Poetry and Performance News from San Diego for April 2009

By Michael Klam

Museum of the Living Artist's (MOLA) Poetry & Art Series 2009 Co-sponsors San Diego Poetry Slam Quarterfinal with the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA). Aja-Monet Features Between Bouts, Delving into SDMA’s Black Womanhood exhibition. (Get a PDF of the complete poetry slam flyer shown at left here.)

The event, taking place in the Old Globe’s Copley Auditorium theatre in the round, features special performances by New York-based performer Aja-Monet. She will present works that, in part, explore some of the concepts and themes of Black Womanhood. The program also features a quarterfinal competition among poets for the last spots on the 2009 San Diego Poetry Slam Team, which will represent San Diego at the National Poetry Slam in Florida later this year. Here are the specifics:

Monday April 6th, 2009
James S. Copley Auditorium at the San Diego Museum of Art
6:30 pm Doors Open
7 pm Slam
Hosted by Michael Chung Klam and Christopher Wilson
Presented by the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of the Living Artist and the San Diego Poetry Slam, $5 general admission
SDMA: www.sdmart.org
MOLA: www.sandiego-art.org
SD Poetry Slam: http://collectivepurpose.blogspot.com/

Collective Purpose is a San Diego source for exceptional spoken word events, and CP’s Elevated continues to be one of SD’s top outlets for creative expression. Read about it here: http://collectivepurpose.blogspot.com/ (Check out “Hip Hop Saved My Soul”)

Must Read: Ola Hadi, formerly of Drunk Poets Society, has a new book, The Moon and Metaphor, on Puna Press www.punapress.com

Must See: Charlene Baldridge, Curran Jeffery, James Macklem on Tues., April 21st at 7 p.m. in the Mission Hills library. I’m honored to have the chance to read a few poems with these wonderful authors. I’ll read a few new pieces and some oldies. Location: 925 W Washington St., (between Goldfinch St. & Hawk St.) San Diego, CA 92103, (619) 692-4910.

Must See también: Jazz and Poetry with Ted Washington, Al Howard and Karin Carson. An Elegant evening of Jazz, Art, Poetry, Dancing, Prizes, Food & Fun with an All Star Cast--Honoring Jazz Appreciation Month and in celebration of National Poetry Month. April 20, 2009, 7-11 p.m., Tango Del Rey, 3567 Del Rey Street, San Diego, CA. Info: info@sdjmg.org, http://www.sdjmg.org, 619-581-6154

Here's what's coming up in April. If I missed your event, please let me know. Love each other. Emma, Hank and mom, wo ai ni.

Events Calendar

April 4, Sat.
(10:00 am) Connecting Readers with Authors -- Read Local™ San Diego in the Encinitas Library Community Room, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas. info: Karla Olson : karla@ReadLocalSD.org or (760) 840-9552, www.ReadLocalSD.

April 6, Mon.
(6:30/7:00 pm) SDMA/MOLA-SDAI/SD Poetry Slam in Copley Auditorium with feature Aja-Monet (see above for details), 6:30 pm, $5

April 7, Tues.
(7:00 pm) Jericho Brown, Hyde Living Writers Series, Love Library, Room 2203 San Diego State University.

April 15, Weds.
(7:00 pm) Amy Uyematsu, Hyde Living Writers Series, Love Library, Room 2203 San Diego State University

April 17, Fri.
(7:00 pm) Natasha Trethewey, Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice

April 18, Sat.
(11 am-3 pm) Poetryfest 2009. Encinitas Community Library, 540 Cornish Drive , Encinitas, to celebrate National Poetry Month with Jericho Brown, Encinitas Poet Laureate Trish Dugger, Teresa Gonzalez-Lee and Corey Taft. Open Mic will follow performances -- music, drama and spoken word. A prize raffle will follow. All ages, free. Info: 760-753-7376.

April 18 & 19, Sat./Sun.
(9 am - 5 pm) Friends of the Coronado Public Library Spring Book Fair, 6th & Orange, Coronado. Info: 619-435-0290/ email: folcoronado@hotmail.com or go to: www.coronadofol.com.

April 20, Mon.
(7:30) Judith Pacht and Steve McDonald. Barnes and Noble, Grossmont Shopping Center, La Mesa, San Diego, CA (Open Mic before and after)

April 21, Tues.
(7:00 p.m.) Charlene Baldridge, Curran Jeffery, James Macklem on Tues., April 21st at 7 p.m. in the Mission Hills library. I’m honored to have the chance to read a few poems with these wonderful authors. I’ll read a few new pieces and some oldies. Location: 925 W Washington St., (between Goldfinch St & Hawk St) San Diego, CA 92103, (619) 692-4910.

April 22, Weds.
(7:00 p.m.) Afaa Michael Weaver (Hyde Living Writers Series) Love Library, Room 2203 San Diego State University

Apr. 27, Mon.
(6:30 pm) The San Diego Writers/Editors Guild monthly program will feature Lynn Friedman, science writer. www.sdwritersguild.org.

April 30, Thurs.
Poem in Your Pocket Day at www.Poets.org. Email poetnews@poets.org

Ongoing

San Diego Poetry Slam
Check in with Collective Purpose for dates and details. The San Diego Poetry Slam is a spoken word celebration and tournament that features locally renowned poets, brand new slammers, and everyone in between. Slam is no ordinary, sedate open mic. The audience participates. If you're a poet and you want feedback on your work, you'll get it here. If you want to get paid for your words, slam will give you a chance. Slam has an open sign up (poets: get there at 8 p.m. to sign up for a spot) $5 fee for competitors, free for everyone else. Winner takes all! Judges are picked at random out of the audience so you never know what kind of poetry will win on any given week! Check out the San Diego Slam website for descriptions and details. The slam is open to all to come and enjoy the show or to compete for cash prizes. Come unload your philosophies and re-create yourself.

San Diego Writers, Ink rules on 13th Street in the Arts Center. Upcoming events (at the The Ink Spot and around town) include The New Poetic Brew Open Mic Poetry Reading, hosted by Eber Lambert. One poem or 3 minutes, you choose. Third Tuesday of each month. Sign-ups start at 6:30 pm. Rebecca's Coffeehouse is located at 30th & Juniper in South Park.

For more info, contact:
Judy Reeves
Executive Director
San Diego Writers, Ink
sandiegowriters.org
judyreeveswriter.com

Books:
A Writer's Book of Days
Writing Alone, Writing Together
A Creative Writer's Kit
The Writer's Retreat Kit

Sushi Performance and Visual Art. For a complete schedule visit www.sushiart.org, or call 619.235.8466.

Pruitt Igoe is in its third year of beautiful madness: www.pruittigoe.com and www.myspace.com/pruittigoe.

The Rubber Rose (www.myspace.com/therubberrose), 3812 Ray Street.

T.M.I. Open Mic: Word-performance show, www.myspace.com/tmiopenmic. $5 to $7 donation. All ages.

Bluestocking Books FIRST Monday of each month at 7pm Monday Montage - Join Curran Jeffries, Kris, & Tom reading original as well as favorite poetry and prose out loud amidst the stacks. You can read too, or come just to listen and refresh your mind. 3817 5th Ave., Hillcrest.

Check out Mark Freeman's movie: "Poetry Live(s)". Now on DVD, $25.

The Psalmist Hour has relocated to Deeper Life Christian Bookstore, 5555 University Ave. They describe their events as the place to be for live entertainment and a great time. "It is a great place to meet new people, enjoy phenomenal performers, or just chill out." 815.6550.

Kimberly Dark Web site.

Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra on YouTube. Al's thoughts on war: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3vRnG4gkT0

Jimmy Jazz on MySpace and YouTube

The Vessel is an open mic in San Marcos, CA, held the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month with the vision to bring the Artist closer to the People and bring the People closer to the Artist. Every 1st and 3rd Friday night there is a gathering held at the Canvas Cafe that has a featured artist, food, drinks, DJ, live band and open mic.

The Hunter's Moon 2007 of the Pregnant Moon Review is live. New poetry by Kelly Braden, Anna Bristow, Brett Staggs, and Shane Townsend. See for yourself at www.pregnantmoon.com.

Poets & Writers, Inc. For more information about Poets & Writers Readings/Workshops program, visit www.pw.org/rw/ or call the office at 310-481-7195.

The Poetry Bench
Noon on the first Sunday of the month in Balboa Park. Quince Street at 6th Avenue on the north east corner. Email cyberhuts@worldnet.att.net for more info.

The Off Beat Open Mic
Rebecca's Coffeehouse 5 to 7 pm on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. www.rebeccascoffeehouse.com.

Walk the Walk
www.walkthewalkpresents.com

Sushi Performance and Visual Art
For a complete schedule visit www.sushiart.org or call 619.235.8466.

ILLFONIX
Wednesdays at 10 pm, 88.3 KSDS

VIBES
Every Saturday night 9 pm to 11 pm. "Coffee House on Broadway", 2991 Broadway San Diego

Look to DG Wills Books for great author events. Billy Collins is in the post for October! Check the site!

PoeticWorks
E.Michele Paul.Get Involved! ComMonUnItY Poetry. Ask me how: Info@poeticworks.com, (949) 547-9935

Barnes & Nobles Poetry Events
Visit Seretta Martin's Web site for more info about BARNES & NOBLE PRESENTS P o e t r y s e r i e s 2007 at Hazard Center @ 163 & Friars Rd. East, San diego - 619-220-0175. Hosts: seretta martin, Co-Host: Jackleen Holten and Media Support from matt potter. Feature poets followed by Open Mic on 3rd Monday & occasionally other dates. Info: web.mac.com/serettamartin, wordsoup@juno.com

Submissions

Pequin seeks submissions (prose, 1000-ish words)

Damn Good Writing is looking for your poems and artwork for online and print publication: "The editors of Damn Good Writing invite submissions of fiction, poetry, short plays, literary nonfiction, and art in traditional and experimental styles. Writers and artists who currently live in San Diego County comprise half of what is published. First serial rights only. We respond promptly, but do not comment or offer suggestions. We pay in copies. Please check out full submission guidelines.

Submit your work to Quay, A Journal of the Arts. From the editors: "We are shaping our creative collection, so, at this time, we will only say that we are interested in fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, poetry, art, short plays or monologues and multi-media pieces. Our goal is to publish three issues a year, online and in print.
     Spring Issue: submissions in January and February
     Summer Issue: submissions in May and June
     Fall Issue: submissions in September and October

Thanking you in advance,
the Staff of Quay
   Jennifer Pattison Rumford, editor
   Theresa Edwards, poetry editor
   Kathy Chenault, nonfiction editor
   Betsy Self Elijah, memoir editor
   Matthew M. Quick, fiction editor
   Lloyd Noonan, playwright editor

Books, DVDs

POETRY LIVE(S), film by Mark Freeman
San Diego's poetry scene comes to life in a new documentary "Poetry Live(s)," produced and directed by San Diego State University professor Mark Freeman. DVD, $25.

Emma and the Buddha Frog by Michael Klam (www.punapress.com). Edited by Jennifer Chung Klam, the new book has illustrations by David Lonteen, Ron Moya and Emily Larlham. Emma and the Buddha Frog features poems and short stories about everything from my surfer children, Emma and Hank, to genetically engineered super bowl cheese to Bushcon's war on thinking.

Visit Puna Press to get a taste of BARZILLA by Edwin Decker. Decker is the author of the column "Sordid Tales," a staple of San Diego CityBeat, and has contributed to Modern Drunkard Magazine, The Stranger ( Seattle, WA ), Tucson Weekly, Cleveland Scene and other national publications. Mr. Decker has tended bar in San Diego for more than 15 years at many notable music venues including the legendary Bacchanal and these experiences flavor his book BARZILLA. Also available: Less by Ted Washington. And some love poems by Ted, too: 22.

Poetry and Performance News from San Diego for April 2009

Events Calendar

Ongoing

Submissions

Books, DVDs

More Links

Links to San Diego Coffee Houses

San Diego Poetry Links

Poetix is Southern California's Poetry & Spoken Word gateway, capturing the sights and sounds of the verbal arts with resonance, impact and aesthetics. Send mail to webmaster@poetix.net with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2005 Published by Tebot Bach Last modified: 04/02/09