Special Guests
Kimberly Dark - Professor, Storyteller and Poet from Cal State San Marcos “Becoming the Subject of Your Own Story” This spoken word performance uses humor and first-person storytelling to uncover the various ways that women (and men) cheat the world of their fabulous human potential by focusing too often on appearance, sweetness and popularity, rather than living full lives. The show does not preach or instruct. Rather audience members discover their own empowerment through Kimberly's funny and personal tales. Dark also offers five suggestions that can help anyone develop greater personal sovereignty and start becoming a more vibrant participant in life.
Friday 7PM-8:30
David James - Author, Professor & Poet David James’ most recent book, She Dances Like Mussolini, was published in 2009. His five other books include A Heart Out of this World, Do Not Give Dogs What is Holy, I Dance Back, I Will Peel this Mask Off, and Trembling in Someone’s Palm. His one-act plays have been produced in New York, MA, CA and MI. James teaches English at OCC. David will be facilitating a workshop about the writing and performing of drama.
Friday 2PM-3PM
Matthew Olzmann - Poet His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in American Poetry Journal, Atlanta Review, Margie, Salt Hill, Cranky, Minnesota Review and elsewhere. He has recently been awarded a poetry fellowship from Kundiman, a work-study scholarship from the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference, and the Oboh Prize from Boxcar Poetry Review. Currently, he is the poetry editor of The Collagist. For our Festival he’ll be running a poetry writing workshop.
Saturday 10 AM – 11 AM
Airea “Dee” Matthews – Persona Poet Her positions include being a poet in residence, working with Y-Arts and El Arte, facilitating creative writing workshops & working with the Prison Creative Arts Project. She is the 3rd ranked female performance poet in the world & the 2008 Detroit Grand Slam Champion. Her focus for the Festival will be to facilitate a workshop about the performance of poetry.
Saturday 2:40 PM- 4:00PM