April is the month when trees and flowers open; we celebrate April Fools, Arbor Day, and Earth Day; and do our taxes. It is also the time to celebrate National Poetry Month and the second annual San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival. “Last year’s festival was so successful we decided to make it an annual event,” says Don Kingfisher Campbell, local poetry leader and festival organizer. Two of the programs will take place at the main Altadena Library.
The month will include twelve free events such as poetry slams (one for teens), a Chapbook Contest, a Broadside Poetry Contest, an Earth Day poetry program, Poetry and Cookies, the Zephyr Poets, and joint events with the several local poetry groups.
The kickoff begins on Saturday, April 2nd with a reading at Pasadena’s Santa Catalina Branch Library from 2-3:30 PM with a $100 FREE RAFFLE for readers (check the website for how to sign up for this).
Don Campbell (pictured) is founder of POETRYpeople youth writing workshops; publisher of the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly; and leader of the Emerging Urban Poets writing and Deep Critique workshops. Mr. Campbell has taught Creative Writing in the Upward Bound program at Occidental College and been a Guest Teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District for 26 years.
Sat., April 2 - FESTIVAL KICK-OFF READING (2-3:30 PM)
Opening event with FREE copies of POETRY MAGAZINE for first ten readers, Santa Catalina Library, Pasadena.
Sat., April 2 - SGV MEETS NOHO (4:30-6 PM)
Pasadena poets read with North Hollywood poets at T.U. Studios (The old Blue Iguana) at 10943 Camarillo Street in North Hollywood (Behind Odyssey Video). Open mic, too. Hosted by Radomir Vojtech Luza and Mary Mann.
Sat., April 9 - POETRY & COOKIES at Altadena Senior Center n 560 E. Mariposa St. (2-4 PM)
For the past eight years, during April the Altadena Library o has celebrated National Poetry Month with a reading and a published anthology of poems by local writers. Following the program there will be a poet's corner where poets may sell their poetry books. For more information please check http://www.altadenalibrary.org or email Pauli Dutton at pdutton@altadenalibrary.org.
Fri., April 15 - YOUNG POETS POETRY SLAM (6-8 PM)
For Junior High and High School age poets at Arcadia Public Library on 20 West Duarte Road. Christopher Luke Trevilla hosts. Go to the Nuvein Foundation website for sign-up information > http://nuvein.org/nuvein/index.php
Sat., April 16 - EARTH WEEK POETRY WALK (10 AM-noon)
Meet-up at the head of the Eaton Canyon parking lot on 1750 N. Altadena Dr. Two stops to write on the trail. Reading at the end. Led by Khadija Anderson and CaLokie. Be sure to bring a bottle of water.
Sat., April 16 - BROADSIDE CONTEST PARTICIPANTS (Winner gets 50 copies of their broadsided poem. To enter this FREE contest the website.)
Sun., April 17 - (4:30-6:30 PM) VILLAGE POETS OF SUNLAND/TUJUNGA
present Dr. John Z. Guzlowski (Professor Emeritus at Eastern Illinois University) Featured Poet at Village Poets Monthly Reading at Bolton Hall Museum, Commerce Ave., Tujunga CA 91042. With an Open Mike and light refreshments. Hosted by Maja Trochimczyk. Go to villagepoets.blogspot.com for more information.
Saturday, April 23rd - CHAPBOOK CONTEST PARTICIPANTS (Winner gets 25 copies of their chapbook. To enter this FREE contest see the website.)
Wednesday, April 27th - NORTHEAST MEETS EAST (8-10 PM)
Pasadena poets read with East L.A. poets at Corazon del Pueblo, 2003 East First Street, Los Angeles, 90033. Take the Gold Line to Mariachi Square and walk 3 blks. Open mic, too. Hosted by Abel Salas.
Friday, April 29th - ALTADENA POET LAUREATE OPEN (7-9 PM)
Alene Terzian (2010-2012) and The Zephyr Poets (Shahe Mankerian, Armine Iknadossian, and Tina Demirdjian) featured at the Altadena Public Library on 600 E. Mariposa St. Includes Open Reading. Hosted by Pauli Dutton.
Saturday, April 30th - POETRY SLAM with $100 prize. Hosted by Mike The Poet. (FREE to enter this contest. See the website for rules.)
Saturday, April 30th - ROSE CITY MEETS FILM CITY (8-10pm)
Pasadena poets read with Hollywood poets at the Bliss Art House Cafe, 1249 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA. Open mic, too. Hosted by Marvin Dorsey and Michelle Angelini.
For more information and details on how to sign up check the event website at http://2011sgvpf.blogspot.com/ or email poetrypeople@charter.net
