Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Houston's Word Around Town 2012


What Is It?

The Word Around Town (WAT?!) Poetry Tour is the ONLY 7-day poetry marathon in the country. (And no that's not Fulshear, that's the United States of America.) It's in its 7th year. Lucky 7s. Seeing as life is all a crape shoot, this is the year for poetry in Houston. Organized by Blanca Alanis, Joe B, Stephen Gros, and Lupe Mendez, the tour aims to introduce poets to venues and expose audiences to poets.

Format

The basic format showcases a featured poet, who reads for about 20 minutes. This performance is supported by 15 other local poets, who read 2 poems each. Generally, the featured poet starts the reading followed by 6 or 7 others, a brief break and the rest of the crew.

When, Where, and Who (the featured poet)?

All shows are free, open to the public and start at 8 P.M.

Sun, 8-12 /  Bohemeo’s Art House, 708 Telephone Rd., 77023 / Marlon Lizama
Mon, 8-13 / The Artery, 5401 Jackson St., 77004 / Kool B
Tue, 8-14 / Boomtown Heights, 242 W. 19th St., 77008 / Stephen Gros
Wed, 8-15 / Eat Gallery, 4420 Almeda St., 77004 / Joe B
Thur, 8-16 / Secret Word Café, 2016 Dowling St., 77003 / Jasiminne & Lupe Mendez
Fri, 8-17 / Baker-­‐Ripley Neighborhood Center, 6500 Rookin St., 77074 / Maria Palacios
Sat, 8-18, Dean’s Credit Clothing, 316 Main St., 77002 / BGK


Poets Performing


In alphabetical order by first name (because that's how we roll), the 2012 Line is...
Blanca Alanis, Boby Kalloor, Carolyn Adams, Chris Wise, David Tomas Martinez , dee!colonize, FluentOne, Gerald Cedillo, Jennifer Gabiola, Kathy Fay, Makeda, Marcell Murphy, Oscar Peña, Outspoken Bean, Rain, and Tracy Lyall.

Sunday's Line-Up

What we'll be doing there?

We'll be attending as many of the events as possible and reporting our impressions. Many of the performances are being recorded by the artist and videographer Jonathan Jindra (www.binariumproductions.com). The organizers plan to post some of those videos and when they do we plan to point to them.

Spot the local literary luminaries

So far...

Here's some of the fun that's already done. 

Oscar Peña

Carolyn Adams

Marlon Lizama

Rain

Marcell Murphy

David Tomas Martinez

Kathy Fay

Tracy Lyall

Makeda

FluentOne and Outspoken Bean

Host and organizers: Lupe Mendez and Stephen Gros

Organizer and participant: Blanca Alanis





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