On Thursday, June 21st 2012, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh will partner with Cave Canem once again to host their annual outdoor reading event. The featured poets this year are Angela Jackson, Thomas Sayers Ellis and the two most recent winners of the National Book Award for Poetry– Terrance Hayes and Nikky Finney. The event will take place on the 1400 block of Monterey Street at 7:30pm and, as always, will remain free and open to the public.
Please make your reservation at lauramustiocoap@gmail.com
Today Sampsonia Way offers a compilation of interviews with past Cave Canem guest writers. Know what the writers think about Cave Canem and poetry.
Terrance Hayes
Before Cave Canem, we interviewed Terrance Hayes, who will be one of the readers this year. Photo: Renee Rosensteel
Amiri Baraka
“...we didn’t think just writing a poem was sufficient. That poem had to have some kind of utilitarian use; it should help in liberating us.” Photo: Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Cornelius Eady
“Challenge involves resistance, and no one gives up privilege without a fight. I’d like to think Cave Canem shows what’s possible, what’s worth working towards, even if at times it can seem a long way off.” Photo: Laura Mustio
Claudia Rankine
“The irrelevance of poetry is also the power of poetry. You can go as far as you can go without having to negotiate people in your way. The only thing in your way is your own imaginative possibilities.” Photo: Renee Rosensteel
Colleen J. McElroy
“Cave Canem, on the other hand, is like a lab. You go into the laboratory and experiment to see if something works. Because they are outside the academic box, Cave Canem fellows can find freedom of expression.” Photo: Renee Rosensteel
Sapphire
"There are a lot of people who are doing uplifting things and I support them. Instead of complaining about the art you don’t like, get behind the art you do like.” Photo: Renee Rosensteel
Carl Phillips
“Poetry helps us see the world in ways we don’t ordinarily see it. Its job is not to just record what is obvious but also to show us the things that we would rather not see.” Photo: Renee Rosensteel
Toi Derricotte
“Cave Canem gives poets a chance to talk about these types of experiences and form their own community. This way they know they are not alone...” Photo: Rachel Eliza Griffiths
