Tucson Poetry Festival’s mission is to celebrate and expand the audience for contemporary poetry.  In 2011, we are exploring the burning question, What Can Poetry Do?

This year has been a particularly exciting celebration of the potential deep within that question as Ocotillo Literary Endeavors collaborates with both Every Voice in Action and UA Poetry Center to fire up the Tucson Youth Poetry Slam (TYPS), culminating with a first-ever Tucson Youth Championship Slam hosted by Patricia Smith at the Poetry Center’s “Young at Art” Celebration on April 30, 2011.

Expect this year’s festival to deliver an electrified powerhouse of amazing local and national poets.  Our line-up includes Jeffrey McDaniel, Luci Tapahonso, Danny Solis, and Niki Herd.  Thank you for your generous support of these poets.  All contributions will help put “Poetry In Action” on April 1-3, 2011.

Friday, April 1, 2011, Hotel Congress

6:30 PM, Doors open

7 PM, Festival opening remarks

7:30 PM, Niki Herd reads

8:00 PM, Danny Solis reads

8:30 PM, Transition to Slam

8:45 PM, Slam Round 1 begins

10 PM, Slam concludes

Saturday, April 2, 2011, Tucson High School Library

Workshops and Panel

10 AM -2 PM, Poet Workshops

2-4 PM, Moderated Panel Discussion with Paul Fisher

Saturday evening readings, Hotel Congress

6:30 PM, Doors open

7 PM, Introductions

7:15 PM, Youth Contest Winner reads

7:30 PM, Luci Tapahonso reads

8:00 PM, Statewide Contest Winner reads

8:15 PM, Jeffrey McDaniel reads

8:45 PM, Fundraiser Raffle Drawing

9:00 PM, Final Round of Slam

10-10:30 PM, Slam concludes

Sunday, April 3, 2011, Tucson High School Library

12:00 PM, High School Poetry Contest Winners Awards Ceremony

2011 TUCSON POETRY FESTIVAL 29 – GUEST POET BIOS

Niki Herd grew up in Cleveland and earned degrees in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and Antioch in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in several journals and anthologies, and has been supported by organizations including Cave Canem, the Astraea Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Language of Shedding Skin, her debut collection of poems, was a finalist for the Main Street Rag Poetry Award.

Jeffrey McDaniel is the author of three books: Alibi School (Manic D, 1995), The Forgiveness Parade (Manic D, 1998), andThe Splinter Factory (Manic D, 2002). His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Best American Poetry 1994 and New (American) Poets. The recipient of an NEA Fellowship, a translated volume of his poems, Katastrophenkunde, is coming out this summer on Lautsprecherverlag in Germany. He lives in Brooklyn and teaches creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College.

Daniel S. Solis is a lifelong lover of and student of poetry. He has published three books and a cd of poetry. He has taught and performed poetry for audiences of all ages all over the US.  Solis has won numerous Poetry Slam awards, including, in 2005, the Individual World Poetry Slam Championship in Oxford, England. He has also performed in London, Scotland and France.  Solis is currently working with Keshet Dance Company on a multimedia performance titled “Worthy of your wild mouth, a journey through the poetry of  Pablo Neruda”, the first performance of which took place at the Alvin Ailey Theater in NY City.

Luci Tapahonso grew up learning both English and Navajo in Shiprock, NM. She is a Professor of English at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she teaches Poetry Writing and American Indian Literature. Tapahonso is the author of A Radiant Curve (University of Arizona Press, 2008), Blue Horses Rush In (University of Arizona Press, 1997), Sáanii Dahataal/The Women Are Singing (University of Arizona Press, 1993), and many other books. Her poetry has been published in Diné Be Iina, Frontiers, Caliban, Sinister Wisdom, and The Beloit Poetry Journal.

For more info see http://tucsonpoetryfestival.org/ or contact Maya Asher at Masherster@gmail.com.

Book readings, discussions, groups, meet-the-author events, Tucson is teeming with them. From Green Valley to Oro Valley, there are always lots of literary events for everyone.

Here’s a list gleaned from some online calendars (Examiner.com, Tucson Weekly, AZ Starnet). Make sure to get on the email lists for some or all of these venues so you don’t miss anything!

November 17, 2010

• 1 pm at Mission Library – Winter Reads: This month’s book is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout.
• 3 pm at Kirk-Bear Canyon Library – Dragonfly Book Club: This is a book club for ages 8 to 12.
• 6 pm Poetry Goes for a Hike and workshop with poets Wendy Burk and Eric Magrane at UA Poetry Center. Visit poetry.arizona.edu for more info.
• 7pm at Barnes & Noble Broadway – Contemporary Fiction Book Group: This month’s book is Homecoming by Bernhard Schlink.
• 7:30 at Casa Libre – The Edge Reading Series with Marianne Dissard, Kristi Maxwell and Lucy Simpson.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

• 9 am at UA Bookstore – UA Reads Kickoff Celebration
• 10 am at Oro Valley Library – Great Literature of All Times: This month’s book is The Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• 12 pm at Joel D Valdez Main Library – This month’s book is The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.
• 2 pm at Tucson Medical Center Senior Services El Dorado Campus – I Love Books Book Club: This month’s book is The Shack by William P. Young.
• 2 pm at Nanini Library – Northwest Readers Book Club: This month’s book is Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.
• 4:30 pm at UA Bookstore – Meet author Dian Katz, PhD: This is an author event related to Win at Work!

Friday, November 19, 2010

• 8 am to 8 pm at UA Library Special Collections – 13th Annual Milton Marathon: This is a marathon reading of the book Paradise Lost by John Milton.
• 7 pm at Antigone Books – Gloria Feldt will read from and sign her book, No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power.

Saturday, November 20

• 10 am at El Parador restaurant – Saguaro Romance Writers featuring literary agent Susan Ginsburg.  Visit www.tucsonrwa.org for more info.
• 11 am at Bookmans Grant – Arlene Weintraub: author of Selling the Fountain of Youth, a book about the anti-aging industry.
• 1 pm at Mostly Books – This month’s fiction book discussion of The White Tiger.
• 2 pm at Mostly Books – Chris O’Dell author of Miss O’Dell: Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton.
• 5 pm at The Source Salon and Spa – Dawn Kulesa signs her new book Fitness Goddess Secrets: Real Women Share Tips for Healthy Living.
• 7:30 pm at 4133 E. Pima Street, Gallery of the Unexpected, poetry readings, film and multimedia performances plus food and drink.  480-390-1063 for more info.

Sunday, November 21

• 12 pm at Bookmans Grant – Nancy Rossman: A signing of her book First Love, Last Dance.
• 12 to 4:30 pm at Clues Unlimited – Mistletoe and Mystery: Three panels featuring different mystery writers including Susan Cummins Miller, Graham Brown, Jennifer Lee Carrell, Tony Hays, Betsy Thronton, Betty Webb, J.M. Hayes and Elizabeth Gunn.

Monday, November 22

• 3 pm at Joyner-Green Valley library, Yoga Book Group: yoga combined with book discussions

Incredible Lineup in a Once-in-a-Lifetime Event!!! The theme is “gallery of the unexpected,” and will not be your average poetry event. Behind every set of doors, in different corners, and throughout the home there will be mini-performances on Saturday, November 20th at 7:30 p.m. at a beautiful private residence, 4133 E. Pima, Tucson, between Alvernon and Columbus.

Poets, performers and musicians including Logan Phillips, Maya Asher, Teresa Driver, DJ Transeo, Kelly Lewis, Heather Woodrich and many, many more bring never-before-seen multimedia performances/poems in a beautiful, private-backyard setting. There will be some exclusive seating available for an additional charge, which will be available on a first come first service basis. There will also be some donated art for sale, from local artists. Tickets will be 10 dollars, sold at the door.

The Tucson Poetry Festival has brought the biggest and brightest names in the literary world for almost 3 decades. Previous performers have included Czeslaw Milosz, Quincey Troupe, Allen  Ginsberg, Patricia Smith and many more. As TPF puts together an eclectic lineup for its 29th year, we’ve decided to hold a huge bash for the city of Tucson to celebrate the amazing literary scene in our city that can support and has supported such an incredible event. There will be food, drinks, music, poetry, and multimedia presentations. This event will end with two live DJ’s, traveling from out of town to play an eclectic mix featuring dub bass. Come for the art, stay for the music and support our wonderful and local scene.

At this event, Logan Phillips will be showcasing his newest project “NoVOGRAFIAS: the poem before the pen” which will change how you think about spoken word and performance art. Heather Woodrich will be showcasing her film “Artifact” which has been release briefly at the Loft theater, this film is not available online. There will be two poems done in American Sign Language, with an English translation voiced. Other poets will be local, and will be utilizing the Festival’s theme for 2011 “Poetry in Action.” This event is being held to benefit the upcoming 29th Tucson Poetry Festival on April 1-3 2011!

For more info contact Matthew Conley, matthewjohnconley@gmail.com or call 520.413.2382 and 480.390.1063 or visit their website, www.tucsonyouthslam.blogspot.com.