One of the more interesting, although less well-attended, poetry readings in the Northeastern Ohio area is the Canton First Friday Poetry Spectacular, an event put on by
PoetsHaven. It's interesting because it's put on as a part of
Canton's First Friday Arts Festival, which is (to quote their web page) "
a monthly party in the downtown Canton Arts District featuring themed music, performance and visual arts events and always a few surprises for adults and children." The First Friday is a lot of fun if you're turned on by art; the whole arts district of downtown Canton is converted into an arts fair, with music, galleries, painting on the sidewalk, and (of course) poetry. I'd like to sincerely recommend that you check it out this month (October 5) or next (November 2), while the weather's still nice enough to hang around outdoors and enjoy the spectacle of being surrounded by art.
--if you're a poet, the First Friday reading is a good one for another reason: in addition to the featured reader and the open mike, it features a poetry slam open to anybody who wants to perform, and (pay attention here) the slam pays out cash prizes, courtesy of
Arts in Stark. A great place to try out your performance pieces, see how they work out, with the chance of a little bit a' booty to boot!
- Facebook page for Canton First Friday Poetry Spectacular
Friday Oct. 5the feature will be
John Gibson, "
JG the Jugganaut"--plus (always) the open mike and slam. The theme of the Canton First Friday will be "
Once Upon a Time."
And, for the next month, first Friday comes on November 2, the
day of the dead, so the theme of the Canton First Friday will be "
Zombie Artvasion." The spectacular feature poet will be
Mary Turzillo.
--Poetry opens doors at 7, but do come to Canton at 6, when the first Friday arts starts up!
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| November 2: celebrate Día de los Muertos with poetry from Mary A Turzillo (image: dappled dawg) |
... and a tip o' the hat to the indefatigable impressario
Vertigo XX, for putting on the show!
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