Puna Press
Poetry and Performance News from San Diego for
August/September 2009
By Michael Klam
Congratulations to Rudy Francisco and the San Diego Slam Team
According to team captain Christopher Wilson, in their second bout at the National Poetry Slam (after a rough first round), San Diego defeated the defending champs, Slam Charlotte, as well as Berkeley and Seattle. The team missed semis by only 2 points and ranked 25th out of the 68 teams from around the world. The next night Rudy Francisco won the inaugural NUPIC (National Underground Poet Individual Championship) Slam. Although it was not sanctioned by PSI, it did get him a trip to the finals stage.
We (the Museum of the Living Artist's Poetry & Art Series) teamed up with Wilson and the San Diego Slam for a fundraiser before nationals. We had approximately 350 in attendance. There were representatives from LA Slam, Hollywood Slam, Chino Slam, as well as students from all the universities in town, and admin from the San Diego Museum of Art and Eveoke Dance Theater. Diversity ranged from 16-year-olds to 60-year-olds of every race, gender, orientation and culture. We will continue to help the San Diego Poetry Slam with fundraising and sharing audiences through events such as the following:
Poetry & Art Series: Local Author Ola Hadi and 3 for $300 Poetry & Art Slam at Museum of the Living Artist quarterly event
Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. is the next Poetry & Art with 3 for $300 Slam in the Museum of the Living Artist. Ola Hadi will read from her book The Moon and Metaphor, and local artists/writers will compete for cash in quarterly Poetry & Art slam.
Hadi, an immigrant of Iraqi descent born in Kuwait City in 1982, grew up in Imperial Beach, San Diego. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy of Industrial Societies from U.C. Berkeley. She founded the Drunk Poets Society of Ocean Beach. Hadi currently lives in San Diego and teaches World History and World Geography. Her new book is called The Moon and Metaphor.
3 for $300 Slam, a poetry/visual art combination slam for writers, artists and performers, is a poetry competition with a slight twist: Performers who bring and show visual art connected in some way to their poetry will earn extra points. Performers may also use (and are encouraged to use) artwork hanging in the museum's current exhibit. Simply pick a painting, and it will be displayed front and center for the audience while you read. Winners take home $150 (1st Place), $100 (2nd Place) and $50 (3rd Place).
What is Poetry Slam? Here is the official word from Poetry Slam, Inc.: "A poetry slam is a competitive event in which poets perform their work and are judged by members of the audience. Typically, the host or another organizer selects the judges, who are instructed to give numerical scores (on a zero to 10 or one to 10 scale) based on the poets' content and performance."
The Poetry & Art Series (established in the summer of 2001) in the Museum of the Living Artist is itself both a unique show and a unique venue. Poets and audiences gather amongst the paintings to witness a live collaboration between poets and visual artists.
Poetry & Art, the San Diego Art Institute s quarterly museum series, gives regional artists an opportunity to express themselves in a variety of forms and styles. Audiences hear poetry and prose in dialogue with painting, photography, sculpture, music and dance. The featured guests serve not only as entertainment but also as inspiration for developing artists. The free speech event reveals the diversity and importance of the region s artists.
Our resident P&A DJ, Gill S.O.T.U., will spin R&B, funk and soul, and there is a new art exhibit on display at every show.
So bring poems and paintings on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and step up to the mic. Or simply come to enjoy the performances. The show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Michael Klam at (619) 957-3264 or call the museum directly, Kerstin Robers at (619) 236-0011. E-mail: mkklam@gmail.com. Visit: www.punapress.com and sandiego-art.org.
Poetry & Art Series since 2001 -- Poetry & Art takes place in the 10,000-square-foot San Diego Art Institute at Balboa Park and includes music and snacks. The event is open to the public and audience members can participate or simply enjoy the show. Cost is $5. Open mic signups start at 6:30 p.m., and the event runs 7 to 9:30 p.m.
WHAT: Poetry & Art 3 for $300 Slam and Ola Hadi
DATE: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009
TIME: 7-9:30 p.m.; slam signups at 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: The Museum of the Living Artist
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park
COST: $5, members free
General Information
The San Diego Art Institute's Museum of the Living Artist features a new exhibition of works by talented Southern California regional artists every four to six weeks in this specially designed 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art gallery space. The San Diego Art Institute is dedicated to the advancement of the visual arts through outreach, education and exhibition. The institute s mission is to maintain a center for emerging artists and the visual arts in San Diego.
Rolling through Comic-Con in July, I found "Missed Aches," Joanna Priestley's latest film -- a four-minute, Flash-animated version of Taylor Mali s poem, "The The Impotence of Proofreading." We also ran into legendary Junk Boy, who had just bored a hole in his arm for the Festival of Animation's Sick and Twisted crowd. A long, long time ago, Junk Boy created my favorite stage moment of all time. He left the ground and sent the audience flying, literally. Long story. On with today...
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:
collectivepurpose.blogspot.com (Check out "Hip Hop Saved My Soul" )Go to Thumbprint Gallery, and check out Stanza, an open mic event, 3925 Ohio Street, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, 7-9 p.m.
Go see WriteOutLoud
Open Mic San Diego comprehensive list
San Diego Writers, Ink rules on 13th Street in the Arts Center. Upcoming (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
Books:
A Writer's Book of Days
Writing Alone, Writing Together
A Creative Writer's Kit
The Writer's Retreat Kit
Pruitt Igoe is in its fourth year of beautiful madness: www.pruittigoe.com and www.myspace.com/pruittigoe.
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.
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.
Kimberly Dark -- Check out her Web site.
Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra on YouTube. Al's thoughts on war.
Jimmy Jazz on MySpace and YouTube.
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.
Here's what's coming up. If I missed your event, let me know right away. Love each other. Emma, Hank and Mom, wo ai ni.
Events Calendar
August 19
Poetry & Art 3 for $300 Slam and Ola Hadi
7-9:30 p.m.; slam signups at 6:30 p.m. The Museum of the Living Artist, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, $5, members free.August 21
William A. Nericcio
7 pm, Nericcio reads from Tex[t]-Mex: Seductive Hallucinations of the Mexican in America. Tomas Riley reads from Mahcic. Manuel Paul Lopez reads from Death of a Mexican and Other Poems, D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Ave., La Jolla (848/456-1800, dgwills.books.com.August 29
Cultura in Hip-Hop Partido 2
9 pm, concert and auction benefit for the Light familia to help pay for Andy s March 2009 memorial concert, RHYTHM LOUNGE, 3048 Midway Dr., SD, CA 92110. 21+only: $7 a person/$10 a couple, myspace.com/mym1969 OR 619-563-4581 OR michelyvonne@yahoo.com.September 4
Dime Stories Open Prose Mic
7 pm, hosted by Amy Wallen, first Friday of every month, The Grove at Juniper, 30th and Juniper, $5, (sandiegowriters.org).September 13
Poetry @ Open Door Books
3 pm, hosted by Terry Hertzler. Features Francisco Bustos and Brandon Cesmat, and open reading. Open Door Books, 4761 Cass Street, Pacific Beach, San Diego, free, (858/270-8642).September 15
Poetic Brew
6:30 pm, hosted by Eber Lambert. Rebecca s Coffee House, Juniper and 30th, sandiegowriters.org, www.myspace.com/poeticmooseness.September 16
Third Wednesdays poetry series
7:30 pm, hosted by Seretta Martin, co-host Fred Longworth. Featured poet Kathleen Tyler plus open mic, Barnes & Noble, Grossmont Center (619/667-2870, wordsoup@juno.com).September 19
Eileen Myles
7 pm, reading from The Importance of Being Iceland, D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Ave., La JollaSeptember 22
David Lida
7 pm, the journalist reads from "First Stop in the New World: Mexico City, the Capital of the 21st Century," at D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Avenue, La Jolla.Ongoing
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.comSushi
For a complete schedule visit www.sushiart.org or call 619.235.8466.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). Judges are picked at random out of the audience so you never know what kind of poetry will win on any given week! 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.
The Psalmist Hour
Barnes & Nobles Poetry Events, Barnes and Noble, Hazard Center, Mission Valley. To get on the mailing list for events, email.Check out "Poetry Live(s)"
Mark Freeman's movie, now on DVD, $25.
DG Wills Books
Look to DG Wills Books for great author events. Billy Collins is in the post for October! Check the site!Rebecca's Coffee House
Poetry and more at Rebecca's.PoeticWorks
E.Michele Paul (Get Involved! (ComMonUnItY Poetry (Ask me how: Info@poeticworks.com, (949) 547-9935Barnes & Nobles Poetry Events
Barnes and Noble, Hazard Center, Friars Road, Mission Valley, San Diego. (To get on the mailing list for events, click here.Links to San Diego Coffee Houses
The Espresso San Diego's coffeehouse & cafe newspaper since 1992. Articles and events listings and venues
Where2Eat
String Beans
AOL Guide to San Diego's Best Coffeehouses
Cafe 976
Poetry Links
101 Artists Colony
Coffee House Press
Collective Purpose
Judah Israel
Kimberly Dark
Lestat's
Malcolm X Library
Poetry International
Poets & Writers
Puna Press
Red Calacarts
San Diego Writers, Ink
San Diego Blog
San Diego Writeway
T.M.I.
Warwick's
Radioactive Radio
Planes, Trains and Dead Sea Scrolls
Old Globe Theatre Offers Opportunities for Southeast San Diego
Old Globe's Kingdom Comes Southeast
To submit events, contact Michael Klam.
Kimberly Dark
Puna Press
San Diego Blog
San Diego Writeway
T.M.I.
Warwick's
Radioactive Radio
Planes, Trains and Dead Sea Scrolls
Old Globe Theatre Offers Opportunities for Southeast San Diego
Old Globe's Kingdom Comes Southeast
To submit events, contact Michael Klam.
T.M.I.
Warwick's
Radioactive Radio
Planes, Trains and Dead Sea Scrolls
Old Globe Theatre Offers Opportunities for Southeast San Diego
Old Globe's Kingdom Comes Southeast