Edge 54: a Reading Series of Emerging and Younger Writers
w/Carmen Calatayud, Tucson Youth Poetry Slam, & Nic Varela/Dani Borg-James
Curator: Melissa Buckheit
Melissa Buckheit's Bio |
A note from the curator: I have often wanted to listen to authors who are in the same place in their career as myself--emerging, published in journals, with a chapbook and/or a first full-length book, still growing but full of passion, new ideas, and an edge. But there is often infrequent opportunity for this; in fact, I have often felt disappointed in the lack, that such an open community might often be circumscribed in its literary programming. Additionally, featuring emerging writers engages other young as well as established writers, to support, frequent and attend Casa Libre and other writing events. This cycle creates the foundation for a writing community which self-generates, remains true, open, and allows many voices the opportunity for visibility and being heard. I want Tucson to be an artistic community which includes and features many voices and peoples. Literature is the province of communication, but also reflectivity, the reflection and representation of all our narratives and of new narratives and ideas, voices which are challenging and also challenge us. |
Wednesday, May 15
7:30 p.m.
Suggested Donation: $5
Come to Edge: A Reading Series of Emerging and Younger Writers. Edge is a series of local and national writers and cross-genre artists, emphasizing diversity of narrative, identity and literary source. Its purpose is to create community, visibility and voice for emerging and younger writers. Broadsheets of the authors' work will accompany each reading. Books and journals will be available for purchase and signing by the authors. Refreshments will be available after the reading.
Readers:
Carmen Calatayud is the author of In the Company of Spirits (Press 53, 2012), chosen by poets Pamela Uschuk and William Pitt Root for Press 53’s Silver Concho Poetry Series. The book was chosen as a runner-up for the Walt Whitman Award by the Academy of American Poets. Carmen is a Larry Neal Poetry Award winner and recipient of a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts fellowship. Her poetry has been published in journals such as Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, Cutthroat, Gargoyle, La Bloga, Más Tequila Review, PALABRA: A Journal of Chicano and Latino Literary Art and Red River Review. Her poems are anthologized in various collections, including DC Poets Against the War (Argonne House Press), Mondo Barbie (St. Martin’s Press) and the upcoming Poetry of Resistance: A Multicultural Response to Arizona SB 1070 and Other Xenophobic Laws (to be published by University of Arizona Press in 2014.). Born to a Spanish father and Irish mother in the U.S., she is a poet moderator for Poets Responding to SB 1070, a Facebook group that features poetry and news about the Arizona immigration law that legalizes racial profiling. Carmen works and writes in Washington, DC.
Tucson Youth Poetry Slam: TYPS will read for Edge in a special performance given by the winners of the 2013 Tucson Youth Poetry Slam All-City Championship, held April 20th at the University of Arizona Poetry Center. The Tucson Youth Poetry Slam (TYPS) advocates literacy, critical thinking and youth voice through poetry competitions, workshops and community showcases. The youth-centered event series kicked off in Fall 2011 and is a program of Spoken Futures, Inc., an arts and activism organization that regularly collaborates with diverse groups across Tucson. The monthly poetry slam competition is open to all youth 19 & under and is held every 3rd Saturday at Bentley's House of Coffee & Tea. Crowds at the TYPS regularly top 100 people. www.TucsonYouthPoetrySlam.org
Nic Varela/Dani Borg-James: Nic and Dani will be performing excerpts from "I Can't Sing You To Sleep Anymore", a dance choreographed by Nic about unexpectedly dealing with onset depression. The piece was inspired by text from a slam poem entitled "I Am the Listener", written by Nic, which will also be performed. Nic Varela began his training in dance as a freshman at University High School under the study of Beth Braun. There, he has performed with the Ivesia and Primavera classes and the Hypnotic hip-hop crew. Nic has become proficient in the styles of modern, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and ballet, and has also performed with the Esperanza Dance Project. Nic has also trained as a classical singer under Stephanie Fox for four years; he has performed in local musical theater productions, operas, choirs, and has traveled to Eugene, OR to participate in the Oregon Bach Festival the past three summers. He is a senior planning to major in Classical Singing and Music in college. Dani Borg-James has been dancing for 10 years. She have danced with the Pacific Northwest Ballet and also Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. She studied ballet with Con Danza and Ballet Arts, and Modern with Esperanza Dance Project. She is currently a senior at University High school. She plans on studying dance in college, and potentially pursuing the art as a career.
Next Edge Reading will be held June 19.
Apr 2013
Mar 2013
Feb 2013
Jan 2013
Nov 2012
Oct 2012
Sept 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
