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Spoken Word Artists Welcome To The Writers Gallery. |
(All Poets Listed In Alphabetical Order)
Angela-Dee Alforque |
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Angela-Dee Alforque has been a Sacramento-based theatre, dance, and
vocal music artist
for over twenty years. She began public performances of her poetry with
the debut of her choreopoem, Liquid Babae Filipina, in 1999. She is the Associate Director & Resident Choreographer of the Sinag-tala Filipino American Theater Project; a singer and dancer with Ebo Okokan Afro-Cuban Drum & Dance; and a member of the spoken word, dance and music ensemble Mario Ellis Hill Poetry Machine. She recently completed her Master's Degree in Multi-Cultural American History and Performance at California State University, Sacramento, where she has also served as a professor of African-Caribbean Dance, Modern Dance, and Dance Cultures of America. Her thesis is entitled "Laya at the Crossroads: An Original Play and Prospectus for a Filipino American Theatre of History, Identity and Community." Angela has performed overseas, in 2001 as a visiting artist/teacher at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, and as a member of the 1988 Peace Child Int'l. Tour, Ukraine USSR. She has given poetry readings in the Sacramento area at the Tower Books Poetry Series, Sacramento Poetry Center, Poetry Works Jazz & Poetry Series and Luna's Cafe, and has appeared with and/or choreographed for several companies in Sacramento including The Camellia Symphony Orchestra, InterAsian Contemporary Theatre, Sacramento/Black Art of Dance, Celebration Arts, Music Circus and The Best of Broadway. Her dance training includes ballet, modern, jazz, and African-Caribbean/Cuban. She has also studied acting, voice, musical theatre, reader's theatre and performance history. Angela regularly teaches dance and theatre workshops for children and adults, including educators' seminars, youth and community productions. |
Luke Breit |
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Luke is a widely published poet and journalist, the author of five books of poetry, a regular columnist for several journals and a recipient of the Poets Hall of Fame Award for the 1999
Sacramento International Poetry Festival. He is the Deputy Director of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and was the late Mayor Joe Serna's appointee to the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. He serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Poetry Center and is a former Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of California Poets In The Schools. His books include Unintended Lessons (QED Press, 1999), Messages - New & Selected Poems (QED Press, 1989, In This Picture, We Are Laughing (WUFAHTIBOOTDA Poetry Press, 1983), Words The Air Speaks (Wilderness Poetry Press, 1979) and Celebrating America Within (Golden Mountain Press, 1973). His work has appeared in dozens of literary journals and anthologies including The New Yorker, Haight Ashbury Literary Review, Poetry Now, Hika, Oro Madre Magazine, bombay gin, Mendocino Review, Kuksu, Beatitude, The California Bicentennial Poets Anthology, Editor's Choice II: Fiction, Poetry & Art from the U.S. Small Press,Watching from the Sky and Landing Signals. He is, miraculously, the father of two startlingly wonderful children, Yannis, 20, and Nicole, 14. In his introduction to Messages, Norman Mailer wrote: "In boxing, there are subterranean dreams of being knocked down by blows so artfully delivered that they pound nothing out of you. The fall is free. You wake up refreshed. Breit can put three or four perceptions together in a row that have something like that effect... Luke is a rainmaker. Put him in a desert, get him to recite, and clouds will gather...If I could be a poet, I wouldn't mind at all being as good as Luke Breit." Luke Breit's Home Page |
Lawrence Washington Brooks |
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Birthplace: New Orleans, La. Published Works: "If Only Words Could Say" "Spirit Verse" "Black Love on the Blue Lines" Affiliations: ZICA Creative Arts and Literary Guild Sacramento Publishers Association Founding Member, Sacramento International Poetry Festival Awards: Best Book of Poetry 1997 "If Only Words Could Say" Sacramento Publishers Association Certificate of Achievement 1997 "If Only Words Could Say" Writers Digest Self-Publishing Contest A resident of Elk Grove, California, L.W. Brooks has been a writer of poetry since his childhood days. Raised in a household, that for a time could not afford a television, Lawrence turned to the writings of Langston Hughes to fill the void and began writing poetry. Larry has a keen interest in visual art and has incorporated photos, drawings and paintings in many of his publications and poetry readings. A graduate of the Masterís Program in Public Administration at California State University, Hayward, Lawrence has taken a number of writing classes including workshops by Poet, Jane Blue and Author, Teri Kanefield. Mr. Brooks is currently serving as the President of the Board of Directors for the Essence Award winning Sacramento Birthing Project, a nonprofit maternal child health organization. Additionally he is co-founder of Poetry Works Performing Arts Association; co-founder of the Brotha-Friends Project for new fathers and working full-time for the County of Sacramento as a Public Administrator. He recently served as chairperson on the organizing committee of the Sacramento International Poetry Festival which featured such poets as Jessica Care Moore, winner of "Showtime at the Apollo" and Saul Williams, star of the movie "Slam". Mr. Brooks is currently co-hosting at the Saturday Evening Tower Poetry Series inside Tower Bookstore at Watt and El Camino in Sacramento. To Contact Lawrence Please e-mail Him At wordlesone@aol.com |
Rama Chambers |
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Rama Chambers is a poet and performance artist whose work has been
featured in several anthological works and literary publications that
include: Sacramento Voices, Origins and Politics and Poetry Now. As a member of ZICA Creative Arts and Literary Guild, she has read her work in a wide range of creative spaces in the Sacramento area including The State Capitol, Art and Soul of Black Folklore Festival, Poets on the Patio, Poetry Unplugged and Poets On A Saturday Afternoon. Four literary anthologies edited by Ms. Chambers were selected for inclusion in the Area Authors Room of the Sacramento Public Library. In addition, Ms. Chambers has been a member of the cast in theatrical production at Chautauqua Playhouse, Sacramento Repertory Theatre and, The California Original Theater Company. |
Bei Dao |
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Bei Dao (pseudonym of Zhao Zhenkai),one of China’s foremost poets of the "misty school," was born in 1949 in Beijing. During the Cultural Revolution, Bei joined the Red Guard movement, like many other middle-class youth, however, he soon became disillusioned with Chinese society and was later sent to the countryside, where he became a construction worker. Living in total isolation in the mountains outside Beijing increased his youthful melancholy and prompted him and many of his contemporaries to explore a more spiritual approach to life. Searching for a fresh poetics, many of China’s new writers of the Seventies experimented with "free verse" in a hermetic, semi-private language characterized by oblique, oneiric imagery and elliptical syntax. That linguistic style, in which subject, tense, and number are elusive and transitions are unclear, came to be called "menglong shi," or "misty poetry." By 1974, Bei Dao had finished the first draft of his novella Waves and begun a sequence of poems. Those poems were to become a guiding beacon for the youth of the April Fifth Democracy Movement of 1976, in which thousands peacefully demonstrated in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Bei Dao’s poetry won instant recognition and a faithful following, especially among young readers. In December 1978, Bei Dao and Mang Ke published the first issue of China’s first unofficial literary journal, Jintian [Today], which survived until Beijing officials shut it down in 1980. Widely treasured by those who participated in China’s democracy movement, Bei Dao’s poetry is marked by the effort to reveal the nature of the self, to identify both public and private wounds, to trust in instinctive perceptions, and to reach out to other afflicted souls. It depicts the intimacy of passion, love, and friendship in a society where trust can literally be a matter of life and death. He was forced into exile following the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989. He, along with other exiled writers and artists, has found a voice in a renewed version of Jintian, which was re-launched in Stockholm in 1990. "Ironically, it is…this…position of an exile that has given Bei Dao new insights… His experience has translated into three volumes of poetry, each of which has earned more critical acclaim than the one before." (c)1999, Stanford University (Edited version, for complete bio click on link below) Stanford University Bio/Interview University of Arizona Interview The Journal of the International Institute Interview Poems by Bei Dao More Poems by Bei Dao |
Thomas Downing |
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Thomas Downing is a long time community college English prof at Butler County Community College, in Butler, PA. In the past year he has had poems published in poetrymagazine.com, Kimera: A Journal of Fine Writing, The Raintown Review, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Laurels, and The Blind Mans Rainbow. |
Ted Finn |
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Born 5/12/44. San Francisco, CA. A.A. in journalism Sacramento City College. Two more years California State University, Sacramento. Worked ten years Sacramento Union as theatre, film and music critic late 60s to late 70s. Formed with Kenny Kohout the Sacramento Actors Theater. Toured as performance art/theater group. Established Wild River Press in 1980. My "Now For A Limited Time Only" (1980) was first book. In 1993 Bradley Mason Hamlin, Gary Aposhian (publisher of Free Thought"), Robert Berry, Gene Black (the founder of "Wordjam"), B.L. Kennedy and myself co-op published "Voices From the Pit." The last Wild River Press book--"Blind Alleycats Dream Jazz" by Charles Curtis Blackwell--came out that same year (1993). In 1994 my Kiss of Death Press published "Welcome To Hell"-- a 100-page anthology of 33 regional poets. I believe poets should be active in the community of poets and should also be active in bringing poetry to the larger community. In recent years I have read at area community colleges, at libraries introducing poetry to small children, at high schools, at local poetry venues and at benefits: Poverello House (providing services to the poor) in Fresno in 1997 and People for Healthy Forests in Sonora in 1997. Performed at the Whole Earth Festival in Davis (1996 and 1997), the Health and Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa in 1996, the High Sierra Festival in Bear Valley in 1996 and the Sierra Nevada Musical Festival in Nevada City in 1996. I also performed at the first Lord Buckley Festival of Poetry and Music (1997) at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City and at the 1998 Lord Buckley Festival in Sonora and at the 1998 Lord Buckley Festival in Grass Valley, and at the 1st Annual (1999) Sacramento International Poetry Festival at California State University, Sacramento. I was the 1997 Valley Series Slam Champion (Davis, California), and runner-up at the grand championship of the Monster Poetry Slam in Grass Valley in 1998. I have read my poetry on public radio stations and on a rock music station in Sonora during a live broadcast from the High Sierra Music Festival in 1996. I have read twice on KVMR in Nevada City, during the live broadcast of the Lord Buckley Festival in 1997, and as a part of a special program on poetry slams with Ross Kelly in 1998. I read during the KDVS (Davis) Poetry Festival in 1998. I have also read on the public radio station in Eureka and on KUSF in San Francisco. I have been included in five video productions prepared for presentation on public television stations or cable access stations in Davis, Sacramento, Fresno and Los Angeles. Although I have been published in the National Anthology of College Poets (1963) and "The Rolling Stone" (1985) and numerous literary journals, most recently "Sex In Public" (the last five issues) and "Say Yes" (summer 1999 issue), I consider myself primarily a performance artist-reviving, as are many others, the oral tradition, bringing poetry back to its roots as spoken word. To Contact Ted Please e-mail Him At EDWFINN@aol.com |
John Fremont |
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John has 25 years writing, publishing, teaching and editing experience. He received his M.A. in American Literature from the City University of New York and has lectured in English language and literature at Brooklyn College, College of San Mateo, University of Malaya and College of the Redwoods. He has worked for the Scott Meredith Literary Agency and American Book Company, been published by Esquire Magazine and Ace Books, and edited or ghostwritten dozens of books. He has published a magazine for letter writers, edited a newsletter for self-publishers, and currently writes a column for a Mendocino County newspaper, The Outlook. He co-founded the Mendocino Festival of Books and conducted workshops in self-publishing for MSPA, Writers Connection, Festival of Books and the San Francisco Bay Area Book Festival. He is senior editor with Cypress House and Q.E.D. Press in Fort Bragg. |
Carol Frith |
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Carol Frith is co-editor of the poetry journal, Ekphrasis. Her poetry has appeared in Blue Unicorn, The Formalist, Poetry New York, Perihelion, Karamu, Baltimore Review, Slant, Cold Mountain Review, Owen Wister Review, Fox Cry, Iris, Sheila-na-gig, Sonoma Mandala, Comstock Review, Architrave, Plainsongs, Potpourri, River Oak Review, Kimera, Maryland Poetry Review, Sierra Nevada College Review, California Quarterly, Brownstone Review, Sulphur River Literary Review, Half Tones to Jubilee, Interim, The Lyric, Phoebe (NY), and others. She has work scheduled to appear in Negative Capability, Cumberland Poetry Review, Spillway, Chariton Review, The Macguffin, & Faultline. A finalist in the Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award sponsored by The Formalist in 1997, 1998 & 1999, Carol was awarded first place in the Blue Unicorn Open Competition, 1997, and third place in 1999. She was awarded third place in the 1999 Eve of St. Agnes Competition, Negative Capability, received an Honorable Mention in the 1999 Rainier Maria Rilke Competition, and was a semi-finalist in the 1999 Atlanta Review International Poetry Competition and in the 1999 Comstock Review Contest. She received an Honorable Mention in the 1999 New Millennium Contest, was a recipient of the Poets Hall of Fame Award for the 1999 Sacramento International Poetry Festival and was awarded second place in the Friends of the Library Contest, 2000. |
Laverne Frith |
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A graduate of San Francisco State University (where he also did his
postgraduate work); Laverne co-edits the poetry journal Ekphrasis. He
is
regular monthly poetry columnist in a regional magazine and co-author
of
Practical Poetry-A Guide for Poets. His chapbook, In a Fast Food Place, was released from Talent House Press in December 1999. He was also a recipient of the Poets Hall of Fame Award for the 1999 Sacramento International Poetry Festival. In 2000, he won the Nostalgia Poetry Award and was a finalist in the Atlanta Review 2000 International Poetry Competition. Laverne's poetry has been accepted or appeared in many publications, including Poetry New York, The Christian Science Monitor, The Montserrat Review, California Quarterly, The Dalhousie Review, Perihelion, Potpourri, Architrave, Maryland Poetry Review, Poetpourri, Sonoma Mandala, Lucid Stone, Phase & Cycle, River King Poetry Supplement, Small Pond, Iota, Green's Magazine, Daybreak, New Laurel Review, Kimera and The Acorn. |
Maggie Frost |
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I really started writing as a young adult in the mid 1970s. At first
most
of my expression was journalistic - kind of a periodic flow of
reflections
about life experiences. Always I have been a voracious reader and by the early 1980s the periodic journalistic writing was becoming deeply influenced by the increasing amounts of poetry I was reading (classics, modern, free verse...) as well as the various musicians and songwriters I was listening to (Bob Dylan, Herbie Mann, Janis Ian, Santana, Don Ellis, Gerry Mulligan, Janis Joplin...) As a student at CSU Sacramento during the mid 1980s I studied for a philosophy minor and I found myself reading works by Alan Watts, Tielhard de Chardin; and, on Buddhism, the Tao de Ching as well as philosophies about art and about religion which also "fed the fire of desire" to write. The discovery of riches with each new found poet and writer has fed my heart and soul in a forward movement till one day I simply picked up my pencil and started expressing words of my own patterns, design and rhythm onto the blank paper before me. For me - writing is the magic of seemingly infinite possibilities for putting words together to tell a tale and/or to make a point, andt is, of itself, poetry in motion. ... Perhaps poetry is an impulse of hope for evolution of the human spirit as it expresses the human condition. |
Phil Goldvarg |
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Phil Goldvarg is a poet and artist in Sacramento, CA. He's a member of the Zapatista Solidarity Coalition, Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol and Z-rail poets. He's been published in Ventanan Abierta-Revista Latina, Drum Voices Review, Voz de Zapatistas, Rice & Beans etc. He has been featured in many poetry readings, read poetry in the schools and worked with students and teachers in a search for the magic of poetry. |
Traci L. Gourdine |
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Traci L. Gourdine chairs the California State Summer School for the
Arts
(CSSSA) Creative Writing Department, with which she has been associated
since 1991. Her poetry has appeared in many literary magazines. Recently, her story Graceful Exits, was published in the new Norton anthology entitled, Sudden Fiction Continued. She currently teaches at American River College and has lectured and taught at many California colleges and universities. For 8 years she taught creative writing within the California Arts in Corrections program. And is also a recipient of the Poets Hall of Fame Award for the Sacramento International Poetry Festival 2000. |
Joel Grier |
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Author and Poet Joel Grier was born in Charlotte, NC. He has quickly became one of Sacramento's most respected poets and has been a featured reader at some of Sacramento's premiere poetry venues; including The Sacramento Poetry Center, The Michael Himovitz Gallery, Poetry Works Jazz & Poetry Series and Luna’s Cafe. He is the author of the book “The Displaced Child” and has appeared on "The Radio Poets Society" broadcast out of Nevada City, the Sacramento TV show "To Be Free and has also featured in the poetic play, "The Epitome of Black on Black Anger." |
Clarence Griffin |
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Clarence Griffin,
was born and raised in Sacramento. He attended Pitzer College in Claremont California, graduated and then moved to Zimbabwe where he worked, lived, and wrote for the past three years. He has been published in "Drumming Between Us." His poems center on the theme of truth: its telling, revealing, and living, through love and unavoidable suffering. |
Jim Harvey |
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Jim Harvey
has spent most of his life making a living with words. For the past
thirty years Jim has traveled in more than thirty countries on five
continents, inspiring, challenging, and entertaining people with his
own
unique brand of teaching and story telling. Highlights. . . past winner of Modesto Poet's Corner Contest, Warner Press Writer's Award. . . on the staff of Dynamic Communicators International. . . appears each year at their Colorado Conference. . . co-author of The Best of Blue Moon Press, which is available at Barnes and Noble. . . assistant editor of the poetry zine, Blue Moon Quarterly . . . recently featured in The Emerald Coast Literary Review. . .featured reader in numerous Northern CA venues. One of Jim's favorite sayings is, "All poetry is autobiographical, it's just not all the truth." He writes to enjoy his "truth." To Contact Jim Please e-mail Him At Jjbluflame@aol.com |
A.J.Heard |
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I'm a native Californian born in Los Angeles in the 50's. My mother's
family
is from Wichita, Kansas, my father's from Xenia, Ohio. I have lived
from one
end of California to the other and also Oregon and Minnesota. At
present I
live in Santa Cruz, California, but I've been here for twenty years and
it's
time for me to move on. My next move will be to Santa Fe, New Mexico
sometime
this year.
I live with my 12 cats, who on occasion edit my work and screen my
phone
calls. I've been writing (on paper) since I was fifteen, though I've
rewritten my life and the lives of everyone around me in my head,
always.
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Be Davison Herrera |
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A circumnavigator, hand spinner and welder, Be Davison Herrera is a member of Sacramento International Poets Hall of Fame. She has published 3 chat books; created 21 single editions, handmade books; lectured at University of California, Davis in the Department of Environmental Design from 1990 to 1995; has conducted over 100 artist's residencies in 5 states in the USA, Pakistan and El Salvador. Her poetry has been included in 13 anthologies published in Oregon and California and her sculpture has been exhibited in public venues, galleries and museum in 7 USA states as well as Canada, Mexico,China, Italy and El Salvador. A feature for Spoken word in over 20 venues, Be and her partner, Dr. Sax, perform under the stage name, Comet & Star. Since 1999 she has presented Urban Words at Border Books and Music, Sacramento and has serves Area Coordinator for California Poets in the Schools. |
James Lee Jobe |
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Born-1956, Married-Alexandra, Three Children--Leona, Avelino, William. Two previous collections: DARK LIKE MY FATHER 1995 Small Poetry Press & RED SKELTON'S GHOST 1998 Cold River Press Currently: SABINE COOKING, a cookbook of Texas recipes 1999 ONE(DOG)PRESS. His poems have also appeared in various forms in Big Dog Review, Blue Moon Press, Poetry Now, ONE(DOG)PRESS, Pearl, Sex In Public, Zam Bomba!, and other publications. James is currently working on a book about Rains County, Texas. He lives in Yolo County, California with his family, and works as a radio DJ in Sacramento, California. To Contact James Please e-mail Him At JLeejobe@aol.com |
Ken Jones |
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Ken Jones has been a published poet in both
academic and underground journals for twenty years.
He has an MA in English from UT-Austin and currently
teaches at the Art Institute of Houston |
Stephanie Jordan |
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Artisan & Poet. Born and raised in Los Angeles,
California, resident of Sacramento since 1996. First started writing poetry at the age of 12. Started publishing regularly in magazines, small publications and many anthologies, etc. around the age of 20 and occassionally still finds the need to "Put the Word Out There!" Also, put together forums for local Sacramento poets to share their art, including shows and newsletters. Currently designing jewelry "Diviacity!" and writing a novel. To Contact Stephanie Please e-mail Her At sjdiva@excite.com |
B. L. Kennedy |
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Born & raised in the Bronx, NY, B.L. Kennedy
was lured
to
California years ago by its once free college system.
In his poetry, like a shaman, he inhabits both worlds simultaneously. Carrying within him a continuing tradition of the New York/San Francisco cafe poetry scene, he has infused Sacramento with a much-needed live poetry mania via the many poetry series he's created. He convinced a mayor to declare an official Poetry Day, won numerous awards & grants, published repeatedly in book & magazine formats, all the while actively promoting the talents of others. And has most recently been a recipient of the Poets Hall of Fame Award for the Sacramento International Poetry Festival 2000. He is currently working on a biography of d.a. levy, as well as a collection of his trademark “picture poems.” |
Betsy Lee |
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Betsy is a life long Californian, born in the Modesto area. She has worked in various jobs. "But," she says, "my most significant role has been as mother to my children which isn't finished yet." Betsy also has spent time and energy on her art work. The moon for me has always been a symbol of who I am. The fact that the moon's light is a reflective light, holds a great deal of symbolism for me. I enjoy creating not only with words but also with my hands." "Most of my poetry is story driven," she says "though it does contain a lot of my philosophy of life." Betsy Lee of Lodi, CA is the President of Blue Moon Press. She is the co-author of The Best of Blue Moon Press, a perfect bound paperback poetry book released in 1998. Betsy continues to live in Northern California and is often involved in poetry readings in the Stockton, Lodi, Sacramento and the San Francisco bay area. |
Naomi Ruth Lowinsky |
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Naomi Ruth Lowinsky has published her poems widely, including in
Earth's
Daughter's, Paterson Literary Review, Shiela Na Gig, Crab Creek
Review, and
in the anthology Essential Love. Her poetry collection, "red clay is talking" came out from Scarlet Tanager Books last year. In her day job she is a Jungian analyst with a practice in Berkeley. |
Khiry Malik |
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Khiry Malik
was born and raised in Sacramento, Ca and has been writing poetry for
about 15 years. He has been featured at poetry venues and events throughout California, including, but not limited to: The Blue Room, Mood Swings, Mass.Com, Utopia, (Khiry also was the winner of the Utopia Poetry Slam in June 99) Poetry Works, The Cipher, and many more. Khiry also ran and hosted The Planet Earth Urban Poetry Cafe'. His works and accomplishments have been featured in newspapers such as, but not limited to: The Sacramento Bee, The Sacramento Observer, The Sacramento News and Review, Alive and Kicking, and Poetry Now. Khiry, along with fellow poet Ifa Modupe, have started their own publishing company, "The Nickel and Dime Press" which has released approx 7 chap books from themselves and other local poets, as well as cd's of live poetry performances. When not on the poetry scene, you can find Khiry hard at work in the community working with young people. One of Khiry's most popularized quotes is "Poetry is like the Bible of life, Spoken Word is the Gospel, some are in it for the fame, some are in it for the money, some are in it for spiritual enlightenment......what's your purpose?" Khiry Malik's Home Page |
Tim McKee |
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Tim McKee is a Sacramento poet and author of "No More
Strangers Now: Young Voices from a New South Africa,"
which was chosen as an Honor Book for the 1999 Jane
Addams Book Award. He went to Princeton and has a masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, has worked as a high school teacher in South Africa, a journalist and also a grant writer. In addition he has just finished recording his first full-length spoken word CD, "Letter from an Alien", with Sacramento musician Rusty Miller. |
Joshua McKinney |
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Joshua McKinney is the author of two poetry chapbooks: Permutations of the
Gallery (winner of the 1996 Pavement Saw Chapbook Contest) and Saunter (Primitive
Publications, 1998). His work has appeared widely in magazines such as American Letters & Commentary, Boulevard, Colorado Review, Denver Quarterly, International Quarterly, Poetry International, and many others. He was born on an Iowa farm and grew up in the mountains and high desert of northern California where he worked seasonally as a fire fighter for the United States Forest Service. He has also lived in Japan where he earned a black belt in kendo and taught English as a Second Language. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Denver. Currently, he teaches at California State University - Sacramento. |
Joe Montoya |
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Joe is a San Diego born writer married to Jane, and has three children,
Joey-22, Steven-19, and Angie-16. He has written poetry for 25 years and is the founder of the highly successful series, Poetry Unplugged, held Thursday nights at Luna’s Café, in Sacramento. In the past four years, the series has received ‘THE BEST OF SACRAMENTO’ award presented by the Sacramento News and Review. Joe collaborates with the Sacramento band, “TATTOOED LOVE DOGS”, co-founded by his brother, Vincent. Song, “Who Knows” appears on “GNASHVILLE”and three songs, “Sometime never comes”, “Trap”and “Tomorrow”, are on the groups’ second CD, “OKLAHOMADEJANEIRO”. He has featured on Sacramento’s FM station FM 100.1, Fresno’s KFCF “Poetry to take you home by” and Frank Andrick’s KUSF show from San Francisco. He has been the featured poet in series around northern California including performances at CSUS, Sacramento City College, Solano Junior College, Sierra JC and Bella Vista High School. Additionally, he has featured for The Sacramento Poetry Center, Poetry Works Jazz & Poetry Series, Tower Books, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Sierra Nevada Music Festival, Poets Playhouse in Nevada City, and the Heritage Festival in Davis. Joe also was featured at the first annual Floricanto Writers Conference, in San Jose, alongside premier Chicano writers and educators, Juan Felipe Herrera, Margarita Luna Robles and Alurista. He is also a recipient of the Poets Hall of Fame Award for the Sacramento International Poetry Festival 2000. The “Joe Montoya Band” is his most recent project that uniquely combines spoken word and music. He is the oldest son of internationally acclaimed poet, teacher and artist, Jose Montoya, and brother of Hollywood and stage talent, Richard Montoya, founding member of the hit comedy trio, “CULTURE CLASH”. |
Jose' Montoya |
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Jose Montoya is one of the Chicano movement's most respected artists
and educators. Born in New Mexico and growing up in Central California, he witnessed the struggles of migrant farm workers firsthand. He inevitably joined in the labor organizing efforts with César Chávez and the United Farm Workers movement. The UFW strife was the beginning of Montoya's steadfast commitment to the artist as provocateur and his unwavering dedication to artistic activism. In 1970, Montoya co-founded a cultural collective known as The Royal Chicano Air Force, who use art as a tool to teach Chicano history to young people. Best known for his highly acclaimed poem, "El Louie," Montoya influenced several generations of poets by incorporating Spanish, English and barrio slang in his poetry. Montoya is the author of three collections of poetry, including the highly acclaimed In Formation: 20 Years of Joda, and is featured in more than 40 anthologies and a recipient of the Poets Hall of Fame Award for the 1999 Sacramento International Poetry Festival. He is currently working on a new book of poetry and short stories. Montoya is also a well-established musician and artist. A mural by Montoya and the RCAF can be seen in San Diego's Chicano Park. |
Terry Moore |
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Born 11-22-66 In Sacramento California Writes verses for both Magic Image Greeting Cards and Life Expressions Greeting Cards (currently) Has twice opened for top selling author Iyanla Vanzant Has written 10 books including top sellers The Art Of Poetry, and A Poet And His Heart....... Previously the resident poet for 104.3 The Breeze Radio Station, he shared poems with the listening audience nightly.....(Spring 1998) Has been writing poetry for many years and opened Poetry From the Heart on May 1st, 1996 Is on the Board of Directors for Poetry Works Performing Arts Association And is also current host of the Tower Poetry Series. Is a devoted Christian and the proud son of Mary and Albert Moore. Has been featured in Sacramento Newspapers, and also at various clubs and events throughout Sacramento and the Bay area. His poetry can be found in the homes and businesses of poetry collectors worldwide. Terry Moore's Home Page |
Nicole Rhoe |
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Nicole Rhoe a long time resident of Elk Grove, CA.
was born in the Caribbean on the island of
Trinidad. She came to America at the age of 4 and
remembers writing as early as 7 years old. She speaks and performs as a spoken word artist for groups and special events. Nicole is an accomplished public speaker who currently publishes a line of bookmarks, through Marlys Art Enterprises and a spoken word CD, entitled "Starting With Me". Her completed projects have included writing for a greeting card company and appearing in a short film for the 2000 Sacramento Film Festival. Her upcoming projects include voiceover work and two books on sisterhood and the family tree. To Contact Nicole Please e-mail Her At inspired1z@yahoo.com |
Lori Jean Robinson |
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PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND Over twenty-five years of experience in the field of developmental disability services. Also, extensive background and over twenty years experience in theatre, dance, and creative writing. EDUCATION Masters in NonProfit Administration Coursework University of San Francisco, S.F. 1996 Computer Literacy Program "Computers and You," SanFrancisco,1992 Residential Service Specialist San Francisco Community College, 1988 Bachelor of Arts, Recreation Therapeutics San Francisco State University, 1981 Experimental Education in Special Education University of California, Los Angeles, 1976 Associate of Arts, Dance Major El Camino Community College, Torrance,1975 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Statewide Rally Coalition Member 1998, 1999, Elder Care Coalition, 1995 to 1999, Service Provider Education Committee, 1996 to 1999, California Developmental Disability Coalition, Co-Chair, 1998, 1999, Bay Area Developmental Disability Coalition 1997 to present, Ace & Robinson, Comedy Team, 1993 to 1996, Co-author, "Watch Out, We Are Talking" April 1994, Who's Who of American Women, 1989, 1990, and 1994, Featured in California Jazz Now, May 1992 and February, 1993, Dancer in Maya Angelou's documentary, "Rainbow in the Clouds" 1991, Past Vice President of the Developmental Disabilities Council of San Francisco, 1989-1992, Past Editor of DD Quarterly Highlights, 1989- 1990, Published in the American Poetry Anthology, 1988, Dancer and Choreographer with the Glide Modern Dance Troupe, 1978 to 1992. |
Dennis Schmitz |
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Dennis' reputation as an outstanding poet is International. Over his distinguished career, he has seen
hundreds of his poems published in magazines and anthologies. His list of awards and recognitions
include the di Castignola Award, the Shelley Memorial Award and the Pushcart Prize. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1978-79 and has been been a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow three times. He has had six volumes of poetry published, including his most recent collection, About Night: Selected and New Poems. Dennis has taught English at California State University, Sacramento for over thirty years. He was awarded the Mayor and Chair's Literary Fellowship in 1996. Also, in February 2000, Dennis was appointed by the Sacramento City Council and Board of Supervisors as one of two Poets Laureate for Sacramento County. |
John Sokol |
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John Sokol is a writer and painter living in Pittsburgh, PA. His poems
have appeared in America, Antigonish Review, The Berkeley Poetry Review,
Georgetown Review, New Millennium Writings, The New York Quarterly, and
Quarterly West, among others. His short stories have Appeared in
Akros, Descant, Mindscapes, The Pittsburgh Quarterly, Redbook, and other
journals. One of his stories has been translated into Danish, and, another, into
Russian. His drawings and paintings have been reproduced on more that
thirty-five book covers. |
Straight Out ScribesV.S. Chochezi & Staajabu |
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V.S. Chochezi and Staajabu are a mother and daughter team of authors who together are known as "Straight Out Scribes." They are widely published and have performed their work at numerous places and events in the Sacramento area. "African Reflections" is the fifth book Chochezi and Staajabu have released since they first began writing and self-publishing together ten years ago. Their previous works have included "This Queendom Come," "Taking Names and Pointing Fingers," "Bamm!" and "Crucial Comments and Vicious Versus." The duo also has released a spoken word compact disc entitled "MindQuake" on Mind Seed Records. They have also been featured on a compilation compact disc by Blu Magazine, among the likes of rap queens Bahmadia, Medusa and poet Sonia Sanchez. Staajabu, mother/grandmother, was born in Philadelphia, PA, raised in Camden, NJ and is presently a Sacramento, CA resident. In addition to being Sister-In-Charge of Straight Out Scribes, she is a writer, poet, journalist, graphic artist, and administrative assistant. Daughter V.S. Chochezi was born in Riverside, CA and raised in Camden, NJ. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Delaware State College, and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento. A writer, poet, photo journalist and graphic designer, she makes her home in Sacramento and has two daughters, Tisho and Jessicah. To Contact Straight Out Scribes Please e-mail Them At straightout1@hotmail.com |
Judith Tannenbaum |
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Judith Tannenbaum serves as Training Coordinator for the
Writers Corps program in San Francisco. For over 25 years she has
taught
poetry to prisoners, public school youth at all grade levels,
continuation high school students, and gifted teenagers in a summer
program at UC Berkeley. She has written extensively on issues of community art and cultural democracy and is the author of Teeth, Wiggly as Earthquakes: Writing Poetry in the Primary Grades, one book, four chapbooks, and a portfolio of her poems. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. |
Viola Weinberg |
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Viola Weinberg was born in Ashland, Oregon, and has lived
for many years in
Northern California. She is author of three books of poetry, the most recent being The Sum Complexities of the Humble Field on Pennywhistle Press, Santa Fe. Her poetry has appeared extensively in journals, newspapers, magazines, and anthologies, including Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend and Ladies, Start Your Engines (both Faber & Faber, Boston & London.) As a radio journalist, Weinberg worked for the legendary KZAP FM in Sacramento, KTIM FM in San Rafael, KCBS AM, and KALW FM and KQED FM in San Francisco. She was the founding Director of the International Fund for Photography, which hosts the Leica Award for Excellence. For several years, she worked with KVIE TV as a coordinating producer and researcher. In 1978, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the California Commission on the Status of Women. In 1996, Viola Weinberg was awarded the Mayors Award, the highest recognition given artists in our region. Last year, she was runner up for the Thomas Wolfe Award for Fiction. This year, she has been named as one of two Poets Laureate of Sacramento city and county. |
Angelo Williams |
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Angelo Williams, writer, poet, musician
and community activist. A native of Los Angeles, Mr. Williams is an honors graduate of Crenshaw High School as well as the University of California at Davis where he earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology (Law and Society) and African and African American Studies. He is a well read and traveled scholar with attendance at the University of Ghana in West Africa, the University of Michigan and in Port au Prince, Haiti as a visiting student scholar. He has won research and work scholarships including two terms as a University of California Minorities in Undergraduate Research in Letters and Science Scholar, a National Undergraduate Research Scholar (Kalamazoo, Michigan) KCRA's (Ch. 3) Minority Media Scholarship and The Sacramento Bee's Journalism and Media Scholarship. In addition he has also worked as a top 40 radio public affairs talk show host (1035FM Sacramento), for SmithLine Public Relations, and as a reporter, staff writer and intern for The Source Magazine, The Sacramento Observer, The Los Angeles Sentinel, The Sacramento News and Review, the University of California Newspapers, and also worked as a foreign correspondent for Le Journal Libete (Haiti) and Horizon Magazine (West Africa). |
Andrena Zawinski |
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Andrena Zawinski, author of Traveling in Reflected Light, a Kenneth
Patchen Prize for Poetry from Pig Iron Press, has had poems appear in
Nimrod International, Gulf Coast, Santa Clara Review, Quarterly West,
Paterson Literary Review, and elsewhere. She has won awards for poetry
of social concern, free verse, researched based non-fiction. Zawinski,
Pittsburgh born and raised, is currently working free-lance in the San
Francisco Bay Area and is Feature Editor at Poetry Magazine.Com
She is delighted to be alive and well in this wonderful new place
called California!
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Josh Zimmerman |
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My name is Josh Zimmerman. I'm 15 years old and I live in the most suburban suburb on the face of the
planet. I really can't stand it. I guess I'm just the same as everybody else on the outside, but I don't feel
the same on the inside. I often laugh at other peoples' not-so-funny jokes just to fit in... but hey, don't we
all? I've been writing in some form or another for just about all my life and it's a real release for me. The
things I can't say or express openly, I write down. Sure, I let some of my friends read my stuff, but I don't
think that most of them can really appreciate it. I entered some national poetry contest a while back and did
get published in an anthology called "Into The Sun" but that's hardly worth mentioning because everyone
who entered the contest got published I think. I think there was a poem by some 10 year old girl talking
about ice cream, and not that I'm putting down her efforts, it just wasn't what I thought it would be. So,
because my friends don't appreciate the emotion I put into my writing, I'm forced to look elsewhere for
recognition... hence, I submit my poetry to you: the public. Comments and critique are welcome. Thanks!
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