02/12/2012 3:00 pm
02/12/2012 5:00 pm
Dear Poets and Friends,
Philadelphia Poets Presents its Annual Ethnic Voices Poetry Reading at the Manayunk/Roxborough Art Center (M/RAC), 419 Green Lane (rear), Philadelphia
Sunday, February 12, 2012, 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.
This program will feature: Manya Bean, Lynn Blue, Mel Brake, Ashini Desai, Maria Fama, Emiliano Martin, and Al Tacconelli
The poets represent many different cultures—Greek, African-American, Indian, Italian, and Spanish—and while their experiences either as immigrants or the descendants of immigrants are similar, the expressions of their feelings are unique and individual, and their approaches to the writing of poetry, varied and powerful. In some cases, poetry will be read in translation together with the English.
Manya Bean is a psychoanalyst, teacher, and poet, as well as a doting grandmother. She has a book of poetry entitled Too Shy to Surrender, which includes poetry about her childhood in Greece during World War II. More of her work has appeared in various anthologies and journals, including Philadelphia Poets. She currently lives in a retirement community called Kendal-Crosslands in Kennett Square, PA.
Lynn Blue has worked in the Community Education Program and the Philadelphia school system, teaching poetry as a means of conflict resolution and anger management. She is the founder of the Poetic Minds Plus poetry series, where she is affectionately known as Lady Blue. (www.blogtalkradio.com/lynnblue). Her program airs every 3rd and 4th Saturday of the month at 4 p.m. A prize-winning playwright, she is also a member of “Wings of Worth”, a group of women who use their artistic talents to reach out to women in unfortunate situations.
Mel Brake is the Founder and Director of MPW, a non-profit organization, focusing on using the arts to reach children in the tri-state area. His first chapbook, “Obama Poetry Project”, is available atMelBrakEpress.blogspot.com.
Ashini J. Desai balances creative writing with family and a technology management career. Her poems have been published in anthologies such as Word Masala; Yellow as Tumeric, Fragrant as Cloves, and Sulekha Select as well as journals such as Philadelphia Poets and Thema. Her essay was included in the anthologyLabor Pains & Birth Stories. She has published book reviews, articles, and blogs on a number of South Asian websites.
Maria Famà is the author of four books of poetry and the producer of poetry videos. Her poems, short stories, and essays have appeared in numerous publications and have been anthologized. Her latest book is Looking for Cover (Bordighera Press). She lives in Philadelphia with Dolly, the architect cat, who sings while creating her constructions.
Emiliano Martin, born in Spain, is the founder and past director of the Philadelphia Poetry Forum and past president of Latin American Guild for the Arts. His latest bilingual collection, 511 Aphorisms of My Humor, was published in 2010.
Al Tacconelli’s poetry has been published and he has given presentations throughout the area. Artist as well as poet, his painting “Moroccan Scene” was featured on the cover of Philadelphia Poets’ 2007 issue. A runner-up in the First Annual Petracca Award, he also received the Editor’s Choice Award and Honorable Mention in Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contests.
Peter Krok, Humanities Director at M/RAC, is the coordinator of the Reading Series, which started in the Fall of 1990. A donation of $4 for the M/RAC is requested, and refreshments are provided. For information about the program, call the M/RAC at 215-482-3363 or Rosemary Cappello at 215-568-1145 .
Looking forward to seeing you there,
Rosemary Cappello
Editor, Philadelphia Poets
www.home.comcast.net/~redrose108
