Milwaukee Celebrated Spring with
Wisconsin Book Festival Events
April 22-May 2
The local planning partners for the Milwaukee events of the Wisconsin Book Festival presented a series of events that celebrated spring and National Poetry Month April 22-May 2.
From readings to talks to films to open mic events, the spring series had something for everyone who loves to read, write or talk about ideas. Featured presenters included: Adrienne Rich, Kevin Henkes, Lynne Rae Perkins, Martin Espada, Shauna Singh Baldwin and Kirk Farber.
The schedule of spring events was as follows; events were free unless otherwise noted.
UWM Union's Distinguished Lecture Series presents
"An Evening with Adrienne Rich, American Poet and Essayist"
Site: UWM Union Wisconsin Room, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., 2nd level
Info: 414-229-3111
Since receiving the Yale Younger Poets Award in 1951 at the age of 21, Adrienne Rich has gone on to write more than sixteen books of poetry and five books of non-fiction. She has been the recipient of nearly every major literary award, including the National Book Award, the Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Dorothea Tanning Prize for mastery in the art of poetry given by the Academy of American Poets, and the MacArthur "genius" grant. Her work intertwines personal and
political concerns about power, women's rights, injustice, and much more. At UWM, Rich will read from recently published work. Tickets: $8/$10/$12 in advance at UWM Bookstore; $10/$12/$14 at the door.
Friday, April 25, 7 p.m.
Schwartz on Downer Six-Word Slam
Site: Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, 2559 N. Downer Ave.
Info: 414-332-1181
Join us for the Schwartz on Downer Six-Word Slam. This open-mic event was inspired by one our favorite new books, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure edited by Rachel Fershliser and Larry Smith of Smith Magazine. Write your own and read it at this event, or just come and enjoy what others have written. Winners of our Write Six Words, Win Cool Stuff contest will be announced at this event.
Monday, April 28, 7 p.m.
Kevin Henkes and Lynne Rae Perkins
Meet the Authors - Book Talk and Signing
Site: Milwaukee Public Library Centennial Hall, 733 N. 8th St.
Info: 414-286-3031
Two Newbery winners will take the stage at Central Library. Wisconsin author Kevin Henkes, was awarded the Newbery Honor for his last novel, Olive's Ocean. His new book, Bird Lake Moon, is a coming of age story about friendship, family and that pivotal moment when one stops telling everything and begins to hold some things in. Lynne Rae Perkins's Criss Cross, winner of the 2006 Newbery Medal, follows teenager Debbie and her friends. As their paths cross, they begin to grow up and learn that a lot can happen in a summer. For middle readers/young adults. A book signing will follow the presentation and books will be available for purchase. Sponsored by Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops
Tuesday, April 29, 7 p.m.
An Upper on Downer: The Poetry Everywhere Project Milwaukee Premiere
Poetry and Animation by UWM and the Poetry Foundation
Site: Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, 2559 N. Downer Avenue
Info: 414-332-1181
Celebrate National Poetry Month in style at the Poetry Everywhere Premiere at the all-new remodeled Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop on Downer. Poetry Everywhere is an exciting joint production of UWM and the Poetry Foundation to create films from poems and air them nationwide. Meet the poets and animators involved. Refreshments provided by Cafe Hollander.
Thursday, May 1, 6:30 p.m.
Redbird Studio's 15th Anniversary Showcase Celebration
Site: Main Floor Social Room, Marian Center, 3195 S. Superior Street
Info: 414-481-3195
Redbird celebrates its 15th anniversary with an open house and showcase reading featuring six of the studio's award winning authors. Shauna Singh Baldwin is the author of five books including What the Body Remembers and The Tiger Claw. Kirk Farber was a semi-finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest. His short stories have appeared in Wisconsin People and Ideas and Hobart Literary Journal. Doug Jacobson's debut novel is Night of Flames, a story of WWII. Carol Wobig has won awards in the Writer's Digest Competition, the Florence Lindemann Humor Contest (sponsored by WRWA) and the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition. Judith Zukerman's poetry graces Amsterdam Days, The Deronda Review, Calliope, Free Verse, Peninsula Pulse, Cobblestone, New Millennium and Discovery Nation. Alison Polivka, a sophomore at Pius XI High School, represents the talented students in the Redbird -- now Red Oak -- young writers' programs. Refreshments provided.
Thursday, May 1, 7 p.m.
The Milwaukee Public Library presents Branching Out: Poetry for the 21stCentury -
Martin Espada on the Life and Work of Pablo Neruda
Site: Milwaukee Public Library's Centennial Hall, 733 N. 8th St.
Info: 414-286-3000
Poet/scholar Martin Espada, often called the "Pablo Neruda of North American authors," will give a talk on "The Redemption of Pablo Neruda." Espada will focus on the evolution of Neruda as a political poet, his
struggle and exile at the hands of his own government, his triumphant return, his death in the wake of the military coup, and his redemption after democracy returned to Chile. Branching Out: Poetry for the 21st Century is sponsored jointly by Poets House and the Poetry Society of America, and is made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Friday, May 2, 7 p.m.
Teen Coffee House & Open Mic Night presented by Red Oak Young Writers
Site: Redbird Writing Studio, Marian Center Rm. 210, 3195 S. Superior St.
Info: 262-901-5171 or kim@redoakyoungwriters.com
Calling all youth who love writing and books:
You bring a passage of your favorite writing to share- a work in progress, a poem from your school literary magazine, even a published piece by your favorite author (forensics anyone?) - and we'll provide an enthusiastic audience, delicious desserts & beverages. The mic will be yours for up to 5 minutes. This is your night to shine and have a great time in the company of other young people just like you. Please choose material that is appropriate for a preteen/teen audience. Red Oak reserves the right of approval for all pieces.
About Red Oak: Red Oak Young Writers (formerly Redbird Young Authors) is an organization dedicated to young people who like to write. Through summer Creative Writing Camps, year 'round Writers' Circles and other special programs, young writers get the time, space, support and writing community they need to make their writing dreams come true.
Friday, May 2, 7 p.m.
Reading: Poet Martin Espada
Site: Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 E. Locust St.
Tickets: $8/$7/$6
Info: 414-263-5001
Martin Espada has been called "the Latino poet of his generation," and, (by poet and novelist Sandra Cisneros), "the Pablo Neruda of North American authors." Espada's eighth collection of poems, The Republic of Poetry, was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. His previous book, Alabanza: New and Selected Poems, 1982-2002, received the Paterson Award for Sustained Literary Achievement, and was named an American Library Association Notable Book of the Year, as well as one of The New York Public Library's 25 Books to Remember for 2003. An earlier collection, Imagine the Angels of Bread (Norton, 1996), won an American Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Espada has also been the recipient of a highly prestigious fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation.
Ongoing in April
Trocadero and Cafe Hollander host EAT LOCAL: READ LOCAL, a project of the UWM English Department's Creative Writing program to celebrate National Poetry Month. All month, diners at either location will receive special keepsake cards featuring local authors. Sponsored by Diablos Rojos, Deep Sea Studios, and Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, whose Downer store will feature a display of featured poets' work.
All events were open to the public and did not require prior registration.
For more information about the Wisconsin Book Festival see: www.sce-MilwaukeeBookFestival.uwm.edu.
Save the dates for the Fall Wisconsin Book Festival Celebration in Milwaukee: October 6-17, 2008.
Festival Presenting Partners:
UWM School of Continuing Education, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, UWM Creative Writing Program, Marquette University English Department, Carroll College English and Writing Program, UWM Union Programming, Redbird Writing Studio, Milwaukee Public Library, UWM Peck School of the Arts and Woodland Pattern Book Center.
Grant Support: The Festival is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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