September 18, 2015
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Smith posting using Lady K’s account again. Only 3rd day without computer, probably 6 more to go cuz when my laptop’s ready Tuesday or Wednes, we’ll be camping.
Have no idea what emails awaiting answer or FB comments seeking mine eye. Do know 3 days without reading the news for hours has probably made me happier.
Tomorrow 3-7pm go to the Barking Spider for The National Beat Poetry Festival BeatStreet Cleveland 2015 chapter where I will be the first of 11 featured poets/musicians . . . I have a dynamite 15 minutes prepared for you, including my found Lawrence Ferlinghetti poem that not even Ferlinghetti knows about . . . I’ll post my reading words afterward for those unable to make it . . . here’s the event page info:
Exciting news! The National Beat Poetry Festival is coming to Cleveland, Ohio! And why not? Cleveland’s own d.a. levy (1942-1968) shook up the poetry and small press scene with his poetry, art, and alternative approaches to publishing.
On Saturday September 19, 2015, Cleveland, OH will celebrate The National Beat Poetry Festival with the event BeatStreet Cleveland at the Barking Spider Tavern, 11310 Juniper Rd, from 3pm to 7pm, featuring poets and live music, with free admission and fabulous door prizes .
YOU are invited to join us for this historic Happening!
Confirmed guests so far include:
Alex Gildzen
John Burroughs
Étienne Massicotte
Sean Thomas Dougherty
Theresa Göttl Brightman
Jim Lang
Steven Smith
Ingrid Swanberg
Larry Smith
and
D.R. Wagner
PLUS
the peace, love and music of
Zach
Who are these people, you ask? Check out their fabulous bios below…Cleveland’s heart will BEAT brightly with BeatStreet at the Barking Spider in September!
Alex Gildzen (New Mexico)
Alex Gildzen is a poet and artist who uses film as the basis of his work. He entered Kent State University in 1961, and while still an undergraduate had poems published in American Weave and Snowy Egret. He met d.a. levy in 1965 and was published by him in the Buddhist Third Class Junkmail Oracle. Hugh Fox included Gildzen in his 1973 anthology The Living Underground. Crisis Chronicles Press published Ohio Triangle earlier this year to celebrate Gildzen’s 72nd birthday. Find Gildzen at ArroyoChamisa.blogspot.com.
Ingrid Swanberg (Wisconsin)
Ingrid Swanberg is the founder/publisher of Ghost Pony Press, and editor-in-chief of Abraxas Magazine. She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Garrison Keillor has read her poetry on The Writer’s Almanac. She co-authored d.a. levy & the mimeograph revolution, and published a definitive collection of the work of d.a. levy, Zen Concrete & Etc., a book that has helped to situate him as one of the 20th Century’s great poets.
D.R. Wagner (California)
D.R. Wagner is an author, visual artist, and musician. He founded press : today : niagara in 1965 and Runcible Spoon in the late 60s, producing over fifty magazines and chapbooks. He co-wrote The Egyptian Stroboscope with d.a. levy and read with Jim Morrison of the Doors in a legendary reading with Morrison and Michael McClure. He also has read with Ferlinghetti, Al Winans, Anne Waldman, and many other poets over the past forty years. Wagner’s work is much published. He continues to design interior carpeting and tapestry, as well as write, perform, and publish poetry regularly.
John Burroughs (Ohio)
John Burroughs, writer, editor, musician, and composer is the author of The Eater of the Absurd and numerous poetry chapbooks; his poem “Lens” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His poems include “Cannot Believe William S. Burroughs Is Dead” and “Allen Ginsberg Wants You.” Since 2008 he has been editor/publisher for Crisis Chronicles Press. Burroughs performs his dynamic poetry across the rust and coal belts. His new book Beat Attitude (from NightBallet Press) will debut at BeatStreet Cleveland.
Joining John Burroughs: musician Étienne Massicotte
Étienne Massicotte (Montreal)
Étienne Massicotte is a musician newly located to Cleveland, working as a trumpeter, composer, and teacher. He is currently engaged with the Tesla Orchestra of Case Western Reserve University, composing and arranging music for a performance this fall to feature three musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra and a spectacular array of lightning-emitting beacons known as Tesla Coils. Previous engagements include appearances with the Ashland Symphony and four seasons with the Ohio Light Opera Festival Orchestra.
Sean Thomas Dougherty (Pennsylvania)
Sean Thomas Dougherty is the author or editor of 13 books, including All I Ask for Is Longing: Poems 1994- 2014, Scything Grace, Sasha Sings the Laundry on the Line, The Blue City, and Broken Hallelujahs. His awards include 2 Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Fellowships in Poetry and a Fulbright Lectureship to the Balkans. Known for his dynamic performances, he currently works at a pool hall, teaches private students and travels widely for readings. His 1st feature reading over 25 years ago was at the Jack Kerouac Festival.
Steven Smith (Ohio)
Steven Smith–poet, memoirist, photographer, blogger, and collage/assemblage artist–has been writing poetry for nearly five decades. For more than 20 years he published the famed ArtCrimes journal. He created a massive online art/poetry archive at www.agentofchaos.com, and a wide array of his poetry and collages have been published in the critically acclaimed Zen Over Zero: Selected Poems 1964-2008 (The City Poetry Press). Smith makes his home in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio
Theresa Göttl Brightman (Ohio)
Theresa Göttl Brightman won first place the first time she competed in a poetry slam. She has won numerous awards, and has been heard throughout Ohio and points beyond, including Chicago’s Vegan Mania, and 89.7 WOSU radio. Her work has appeared in print and online publications including Pudding Magazine and Rubbertop Review. Her full length collection of poetry is Stretching the Window (Buffalo ZEF 2007)…but you haven’t experienced her poetry until you’ve seen and heard her perform it.
Jim Lang (Ohio)
Jim Lang, poet, photographer, and artist, in his own words:
born in th 40’s died in th 50’s thrived in th 60’s loved in th 70’s coasted in th 80’s predicted in th 90’s reprised in th 2K’s ~ a poet/photographer he published in newspapers magazines and small press books for 40 years ~ he taught at universities high & grades schools free & controlled ~ he hung at galleries from columbus to toronto ~ & he read & showed off & slept on walls & floors & lawns from sea to shining sea ~ “a @ 5 made fotos @ 16 & pots @ 50 a phopopotographer a little of each shows up”
His chapbook Coyote Moon explores decades of his life in Cleveland and the arts through his own unique Voice.
Larry Smith (Ohio)
Larry Smith is the biographer of Kenneth Patchen and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. He also has done biographical work with Ingrid Swanberg in d.a. levy & the mimeograph revolution (Bottom Dog Press). He has published numerous books of poetry, and wrote and produced two films on Ohio authors James Wright and Kenneth Patchen. Smith lives on the fringe of Cleveland in Huron, Ohio, where he directs Bottom Dog Press publications.
Zach (Freidhof) (Ohio)
Zach, recently named “Humanitarian of the Year” by Akron Magazine, is a yogi, Kingian Nonviolence Trainer, and World Peace Diet Facilitator. He is also a fantastic musician who believes “We should manifest ourselves in exquisiteness every chance we get.” Zach professes this mantra, his life’s philosophy, on his latest release, The Antidote, his 15th release is as many years. With a friend, he created the Akron Peace Project to spread nonviolence in the self, the home, and the community. Coupled with his Love Initiative movement, his music–naturally very hopeful and optimistic–has been able to lend its voice to the power we all have to change ourselves and the world. Learn more at www.zachmusic.net.
National Beat Poetry Festival events will be happening throughout the month of September in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Indiana, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Long Island, New York City, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Berkeley, Fredonia, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Denver, Ann Arbor, Albuquerque, San Antonio, Baltimore, New Orleans, San Luis Obispo, Chicago, Augusta Georgia, Charlotte NC, Newport News Virginia, Clearwater Florida, Venice California, Posznan Poland, Nigeria, Greece, Liverpool England, Bangalore India, Stockholm Sweden, Tokyo Japan, and Grabserberg Switzerland. New events are added daily!
Mark your calendars for this Very Special Event!
For more information about Levy and The National Beat Poetry Festival, please visit the BeatStreet Cleveland website at www.beatstreetcleveland.blogspot.com.
I’m reading here 3:15 pm tomorrow Saturday Sep 19, 2015
