Harwood

The Word Stream Poetry Series, a mostly quarterly reading series that brings fantastic New Mexico poets to Harwood for free reading events.

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Spring 2008: Word Stream Reading Series presents: Let Me Say This About That

An evening of poetry and film in conjunction with Harwood’s annual National Poetry Month celebration of words and art.  The Main Gallery hosts a video installation of the same name by Bryan Konefsky. Local poets Mitch Rayes, Lisa Gill, Hakim Bellamy, and more will be reading from works that inspired the installation. The evening will be augmented by projection-art by members of Basement Films.

Harwood Cafeteria
Friday, April 11th 7 pm — 9 pm
Free of charge

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PAST PERFORMERS:

Richard Vargas (w/ guest poet Erika Sanchez) Fall 2007

Richard Vargas was born and raised in Southern California and held various jobs throughout the years including: fry cook, gas jockey, warehouseman, delivery man, bank clerk, women’s shoe salesman, cashier, bookseller, community relations manager, distribution supervisor, and inbound call center customer service. As community events coordinator for the Rockford Barnes & Noble from 1997-99 he organized and led a monthly poetry workshop and readings. Richard was also the poetry editor for a local weekly newspaper, The Rock River Times, and used the position to generate debate about the banning of books by the Rockford School District.

Recently admitted to MFA/Creative Writing Program at the University of New Mexico, American Jesus is his second book of poetry.

“American Jesus spoke to me with the rawness and the cool of colorful working-class poets Tom McGrath, Charles Bukowski, and Jose Antonio Burciaga. Richard Vargas has a great love for America and it's accomplishments. Vargas knows America's excesses and offers his own tough love to her in each poem.” 

-Carlos Cumpian author of Armadillo Charm

Mitch Rayes, Summer 2007:

Here's Mitch on Mitch: "...born breech in Detroit, to a former Irish nun and a Lebanese chemist. By the age of eight his stated ambition was to become “a bum.” Mitch has since distinguished himself in many fields, including poet, translator, musician, sound designer, arts organizer, outfitter, and construction tradesman. Reading from his new book, Soundings, which will be published soon by someone.