Hey gente,
Man, there are alot of things to fill you in on, so lets get started:
OK, so this past Thursday, I had the pleasure of taking part of an amazing event - "MAGNITUD/E" - a bilingual poetry reading that spoke/highlighted/discussed the ever present affects of the drug wars that occur between here and Mexico. Three poets from Mexico, Sara Urribe, Marco Antonio Huerta & Minerva Reynosa all were present (Sara in spirit and a video poem) and joined John Pluecker and myself. It was amazingly raw and unique. Packed house!! I estimate we had 80+ people in attendance, students, teachers, concerned citizens, all taking in the poetry and the magnificent artwork on display as the next night, "CRONICAS", the Fotofest exhibit that MAGNITUD/E stemmed from, would open.
So with that amazing reading done and in the bag - many thanks to MAKE.PLAY.SPEAK. FOTO FEST, JOHNPLUEKER, STEPHEN GROS and NUESTRA PALABRA: LATINO WRITERS HAVING THEIR SAY, for making that happen!!
That leads us into this week.
SO, as I am writing this blog, right now, its about 4:40 pm and I am at Boomtown Coffee (stop by, this place is pretty chingón) and I will be part of yet another reading starting at 6pm. I am hoping I can get all the info I want you to be a part of at least by 5!! Here are the details for that reading:
HOUSTON, TX – Huizache, the nation's premiere Latino literary journal hosts New York Times Best Seller and 2012 National Book Award finalist Domingo Martinez in Houston for national launch - 6pm, Wednesday, February 6th at Casa Ramirez Folk Art Gallery in the Historic Heights District (241 W 19th St., Houston, TX 77008.)
Martinez, author of The Boy Kings of Texas, joins acclaimed author Dagoberto Gilb, the founder of Huizache and CentroVictor at the University of Houston - Victoria, to celebrate the second issue’s national launch.
The newest edition of Huizache chronicles the exploits of the Houston-born Librotraficante Movement, founded to defy Arizona's prohibition of Mexican American Studies, with prose by its leader, Houston novelist Tony Diaz and poetry by Lorna Dee Cervantes, Margaret Randall, Levi Romero and Lupe Mendez.
If you can make it, please drop by!! It should be classic!!
So now, that brings us into this weekend.
As if you wouldn't get enough of latino poetry, or if it's not your cup of tea, then prep yourself for this - the FIRST annual Kerouac Fest in Houston happens in March!!
Details here:
The purpose of Kerouac Fest 2013 is to educate, entertain, and enlighten the public. Whether you're familiar with Kerouac's writing or just have a passing notion of what the Beat Generation is, you'll find something to appreciate at Kerouac Fest.
Produced by Tanyia Johnson of Make.Play.Speak and poet Stephen Gros, Kerouac Fest will include a rich lineup of performances, readings, panel discussions and in depth analysis of the Beat Generation. Scheduled for the day include:
- Youth poetry performance
- Biographical Timeline of Kerouac: infographics and highlights
- Video+Film: screening of two beat films
- Kerouac panel discussion
- Live poetry showcase
- Poetry buskers and twitter aggregate poem
- Selected readings from On the Road
- Live jazz performances
With KerouacFest: Go!Go!Go! right around the corner in March you can get your poetry fix and help support the festival at the same time at this fundraising event.
Please join them, THIS Sunday, February 10, 2013 from 2pm to 4pm at Brazos Bookstore. 15% of sales during the reading will go to support the success of KerouacFest.
Poetry Performances by:
Gerald Cedillo
Tracy Lyall
David Sha
Ken Jones
Dean Liscum
BGK
Visit http://makeplayspeak.com/kerouac/ to learn more about the festival, or come meet the organizers at Brazos on February 10 at 2pm.
The festival is presented by Stephen Gros, Make.Play.Speak. and The Orange Show. The festival is at The Orange Show in Houston on March 9, 2013. Buy advance tickets at http://orangeshow.org/events/121/
Then, last but definitely not least- is this event, I will tease you with. Then give you details later. Check it. My boy, Marlon Lizama is hosting a new arts/poetry event at the House of Blues.
