2012 Equality State Book Festival announces confirmed slate of authors and illustrators

Holly Wendt & Laurie Lye, co-directors of the 2012 Equality State Book Festival, send word that the bookfest web site has been updated with some exciting news to share about September's event in Casper:

The Equality State Book Festival organizers are pleased to announce this year's festival date has been set for Sept. 14-15 in Casper. This celebration marks the 26th anniversary of the annual Casper College/ARTCORE Literary Conference, which has been called "The Equality State Book Festival" every other year since 2006, this being our fourth venture in that spirit.

For the two-day event, more than 15 authors and illustrators will share their talents, giving readings, leading craft talks, emceeing a poetry slam, visiting local schools, and participating on panels. This year's group includes poets, novelists, memoirists, essayists, illustrators, and publishers. 

Among the participants slated are state-wide and regional favorites: Pat Frolander, current Poet Laureate for Wyoming; Zak Pullen, Cat Urbigkit, Kendra Spanjer and Karla Oceanak who will be making school visits; Alyson Hagy and David Romtvedt, faculty from University of Wyoming's MFA program, who will give readings and lead craft talks; and essayist and poet Linda Hasselstrom. From further regions, we are also joined by Rebecca O'Connor and Renee d'Aoust.

The Wyoming Arts Council will be announcing their annual Creative Writing Fellowship awards which celebrate poetry this year and will be judged by Brian Turner. Our friends at Natrona County Public Library are sponsoring a visit from Luis Carlos Montalvan. 

We hope you can join us to appreciate the good company of fellow readers and writers and help celebrate books and the written word Sept. 14-15, 2012, at Casper College and a few other Casper locations, all to be detailed on this web site soon.

For more book festival information, please contact Laurie Lye at llye@caspercollege.edu or 307-268-2639.

Women of the World Poetry Slam 2012 – Denver, CO

Denver, CO has been selected to host the 2012 Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWps) , a national spoken word event in its 5th year. The event is scheduled to be held March 7-10, 2012.

Denver has one of the most thriving slam poetry scenes in the nation, and is home to many slam poetry champions, including the reigning National Poetry Slam Champions of 2011, the National Poetry Slam Champions of 2006, the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion of 2008, as well as the Individual World Poetry Slam Champion of 2010.  This will be the first time that a national poetry competition will be hosted in the Mile High City.

Venues for the preliminary competitions and daytime events will be held central to downtown Denver on March 7-10, 2012. Our day events will include a walking tour of Denver’s beat poet history, writing workshops, haiku competitions, and a series of open mics that will be free and open to the public.  Finals night will be held Sat., March 10, at the Denver Art Museum located at 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway.

Sign up now for University of Wyoming's first poetry slam of the semester

University of Wyoming Poetry Slam
Wednesday, January 25, 8:00 pm
UW Union Gardens

Those wishing to compete can sign up starting Jan. 11 at either the Student Activities Council event table on Wednesdays in the Union Breezeway, or in the Campus Activities Center in the basement of the Union.  Limited to 25 contestants, so competition spots will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Poetry slam for teens and adults April 16 at Natrona County Library in Casper

April is National Poetry Month. If you are a poet and you know it, show your stuff during “Poetry Slam” sponsored by the Natrona County Public Library. The event will be held at the Metro Coffee Company Saturday, April 16 at 7 p.m.

Poets should prepare two or three original poems to read aloud during their three-minute time limit, and will receive a free drink courtesy of the Friends of the Library. Prizes will be awarded for the best entries. Don’t forget to bring your own audience! Teens and adults, grades 7 and up, are welcome to participate. The event is free and open to the public.

Performance time is limited, so please sign up in advance at the library or by calling 577-READ ext 2. Poets will need to arrive and check in at 6:45 the night of the event.

FMI: April Szuch, (307) 237-4935; www.natronacountylibrary.org

"N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK: The Race Show" comes to UW Jan 20

On Thursday, January 20, "N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK: The Race Show" comes to the University of Wyoming Arts and Sciences Auditorium

"A very funny play, and a very important one as well."Travis Smiley, NPR

Called "jaw-dropping . . . infectious . . . explosive . . . inspiring" by the LA Times, this original play, written, directed, and acted by three UCLA grads, is a hilarious look at the impact these three racial slurs have had on their lives, and on our culture. N*W*C, as it calls itself, argues that "we must talk about these words to create change: we have the right to use them, because they have been used against us. But our use is going somewhere new." Weaving together ensemble work, monologues, slam poetry, and stand-up comedy, N*W*C has expanded the genre of populist theater, so that "what you'll experience," they say, "won't feel like any theater you've seen before, but you're still going to love it. Maybe even a little more. . . . And we hope you laugh you're a** off too." Sold out last time: this time, A&S.

General Public $27 /Students & Seniors $23.

FMI: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/culturalprograms/info.asp?p=26331

Slammin' in Casper

If you are a poet and you know it, show your stuff during “Poetry Slam” sponsored by the Natrona County Public Library. The event will be held at the Metro Coffee Company Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Poets should prepare two or three original poems to read aloud during their three-minute time limit, and will receive a free drink courtesy of the Friends of the Library. Prizes will be awarded for the best entries. Don’t forget to bring your own audience! Teens and adults, grades 7 and up are welcome to participate.

Performance time is limited, so please sign up in advance at the library’s reference desk or by calling 577-READ, ext 2.

"Poetry Box" meets weekly at Natrona County Library

From April Szuch at the Natrona County Publlic Library in Casper:

Do you enjoy reading or writing poetry? The Natrona County Public Library is starting up a new discussion group just for poetry lovers! “Poetry Box” will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the library, Fridays, September 10, 17 and 24 and then monthly thereafter.

The group will discuss attendees’ original poems, read and discuss published poetry, and do creative exercises for poetry writing. Each attendee is encouraged to bring a short poem to share (either original or published). Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library. For more information, call 577-READ ext 2.

Henry Rollins drops into Jackson June 23

Teen Poetry Slam May 7 at Teton Co. Library

Teen Poetry SLAM will be held on Friday, May 7, 6-10 p.m., in the Teton County Public Library Ordway Auditorium in Jackson. The program is free and open to the community with support from the Charles Engelhard Foundation and Teton County Library Foundation.

Teton County Library invites teens to recite poems and perform other forms of verbal expression, including rap, during a Teen Poetry SLAM at 6 p.m., Friday, May 7 at the library. Pizza and snacks will be served.

During the month of April, the library invited teens to submit original poems to the library's excellent panel of judges. Winners of the April contest, celebrating National Poetry Month, will be announced at the SLAM. Contest entries gave a lyrical twist to an array of topics, including grandma, cats, music, love, social customs, school, skiing, rainy days, horses and much more.

For information about teen programs at the library, contact Teen Program Coordinator, Steve Whisenand, 733-2164 ext. 247 or visit online at www.TCLib.org.

Teton County teens invited to submit poems

In celebration of National Poetry Month --

The Teton County Public Library in Jackson is sponsoring a Teen Poetry Contest.

Teens are invited to submit original poems for judging by the library's panel of judges, and prepare to recite them aloud at the Poetry Slam in May.

Contact: Teen Program Coordinator, Steve Whisenand, 733-2164 ext. 247.

Mary Hein wins lit conference poetry slam

Long-time WWInc and WYOPoets member Mary Hein claimed first place in the 23rd annual Casper College Literary Conference poetry slam Saturday night at Metro Coffee in Casper.

Mary out-slammed a field of competitors comprised mainly of high school and college students, along with one of the WAC fellowship winners, Lori Van Pelt of Saratoga (she finished third).

For her efforts, Mary won the "Mystery Bag" prize, presented by slam emcee George Vlastos. In the bag was a bottle of imported Vlastos olive oil.

Second place went to Heidi Johnson, a Casper College student and editor of the "Expressions" literary magazine. Her prize was a pair of recycled lighting fixtures provided by writer and scavenger Tom Rea.

Thanks to all the participants. And Mary Hein has agreed to come back next fall to defend her crown.

Start practicing now, all you slammers!

"Thresholds" -- 23rd Annual Literary Conference

October 8-10
presented by Casper College and ARTCORE
Attend three enriching days of writing workshops and free public talks on poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as readings by recipients of the 2009 Wyoming Arts Council Poetry Fellowships.

Featured Presenters
All talks are free and open to the public.
William Powers, Author of Blue Clay People: Seasons on Africa’s Fragile Edge.
Tim Sandlin, Author of Rowdy in Paris, Skipped Parts and Sex and Sunset.
Greg Pape, Author of American Flamingo and Sunflower Facing the Sun.
Linda Hasselstrom, Author of No Place Like Home: Field Notes from a Western Life.

WRITING WORKSHOPS
Two day workshops are $60 and require pre-registration. Seats are limited. Please sign up early (coming soon).[ Register Today! ]
“Start and Finish Your Novel,” Tim Sandlin, 2-5 p.m. Oct. 8-9
“Writing to See, Seeing to Write,” Linda Hasselstrom, 2-5 p.m. Oct. 8-9
“Writing for Change,” William Powers, 9 a.m. - noon, Oct. 9-10
“Poetry Workshop,” Greg Pape, 9 a.m. - noon, Oct. 9-10

For more information and to register for workshops visit:
www.caspercollege.edu/events
Questions?
Contact Terry Rasmussen
2009 Literary Conference Director
307-268-2480

On the road in WYO with Denver slam poets

From a press release from the Wyoming Humanities Council:

Ken Arkind and Panama Soweto, members of the 2006 Denver team that won the National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas, will perform in Casper, Cheyenne and Lusk as part of the Wyoming Humanities Council’s summer program paying tribute to the beatniks.

Joining them are Craig Arnold, a poetry professor at the University of Wyoming and winner of the Rome PrizeFellowship in literature, and Luke Stricker, a recent graduate of the University of Wyoming MFA program and organizer of poetry slams in Laramie.

Slams take place at the Metro in Casper on June 13 at 7 p.m., at the Niobrara County Library in Lusk on June 14 at 1 p.m., and at the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne at 7 p.m. on June 14. All programs are free and open to the public and are sponsored by the We the People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

FMI: Jenn Koiter at (307) 721-9243 or jkoiter@uwyo.edu

Beats "On the Road" in Wyo. this summer

From a press release from the Wyoming Humanities Council:

This summer, the Wyoming Humanities Council presents "On the Road: 50 Years of the Beatniks," a summer program about American counterculture in the 1950s and early 1960s. The program includes a book discussion series focusing on Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs; a poetry slam tour of Casper, Cheyenne and Lusk hosted by UW poet and professor Craig Arnold; and a bus trip on June 22 to visit beat locales in Denver. Host sites will also screen B movies from the era.

"The beatniks belong to the history of our region," said humanities council staff member Jenny Ingram. "Thirty pages into ‘On the Road,’ Jack Kerouac visits Cheyenne Frontier Days."

In Laramie, book discussion meetings will take place at the office of the Wyoming Humanities Council. In Casper, Cheyenne and Lusk, they will take place at public libraries.

All programs are free and open to the public. This program is sponsored by the We the People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

FMI: Jenny Ingram at (307) 721-9247 or jingram@uwyo.edu, or visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities.

Poetry Slam tonight at Laramie Co. Library

I'm serving as a judge for the Teen Poetry Slam that starts at 6 p.m. tonight in the Cottonwood of the Laramie County Public Library. Participants must pre-register by calling 307-634-3561 (time is short!). This judged event features teams of teen poets facing off against one another. Participants need to bring at least four original poems.

The top high school and junior high teams will receive cash prizes (double the amount from last year), as well as awards for individual poets.

This event is free and open to the public. Come on out and cheer for your faves.

For more details about this and other programs for teens, visit http://lclsonline.org/.

--Mike Shay

"Semana Primavera" events set for UW

Five days of events are scheduled during "Semana Primavera" (spring week) at the University of Wyoming.

The UW student organization MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanos de Atzlan) sponsors activities beginning Sunday, April 20, with a reception honoring UW's Chicano faculty and staff members. Refreshments will be served from 4-6 p.m. in the Multicultural Resource Center, Room 103 of the Wyoming Union.

Other activities are:

• Monday, April 21: Primavera Poetry Slam, King Street Market, Washakie Dining Center, 7-9 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 22: Installation of new MEChA officers, Multicultural Resource Center, 5-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 23: "Secret Techniques: breakdancing workshop," behind Bagel Makers in the Wyoming Union, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 26: "Fiesta: Comida y Cultura (Food and Culture)", Wyoming Union Skylight Lounge, 2-5:30 p.m.

FMI: Cynthia Chavez Kelly, Office of Multicultural Affairs, at (307) 766-6193 or ckelly@uwyo.edu.

Teen poetry slam April 22 at Cheyenne library

For National Poetry Month, the Laramie County Public Library in Cheyenne is hosting a poetry slam for students in grades 7-12. The battle begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, in the new library’s Cottonwood Room.

And beware -- the Wyoming Arts Council's Mike Shay will serve as one of the judges.

Participants must pre-register for this judged event, which features teams of teen poets facing off against one another, and bring at least four original poems. To register, call 634-3561 or visit the second floor of the library.

The top high school and junior high teams will receive cash prizes (double the amount from last year), as well as awards for individual poets. This event is free and open to the public. Come on out and cheer for your faves.

For more details about this and other programs for teens, visit http://LCLSonline.org.

Spoken-word artist performs for UW's "Martin Luther King Jr. "Days of Dialogue"

New York City spoken-word artist and author Saul Williams is the keynote speaker for the 2008 Martin Luther King Jr./Days of Dialogue (MLK/DOD) celebration Jan. 21-25, at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

Williams will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Wyoming Union Yellowstone Ballroom. He will read his poetry earlier that day from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., also in the Yellowstone Ballroom. Williams is the author of "The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop" and had the lead role in the movie "Slam."

MLK/DOD is UW's annual celebration of the continuing impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and ideals. The theme for the seventh annual event, "The Politics of Dialogue," reflects the importance -- and difficulty -- of honest, open communication in a pluralistic society, according to the organizing committee.

The week of special activities renews UW's commitment to make its campus a more welcoming and empowering place for people from different backgrounds, heritages, orientations or abilities, says MLK/DOD committee co-chair Malinda Daniel. Several UW organizations and Laramie businesses sponsor the week's activities.

Most events are free and all are open to the public. Activities during the week are:

Monday, Jan. 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, community service projects, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Laramie; Martin Luther King Jr. March and Dr. Willena Stanford Community Supper, begins at the Albany County Courthouse and ends at the Wyoming Union Yellowstone Ballroom, 4-6:30 p.m. The 2008 Willena Stanford Diversity Award will be presented at the dinner.

Tuesday, Jan. 22: Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning book discussion of "Teaching Defiance: Stories and Strategies for Activist Educators, a book written in wartime by Michael Newman", noon-1:30, Coe Library Room 307; performance by Day Acoli, Denver hip-hop poet, 6 p.m., Wyoming Union Yellowstone Ballroom; "One Arab, One Jew, One Stage" comedy show, featuring stand-up comic duo Bob Alper and Azhar Usman, 8 p.m., UW College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

Wednesday, Jan. 23: "Food of Diversity" smorgasbord, featuring foods from around the world, 4-7 p.m., $10 per person or free to students with UW meal plan, Washakie Dining Center; exhibition of African mud paintings from Kenya and Ghana, reception and gallery viewing with curator Godwill Mock, 5-7 p.m., Wyoming Union Senate Chambers, with the exhibition on display in the ASUW Gallery in the lower level of the Wyoming Union.

Thursday, Jan. 24: Keepers of the Fire Talking Circle, "Going Home Again After College," panel discussion and lunch, including guests Trivia Afraid of Lightning, student from Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and Patterson Yazzie, communications specialist at American Indian College Fund, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Wyoming Union Senate Chambers; "Don't Let Others Define You," presentation by Trivia Afraid of Lightning, 3-4 p.m., Wyoming Union Yellowstone Ballroom; performance by Boston-based Soulfege, global urban fusion band, 8 p.m., Yellowstone Ballroom.

Friday, Jan. 25: Talk by Guy Padgett, youngest-ever mayor of Casper and first openly gay mayor in Wyoming, 4 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Family Room; Poetry Slam, 9 p.m., Washakie Center King Street Market.

Among other events are a book display at Coe Library, presentations sponsored by the College of Law and the President's Advisory Council on Minorities' and Women's Affairs (PACMWA), and a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Art Show, featuring art by Laramie K-12 students.

For a detailed listing of all events, visit the UW Web site at http://www.uwyo.edu/mlk.

What is this thing you call poetry slam?

Loosen up those lips and sign up to join in Saturday night's Poetry Slam at Synergy Cafe, in the Vandehei Plaza at 459 Vandehei, at the I-25 and Vandehei exit. Sign up at 6:00 p.m. Open mike begins at 6:30 p.m., with the signed-up slammers beginning at 7:00 p.m. Bring three poems to compete and win weird, inexplicable prizes. Takes place in conjunction with the Wyoming Book Festival, September 14 and 15.

Slam poets seek Cheyenne, Laramie gigs

We received an e-mail from a slam poet in Albuquerque who is coming to Wyoming with two other slammers May 19-25. His name is Damien Flores and he's on the Albuquerque slam team which won the National Slam Championship in 2005. This is very short notice but maybe Damien and cohorts -- Levi Romero and Lisa Gill -- could come to your school or library to demonstrate slam poetry or to conduct a poetry workshop. Levi received rave reviews for his poetry reading last year at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne.

E-mail Damien for more info.