Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Friday, November 6: Library Hosts Poetry Performance Workshop and Showcase

The Racine Public Library, with assistance from a grant awarded by the Wisconsin Center for the Book, has invited one of contemporary poetry's most innovative and dynamic performance artists for a poetry workshop and performance on Friday, November 6. High school students are invited to participate in an exclusive master poetry workshop with contemporary poet/performance artist, Abraham Smith. Smith, known for his cutting edge experimental poetry and unforgettable performance style, will share his knowledge and expertise with creative writing students in grades 9-12 from 10am-2pm at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. Master workshop participants will have a unique opportunity to explore their own poetic voice and performance techniques with a professional and highly-acclaimed artist. The workshop is free and lunch will be served, but is limited to 20 participants. Those interested should contact Becky Spika at 262.619.2571 or becky.spika@racinelibrary.info to reserve a spot as soon as possible.

The Racine Public Library will then host an evening of exciting poetry performance by Abraham Smith and friends at 7 pm on Friday, Nov. 6. All workshop participants are invited to share their artistic voice in the evening's open mic performance.

Abraham Smith originally hails from Ladysmith, Wisconsin. His first book of poems, Whim Man Mammon, was recently published by Action Books and has met with critical acclaim. His journal credits include American Poetry Review, jubilat, Northwest Review, Denver Quarterly, Typo, and Ninth Letter, among others. He was a 2004-05 Writing Fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, MA. Presently, he teaches literature and creative writing at the University of Alabama.

This project is sponsored by the Racine Public Library and the Wisconsin Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Woodland Pattern Book Center in Milwaukee, WI.

Woodland Pattern Book Center is dedicated to the discovery, cultivation and presentation of contemporary literature and the arts. Their goals are to promote a lifetime practice of reading and writing, to provide a forum and resource center for writers/artists in our region, and to increase and diversify the audience for contemporary literature through innovative approaches to multi-arts programming. Woodland Pattern is the only Milwaukee, Wisconsin arts organization presenting contemporary literature to the general public on a continuous basis.

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