Poet Marie Howe.By Chauncey MabeIn the dark times, will there also be singing?Yes, there will be singing. About the dark times.-- Bertolt BrechtA somber tone dominated the sixth edition of the Palm Beach Poetry Festival, with the distinguished faculty focusing on “poems of witness” and elegies for the dead. Yet by Saturday, the busy last day of the festival, the atmosphere had … [Read more...]
Arts feature: Palm Beach Poetry Festival bigger than ever
Miles Coon, left, and Delray Beach Mayor Woodie McDuffie,with a proclamation making Jan. 18-23Delray Beach Poetry Week.(Photo by Michiko Kurisu) By Chauncey MabeMiles Coon did not build the Palm Beach Poetry Festival into one of Florida’s top literary events in five short years by being cautious.After last year’s economically troubled festival, when one workshop had to be … [Read more...]
Arts feature: National Poetry Slam leaves streets sparkling with spoken words
Sierra DeMulder of the St. Paul-Soapboxing poetry slam team.(Photo by Katie Deits)By Chauncey Mabe For five days last week downtown West Palm Beach was the coolest place on earth.Or it at least it seemed that way during the 20th National Poetry Slam that brought 68 teams of mostly young poets to Clematis Street for a rolling competition that was part counterculture festival, … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Poets gear up for next week’s national slam in West Palm
Illustration by Pat Crowley.By Paul LomartireSlammed by syntax. Pummeled by a poem.The world heavyweight championship of words delivered with attitude is headed for West Palm Beach in the form of the 20th annual National Poetry Slam Aug. 4 to 8.And yes, fans, this is a competition every bit as heated as baseball or boxing."This is blood, sweat and tears poetry delivered live … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Palm Beach Poetry Festival opens fifth fest this month
By Greg Stepanich DELRAY BEACH -- Four hours after the oath of office is administered to Barack Obama, a group of professional writers and everyday folks will gather around a microphone at the Crest Theatre in Delray Beach to read eight-line poems inspired by the event they have just witnessed, the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States. Poems written to … [Read more...]