 | Every other year since 1995 poems on posters have sprung up in the storefront windows of little shops lining the Northern end of Figueroa where it runs through Highland Park one poem apiece for Bird Man Pet Shop, Mr. Moe Barber, Owl Drug Store, Launderland and Mr. Ts Bowl. Its usually during the month of May the month after National Poetry Month, just to be different that customers of Happy Day Clothing or El Pavo Bakery can pause for a moment before a winning entry from the Arroyo Arts Collectives Poetry in the Windows contest. The answer is: not many. Not many people knew. A city as big as Los Angeles has ways of keeping its secrets; it tucks them into its far corners, like Highland Park, Northeast L.A. But many of those who come and go in this Spanish, English, Korean, Vietnamese, Farsi speaking neighborhood knew. And of course the poets of Los Angeles knew. This selection from five years of first place and honorable mentions includes many of the citys best-known poets and some of national reputation along with the recently emerged. What we have here is a good, lively little sampler of whats going on in on this part of the Los Angeles literary world one that can serve, also, to help prepare new poetry readers for what to expect from contemporary American poetry in general. Of course the nature of this contest required some parameters. Usually, the judges three for each year took care to select poems that were reasonably short, clear, and versatile enough to stand in either Dr. Vasquez Dentist or West Coast Fragrance as pleasing but not jarring surprises. And those other shoppers and passersby who, in alternate years, pause for a time before the windows of Highland Park, come away more than fresh baked loaves or new pairs of shoes- they receive an exposure to contemporary poetry that puts them above the curve. This according to the National Arts Endowments recent survey on reading habits in America indicating most citizens dont read any poetry in an average year. But let them call again, now too you, Reader, who is in possession of this book. You could make a surprising answer to the NEAs inquiry, as opposed to the boring, ordinary one, the standard, No, no poetry. And should someone should present you with the question Who knew? you can say Well, I did. |
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Davis Davis |
Vibiana Chamberlin |
Kristin Cnuder |
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Diana Lyn |
Josef Oliver SOCIALIZINGThese tow facets of socializing are demonstrated by this installation of checkers in a bare, lit open cell. So, COME ON IN, and GET THE FEEL of the cell, while playing a game of checkers, that you may play again, with a prisoner, after release |
Jordana Rene http://www.judaicart.com |
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Jean PenitaraIn 1993, with the cooperation of the Downey Museum of Art and Gannett Outdoor Company of Southern California, my billboard titled "Integrity/Future" was posted in three cities; Downey, Paramount and Bell |
Oscar Martinez |
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So urgently felt
a kiss that had to be shared
or both would parish
in stolen moments
we stretch the limits of time
still it''s not enough
like a bitter wind
i feel our separation
your kiss is springtime
your love satisfies
all longings quiets all fears
replenishes hope
i stop a moment
to think of my you
a whole day goes by
wild roses bleeding
on paper i make for him
cofessing my love
how lonely it is
and impossible to smile
when you''re not here
waking in moomlight
empty pillow . thoughts of you
quiet is the night
(Diana Lyn)
http://Arroyoartscollective.org/
AAC
Felix Dennis is one of Britain''s best known entrepreneurs. He was born in 1947.After leaving Harrow College of Art, Dennis wasted a great deal of his youth playing in R&B bands. In 1971 he was imprisoned by the British government as a co-editor of OZ magazine at the culmination of the longest conspiracy trial in English history. Dennis recorded a single with John Lennon to raise money for a legal defence fund. He played drums for Eric Clapton too.