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.

Niki Herd and Chris Nelson
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Suggested Donation: $5

Come to the seventh reading of Edge: A Reading Series of Emerging and Younger Writers. Edge is a 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. Refreshments will be available after the reading.

Readers:

 

Photo by: Rachel Eliza Griffiths

Niki Herd has been published in forums such as Just like a Girl: A Manifesta!, From the Web: A Global Anthology of Women’s Political Poetry, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South, Autumnal: A Collection of Elegies on compact disc, Kalliope, PMS: poemmemoirstory, 10x10.8, Xcp : Streetnotes Biannual Electronic Exhibition Space, and Black Issues Book Review. She has served on the board of Kore Press, an independent feminist publisher, was nominated for a Pushcart Award, and won second place for the 2007 Astraea Emerging Lesbian Writer Award from the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Social Justice.

 

Chris Nelson is a Master’s candidate in creative writing at The University of Arizona, a teacher of literature and composition at Catalina Foothills High School, and a member of the Poetry Center Advisory Board. Recently he received The Tucson Poetry Festival’s 2008 Will Inman Award. His chapbook Blue House was selected by Mary Jo Bang for publication in 2009 through the Poetry Society of America.

 

 

Next Edge Reading will be held in October.

Past Edge Readings:

July 2008

June 2008

May 2008

April 2008

March 2008

February 2008

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