Poetry at Urban Grace
SOUL OF THE CITY POETRY COMPETITION & POET LAUREATE
Urban Grace is committed to supporting arts and artists of all genres within our city. The Soul of the City Poetry Competition which identifies the year’s Poet Laureate is sponsored and funded by Urban Grace in a community partnership with the city of Tacoma. ?Tacoma is the first mid-sized municipality north of San Francisco and west of Denver to recognize its own poet laureate, and follows the example of San Francisco in basing its Poet Laureate in residence at one of the city’s congregations.
Why? Tacoma has a thriving arts community, as evidenced by our many museums, theaters, and rich calendar of arts events.? Similarly, the city has a vibrant literary scene, with regular poetry readings hosted by groups such as the Puget Sound Poetry Connection and Speak Your Soul.? Naming a Poet Laureate helps to focus attention on our existing literary talent by organizing and hosting public readings and to encourage new writers by visiting schools and community organizations.
Poet Laureate Spotlight
NEW TACOMA POET LAUREATE ROBACKER GIVES PREMIERE READING JUNE 24
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ACOMA, WA --Urban Grace: the Downtown Church is excited to present poet Tammy Robacker for a premiere reading to celebrate being named 2010 Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate on Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Public LibraryÑMain Branch. This event is free and open to the public.
After thoughtful deliberation, a panel of five local judges chose RobackerÕs application for its excellence in poetry, commitment to the Tacoma arts community, and strength in leadership. Judges included former Laureate Antonio Edwards, former Laureate William Kupinse, Emily Noelle-Ignacio, Grace Livingston, and Holly Senn.
ÒTammy Robacker has been a consistent and productive artist on the poetry scene of Tacoma for several years. When I heard that that judges had chosen her to be our next Poet Laureate I thought it was an excellent choice,Ó said Tad Monroe, Pastor at Urban Grace: A Downtown Church. ÒTammy has worked hard to forge strong relationships within the diverse and eclectic world of Tacoma poets. Finally, her work speaks for itself. She is a fine crafter of words without sentimentality or cliche and she explores the widths and depths of the human experience from the funny, to the painful, to the socially conscience and the spiritual. She can make you laugh and she can make you cry and at the end of the day; what else is there?Ó
At the June 24 premiere reading, special guests will also be joining Robacker to celebrate poetry, Urban GraceÕs poet laureate program, and her introduction to the local community. Both former Soul of the City Poet Laureates Antonio Edwards and William Kupinse will be reading their work in honor of the event. Also, three of this yearÕs 2010 Poet Laureate contest candidates, Brittany Short, Deborah Renee Crespo, and Pamela McCauley, will share poetry they submitted for application to the competition. Robacker has also invited Puyallup High School senior, Maddison Hamel, to open her premiere with a special poem recital. Hamel was the winning 2010 Poetry Out Loud competition finalist in Pierce County this year.
As Poet Laureate, Robacker will perform once a month at Urban Grace, by request at Urban Grace events, as wellas lead two FREE public poetry workshops in Tacoma for the community. Over the next year, Robacker will also participate actively by supporting poets, poetry and literary arts education in the local community, and hosting monthly poetry writing workshops.
If you are interested in working with Robacker or having her read for your school, organization or event, please visit her website: www.tammyrobacker.com and send her a personal request.
In the Press
"Lessons From Tacoma's Poet Laureate" - Tacoma News Tribune
For More Information
Upcoming Poet Laureate Events
The 2010 Soul of the City Writers Workshop Series
Class spaces are limited. RSVPing is required. Simply email your RSVP and your name, and the title of the workshop you want to attend to: tamsugah@aol.com Bring check or cash to the class on the day you attend.
Poetry Performance Workshop: Reading Your Work Well in Public
Sunday, July 18, 2-4:30pm
Cost: $10
Join guest teacher, writer, playwright & actress Kisha X. Palmer as she leads discussions with poet laureate and former public speaking instructor, Tammy Robacker, on how to read poetry aloud, combat nervousness, impromptu reading and confidence building exercises. Special appearance and performance by two local Spoken Word artists: Josh Rizeberg and Quincy 'Q Dot' Henry. Both poets will visit to perform, share pointers and inspiration on memorization and stage presence. Attendees are encouraged to bring 2 of their own poems for activities and stand up exercises. Don't be shy! Join in the fun!
Writers Workshop: Indie Lit Chicks on Self-Publishing
Sunday, August 1, 2-4:30pm
Cost: $10
Join three self-published women writers and editors and get helpful, encouraging information, creative ideas and inspiration to write and market YOUR book this year! Teachers & Guests include:
Tammy Robacker, freelance editorial writer, Tacoma Poet Laureate and published poet, The Vicissitudes; www.tammyrobacker.com
Zoe Zolbrod, Zine creator and author of newly released: Currency; http://zoezolbrod.com/
Gina Frangello, small press editor and published author of newly released: The Slut Lullabies; www.ginafrangello.com
Come enjoy a rich, helpful discussion and lecture on how to publish your work by three women who were told no, but did it by themselves anyway! Enjoy a lecture, author readings, book signings and intensive Q&A about courage, funding, nuts & bolts, and creative marketing with writers just like you who started off with only a dream. You Can Do It!
Poetry & Art TACOMAZine WORKSHOP
Sunday, September 19, 2-4pm
Cost: $10 donation to help cover zine printing
Join Olympia Zine artist, writer and creator, Nicki Sabalu, as she lectures and shows locals how to create a cool poetry zine. This is a hands-on workshop! All zine contributors can bring a poem, photo, comic, or b/w hand art to contribute to the TACOMAZine we will be crafting and publishing on site that day. All attendees will also receive a copy of the zine featuring their published work.
Pronounced 'zeens,' from the word: magazines, these handmade, self-published creations often incorporate illustration, photography, and text Ñ all in a cut-and-paste format, commonly photo-copied, with hand stapling or twine binding the booklets together. Many readers are delighted to find the subject matter just as raw. Contents of zines range from the personal to the political, from art to activism, from sexual abuse to subcultures, from comics to organics. Predominantly, zines contain stories, theorizing, tips, essays, drawings, poems, music reviews, obsessions, confessions, reflections and rants.
Poetry Writers Workshop: Writing Poems from a Secret Place
Sunday, October 17, 2-4pm
Cost: $10
Led by Tacoma Poet Laureate, published poet and instructor, Tammy Robacker.
Join fellow poets for a two hour workshop filled with poetry reading and writing exercises designed to help you tap into emotionally difficult but rich memories, secrets, traumas or losses. A community of trust and support will connect all poets as we foray together to write and discover how we can turn what is often personal or painful into something beautiful to write and share poetically. To make all attendees feel comfortable, reading work aloud will be voluntary.
November: ART AT WORK MONTH
Dates: TBA
- Teen Poetry Workshop Event - FREE!
- Adult Poetry Workshops Event - FREE!
- Art Slam Ð Poet Laureate Reading
- Tacoma Arts Commission Symposium Event