Hi, poetry people. Hope you’re reaping the best of a Santa Cruz County summer.
Cabrillo Music Festival Community Poem
I’m eager to share news of our local-but-world-renowned Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and a Festival Community Poem you’re invited to contribute lines to. The Cabrillo Festival often collaborates with artists in different disciplines. This year I’m serving as poet-in-residence to facilitate and curate a Community Poem. More specifics (and the opening days’ prompts) are available on the festival website, but I invite you now to be a part of the fun of this poem —with one line or many. Prompts will change this week and next, as the festival unfolds through August 13. Check back at the link (or if you livestream the open rehearsals, find the QR code & link at the stream to write while you listen). I really hope you’ll come join me in rediscovering the play and surprise found in music at the Civic Auditorium, almost every day for the next 15 days. You’ll find current hard copy prompts and Poetry Donation Boxes at the Civic. There’s a reason such a range of musicians want to play in this festival—I’m really enjoying being part of it this year. I’ll be at many of these free events: come say hello!
If you want to get a little preview of the festival, listen to this episode of Talk of the Bay, where I add my small part.
Poetry & Music in the Parks
Also on the horizon is another event in Poetry and Music in the Parks, 2023-24. On Sunday August 6 (a week from today) at Brommer St. Park, come out to hear Paul Rangell and Emily Abbink play music, and three poets share work, from 1:30-3:30pm.
Sunday’s lineup will include Aideed Medina, a Fresno-based poet who has deep affinity for our county; Dion O’Reilly, whose poems are so vivid & memorable whether you read them or hear them; and my predecessor as Poet Laureate, the prolific and committed David Sullivan. Poets read from 2-3pm. Bring a picnic—I guarantee a good time! More info about the event and additional 2023 dates here.
SC County Youth Poet Laureate News
Our Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate webpage has more information about plans and workshop offerings, along with key dates, deadlines, and a celebration in April. Please share the webpage or this newsletter with teachers and others who work with teen poets, and also with anyone you know who wants to be part of a community of like-minded teens.
Also Upcoming
InterAct Spoken Word & Open Mic, Tuesdays at 7pm at Abbott Square Market
Featured Poets:
Aug 1:Joseph Jason Santiago Lacour
Aug 15: Lucian Mattison
Late August Notables: Save These Dates!
On Saturday August 26, several groups have collaborated on a Pajaro Valley Flood Relief Fundraiser at The Slough Brewing Collective in Watsonville from 12-5. The event will raise money for families affected by the Pajaro floods. Poetry will be part of the afternoon.
Two Bookshop Santa Cruz poetry events later in August:
Local author, photographer, and psychotherapist Lauren Crux will read from her new book: poems paired with 66 of her photos, Difficult Beauty, August 23.
On August 31, Tess Taylor joins Danusha Laméris & Ellen Bass to read from the anthology Taylor edited, Leaning Toward Light.
A Favor, If You Can
If you read this newsletter and have found it informative on occasion at the very least, please help me spread the word about it. It is a useful tool for me to share programming and initiative news, and I’d love to increase its reach.
Send it to one friend who might not yet know about it, or if you’re on social media, please post a link. Thank you, friends!