Three inventive talents will provide the Eastern Michigan
University community with a first-hand glimpse into their
creative writing and art worlds at this year's Bathhouse
Reading Series, sponsored by the English and art departments.
They will perform public readings of their work and interact
with students in the classroom.
"Bathhouse events are essential to involving our students
in a contemporary, dynamic literary culture that directly
reinforces our curriculum," said Christine Hume, associate
professor of English. "Creative writing requires a familiarity
with practices and contexts beyond the immediate educational
environment."
Hume is co-directing the reading series with Carla Harryman,
an assistant professor in the English department.
Every
year, the Bathhouse Series invites budding and seasoned
writers, artists, editors, collaborators, critics and
translators to campus. Hume and Harryman selected this
year's participants based on material they are teaching
in their 200- and 500-level courses.
"We look for writers who will inspire students, sharpen
their engagement with language and its potencies, and open
up the world of the artist and thinker," said Hume.
For many students, the Bathhouse series is their first
in-person encounter with professional writers. Hume said
students often come away from the events feeling inspired,
stimulated and pleasantly surprised at how much they learned.
"In a world that doesn't often or immediately reward its
artists, it's important and thrilling for students to envision
their future as writers by having the opportunity to converse
with professional writers," said Hume.
The 2009 Bathhouse Reading Series schedule is as follows:
 |
Kapil |
Bhanu Kapil, who writes at the intersection
of poetry, prose, non-fiction and her own unique style,
will conduct a reading Tuesday, Nov. 3, 5 p.m., in Sponberg
Theater.
Kapil is the author of "The Vertical Interrogation of
Strangers" (Kelsey Street Press, 2001), "Incubation: a
space for monsters" (Leon Works, 2006), and "Humanimal,
a project for future children" (Kelsey Street Press, 2009).
Nationally, she has given readings of her work and presented
lectures/panel talks on monsters, cyborgs, architecture
and hybridity. Born in the UK to Indian parents, Bhanu
lives in Colorado, where she teaches in The Jack Kerouac
School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. She
also maintains a blog, "Was Jack Kerouac a Punjabi?
A day in the life of a Naropa University Writing Professor."
To read a sample of Kapil's writing, go to http://www.durationpress.com/leroy.cyborg.htm
 |
Toscano |
Rodrigo Toscano, the artistic director
and writer for the Collapsible Poetics Theater, will present
some of his works Monday, Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m., at the Dreamland
Theater, 26 N. Washington, Ypsilanti. His group typically
performs at a variety of venues in the New York area and
beyond.
Toscano's latest book is "Collapsible Poetics Theater" (Fence
Books; a National Poetry Series 2007 selection). He also
is the author of "To Leveling Swerve" (Kruspkaya Book), "Platform" (Atelos), "The
Disparities" (Green Integer) and "Partisans" (O Books).
His poetry has appeared in "Best American Poetry 2004,
War and Peace" (2004 & 2007), "Criminal's Cabinet:
An anthology of poetry and fiction" (2004), and "McSweeny's
Poets Picking Poets."
Toscano was a 2005 recipient of a New York State Fellowship
in Poetry. His poetics plays, body-movement
poems and pieces for multiple readers have been performed
at the Disney Redcat Theater in Los Angeles, Ontological-Hysteric
Poet's Theater Festival, Poet's Theater Jamboree 2007,
and the Yockadot Poetics Theater Festival. His radio pieces
have appeared on WPIX FM (New York), KAOS Public Radio
Olympia, WNYU, and PS.1 Radio. His work has been translated
into French, German, Italian and Catalonian. Toscano is
originally from Southern California. He works in Manhattan
at the Labor Institute and lives in Brooklyn. Samples of
Toscano's work are available at http://epc.buffalo.edu/authors/toscano
 |
Morrison |
In an event co-sponsored by EMU's Art Department, writer
and visual artist Yedda Morrison will present an artist
talk-and-read from her poetry collections Tuesday,
Dec. 1, 12:30 p.m., in Room 310A of the Student Center.
Morrison was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay
area. Her books include "Darkness, Chapter 1" (Little Red
Leaves, 2009), "Girl Scout Nation" (Displaced Press, 2008), "My
Pocket Park" (Dusie Press, 2007), "Co" (Collaborations
with Bruce Andrews, Roof Books, 2006) and "Crop" (Kelsey
Street Press, 2003). Morrison was a founding editor of "Tripwire:
a Journal of Experimental Poetics and Visual Art." She
has performed and exhibited her work in the United States
and Canada, and is represented by Republic Gallery in Vancouver,
BC. She currently lives in Montreal. Samples of Morrison's
writing and art are available at http://yeddamorrison.com/
For
more information on these readings, visit www.emich.edu/english/creative-writing/readingseries.php,
contact the English Department at 734-487-4220, or e-mail Christine Hume at chume@emich.edu.
