Published by The Critograph on April 12, 2017
Katherine Graves, Copy Desk Chief-
Senior Eva Pappas reads her published work at the 2016 “Prism” Reading. Photo by Professor Laura Marello. April 2016.
Three Lynchburg College students will join students from Sweet Briar College and Randolph College to read their writing at the Collective Poetry and Prose Reading by College Student Writers on Friday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at Riverviews Artspace.
Junior Azaria Brown, senior Eva Pappas and senior Angelica Santiago Gonzalez will read their writing for a total of 20 minutes, the time allotted for each college to read their writing at the event.
The event is part of Beat Burg, Riverviews Artspace’s celebration of national poetry month in April. The reading is free to the public.
“I think that any event that encourages us to express ourselves artfully and to communicate powerful experience is valuable. I hope that people come and are moved by what they hear. I hope they come and listen to this group of voices who in some way will be representing not only themselves but also representing their generation and the multiplicity and diversity of voices there,” stated Carrie Brown, Sweet Briar’s Margaret Banister Writer-in-Residence and the organizer of the event.
Santiago Gonzalez said that she will be reading poems she wrote about her grandmother. The poems came from her creative writing portfolio for her English thesis.
“The idea of a story is what’s beautiful about writing and then being able to tell it in your own way,” said Santiago Gonzalez, who is co-editor-in-chief of the “Prism” with Pappas.
She stated that her passion is getting lost in her writing and finding out who her characters are, as she writes.
Santiago Gonzalez believes that writers put a part of themselves into their writing. She stated that she is excited to hear the other student writers.
LC English Professor Laura Marello stated that the LC students who are reading have experience reading in class and at “Prism” readings.
Reading poetry in front of an audience is a skill that takes time to develop, stated Carrie Brown.
This is an opportunity for student writers to hear writing from students at other schools, which wouldn’t be possible without reading another college’s creative writing magazine, said Marello.
“I think it’s kind of an eye-opening and wonderful experience for them to read with other writers who come to their work fresh. So they know that they are being heard by fresh ears and that they, in turn, are supplying fresh ears to their peers,” stated Carrie Brown.
Marello stated that she hopes the audience of the event see that the creative writing students are serious writers.
Carrie Brown said she hopes older audience members enjoy seeing college students’ viewpoints, interests and creative expressions.
Marello and Carrie Brown both expressed that the opportunity for the students to read their writing in the professional venue of Riverviews Artspace will benefit the students.
“[Riverviews Artspace] is a beautiful space. It dignifies the activity because it’s an art gallery, so it emphasizes creative writing as being part of the arts,” Marello stated.
Carrie Brown hopes to make the event annual or even hold the event twice a year. She is interested in possibly including other colleges in later events.
Carrie Brown stated that she would love to see students and creative writing students come together more often.
The other upcoming Beat Burg events are The Listening on Saturday, April 15 at 8 p.m., the Poetry Slam! A Poetry Night for Kids on Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m., the Poetry/Dance Film Collection presented by Erin Vasta on Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m. and the Human Library on Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m.
Riverviews Artspace is located at 901 Jefferson Street in downtown Lynchburg. Their regular hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; they are closed Monday and Tuesday.
The 2017 “Prism” Reading is Thursday, May 4 at 4 p.m. in the Daura Gallery.
Advertisements Share this:
