RAC Hosts Poetry in Motion Reading, Reception Tonight

Local poets will read at the Regional Arts Commission.

The winners of the 2013 Poetry in Motion Contest sponsored by Metro Arts in Transit, the Poetry Society of America, and the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) will be honored Thursday, Nov. 29. The Poetry in Motion Reading and Reception will be held at The Studio of the RAC located at 6128 Delmar Boulevard in University City. Doors open at 5 p.m. with acoustical guitar music by Haitian-American Mario Pascal and the program begins at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The 10 contest winners—who all live within a 50 mile radius of St. Louis—have been invited to read their poems. The winning poets are: Poets will be presented $50 for each winning poem. “Their 11 poems out of 115 submitted were selected by a panel of literary …

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Poet Matthea Harvey to Read Sept. 27 and Oct. 4

Author of Modern Life and Sad Little Breathing Machine.

In Modern Life, her third book of poems, Matthea Harvey offers a whirling, riffing, buoyantly ironic take on post-9/11 America. At the heart of the book is The Future of Terror, a series of freewheeling, associative poems that “pinball from one image to the other, racking up an inner light show, a childlike dreamscape, full of horses, wooden groves, rainbows and other earthy creatures” (National Book Critics Circle).  At 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, Harvey, the Visiting Hurst Professor of Creative Writing at Washington University in St. Louis, will read from her work for The Writing Program in Arts & Sciences. In addition, Harvey will lecture on the craft of poetry at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4. Both events — presented as part of The Writing …

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Howard Schwarz, Jeff Friedman to Read at U City Library

Event is Friday, March 30.

The University City Public Library and Subterranean Books will welcome award winning poets Howard Schwartz and Jeff Friedman at 7 p.m. Friday, March 30. The authors will read from their latest works in the Library auditorium. Poet, folklorist and retired UMSL Professor of English Howard Schwartz will be reading from his upcoming book of poems, The Library of Dreams. He is the author of many works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including, Breathing in the Dark, Vessels, and Sleepwalking Beneath the Stars. He has edited a wide array of books, including First Harvest: Jewish Writing in St. Louis: 1991-1996, and the award-winning Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism. Jeff Freidman, the 2003 Distinguished Poet-In-Residence in the M.F.A…

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Get Out

Get Out: Poetry Readings, Egg Hunts, Sculptures

Things to do March 30-April 1 in University City.

Each week University City Patch brings you a roundup of things to do in and around U City. Here are some ideas for the weekend of March 30 to April 1. Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

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Arts and Entertainment with Jeff Brandt

Nonprofit Challenges Writers and Community Leaders to "Do Thy Will"

The St. Louis Poetry Center hosted its annual fundraiser Sunday afternoon at Blueberry Hill.

Joe Edwards' Delmar Loop concert venue played host to a literary event from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The St. Louis Poetry Center held its annual fundraiser downstairs in Blueberry Hill's Duck Room. The Center adopted the sonnets of Shakespeare as its theme, inviting 14 writers, professors, actors and community leaders to read or recite a sonnet of their choosing. The punning fundraiser title of "Do Thy Will" encouraged speakers to provide their own artistic interpretations of William Shakespeare's 14-line classics. Funds raised by the event's admission price, as well as from silent auction items ranging from books to artworks, went toward sustaining the nonprofit organization. Champagne and hors d'oeuvres were included in the cost of admission…

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Daily PatchCast: Wentzville Aldermen Reject Proposed Zoning Changes, Hazelwood Central Athletes Sign With Colleges and More

A roundup of the region's major developments for Thursday

Here are the top stories from Patch sites in your area: Minimum Lot Size, Home Size Bills Voted Down Sign on the Dotted Line Whiz Kid: Olivia Krebs Places in Poetry Contest 10 Great Gifts for Valentine's Day Patch Picks: Utility Boxes

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Lyrical Therapy In Action

University City Patch took in a performance of Lyrical Therapy at the University City Library Tuesday night and spoke with its two co-founders.

While serving in Afghanistan,  20-year-old Christian Johnson, a Specialist in the Army National Guard, started Combat Poetry with his fellow soldiers to help ease the heavy emotional and physical burdens of battle.  After returning home, Johnson co-founded a similar program called Lyrical Therapy with Richard Washington, which meets once a month at the University City Public Library. Lyrical Therapy aims to help people release stress in their lives. 

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Loop Into the Loop

From Combat Poetry to Lyrical Therapy

U.S. soldier brings remedy to University City.

While serving in Afghanistan,  20-year-old Christian Johnson, a Specialist in the Army National Guard, started Combat Poetry with his fellow soldiers to help ease the heavy emotional and physical burdens of battle. In the middle of a war zone, a poetry fellowship was born. After returning home, Johnson co-founded a similar program called Lyrical Therapy, which meets once a month at the University City Public Library. Lyrical Therapy aims to help people release stress in their lives. So why meet up at the U City Public library?  Lyrical Therapy participant Qadir Rafat, a 19-year-old guitar player, said "where there is a building, there are people, and where there are people, there is talent." The group's motto is "Good Poetry and …

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