My clouds look like
Cotton balls splattered in grey and
Black paint. I am nothing like your
Hot fudge sundae.
—Vienne W., 4th grade
The Poetry Center will host the Young at Art Festival on April 30th. The community is invited to join in our day-long celebration of youth and the arts!
The Young at Art Festival will feature performances by youth in the Tucson community who participate in literary arts organizations throughout Tucson. These partners include Kore Press, Owl & Panther, Native Pride, TYPS, and many others. Join us for chalk artists, musicians, puppet shows, a variety of word inspired crafts and activities including bookmaking, a poetry slam, haiku improv, and food made by Blue Banjo Barbecue served all day long!
University of Arizona Poetry Center’s 2011 Young at Art Festival Schedule
Odeum Stage
10:00-11:00 Stories that Soar production of Poetry Center library patrons and Poetry Joeys participant poems and stories.
11:30-12:30 Puppets Among Us performs Irish Rover. In this olde world story, enjoy the shenanigans of leprechauns and mermaids. It’s a magical adventure of seafaring and song; with musical guest Haji Banjovi
1:00-2:00 Stories that Soar production of Poetry Center library patrons and Poetry Joeys participant’s poems and stories.
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Chalk artists render improvised sketches based on youth poems and stories. (Poems and stories will be selected randomly. Any K-12 youth can enter their poem or story for a chance to be drawn in chalk).
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tucson Youth Poetry Slam Championship featuring a performance by Roger Bonair-Agard, hosted by Maya Asher & Logan Phillips.
DJ Carl Hanni puts it all together. Surprise acrobat performances throughout.
Dorothy Rubel Room Stage
10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Kore Press Guerrilla Grrls read from recent work.
11:00 to 11:30 a.m. Tucson Indian Center’s Native Pride group reads from recent work. Their visual work will be on display in the Rubel Room throughout the day.
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. University of Arizona’s Stories on Stage presents Byrd Baylor’s Desert Voices with a book signing by Byrd Baylor after the performance!
1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Book signing with Byrd Baylor.
2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Performances by the Hopi Foundation’s Owl and Panther Project.
2:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Performances by Word Journeys.
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mr. Tidy Paws and the Funtime Orange Band perform their own repertoire plus youth poems written collaboratively by Poetry Joeys participants and the Owl and Panther Project.
Children's Corner
10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Rain Makes Applesauce and Other Funny Poems
Did you know that “Salmon slide down a hippo’s hide, and rain makes apple sauce?” You didn’t? Well that’s what it says in Rain Makes Applesauce, the Caldecott Honor Book with words by Julian Scheer and pictures by Marvin Bileck. Come hear University of Arizona teaching artists read this playful and colorful book of poetry for children. We will also share humorous poems by Jack Prelutsky, Karla Kuskin and Shel Silverstein. Anyone is welcome to attend, but this reading is geared particularly to children aged 4-6.
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Daniel Mendoza plays 2011 Corrido Contest winning work plus other well-loved corridos.
11:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Story time featuring Stories that Soar board books.
12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Daniel Mendoza plays 2011 Corrido Contest winning work plus other well-loved corridos.
1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Story Time: Lewis Carroll and Edgar Allen Poe: “Jabberwocky” and “The Raven”
If you have heard the works of Lewis Carroll and Edgar Allen Poe once, then you probably have wanted to hear them again. Carroll’s “Jaberwocky” and Poe’s “The Raven” are arguably two of the best-known poems in the English language, and they are fun to hear out loud at any age. University of Arizona teaching artists will read these poems in the Children’s Corner, and you will be able to see and compare artistic interpretations of “Jaberwocky,” rendered by various artists. Anyone is welcome to attend but this reading is geared particularly to children aged 6-10.
1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wendy Burk read's Byrd Baylor's "Hawk, I'm Your Brother" in Spanish.
2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Story time featuring Stories that Soar board books.
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. New ARTiculations Dance Improvisation. Speak a line of your original poem or story, or bring a poem or find one on the shelf to read to these amazing dancers. They will improvise movements while teetering above the library stacks. Open to youth K-12.
Garden
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Storytelling with Jordan Hill
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Haiku Improv hosted by Sarah Kortemeier. Any middle school student (grades 5-8) may participate. Prizes awarded. All participants improvise! You know the form! You can do it.
1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Gabrielle Pietrangelo of the Silver Thread Trio performs Poetry Joeys and Imaginative Writing Residency poems and stories.
1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Silver Thread Trio will be roaming and singing in the garden and the library.
2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Tucson Indian Center’s ArtsReach program reading.
2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Silver Thread Trio will be roaming and singing in the garden and the library.
Gwenyth Scally renders a portrait of poet H.D. throughout the day. In addition to being a modernist poet, H.D. is also the author of the children's book, The Hedgehog.
Library
All Day Long: visual art and writing centered crafts
Poetry Origami
Origami is the ancient art of Japanese paper folding. Through imagination and skill, the origami artist can make birds or dogs or dancers or anything else appear out of nowhere. Perhaps poetry is also an art form that makes something appear out of nothing. Join teaching artists led by University of Arizona student Ash Friend as they teach you to use words and paper to bring the creatures in your imagination to life.
Spirals Of Creativity
From a string a curled strip of paper dangles in creative form. On this form are words that express the way you feel and the way you see. This is your creation. It glitters and glows. It gives life to your imagination. Come work with teaching artists led by University of Arizona student Amber Bailey as they help you turn your words and your thoughts into a Spiral Of Creativity.
World Of Words
Imagine that you could speak any language you wanted. Imagine that you could seek inspiration from poems written anywhere in the world. This fun activity station will let you pretend that you know what all words mean. Teaching artists led by University of Arizona student Jillian Andrews will help you create original poetry out of your imagined translation of writing from faraway places in the world.
Bind your own writing journal led by Drew Burk
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. New ARTiculations Dance Improvisation. Speak a line of your original poem or story, or bring a poem or find one on the shelf to read to these amazing dancers. They will improvise movements while teetering above the library stacks. Open to youth K-12.
Audio/Visual Room
Film screenings of Byrd Baylor films: Hawk, I am your Brother, The Way to Start a Day, and The Other Way to Listen; animated poetry films; 2011 Poetry Out Loud semi-finals competition, and other cool under-viewed, awe-inspiring, poetically inclined stuff.
Other Must-Sees and Dos
Watch Chalk Art
Contribute to Tucson’s Longest Poem
Eat Blue Banjo BBQ: Mesquite-grilled Tri Tip Steak Sandwiches, North Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Hamburgers, Veggie Burgers, Hot Dog stand with lots of options, Fresh Made Lemonade, Cotton Candy.
Make tie dye t-shirt
Listen to DJ Carl Hanni
A Poem a Day:
The Poetry Center is joining in the celebration of National Poetry Month by highlighting youth voices in Southern Arizona. Posters of K-12 poems will appear in buses, local newspapers and on the radio throughout the month of April. Stay tuned for more information as April approaches!
You will be able to find poems on:
KXCI: A Poet's Moment A Poet's moment will air poems on Mondays at 8 PM, Wednesdays at 1 PM, Fridays at 2AM, and Sundays at 2PM. Milo Ratner, from Sam Hughes Elementary, Zaza Karaim from St Michaels, Cerius Trumble from Owl and Panther, and Kore Press Grrl Michelle Ceballos will be featured throughout the month of April.
The Arizona Daily Star will feature poetry by Madison Biddle (runs 4/19, 4/25 in Business) and poetry by Izabel Kelso and Emberly Davis (runs 4/21, 4/28 Tucson & Region and 4/23, 4/26 in Sports).
Sun Tran buses! Posters with youth writing are appearing on Sun Tran buses all over Tucson! Download your own copies of these posters files here and here.
Thanks to all of the students who have shared their amazing work with us:
Maraya Gonzalez, AZ School for the Blind; Gwen, John B. Wright Elementary; Lucia Ortiz, Mission Manor Elementary; Madison, Robison Elementary; Abel Valencia, Robison Elementary; Holly, Sam Hughes Elementary; Abigail Otero, Soleng Tom Elementary; Kylie Hoerner, Soleng Tom Elementary; Livan, Anna Lawrence Intermediate; Jacob Manuel, 4th grade; Joline Joaquin, 5th grade; Ayanna Eleando, 5th grade; Chavez Ventura, 5th grade; Brayden Listo, 5th grade; Evelyn Swarts, age 6, Carden of Tucson; Lucas Borst, age 6, Carden of Tucson; Nicky Wayne, age 6, Steele Elementary School; Kiara West, age 8, Desert Winds Elementary; James Marshall, age 7, Desert Winds Elementary; Jack Collins, age 7, Agua Caliente; Anika Burns, age 8, Agua Caliente; Dylan Nye, age 7, Agua Caliente; Adrian Vasquez, age 7, Agua Caliente; Sarah Donlan, age 8, Carden School; Aidan Huber, age 8, Castlehill Country Day School; Mackenzie Powers, age 7, De Grazia Elementary; Olivia Seils, age 7, Carden School; Nicole Urrea, age 12, Challenger Middle School; Ricky Rodriguez, age 11, Challenger Middle School; Carissa Valenzuela, age 11, Challenger Middle School; Sam Lolwing, age 10, Satori Charter School; Noah Vigileos, age 9, Mesquite Elementary; Brian Watson Johnson, age 10, Satori Charter School; Jake Vogt-Martinez, age 9, Satori Charter School; Christina Davila, age 9, Mesquite Elementary; Moriah Newhouse, age 13; Savannah Imes, age 11, Challenger Middle School; Alex Frisby, age 11, Challenger Middle School; Annamae Beeler Sax, age 14, City High School; Nakaia Kristof, age 14, City High School; Tanika Reymond, 4th Grade, Indian Oasis Intermediate; Caroline Kehl, 8th Grade, Hohokam Middle School; Rhonetta Enriquez, 10th Grade, Baboquivari High; Brandon Murrietta, 8th Grade, Hohokam Middle School; Haleigh Hendricks, 6th Grade, Indian Oasis Intermediate; Teresa Lopez, 9th Grade, Baboquivari High; Jonathan Reino, 9th Grade, Baboquivari High; Indira Dhamala, age 17; Uma Dhimal, age 13; Keshabi, age 17; Barsika, age 18; Noor Abdi, age 9; Adey Abdille, age 8; Josue Herrera, 2nd grade, Hollinger Elementary; Emyliano Lopez, 2nd grade, Hollinger Elementary; Angela Kinsey., 2nd grade, Corbett Elementary; Ciara Brown, 3rd grade, Corbett Elementary; Angela Kinsey, 2nd grade, Corbett Elementary; Holly Kelsch, 3rd grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Isaac Little, 3rd grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Orion Tiss, 3rd grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Jesus Avila, 5th Grade, Corbett Elementary; Izabel Kelso, 5th Grade, Corbett Elementary; Medley McCormick, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Evan Campbell, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Angelica Martinez, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Lia Christenson, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Lucy Parsons, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Emmelie Vargas, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Ady Rhode, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Ian Voorhees, 2nd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Amaquaisha Lester, 5th Grade, Corbett Elementary; Margaret Walters, 5th Grade, Corbett Elementary; William Bosco, 3rd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Emma Kinnison, 3rd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Teresa Pham, 4th Grade, Corbett Elementary; Carmina Diamente, 3rd Grade, Khalsa Elementary; Myles Kashanipour, 3rd Grade, Khalsa Elementary; Persia Kiarash, 3rd Grade, Khalsa Elementary; Romeo Ballesteros, 3rd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Eddie Holm, 3rd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Harry Lei, 3rd Grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Madison Biddle; Rune Dugas; Myles Walker; Emberly Davis; Russell Perez; Liam Munro; April Wechsler; Martin Gioannetti; Andrew Gioanetti; Chloe Vance; David Yslas, 5th grade, Corbett Elementary; Neruda Oliver Hogrelius; Alexia Espinoza; Denham Carlisle, 3rd grade, Sam Hughes Elementary; Rose Long; Fiona Fischer; Abby Agrella; Joey Enslen; Andrea Ashe; Zoe Beer; Mia Miller; Paul Kregar; Michelle Ceballos, age 16
Young at Art Festival Sponsors
A big thank you to:
Every Voice in Action
Arizona Daily Star
The Pitt Family Foundation
Yvonne Morris and Maurynne Maxwell
The Friends of the Poetry Center
University of Arizona
College of Humanities
