| POETRY CURRENTS | |
FROM OUR WISCONSIN FRIENDS
Rusty Russell, whose articulate, long-standing, and nurturing involvement with poetry and performance is legendary in the Midwest, has launched a response to what the International Red Cross is calling, “a humanitarian catastrophe.” He and other Madison-area poets will present a fundraiser to benefit refugees of Afghanistan. Says Russell, “Poets Without Borders is an all-ages evening of cabaret-style open mike poetry, with live music and DJ-spun tunes. Poets are asked to bring a typed copy of the poem they read. A raffle will be held at the end of the evening, and the prize will be a bound collection of all the poems read.” Perhaps in recognition of the divided conscience that America is feeling right now over having to go to battle, or perhaps in an effort to heal said conscience, the event is taking a somewhat apolitical tone. Russell explains, “All writers are encouraged to come and share their work. All cultures and all languages are welcome. This is a non-sectarian, non-partisan event. There is no political agenda beyond the simple humane one of aiding people who need us now.”
All monies collected will be given to the Afghan relief efforts of Doctors Without Borders (les Médecins Sans Frontières). The event will include poets from several ensembles across Wisconsin, including Russell's own CheapAtAnyPrice Poets, Premiere Generation Ink, the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, and the Wisconsin Academy of Arts and Letters. Information regarding Doctors Without Borders' operations in and around Afganistan will be available at the event. You can know how your donations will be spent.
So here's the skinny: Poets Without Borders, open mike poetry party to benefit Afghan refugees, Saturday, November 17, 8 pm at the Electric Earth Café, 546 W. Washington Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. For more information, call Rusty Russell at 226.9123 (home) or 266.2961 (work), or visit the Mad Poetry Web site.
THE “OH, HOW THE NETWORK FRUSTRATES” DEPARTMENT
Errant word on the street has spread to the effect that Freshpoetry.com folded, but nothing could be further from the truth. Recent clicks to that Web site occasionally returned nil. But I spoke with slam MC and poetry Webmaster Krystal Ashe on 15 October, and discovered that a hiccup in the domain registration process may have put a crimp in Freshpoetry.com's online presence. Ashe insisted that she did not shut it down, and indeed by 16 October it was up and running. Freshpoetry.com publishes reviews and poetry with emphases on Chicago and hip-hop, and includes the work of many nationally known spoken word artists. Ashe said her domain registry was paid up, but transacted about the time her original domain name registrar, Network Solutions, was bought out by VeriSign. There is speculation that the handover of billing from one company to the other may have been partly to blame.
Ashe co-hosts a Monday night poetry open mike called Mental Graffiti with fellow poet, musician, and rap artist Anacron, whose freestyle mixes grace the venue's interstitials. She is also Webmaster to other local poetry domains, such as Women Out Loud, Mental Graffiti, and the startup Real Chicago Poetry.
