Michael Sedano
Luis J. Rodriguez beams proudly, looking across the museum meeting room where dozens of eager faces know what kind of work Rodriguez’ Tia Chucha Press publishes: two books a year, poetry of impeccable accomplishment. Today, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes showcases its work.
Today’s lineup of readers and one artist sets high expectations,and Melinda Palacio, Luivette Resto, Miguel Rivera reading work he translated written by Humberto Ak'abal, Gail Wronsky in tandem with Gronk, exceed every imaginable expectation, unless someone expected a "regular" poetry readin
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Melinda Palacio, recently installed as Poet Laureate of the City of Santa Barbara, leads the reading with a selection from How Fire Is A Story, Waiting (link).
Enchanted, La Bloga's photographer didn't take fotos of the songs.
Translators don't often receive the attention their labor deserves, so having Humberto Ak'abal's work, In the Courtyard of the Moon, presented bilingually by Ak'abal's translator, Miguel Rivera, gives Rivera's ten minutes a double delight.
Art by Gronk Poetry by Gail Wronsky reads the cover of the stranger you are, a collaboration between the poet Wronsky, and painter printmaker opera set designer, Gronk.
The book is an ekphrastic collection. Per Wronsky, Gronk did not illustrate this collection. Rather, Wronsky wrote what she saw in Gronk's drawings.
They wow the audience.
The pair use their ten minutes to demonstrate the ekphrastic process, but in reverse. Wronsky holds up a page.
Gronk recognizes the poem, turns to an easel, and while Wronsky reads the page, Gronk draws up the words and mood.
Synchrony happens loosely but synchrony happens; Wronsky finishes reading and Gronk has to catch up, speeding up crayon to complete his expression.
Then the audience participation part begins.
Gronk tears the drawing from the easel pad, wrinkles the piece, and tantalizes the house, holding the bundle toward them like a prize. Gronk hands a drawing to Luivette. The audience understands.
Wronsky reads another of the short poems and Gronk gets drawing. This one goes into the house!
Poetry read aloud, like a scribble on an easel pad, is ephemeral; it's here and now and then it's gone. But people have ways to bind time into artifacts.
You can bet your bottom dollar those "genuine Gronks" are going into frames and stories. And the poems themselves? Melinda's fire and bird songs, Luivette's introspection and humor, Ak'abal/Rivera's insight and outrage, Wronsky's verbal exploration of Gronk's graphic mind, come in book form.
Tia Chucha Press comes virtually to your door via a package delivery service, hands you all the books you order via the links in this column.
There's going to be another Tia Chucha Press reading, featuring these writers and Gronk, up in Santa Barbara. Soon. La Bloga-Tuesday will share details of the event. You might go home with your own Gronk. For sure, you'll go home with the best time you're likely to enjoy at a poetry reading.
Melinda Palacio
How Fire Is A Story, Waiting
Bird Forgiveness
Luivette Resto
Unfinished Portrait
Gail Wronsky / Gronk
the stranger you are
2 comments:
Michael, you captured the spirit of the event beautifully. The presenters were/are all excellent. I'm thankful for people like Luis and you, who keep the spotlight on the finer things in life: poetry and art. Adelante!
Fab!
Great concept to have spoken word and the artist's drawing as an accompaniment.
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