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It’s hard not to see art around MICA’s campus— without even going inside, you can see it through windows, on medians and telephone poles, in trees—but beneath this vivid layer of images runs a quiet, more secretive vein of scattered creative writers that often goes uncelebrated. Luckily, though, the Black Box theater in MICA’s Gateway building opened up to students and the public last Wednesday to showcase a “rapid-fire reading” from 15 poets and fiction writers.
Writers ranged from students to more experienced faculty. Poet Jennifer Wallace provided bookend readings from an upcoming collection before handing over the stage to a wide sampling of work encompassing themes like nature, war, teenage camaraderie, relationships, uncertainty, alcoholism, insomnia, loss, family, and friends.
Two longer pieces served as contrasting centerpieces: Paul Jaskunas’ poetic beginning of a novel-in-progress about a disaffected Baltimore lawyer haunted by the memories of his lost son, and John Barry’s humorous non-fiction piece, “The Worry Stone,” about a family friend who couldn’t stop sending him gifts until his 40th birthday.
Poetry dominated the majority of the showcase, and standouts were difficult to pinpoint amongst such a flurry of themes and voices.
To give you an idea, here are the first four readings of the afternoon:
Jennifer Wallace Introduces MICA Reading
MICA Poetry & Fiction Reading: Jennifer Wallace
MICA Poetry & Fiction Reading:
MICA Poetry & Fiction Reading: Graham Wimbrow
MICA Poetry & Fiction Reading: Stephanie McKee
Look out for another reading sometime next year—we’ll keep you posted.
“Celebrating MICA’s Writers: Poetry and Stories by Student and Faculty”
11/18/09
Black Box Theater
1601 West Mount Royal Avenue
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