Writing Center Director Colleen Michaels‘ featured in Paper Nautilus!
Colleen Michaels’ work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Paterson Literary Review, Blue Collar Review, The Mom Egg, and Literary Mama; She has received honorable mention in the 2011 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Prize. She directs the Writing Center at Montserrat College of Art where she hosts The Improbable Places Poetry Tour.
Below is Michaels’ “Bowing to Vines out of Season”
Thursday, May 5 at 7 pm
17 Cox Visual Art Center
17 Cox Court, Beverly, MA
What’s this tour all about? Well, It’s Montserrat’s way of bringing together student writers, local poets, area businesses, and enthusiastic listeners to celebrate the power of poetry and community. Each month a new venue and theme will be selected. This month’s venue is 17 Cox Visual Art Center and the current exhibition, Good Work(s).
A poem about visual art, huh? That’s right, folks. This month the theme is Ekphrastic Fantastic! The Good Work(s) show at 17 Cox champions kindness as well as content and features the work of 8 artists known for their good work and good character. What better way to champion these fine folk than to write a poem in response to their work?
What kind of prompt is that? That’s Ekphrastic Fantastic! And here’s what you do:
Step 1: Visit the Cox 17 website to view the Good Work(s) exhibition. www.17cox.com
Step 2: Use the work of any of the 8 featured artists as inspiration for your poem. Feel free to snoop around the artists’ websites.
Hey, I’ve got just the poem for this month’s tour. Can I read it? We are accepting submissions via email at cmichaels@montserrat.edu and in the Writing Center, located on the 2nd floor of Montserrat’s library. The deadline is Tuesday, May 3rd. We’d love to read your work!
I don’t write poetry, but I sure am interested in this tour. Can I still attend the event? Absolutely! Come and listen and cheer on the readers at 7:00. Even Better – Make a whole night of it -Come to the Good work(s) reception at 5:30 and the Artist Talk at 6:30.
Wait! I’ve still got questions! Just talk to Colleen Michaels, Montserrat’s Writing Center Director. She’s at cmichaels@montserrat.edu or 978-921-4242 ext 1254.
Thursday, April 21 at 7 pm
Boot, Straps, and More Thrift Store
198 Rantoul Street, Downtown Beverly
What’s this tour all about? Well, it’s Montserrat’s way of bringing together student writers, local poets, area businesses, and enthusiastic listeners to celebrate the power of poetry and community. Each month a new venue and theme will be selected. This month’s venue, Beverly Bootstraps Thrift Store, is chock-a-block full of bargains for a cause.
A thrift store, huh? That’s right, folks. Sure, we could play with the word “Boot” or “Strap.” Easypeasy. But what makes this thrift store so special is how the Ordinary blends with the Extraordinary. Here’s your two-prompt theme:
Option 1: Write in praise of an ordinary household item, one that you might find in the store. Stop in, browse a bit, and find what will become the subject of your submission. “In Praise of End Tables” or “Ode to My $2.00 Velvet Blazer.”
Option 2: Write about the extraordinary of Beverly, the generous spirit of a person or place. Wondering what’s so extraordinary? Check out all of the amazing work done by Beverly Bootstraps right here in the neighborhood – www.beverlybootstraps.org
Hey, I’ve got just the poem for this month’s tour. Can I read it? We are accepting submissions via email at cmichaels@montserrat.edu and in the Writing Center, located on the 2nd floor of Montserrat’s library. The deadline is Friday, April 15th. We’d love to read your work!
I don’t write poetry, but I sure am interested in this tour. Can I still attend the event? Absolutely! Come and listen and cheer on the readers. Make a donation to the thrift store or shop for your newest treasure. Most importantly, come check out what the writers of your community are up to!
Wait! I’ve still got questions! Just talk to Colleen Michaels, Montserrat’s Writing Center Director. She’s at cmichaels@montserrat.edu or 978-921-4242 x 1254.
Montserrat College of Art will be hosting a fundraising reading for the Mass Poetry Festival on Thursday, April 14 at 7:30 pm. The event will take place in the Paul M. Scott Library, 23 Esseex St., Beverly. Come listen to poetry, meet poets, hook in to the North Shore Arts Community!
On the fourth stop of the Improbable Places Poetry Tour, members of the Montserrat and Beverly Community gathered to celebrate the power of poetry and community. Inspired by the poem “One Flower” by Jack Kerouac, poems didn’t have to be “flowery,” but had to “reference at least one flower.” We can’t wait for the next stop!
For more information about the tour, contact Colleen Michaels at cmichaels@montserrat.edu!
