Past Programs | Directions to Casa Libre

Edge: a Reading Series of Emerging and Younger Writers

Curator: Melissa Buckheit

A note from the curator: I have often wanted to listen to authors who are in the same place in their careers as myself, emerging, published in journals or with a chapbook, but without a major book, still growing but full of passion, new ideas, and an edge. But there has been little opportunity for this; in fact I have often felt disappointed in the lack, that such an otherwise open community might often be so circumscribed in its programming. Additionally, featuring emerging writers engages other young as well as established writers, to support, frequent and attend Casa Libre and other writing events. This cycle creates the foundation for a writing community which self-generates, remains true, open, and allows many voices the opportunity for visibility and being heard. I want Tucson to be an artistic community which includes and features many voices and peoples. Literature is the province of communication, but also reflectivity, the reflection and representation of all our narratives and of new narratives and ideas, voices which are challenging and also challenge us.

Joel Arthur, Shloka Mangharam, and M.L.Smoker
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Suggested Donation: $5

Come to the third reading of Edge: A Reading Series of Emerging and Younger Writers. Edge is a new series of local and national writers and cross-genre artists, emphasizing diversity of narrative, identity and literary source. Its purpose is to create community, visibility and voice for emerging and younger writers. Broadsheets of the authors' work will accompany each reading. Books and journals will be available for purchase and signing by the authors. Wine and lights drinks will be available after the reading.

Readers:

Joel Devin Arthur’s poetry was recently published in the final issue of Spork magazine. He will lead a reading and discussion of the work of poet John Berryman at the U of A Poetry Center in May. He graduates this Spring from the University of Arizona’s MFA program.

 

 

Shloka Mangharam is a painter, writer and street performer. She is greatly influenced by humourous writers, magical realism and comic books. Her writing has been published in Scribendi, the University of New Mexico's publication and Persona, the University of Arizona's Art and Literary Magazine. She is currently working on series combining art and prose poetry entitled On Hair and a chapbook, The Dubious and Scintillating Lives of Bernard and Olivia.

M.L. Smoker belongs to the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation in north-eastern Montana. Her family's home is on Tabexa Wakpa (Frog Creek). She holds an MFA from the University of Montana in Missoula, where she was the recipient of the Richard Hugo Fellowship. She is also a graduate of Pepperdine University, and attended UCLA and the University of Colorado, where she was a Battrick Fellow. Her first collection of poems, Another Attempt at Rescue, was published by Hanging Loose Press (hangingloosepress.com) in the spring of 2005. Her poems have also appeared in several journals and anthologies, including Shenendoah and South Dakota Review. Her work has also been translated for Acoma – an Italian literary journal published by the University of Rome. M.L. Smoker has been a high school principal and a composition and creative writing instructor at Fort Peck Community College. She currently resides in Helena, Montana, where she works for the Office of Public Instruction, in the Indian Education Division.

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