Kelli's 2011 Readings:
AVA Lounge: Soulscapes, Thursday February 17, 2011
Kelly Strayhorn Theater: Sunstar Festival, March 3-5, 2011
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Poetry Series: March 20, 2011 at 2pm
Kelli's Poetry with E. Ethelbert Miller: August 10, 2010
As I mentioned, I met amazing people at Hurston/Wright Writers' Week. Among them was E. Ethelbert Miller, an award winning poet who advised me to "attend to the yard first and the writing will be easier." He also advised me to get up at 5am. Read the poems we each wrote this morning as a result here by scrolling down to Tuesday August 10, 2010.
Hurston/Wright Writers' Week: July 25-31, 2010
Wow! I've been selected to attend the 2010 Hurston/Wright Writers' Week Poetry Workshop taught by Tyehimba Jess at Howard University. From their website: "Hurston/Wright Writers' Week is the nation's only multi-genre summer writing workshop for writers of African descent... The selcetion process is competitive... The Week brings together Black writers from around the United States as well as Black writers from the Carribean, Africa and Europe." A maximum of 12 poets per year are accepted worldwide, so this is a huge honor!
UPDATE 8/10/10: This workshop was a perfect extension of the work I began at VONA, and this trip was a blessing of people. Choosing to be a poet can seem crazy, but I wouldn't trade this life for anything.
August Wilson Center Performance: July 22, 2010
Great news: I will be a featured poet at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture on Thursday, July 22. I'll be doing two sets: one in the 6:30-7:30 slot, and one in the 9:30-10:30 slot. This event is part of offCenter, the AWC's summer performance series. Come check it out!
UPDATE 8/7/10: Got to wait in the "green room" before each set. Very rock star. Brian Francis, also featured, had just come from Cave Canem. We decided to radiate our post-workshop magical energy off the stage.
I did two very different 15 min. sets, including reading one piece lying flat on the floor, a brand new (longer) one while dancing improv ballet (did ballet for 10 years and have just begun to write about it), and a bunch more. I have never felt more uninhibited on stage. Thank you AWC!
Kelli's Publication Updates: July 22, 2010
Two of my poems can now be read and heard at Word Riot. (The journal requested MP3's of me reading the poems--pretty cool!)
Additionally, I recently received my gorgeous contributor's copy of Mythium. I have four poems in this issue which is now available for purchase here.
Kelli's Poetry in Little Red Leaves: July 4, 2010
Three poems from "Hallelujah Science" have just found a lovely home: they will appear in the September issue of Little Red Leaves.
VONA Workshop II: June 20-27, 2010
I'm so happy to report that I've been selected to attend the VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation) Summer 2010 Advanced Poetry Workshop taught by Suheir Hammad at the University of San Francisco! This will be my second VONA, and I can't wait!
UPDATE 7/4/10: Ok, this was VONA at it's most magical. It's beyond words. All I can say is if you are a writer of color, apply to VONA. If you have the chance to be taught by Suheir Hammad, don't miss it.
14th Annual Poetry Without Walls: June 5, 2010
I've never been to one of these but it sounds interesting and I'm going to participate:
Poetry Without Walls: 14th Annual OPEN READING. Saturday June 5, 8 p.m. Garfield Art Works, 4931 Penn Avenue.
Here's a description of the event from the Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange calendar of events: "No featured readers...no sign-up lists...everyone welcome... bring your poems, books, & zines...free the words..."
UPDATE 6/6/10: I feel lucky that each time I've tried a new event in Pittsburgh, I connect with good folks. This event, which was shortlisted in Pittsburgh City Paper, was no exception. Check it out next year!
Hemingway's Summer Poetry Series: June 1, 2010
I finally made it to an open mic at Hemingway's. I wasn't sure which of my poems to read, so I made a game of trying to pick one that had connecting elements with the work of the four featured writers (who, by the way, were all excellent). Magically, I did have a poem that fit the bill. It's titled "(40)," and is one of the poems that was recently accepted to Mythium Literary Journal. I'd never read it to an audience before, and was happy to get lots of positive feedback. Make it to one of these readings if you can. More details can be found here.
Kelli's in Kweli: May 20, 2010
Great news! I just found out that a poem from "Hallelujah Science" will be featured in the next issue of Kweli Journal, a new online journal established to identify, promote and nurture writers of color. I'll post here as soon as the issue comes out.
The Mom Egg Reading in NYC: April 25, 2010
I have been invited to read in Greenwich Village! It will be great to meet and read with other contributors to the upcoming issue of The Mom Egg. Here are the details:
THE MOM EGG SPRING RELEASE PARTY AND READING
When: Sunday 4/25/10, 6-8 PM
Where: Cornelia Street Cafe
Celebrate Poetry Month and pre-party for Mother’s Day!
Friends and family welcome (though this reading is geared for adults).
The Mom Egg publishes sharp, articulate, inventive work by mothers about everything, and by everyone about mothers and motherhood.
Marjorie Tesser, Editor.
Cover $7 (includes one drink or food credit)
UPDATE 4/28/10: Hats off to Marjorie Tesser for putting an amazing reading together. A great space, combined with well-chosen work, performed by a warm community of writers, made it an exceptional night.
Kelli's on the Poetry Super Highway: April 10, 2010
I'm excited to announce that I am a Poet of the Week on the Poetry Super Highway. Two more poems from "Hallelujah Science" are featured!
Kelli's Poetry in The Mom Egg: March 8, 2010
Wow! Four more poems from "Hallelujah Science" were just accepted for publication in Volume 8 of The Mom Egg.
UPDATE 4/22/2010: The Mom Egg 2010, Volume 8, "Lessons," is now available for purchase here.
UPDATE 5/9/2010: I have a poem featured on The Mom Egg website!
Kelli's Poetry in Mythium: February 23, 2010
Four poems from "Hallelujah Science" have just been accepted for publication in Volume I, Issue II of Mythium Literary Journal. The issue is due out in Spring 2010.
UPDATE 7/8/10: I just received my contributor's copy of Mythium, and it is gorgeous! The issue is now available for purchase here.
SUNSTAR Women in Music Festival: Canceled!
2/9/2010: I'm excited to announce that I just got invited to read at the kickoff of Kelly-Strayhorn Theater's SUNSTAR Women in Music Festival on March 6, 2010. I'll post more details as they become available.
2/16/2010 UPDATE: Unfortunately the festival has been canceled. Be sure to check out other KST events!
Kelli's Poetry in Word Riot: January 18, 2010
The second two poems from "Hallelujah Science" have just been accepted by Word Riot. This means that the first four poems have just been accepted in the order they appear in the manuscript! Info about when the individual poems will appear will be posted here as soon as I know.
UPDATE 7/20/10: The poems are now online here. MP3's of each poem will be available on the site soon!
Kelli's Poetry in Denver Syntax: January 16, 2010
I've just received word that the first two poems from my unpublished first poetry manuscript, "Hallelujah Science," will be published in Issue 19 of Denver Syntax. The manuscript is currently circulating in multiple first book contests. I'll post the link to the individual poems as soon as the issue goes live.
UPDATE 1/20/2010: both of the poems are now online!
Steel City Poetry Slam: December 15, 2009
Itching to perform again, I found the opportunity as a first time participant in the Steel City Slam which takes place at the Shadow Lounge on the third Tuesday of each month at 9pm. This is a very welcoming environment for newcomers. Although there is a competitive element to any slam, this one is equally supportive, and included a wide range of styles. If you are thinking about trying it as a performer or audience member, definitely check it out. I had lots of fun, met some great local poets, gave two good performances and got lots of positive feedback. A perfect night.
Hip Mama Reading: December 4, 2009
Hip Mama, The Parenting Zine presents a reading by Pittsburgh writers:
Deesha Philyaw, Christina Springer, Melissa Sokulski, Kelli Stevens Kane, and Robin Monroe, along with Amanda Gilby, short fiction contest winner, reading from her piece featured in Issue 44: The Creativity Issue.
This latest issue honors and celebrates musicians, writers, and artists who can nurture their kids and their art.
When: Friday December 4th, 7pm
Where: Rebellious Nature Radical T-Shirt & Fair-Trade Gift Shop & Art Gallery.
This reading is part of Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn.
For Deesha's blog coverage of the event click here. I will personally say that this reading was one of the most compelling that I ever attended, and the writers hope to read together again. It also reminded me how much I've missed performing, and I can't wait to do more.
UPDATE 4/7/10: Rebellious Nature has closed its brick and mortar location, but they are still selling shirts online.
VONA Workshop I: June 28-July 4, 2009
I had a fantastic week at the VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation) writing workshop "Building a Poetry Collection" taught by Willie Perdomo at the University of San Francisco. VONA workshops are life-changing, supportive learning environments for writers of color.