Monthly Archives: March 2016

 

This April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month!
I wanted to highlight some resources, local contests and upcoming events:

April 21st is Poem in Your Pocket Day

Call for submissions: Santa Clara County Public Library’s Teen Poetry Contest. One winner from each library will be chosen in the following categories: Grades 6-8 (Middle School), Grades 9-12 (High School). Last day to submit your entry is April 30, 2016. Click here for details. 

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

7th Annual Poetry Invitational at San Jose Museum of Art

Thursday, April 21, 2016  7–8 PM Admission is $5 after 5 PM (free to members) Art inspires art at the annual Poetry Invitational sponsored by SJMA and Poetry Center San Jose. Every year, SJMA invites Bay Area poets to visit the Museum and create new poems inspired by the artworks on view. Hear them read their rhythmic words in the galleries and gain new perspectives on the visual arts as you listen. Poetry readings begin at 7 PM. The galleries are open 5–8:30 PM

So happy to invite these poets to join me in sharing new work inspired by the current exhibitions at SJMA: Lorenz Dumuk, Asha Sudra Finkel, Mighty Mike McGee, David C. Perez, Nils Peterson, Janice Sapigao, Ann Sherman, and Amanda Williamsen.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016  7 PM

The Center for Literary Arts presents Andre Dubus III Reading 

 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016   7–9 PM

Well-RED at Works/San Jose presents Media Poetry Studio Poetry Center San Jose and Works/San Jose present student work from Media Poetry Studio.

New Date: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 7pm 

ImagineSJ Showcase #8: Poetry at Anno Domini.  Join me and other poets at this event moderated by Mighty Mike McGee.  

  
  
 Saturday, April 16, 2016  

The Burning Tale One Year Anniversary at Studio Bongiorno  
Thursday, April 21, 2016  7pm 

The Willow Glen Poetry Project Third Thursday Poetry Reading  

  
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

March POETree Pop Up
POETree Pop Up at Mountain View Farmers’ Market on March 27th was hopping with kids and adults contributing verse and drawings for the POETree! (Of course I had to include a bunny reference, it was Easter and there was an egg hunt!) I will include the collaborative poem in the next blogpost.   

San Jose City Council Invocation on Tuesday, April 5 at 1:30pm, City Hall’s Council Chambers. I will perform the invocation at the San Jose City Council Meeting.

Silicon Valley Creates Artist Laureate Awards on Monday, April 11 at 6:30pm, School of Arts and Culture at MHP. Honored to open the celebration with a poem! The SVLaureate Awards recognize exceptional achievement in the arts and contribution to the cultural life of Silicon Valley.

Kuwentuhan (Talk Story): A project of The Poetry Center and Barbara Jane Reyes, April 21-23 (at various locations) 

Introducing New Poets Laureate!

Please join me in welcoming Stan Garber, Los Gatos Poet Laureate and Amanda Williamsen, Cupertino Poet Laureate.  Coming soon: Inaugural Poet Laureate of Mountain View (yet to be appointed).

I look forward to collaborative projects with former and current laureates, including a summertime reception. Stay tuned!

POETree Pop Up at PEET’s Coffee & Tea in Sunnyvale!

 We kicked off the POETree Pop Up at PEET’s on February 27th. Thanks to store manager Salina Gonzalez for setting us up along with a coffee tasting. We had people of all ages create some verse to adorn the tree and contribute to a collaborative poem: 

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If it could, it would

What if my dog could shape shift into a unicorn. What if coffee sang soprano. Before I die, I want to meet Brad Paisley.

What if the sky was amarillo during the day and azul at night. To see the swirl of forest sky at dawn and dusk.

My name means “heavens from the sky” If I could, I’d be a paleontologist and teleport anywhere with my light saber. 

Before I die, I want to have a conversation with Chef Steph Curry. My happiness is blue. I wish for nothing.

My name means “bound to others”             If I could, I would go back in time.       What if I could become invisible.

What if everything was opposite.  My sadness would be a purple skydive.             My name means “moon goddess”

My name means “victorious people”            I wish it would ring out haiku. If I could, I would be an oceanographer for peace.

If I could, I would.

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The next POETree Pop Up will be at the Mountain View Farmers Market (CalTrain Station) on Sunday, March 27 – 10 to noon.  (Yes, Easter! There will be an egg hunt, too!)

Reading with our US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera in Washington DC for Poets Unite!   

I had the honor of participating in Poets Unite! with current US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera and poet Diana Garcia, culminating in a reading at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery on March 8th. The project commissioned us to write ekphrastic poems in response to the landmark exhibition, “One Life: Dolores Huerta” curated by Taina Caragol, Ph.D. The project was co-sponsored by Letras Latinas, literary initiative at the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, Library of Congress Hispanic Division, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and Smithsonian Latino Center.

  
  
   

  

Other News: 

April will be packed with events for National Poetry Month, so I will likely post again in just a few more weeks as we head into April. For now, these local events upcoming this month:

Poets@Play at Markham House, Sunday, March 13, 1-4pm. Hosted by Poetry San Jose.

Third Thursday Poetry Reading at Willow  Glen Public Library featuring Wendy Taylor Carlisle. Thursday, March 17, 7pm. Hosted by Poetry Center San Jose.

The Burning Tale at Studio Bongiorno. Mighty Mike Mcgee will facilitate a writing workshop on Friday, March 18, from 4-6pm, with features and open mic at 8pm.