Poetry and Spoken Word in Albany This Week

Here is some information on some poetry and spoken word events and open mics coming up this week.  It appears that this month’s VoX at the Fuze Box has been moved from the last Friday to this coming Friday for the holidays…mystery. 

Third Thursday Poetry Night
Thursday, December 17, 7:00PM
Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany

the Poetry Motel Foundation presents Third Thursday Poetry Night at the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY

Thursday, December 17
7:00 sign up; 7:30 start
Featured Poet: Urayoán Noel

-- with an open mic for community poets before & after the feature: $3.00 donation, suggested; more if you got it, less if you can’t.

Your host: Dan Wilcox & the annual visit from Sanity Clause.

Urayoán noel is the author of Kool Logic/La Lógica Kool (bilingual press; a 2006 books of the year selection by el nuevo día) and Boringkén (ediciones callejón/la tertulia, 2008). Other works include the artist’s book Las Flores del Mall (2000) and various text-sound collaborations with composer Monxo López, some of which are featured on the dvd Kool Logic Sessions (bilingual press) and on the cd included with Boringkén.

Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, he divides his time between Albany and the Bronx, NY, and teaches literature and creative writing at the University at Albany.

v0x
Friday, December 18, 8:00PM
Fuze Box, 12 Central Ave., Albany

V O X :
ALBANY'S POETRY OPEN MIC
Special Mystery Edition

WHISKEY, RYE & POEMS .
At The Fuze Box

ON FRIDAY December 18th, 2009

Albany, NY's Open Mic For Poets
POETRY & THE WORD
*8pm Start time*
$4.00 Donation Requested

WHISKEY, RYE & POEMS ...
The Mystery "Noir" Edition. Bring your detective prose & mystery poems, even dress the part!

If you don't have any bring some excerpts by your favorite writer.

Hosted by R.M.Engelhardt
FuzeBox, 12 CENTRAL AVENUE, ALBANY, NY
Always Held On The Last Friday of Each Month.

HVWG Holiday Open Mic
Sunday, December 20, 2:00PM
Perfect Blend, 376 Delaware Ave., Delmar

The Hudson Valley Writers Guild will host "Season's Readings," an open mic for writers with a holiday theme on Sunday, December 20, at 2 p.m., at Perfect Blend in Delmar. Writers are invited to read two pieces on holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, etc.) or holiday-related themes, such as kindness or generosity: one piece from a famous or published author other than themselves, and one piece that they have written. Hot coffee and warm words: what a great way to slow down for a couple hours this season!

The Perfect Blend is located at 376 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, at the 4 Corners. Hosts are Jill Crammond Wickham and Carolee Sherwood. There is no cover charge, but please bring canned goods or other nonperishable food items for donation to the local food bank. The event is open to the public. Bring family and friends for a new holiday tradition!

Approximately 30 minutes prior to the event start time, a sign-in sheet will be available for those interested in reading. To keep the reading moving along, please select poems no longer than one page. If reading prose, please limit each piece to excerpts of 400 words per piece.

CONTACT: For more information, email hvwginfo@gmail.com.

For the complete calendar of events, go to www.albanypoets.com/events.  While you are there, be sure to subscribe to calendar so you can always know what is going on in upstate poetry and spoken community.

Hudson Valley Writers Guild Annual Writing Contest

Here is information on the Hudson Valley Writers Guild Annual Writing Contest from www.hvwg.org (Thank you Dan Wilcox for sending us the info)

HUDSON VALLEY WRITERS GUILD ANNUAL WRITING CONTEST

Poetry Contest, 2009

1st Place: $150
2nd Place: $75
3rd Place: $50

Deadline: August 31, 2009

The Hudson Valley Writers Guild is pleased to announce its first annual multi-genre Writing Contest, which will annually alternate among the genres of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. This year's contest is in poetry. Winners and Honorable Mentions will be invited to read their poems during the Community of Writers Program in the fall of 2009.

Eligibility:

All contestants must be residents of New York State. Current members of the Hudson Valley Writers Guild Board of Directors and their families are not eligible. Entries must be postmarked between May 1 and August 31, 2009.

Submission Guidelines:

• Theme: No style or topic requirements, but all submissions must be unpublished
• Submissions must be typed (No email submissions)
• 50-Line Limit
• Anonymous Entries: Do not write your name anywhere on the poems
• Submit 3 copies of 3-5 poems (3 completes sets)
• Entry fee: $10.00 for members of the HVWG and $15.00 for non-members

Send cover letter with:

• Your name
• Address
• Email address
• Poem titles
• Check for entry fee made out to "HVWG"
• SASE (optional)

Mail submissions to:

The Hudson Valley Writers Guild
c/o Mimi Moriarty
Box 222
Clarksville, NY 12041

Note: Submissions will not be returned, but if you would like hardcopy results of the contest, please send a SASE. All entrants will be notified of winners by email and/or SASE. Results will also be posted on our website. For more info, please email Mimi Moriarty.

Hudson Valley Writers GUild on Facebook

This is an announcement from our friends over at the Hudson Valley Writers Guild:

Dear Folks,

The Guild now has a presence on Facebook! Thank you to the following members who will be administering the group: Daniel Nester, Kate Laity, Christine Philo, Carolee Sherwood.

Visit us on Facebook (www.facebook.com) and share your news in real time on our discussion forum. Also post videos and photos you've taken at Guild or regional writers events. (Find us by doing a search for the group "Hudson Valley Writers Guild." )

If you're not a member of Facebook yet, now is the time to do it.  There are lots of poets and writers resources there and opportunities for networking!

Thank you for helping the Guild establish a bigger web presence.

Happy Holidays!
Miriam

Writing from Art Workshop at AIHA

The Hudson Valley Writers Guild and the Albany Institute of History and Art are sponsoring a workshop, “Writing from Art,” which will focus on poetry and other creative writing inspired by the exhibit Impressionist Giverny. Award winning Albany poet and teacher Therese Broderick will join with Erika Sanger, Director of Education of the Albany Institute, to conduct the workshop. The workshop includes writing, mentoring, discussion of the exhibit, and sharing of work. The exhibit has an emphasis on landscapes, with the same site rendered by different painters.  The themes of place, viewpoint, and interpretation will be featured. The option of writing en plein air at Albany Washington Park is offered, as well as writing in the museum from the exhibit works. A Reading of works will be held Friday, Nov. 7 at the museum’s Albany First Friday evening.

Artists from America and Europe transformed Giverny village from a sleepy hamlet to a colorful and thriving artists' community. IMPRESSIONIST GIVERNY traces the evolution of art produced in the village and the impact of this artist community.

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 10 am - 3 pm · WORKSHOP and Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 6:30 pm · READING at the Albany Institute of History and Art; 1215 Washington Ave., Albany.

$25 for members of sponsors (above); $30 non-members.

To register, contact Erika Sanger at sangere@albanyinstitute.org or 518.463.4478 X404

About the Hudson Valley Writers Guild
The Hudson Valley Writers Guild, founded in 1983, is a non-profit membership organization of over 200 writers throughout the region. The Guild serves as an information clearinghouse for the local writing community, and it furthers writing and reading in the region through its public programs, peer workshops, and special member benefits.

Poets in the Park 2008

Poets in the Park 2008 at the Robert Burns statue in Washington Park, Albany (at Henry Johnson Blvd. & Hudson Ave.) starts this Saturday at 7:00PM.

July 12: Georganna Millman and W.D. Clarke

July 19: Charlie Rossiter and Mimi Moriarty & Frank Desiderio

July 26: James Schlett and Kathryn Kelly

August 2: Susan Brennan and Philip Good

Free! & open to the public (just like the park)
Rain dates: the following Sundays, same time, same place

This event series is sponsored by the Poetry Motel Foundation & the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.  This project is made possible in part through COMMUNITY ART$GRANTS, a program funded through the State and Local Partnership Program of the New York State Council on the arts, a State agency and the Arts Center of the Capital Region.  For information call 482-0262.

HVWG Items of Interest

Our friends at the Hudson Valley Writers Guild sent along the following announcements. For more information on these and other projects from the Guild, check out their website at www.hvwg.org.

Annual Meeting of the HVWG
Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, 6:00-8:00, Colonie Town Library.  Call for all Board Members to be there to introduce yourself to our membership.  Please bring non-members who might be interested in joining, as well.   (Directions: Travel north up Wolf Road until the last light at Albany-Shaker Road, turn right, then look for library driveway on your left.)

Community of Writers - Schenectady
Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 18, 2007.   There will be an excellent program held at the Schenectady County Public Library from 2:00-4:00 pm.   Panel members include: Karen Guzzardi-James, Peter Heinegg, David Kaczynski, Ron Pavoldi, Bill Poppino, Kelly de la Rocha, Rosalyn R. Sollecito, and Jennifer Wells.   Miki Conn will moderate.   There will be a book signing from 1:30-2:00 and from 4:00-5:00.

The Schenectady County Public Library is at 99 Clinton Street.  Contact Karen Bradley at 388 4533 with any questions you may have.  Web site: www.scpl.org.  The meeting will be in the McChesney Room.   This program is sponsored by the Schenectady County Public Library, the HVWG, Hamilton Hill Arts Center and Electric City Poetry Productions with support from the Friends of Schenectady County Public Library.

Member Announcements: Nancy Klepsch, Mary McCarthy
Nancy Klepsch will be offering a limited number of poetry tee-shirts at the following locations starting this fall and holiday season:  Allblues, 199 Fourth Street, Troy, NY and The Shop at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, River Street, Troy, NY.  She is also offering soup bowls with her poem "Eat" written on it at DEPARTURES, Albany International Airport.   The tee-shirt was inspired by her poetry installation called "about this building," which was funded by an Arts Grant from the Arts Center of the Capital Region through the New York State Council on the Arts.  Twelve 2' X 3' vinyl posters with her poem "about this building" printed on them were mounted on the facade of a building on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Jay Street in Troy's North Central neighborhood, where she rehabilitated her first home about 14 years ago.  "I realized this building was here before I was born, and it will be here after I am gone. I wanted to honor Troy's architecture, and I was wondering if anybody felt the way I do. I made this tee-shirt for folks who feel like me about their homes."      The tee-shirts come in sizes small to 3XL, are long sleeve, 100% cotton and white in color.
The soup bowls were inspired by her downstate upbringing featuring her poem called "Eat."  If you are from or visit the Queens, NY area, you will be familiar with such references as The Lemon Ice King, a Queens, NY institution, which makes homemade Italian ices from fresh fruit, in this poem. The ceramic bowls are white in color and feature hand lettering in black. 

Mary McCarthy has an essay on her work for insurance reforms in the book Voices of Breast Cancer, just released by LaChance publishing.   To order a copy of this anthology, or to find out about future readings, contact Mary at mamc@nycap.rr.com or 518-465-6706.

Area Announcements: Writing Group in Scotia, Food Writing Opportunity
1.  We have a member who lives in Scotia who is looking for a peer writing group.  She writes primarily short fiction.  If you know of a group or are willing to form one, please contact her at woodswoman2003@aol.com .

2.  Michelle Bowan writes:  I am the publisher & editor of "Edible Upstate" magazine which will be launching in the upstate NY region in Spring 2008.  As proud member of Edible Communities, our mission is to transform the way our community shops for, cooks, eats, and relates to the food that is grown and produced in our area. We value local, seasonal, authentic foods and culinary traditions, and we strive to put a face on every farmer, chef and food artisan as we tell their stories and champion their efforts toward a more sustainable and safe food system.

I am looking for local/regional writers to contribute to our quarterly publication.  If you have members that are interested in writing about food and agriculture, please pass on my contact information: Michelle Bowen at Edible Upstate by phone 518.281.2918 or email michelle@edibleupstate.com

The Dan Wilcox Open Mic Commentary Round-Up

What a busy week it has been on the Dan Wilcox blog.  He posted a blog last week about a recent HVWG event with a small audience and the comments section exploded.  Here is what happened on Dan's blog this week.

Third Thursday Poetry Night at the Social Justice Center, October 18

So then the strangest thing happened -- Dennis Sullivan, our night's feature had left a couple of free broadsides up on the counter by the sign-up sheet & our first poet up, Daniel Scott, who was unfamiliar to what we were doing, picked up one of Dennis' broadsides & read it. What a cool introduction to the night's feature -- how perfect. (Perhaps Daniel will return with one of his own poems soon.)

What If They Gave A Reading & No One Showed Up?, October 20

Even though "Community of Writers" was sponsored by the Hudson Valley Writers Guild there were but 10 of us in the large (then seeming larger) auditorium of the Albany Public Library to hear Russell Dunn, Lyn Miller-Lachmann & Pierre Joris read from their work.

As always, be sure to check out Dan's blog for more on the poetry scene here in the Albany area. 

Third Thursday Poetry Night Featuring Miriam Herrera

The Poetry Motel Foundation presents Third Thursday Poetry Night at the Social Justice Center 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY on Thursday, September 20, 2007 (7:00 sign up; 7:30 start). This month’s featured poet is Miriam Herrera with open mic for poets before and after the feature. There is a $3.00 suggested donation. Your “persistent” host is Dan Wilcox.

KIVA AT CHACO CANYON

The kiva meditates on herself
On the roundness of the soul
On the eagle's circular vision.

Lie on your back, little girl—
Notice the sky! It's contained
In its own infinite funnel.

I know this kiva. We are old friends—
The mother we never had.
I recognize her! It's she
Who forces one toward the middle.

In the kiva there is only middle.

Looking out through her bald blue eye
It's me:
Looking in, looking out.

Her poetry has been published in New Millenium Writings, ArtLife, Blue Mesa Review, New Zoo Poetry Review, Nimrod: International Journal of Prose and Poetry, Black Maria, ECOS, and other journals.  She is an active member of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers in Lake Tahoe, CA; a member of the Hudson Valley Writers Guild, the Academy of American Poets, the Poetry Society of America, and the National Council of La Raza.

For more on Miriam, check out her blog:  http://miriamherrerapoems.googlepages.com/

Poetry and Performance with Elizabeth McKim and Steve Cloreine

After LarkFEST this Saturday, September 15, the Hudson Valley Writers Guild and New York Expressive Arts are hosting a special poetry and performance event with visiting poets Elizabeth McKim and Steve Cloreine starting at 7:00PM at 4 Central Ave., in Albany.

An engaging poet-performer and teacher, Elizabeth Gordon McKim works out of the oral tradition of song, story, and poem. For many years she has performed her poetry with Swiss musician Paolo Knill and she has worked with dancers, poets, visual artists, musicians and teachers in the U.S., Europe, Indonesia and Israel. She has written five books of poetry, the latest entitled The Red Thread (Leapfrog Press, 2003). McKim has worked with countless children and teachers, and expressive arts practitioners throughout the U.S. and internationally. She is a national faculty member at Lesley University in the Department of Creative Arts in Learning and Poet Laureate of the European Graduate School.

“McKim’s poems offer you immediate pleasure. Carry them home and take them into you.”  -  Marge Piercy

Steve Clorfeine has been writing, performing and directing theater pieces since 1975. His productions have been presented in theatres, public schools, libraries, senior centers and art centers throughout the United States and Western Europe. Steve is on the theater faculty of Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. His latest collection of poems is Field Road Sky (2006).

“Clorfeine’s day to day experiences read like a series of prose haikus...there is a clarity in his writing...a habit of seeing the ordinary and the extraordinary, the marvelous in the mundane”  - Woodstock Times

There is a $3.00 suggested donation for this event.

For more information contact Denie Whalen at denwhale@newyorkexpressivearts.com or 518-434-2412 or the Hudson Valley Writers Guild at hvwginfo@gmail.com or 518-449-8069.