going to come running into their (bigoted) churches, demanding to be married there.
If we want spiritual and religious support, it's out here for us, as was clearly evidenced yesterday.
After the Protest Prop 8 at the Capitol, strawberry-blond and lovely Jess Hand and I walked towards(in cold, very windy weather) Midtown. We got to catch up with each other on what's happening in our lives
(I interviewed Jess for the article I wrote for Curve Magazine, for this past June's PRIDE edition, that was the last time I got to speak with her at length),grabbed a bite on Peachtree Street, at the Broadway Diner(their mashed potatoes are sheer heaven--light, and buttery), and then we headed out on foot again, to "Outwrite Books " where the "Candlelight Vigil" had turned into a car-honking, flag-waving, music-blaring, voices lifting, street party. Albeit with many candles lit!
I spoke with Outwrite Books' owner, Philip Rafshoon, and the celebration of Outwrite's 15th Anniversary had begun that evening, as well!(Be sure to drop in at Outwrite for an amazing moist, luscious cupcake, a rich cup of coffee, and a great read, soon.(Now Being Featured: books on Gay Marriage!).
I love spending time there--the bookstore/cafe' is simultaneously calming, quirky, and fun! See Link to Outwrite, to the right of this column.
Jess and I carried our signs, and received "OBAMA PRIDE" stickers(complete with logo featuring rainbow colors!). I signed up to be more active in Jim Martin's(for State Senator; he is opposing Saxby(booooooooo!)Chambliss) campaign.
Special Thank You's to:
Collin Kelley:
check out his blog,"Modern Confessional", complete with photos of yesterday, at:
www.collinkelley.blogspot.com/
C. Cleo Creech, who snapped the photos. Find Cleo at:
www.cccreech.blogspot.com/
and Dustin Brookshire, whose "I Was Born Doing Reference Work In Sin" also featuring photos from yesterday, can be found, at:
www.dbrookshire.blogspot.com/
Yesterday reminded me what a great time it is, to be alive. We can ALL make a difference, if we try.
Let's try, okay?
Peace, kids.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
OUTrageous SUCCESS AT OUTWRITE BOOKS!!!!
I can scream this headline, 'cuz it's so true! I've been a reader, and a listener at so many readings, open mics, performances, etc., over the past decde, that I've lost count. But last night took my breath away. First, a big-shout-out to Philip, who always supports us local writers, and us in the LGBT community in particular!
Franklin opened the evening with a couple of love poems, and made the observation that "this one was written when I was very young. I wrote love poems when I was young; in my 50's, I write about flowers..." The (huge!) crowd gathered was chuckling at every witty line, and C. Cleo Creech was up next(sidebar: Just before taking the stage, Cleo noted, giggling, "the poster for the event got my gender wrong..." and someone commented that he could claim he's transgendered, whereupon I commented, "Yes, Transgendered is the new gay."
More laughter.) And so it went. The laughter was punctuated by moments of edgy solemnity--Cleo read from a new group of poems about "empathy". He explained he wants to highlight empathy for those we cannot easily feel empathy for, and he gave a chilling account, in a very brief poem about an abused dog's abuser. He ended with a few "up" pieces that once again had the audience cheering.
Franklin read a bit, then introduced me as "actor, poet, peace activist, bisexual activist....with Lisa, you never know what to expect..."
I never decide until I'm at the actual reading, precisely what I will read, and last night was no exception....and I suppose I did not want to disappoint the very attentive audience, after all his hype-ing of me, and my work, so.....
I ended up starting with a few sex-y pieces("For Amanda W." and "The French Are Famous For") to begin with, then a few darker pieces, "Iraqi Haiku"(I spoke about the chapbook Cleo put together to highlight the injustice which continues in Iraq's Constitutionally-allowed killing of LGBT persons),then read a few from my book, Words From Water: Poems, "For Aunt Carolyn", "Grief" and then explained that I have a second book, "The Orgasm Poems", which will have 50 orgasms in it. "I've written 40 so far; I'm waiting for the rest..." which elicited a roar of laughter from the varied audience "I didn't realize that was funny, " I said...I then finished with the poem, "Orgasm II" which is the second in that series. As I prepared to sit down, I was shocked by the amount and the duration of the applause.
Franklin read a bit, and kept the vibe going with tales of "meeting" a goddess in the temples of India....then he introduced the man most of the enthusiastic crowd at Outwrite had been waiting for: Yolo!
Yolo performed with bravery:
a piece on "We Are Not The Boys We Want" had me biting the inside of my lip, as it rang true, and sad, and hard to hear...Near the end of his reading, Yolo said "I am going to do a poem I thought was too 'X-rated'---even for Outwrite, but Lisa has inspired me, so here goes my dream-poem. And he performed a poem about a universe of purple, and women riding men, and women riding waves in the ocean, and--stop reading here if you could be easily offended. I mean it, stop now. Okay, deep breath...
"...and dildoes..." "and titties.." And somehow, Yolo's words rose above anything plain, or vulgar. His phrases SANG--this poem had the eroticism of an Anais Nin(who I adore, btw).
I don't know whether to adopt Yolo(he's so CUTE, and YOUNG!), or wait 'til he's older, and drag him off to my house, to exchange dream images with him! WOW!
Needless to say, the group at Outwrite(it was standing-room-only, even out to the street, during the reading) was thrilled. I am so grateful to have been a part of this special evening. THANK YOU PHILIP! Hey kids, GET DOWN TO OUTWRITE and buy yourself a book or two. Take a look at the booksellers' recommendations.....and GET AN OUTRAGEOUSLY delicious cupcake while you're there, too!
Oh!
Hollis Gillespie (you may know her through her weekly column in Atlanta's Creative Loafing newspaper) will be appearing at OUTWRITE BOOKS, on August 24th, and I plan to attend, to hear her, and meet her, and to get signed copies of her (fabulously funny,and tender) books!
Pictures from Tuesday's "Poetry With Franklin and Friends", will be posted at this blog,in an entry later this week! for now, check out:
http://www.outwritebooks.com/
To all of you who asked to purchase a copy of "Words From Water: Poems", I promise, I'll have it very soon. Honest. And I'll have "The Orgasm Poems" out, right after!
Peace, kids.
I can scream this headline, 'cuz it's so true! I've been a reader, and a listener at so many readings, open mics, performances, etc., over the past decde, that I've lost count. But last night took my breath away. First, a big-shout-out to Philip, who always supports us local writers, and us in the LGBT community in particular!
Franklin opened the evening with a couple of love poems, and made the observation that "this one was written when I was very young. I wrote love poems when I was young; in my 50's, I write about flowers..." The (huge!) crowd gathered was chuckling at every witty line, and C. Cleo Creech was up next(sidebar: Just before taking the stage, Cleo noted, giggling, "the poster for the event got my gender wrong..." and someone commented that he could claim he's transgendered, whereupon I commented, "Yes, Transgendered is the new gay."
More laughter.) And so it went. The laughter was punctuated by moments of edgy solemnity--Cleo read from a new group of poems about "empathy". He explained he wants to highlight empathy for those we cannot easily feel empathy for, and he gave a chilling account, in a very brief poem about an abused dog's abuser. He ended with a few "up" pieces that once again had the audience cheering.
Franklin read a bit, then introduced me as "actor, poet, peace activist, bisexual activist....with Lisa, you never know what to expect..."
I never decide until I'm at the actual reading, precisely what I will read, and last night was no exception....and I suppose I did not want to disappoint the very attentive audience, after all his hype-ing of me, and my work, so.....
I ended up starting with a few sex-y pieces("For Amanda W." and "The French Are Famous For") to begin with, then a few darker pieces, "Iraqi Haiku"(I spoke about the chapbook Cleo put together to highlight the injustice which continues in Iraq's Constitutionally-allowed killing of LGBT persons),then read a few from my book, Words From Water: Poems, "For Aunt Carolyn", "Grief" and then explained that I have a second book, "The Orgasm Poems", which will have 50 orgasms in it. "I've written 40 so far; I'm waiting for the rest..." which elicited a roar of laughter from the varied audience "I didn't realize that was funny, " I said...I then finished with the poem, "Orgasm II" which is the second in that series. As I prepared to sit down, I was shocked by the amount and the duration of the applause.
Franklin read a bit, and kept the vibe going with tales of "meeting" a goddess in the temples of India....then he introduced the man most of the enthusiastic crowd at Outwrite had been waiting for: Yolo!
Yolo performed with bravery:
a piece on "We Are Not The Boys We Want" had me biting the inside of my lip, as it rang true, and sad, and hard to hear...Near the end of his reading, Yolo said "I am going to do a poem I thought was too 'X-rated'---even for Outwrite, but Lisa has inspired me, so here goes my dream-poem. And he performed a poem about a universe of purple, and women riding men, and women riding waves in the ocean, and--stop reading here if you could be easily offended. I mean it, stop now. Okay, deep breath...
"...and dildoes..." "and titties.." And somehow, Yolo's words rose above anything plain, or vulgar. His phrases SANG--this poem had the eroticism of an Anais Nin(who I adore, btw).
I don't know whether to adopt Yolo(he's so CUTE, and YOUNG!), or wait 'til he's older, and drag him off to my house, to exchange dream images with him! WOW!
Needless to say, the group at Outwrite(it was standing-room-only, even out to the street, during the reading) was thrilled. I am so grateful to have been a part of this special evening. THANK YOU PHILIP! Hey kids, GET DOWN TO OUTWRITE and buy yourself a book or two. Take a look at the booksellers' recommendations.....and GET AN OUTRAGEOUSLY delicious cupcake while you're there, too!
Oh!
Hollis Gillespie (you may know her through her weekly column in Atlanta's Creative Loafing newspaper) will be appearing at OUTWRITE BOOKS, on August 24th, and I plan to attend, to hear her, and meet her, and to get signed copies of her (fabulously funny,and tender) books!
Pictures from Tuesday's "Poetry With Franklin and Friends", will be posted at this blog,in an entry later this week! for now, check out:
http://www.outwritebooks.com/
To all of you who asked to purchase a copy of "Words From Water: Poems", I promise, I'll have it very soon. Honest. And I'll have "The Orgasm Poems" out, right after!
Peace, kids.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
WHAT'S UP.
The big celebration--the big launch-party--and what I'm calling a true "Gayla" for Limp Wrist magazine, is on Thursday evening, at everyone's favorite bookstore, "Outwrite", in Midtown Atlanta!!The party gets started at 8:00 P.M., but creator of Limp Wrist, Dustin Brookshire says "If you operate on gay-time, then the party begins at 7:30 p.m.."
I plan to arrive by 7:00 P.M., to browse and have a nice coffee, and am excited to be able to read aloud a few of the marvelous poems of Dr. Beth Gylys', who is one of many well-known, and extremely talented poets highligted in the inaugrual issue!
It should be a virtual Who's Who of the literary community of Atlanta and the Southeast...
Come on OUT for fun and games, great reads, and PRIZES! See Outwrite, Limp Wrist, and Dustin Brookshire's Blog-- I Was Born Doing Reference Work In Sin-- in my list of Links, right next to this column. Just scroll on down!
Other stuff:
Tomorrow(Wednesday), I begin work with the BookPALS program via my membership in SAG. This wonderful SAG charity does outreach in elementary schools, by reading to children once a week, every week, in order to stimulate their imaginations--and get them excited about reading--which thereby improves their own writing!The school I'll be working with is fairly close to me, and I'll be working with second-graders.
I'm taking a few different books with me tomorrow, and will meet with the teachers of each class(I have two classes).
The big celebration--the big launch-party--and what I'm calling a true "Gayla" for Limp Wrist magazine, is on Thursday evening, at everyone's favorite bookstore, "Outwrite", in Midtown Atlanta!!The party gets started at 8:00 P.M., but creator of Limp Wrist, Dustin Brookshire says "If you operate on gay-time, then the party begins at 7:30 p.m.."
I plan to arrive by 7:00 P.M., to browse and have a nice coffee, and am excited to be able to read aloud a few of the marvelous poems of Dr. Beth Gylys', who is one of many well-known, and extremely talented poets highligted in the inaugrual issue!
It should be a virtual Who's Who of the literary community of Atlanta and the Southeast...
Come on OUT for fun and games, great reads, and PRIZES! See Outwrite, Limp Wrist, and Dustin Brookshire's Blog-- I Was Born Doing Reference Work In Sin-- in my list of Links, right next to this column. Just scroll on down!
Other stuff:
Tomorrow(Wednesday), I begin work with the BookPALS program via my membership in SAG. This wonderful SAG charity does outreach in elementary schools, by reading to children once a week, every week, in order to stimulate their imaginations--and get them excited about reading--which thereby improves their own writing!The school I'll be working with is fairly close to me, and I'll be working with second-graders.
I'm taking a few different books with me tomorrow, and will meet with the teachers of each class(I have two classes).
Saturday, February 02, 2008
DEMS "DEBATE"....
I did not see a whole lot of difference in terms of opinions, and views, and actual PLANS between Obama, and Hillary....
that said, Obama is the one for me.He has, as I've repeated for almost two years now(even before he decided to run), NO ties to lobbyists money, and/or major corporations(Hillary unfortunately, definitely does have a lot she "owes" these kinds of folks).
Obama's momentum appears unstoppable.
And, I think he can actually WIN over John "Grandpa Munster" (thank you, Bill Maher!)McCain.
Hillary at the top of the Dems ticket would be a mistake, but I do think (if she'll actually accept the second-slot)vice-president would be okay with most folks.
Still wishing John Edwards had hung in there, for the second-slot, but those days I suppose, are gone(sigh).
I had been sending out info on Edwards, and had simultaneously signed up with Obama's campaign, a few months ago.
After Edwards dropped out, I signed on to do more campaigning for Obama, which begins for me, this weekend.
Other news:
REMEMBER: Wednesday, February 13th-- be there by 7:00 P.M., to ensure a good seat--Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Judson ("The Sweet Everlasting")Mitcham, reading from his new collection of poems, and hey--yours truly, reading alongside this literary giant!
Come on out to hear the wonderful Judson Mitcham, and hear me read from my "Words From Water: Poems", too.
$5.00 for General Admission, and $3.00 for Students and Seniors.
REMEMBER: February 29th is the RELEASE-PARTY for Dustin Brookshire's LIMP WRIST Literary Magazine!!
BE AT OUTWRITE BOOKS that night, for all the excitement!!
Get more details by clicking on the Limp Wrist link at the right of this column!
See you soon!
I did not see a whole lot of difference in terms of opinions, and views, and actual PLANS between Obama, and Hillary....
that said, Obama is the one for me.He has, as I've repeated for almost two years now(even before he decided to run), NO ties to lobbyists money, and/or major corporations(Hillary unfortunately, definitely does have a lot she "owes" these kinds of folks).
Obama's momentum appears unstoppable.
And, I think he can actually WIN over John "Grandpa Munster" (thank you, Bill Maher!)McCain.
Hillary at the top of the Dems ticket would be a mistake, but I do think (if she'll actually accept the second-slot)vice-president would be okay with most folks.
Still wishing John Edwards had hung in there, for the second-slot, but those days I suppose, are gone(sigh).
I had been sending out info on Edwards, and had simultaneously signed up with Obama's campaign, a few months ago.
After Edwards dropped out, I signed on to do more campaigning for Obama, which begins for me, this weekend.
Other news:
REMEMBER: Wednesday, February 13th-- be there by 7:00 P.M., to ensure a good seat--Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Judson ("The Sweet Everlasting")Mitcham, reading from his new collection of poems, and hey--yours truly, reading alongside this literary giant!
Come on out to hear the wonderful Judson Mitcham, and hear me read from my "Words From Water: Poems", too.
$5.00 for General Admission, and $3.00 for Students and Seniors.
REMEMBER: February 29th is the RELEASE-PARTY for Dustin Brookshire's LIMP WRIST Literary Magazine!!
BE AT OUTWRITE BOOKS that night, for all the excitement!!
Get more details by clicking on the Limp Wrist link at the right of this column!
See you soon!
Monday, May 07, 2007
Collin Kelley's First Fridays Open Mic at The Portfolio Center is a cool drink o' water...
I loved this past Friday's event, which featured TWO Poets, as well as the Open Mic..
Mike Dockins("Slouching Towards A Comet") was the first Feature to read, and his work bounces right through you, Seuss-like...his "The Fun Uncle" was an instruction-book-of-sorts, on dealing with kids...
His "Eleven Gin and Tonics" had the audience giggling...
He also read a darker piece which included a reference to Kent State--and it just so happened he read this(unknowingly!) on the ANNIVERSARY of the Kent State shooting...
(for you youngsters out there: National Guardsmen opened fire on UNarmed students(killing four, wounding others) who were peacefully demonstrating the Vietnam War, on campus)...
Stephen Bluestone, the second Feature speaking, read about several subjects, but the most compelling was one concerning erotica--The title of his latest book of poetry deftly references this:
The Flagrant Dead.
Where Mike Dockins deals in Abcedarians, and other forms of word-play"If it's not fun, why do it?" he asked;
Stephen Bluestone's work is quieter, perhaps a bit unnerving...
Props to Collin Kelley, for knowing this combination of talent would lead to an evening with surprises, and exhiliration.I left feeling "high"--and isn't that the point of the whole "Communion" with each other--through Poetry, Theatre, Art, Music?
Sunday night, I got lucky again--a serene, balmy setting:
Piedmont Park
The reason:
Georgia Shakespeare Fest's "Shake At The Lake"-- "Twelth Night"..
I had packed a nice picnic dinner of all kinds of mouthwatering goodies:honeydew melon carefully scooped(Grapefruit spoons work wonders!) into cupcake-papers, Linzer-torte Raspberry cookies,potato chips(several kinds), fresh veggies and ranch dip, provolone cheese topped sandwiches,fresh egg-dill-salad etc......Hansoo & I were meeting up with Susan and her partner, Janey.
From the opening music, to the last footstep across the stage(a raised platform with stadium-like lighting surrounding it)-- mesmerized-- cannot begin to describe how I felt!!
The direction was crisp, fast, and delightful...Lots of physical comedy, and a few "broad" moments, which keenly balanced the intimate pacing, and seating at Shake At The Lake...
It's been awhile since I attended Georgia Shakespeare
(no excuse, I just got caught up in my own writing, and then memorizing MY OWN scripts!)but I'll be participating ALOT from now on! Note I said PARTICIPATING, not ATTENDING...because that's what real COMMUNION IS--when you feel a CONNECTION to what's happening, to what's being CREATED onstage. Bravo, Georgia Shakes! Bravo!
It's nearly 3:00 A.M., and I am thinking it's as good a time as any, to mention that in a week and a day...
Tuesday, May 15th, I will have the extreme pleasure of Reading/Performing at "Outwrite Books" at 8:00 P.M., in Atlanta's Midtown, and I share the bill with Craig Washington and Franklin Abbott--if you don't know them, you SHOULD!!....
I personally will be doing some pretty provocative/evocative pieces-
I'll be doing my most OUTrageous Poems---NO CHILDREN, please!
One segment is called "The Orgasm Poems".You get the idea.
Now, come OUT to support the FREE EVENT(and Outwrite Books, and us artist-types!), and let's connect...
I loved this past Friday's event, which featured TWO Poets, as well as the Open Mic..
Mike Dockins("Slouching Towards A Comet") was the first Feature to read, and his work bounces right through you, Seuss-like...his "The Fun Uncle" was an instruction-book-of-sorts, on dealing with kids...
His "Eleven Gin and Tonics" had the audience giggling...
He also read a darker piece which included a reference to Kent State--and it just so happened he read this(unknowingly!) on the ANNIVERSARY of the Kent State shooting...
(for you youngsters out there: National Guardsmen opened fire on UNarmed students(killing four, wounding others) who were peacefully demonstrating the Vietnam War, on campus)...
Stephen Bluestone, the second Feature speaking, read about several subjects, but the most compelling was one concerning erotica--The title of his latest book of poetry deftly references this:
The Flagrant Dead.
Where Mike Dockins deals in Abcedarians, and other forms of word-play"If it's not fun, why do it?" he asked;
Stephen Bluestone's work is quieter, perhaps a bit unnerving...
Props to Collin Kelley, for knowing this combination of talent would lead to an evening with surprises, and exhiliration.I left feeling "high"--and isn't that the point of the whole "Communion" with each other--through Poetry, Theatre, Art, Music?
Sunday night, I got lucky again--a serene, balmy setting:
Piedmont Park
The reason:
Georgia Shakespeare Fest's "Shake At The Lake"-- "Twelth Night"..
I had packed a nice picnic dinner of all kinds of mouthwatering goodies:honeydew melon carefully scooped(Grapefruit spoons work wonders!) into cupcake-papers, Linzer-torte Raspberry cookies,potato chips(several kinds), fresh veggies and ranch dip, provolone cheese topped sandwiches,fresh egg-dill-salad etc......Hansoo & I were meeting up with Susan and her partner, Janey.
From the opening music, to the last footstep across the stage(a raised platform with stadium-like lighting surrounding it)-- mesmerized-- cannot begin to describe how I felt!!
The direction was crisp, fast, and delightful...Lots of physical comedy, and a few "broad" moments, which keenly balanced the intimate pacing, and seating at Shake At The Lake...
It's been awhile since I attended Georgia Shakespeare
(no excuse, I just got caught up in my own writing, and then memorizing MY OWN scripts!)but I'll be participating ALOT from now on! Note I said PARTICIPATING, not ATTENDING...because that's what real COMMUNION IS--when you feel a CONNECTION to what's happening, to what's being CREATED onstage. Bravo, Georgia Shakes! Bravo!
It's nearly 3:00 A.M., and I am thinking it's as good a time as any, to mention that in a week and a day...
Tuesday, May 15th, I will have the extreme pleasure of Reading/Performing at "Outwrite Books" at 8:00 P.M., in Atlanta's Midtown, and I share the bill with Craig Washington and Franklin Abbott--if you don't know them, you SHOULD!!....
I personally will be doing some pretty provocative/evocative pieces-
I'll be doing my most OUTrageous Poems---NO CHILDREN, please!
One segment is called "The Orgasm Poems".You get the idea.
Now, come OUT to support the FREE EVENT(and Outwrite Books, and us artist-types!), and let's connect...
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