What an amazing night at the Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, on Saturday August 9, 2014. The “Summer Breeze” Open Mic Poetry readings were impeccably done by some wonderful and talented poets attending the event. This hot evening of poetry featured the center’s veteran and new poets who came together for a spectacular fellowship.
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| Michael Faulkenberry |
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| Christian George |
Michael Faulkenberry kicked off open mic night with a very touching and heart-felt tribute he wrote entitled My Grandmother. His poem really left the audience a little choked up, because everyone could relate to the emotion he felt due to the recent loss of his grandmother, whom he loved dearly.
Christian George, one of the new featured poets, read four poems he wrote: Question, Oceans and Dreams, Never Gone and Human Fortunes of Love. Christian gets his inspiration from a myriad of places and is known to create a poem during his lunch break, while at work.
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| Dwight Roth |
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| Ruth Roth |
Dwight Roth, who is one of our monthly poetry club poets and a resident artist, read his poem, Call Me Superficial. His wife Ruth Roth, who is also one of our monthly club poets, read a poem written by Mary Oliver called Flair. This dynamic couple began their community poetic journey at the Cultural Arts Center, since it launched in September, 2013.
Dr. James Wooten, who recited some of his poetry during the center’s National Poetry Month event in April, read four poems from his book of poetry and prose. He read the following poems: Losing a Good Thing, Drinking Spree, Master Jim and When Death Fell.
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| Dr. James Wooten |
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| Erin Penland |
Multi-media artist Erin Penland, who drew sketches of what she was interpreting from the poems the poets read during the evening, recited a poem by Jenny Lindthurst called Consequences of Silence. She felt personally connected to this particular poem, which was published in Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine by UNC-Charlotte.
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| Monique McKenzie |
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| Tyler McKenzie |
Monique McKenzie, who co-authored a children’s book, My God is Awesome, with her daughter Kyla read two of her poems, A Lost Child and Changes during the reading. Her 10-year old son Tyler read a poem that she wrote entitled Mirror and recited a poem that he wrote called The Bag. Tyler noted that his poem reflected how individuals should not judge people by their outward appearance, because everyone metaphorically speaking is a bag, and they contain the good along with the bad. Quite powerful!
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| Ryan Petty |
Ryan Petty read two poems from his chapbook Ambience of Dusk, entitled Changing Shifts and Kindred Points. Ryan’s universal essence depicted in his poetry shares both creative common samples and examples of his experimental projects.
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| Comic Book Artist, Mark Hassler |
Comic Book artist Mark Hassler, joined us with his interpretation of the poetry being read during the evening’s festivities. He noted that when he began painting during the recitals, his art was leaning more towards a happier tone, but suddenly when the poetic atmosphere shifted towards more sentimental and deeper stanzas and verses, his painting took on a darker turn. Many pieces of Mark's artwork is on display at the Indian Trail Cultural Arts Cener and he also teaches crash courses in his medium.
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| Susan Didier |
This was indeed a HOT night of Summer Breeze poetry that was a delight for everyone. Next month, Moderator and N.C. Poet Kym Gordon Moore will celebrate 1 year of open mic poetry readings and conversations at the Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center with Susan Didier, the center’s Community Development Specialist. If you live in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg vicinity, be sure to stay tuned for our special anniversary announcement for September. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this end-of-the-summer poetry celebration.
If you have any questions about participating in our monthly open mic poetry events, contact Susan Didier, CDS for the Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, at
SDidier@admin.indiantrail.org.
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