Where is Your Next Stop? Launching Poets on The Comet This Sunday, November 1!

On Sunday, November 1, One Columbia and The Comet will host the launch of our city’s first major poetry as a public art program—poems on city buses—with a rolling poetry reading on a downtown bus route followed by a celebration and reading at Tapp’s Art Center (1644 Main).

Repost from The Jasper Blog. 

Poetry on the COMET Announcement and Event

I’m pleased to announce that the poems collected for the project with The COMET have been posted up on the advertising area of the inside of the buses! Here are a few photos of some of the cards:

To celebrate this project, there will be an event titled “Poetry 101” held on November 1. A number of poets will be reading on COMET Route 101 North Main, rotating at select stops. After the rolling reading, the event will proceed at the Tapp’s Arts Center (1644 Main), where there will be light refreshments, and a poetry reading. Anyone who would like to ride along with the poets should report at the Sumter Street Transit Center (1780 Sumter) at 3:30pm. Limited seating, first come, first served.

One Columbia has also collected poems into a chapbook which will be free and available at the event on November 1 or at the One Columbia office (1219 Taylor Street).

As an added bonus, all rides on Route 101 North Main will be free to any riders all day on November 1!

When we’re told we’ll never understand

A reading of the poem “When we’re told we’ll never understand” from “Hercules and the Wagoner: Reflections, South Carolina, June 17-22, 2015.” This poem was written in response to the tragedy at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC and in conjunction with the efforts to remove the Confederate flag from the SC Statehouse grounds.

The poem was originally read as part of the Take It Down rally at the Statehouse on June 20, 2015 and reprinted in both the Free Times and The State Newspaper.

 

Tell the Truth, Tell it Slant

ed-readingWant to push your writing to a new level? Want to learn more about craft and voice? Image and indirection. Honesty and lies, making the abstract concrete. Finding a voice, telling a story.

 

I’ll be leading a series of FREE writing workshops (every Tuesday evening in July between 6:30pm-8pm), culminating with a public poetry reading and open mic event at the Richland Library.

  • Tuesday, July 7 — Bank of America Conference Room
    Poetry Workshop
  • Tuesday, July 14 — Bank of America Conference Room
    Poetry Workshop
  • Tuesday, July 21 — Bank of America Conference Room
    Poetry Workshop
  • Tuesday, July 28 — Film & Sound
    Poetry Reading and Open Mic

Share what you’ve created or honed during the workshop, and listen to other talented community members perform their verse.

Don’t miss your chance to work with me and snag one of these high-demand spots!

Registration is required, and space is limited. Register online by visiting the event listings on the Richland Library website. You must register for each session separately, with the exception of the final Poetry Reading and Open Mic. For that event, first dibs to read/perform will be given to those who have participated in the preceeding workshops, and others can sign up in person prior to the event start.