If you’re in midcoast Maine, we hope to see you later this week in beautiful downtown Belfast.
Bloof publisher and poet/printmaker/book artist SHANNA COMPTON has curated a mini exhibition for the festival called THE ART OF THE CHAPBOOK, which showcases the variety and inventiveness of her favorite format in terms of artistic purposes and aesthetic approaches. Bloof poet JJ ROWAN will also be performing.
Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.
FESTIVAL KICKOFF EVENT & RECEPTION
Waterfall Arts, 256 High Street, 2nd Floor + Dance Annex
Shanna Compton of Bloof Books will introduce The Art of the Chapbook exhibition, JJ Rowan will perform a new poetic movement piece, and the past and present poet laureates of Belfast—Maya Stein, Arielle Greenberg, Judy Kaber, Elizabeth Garber, Linda Buckmaster, Karin Spitfire, Thomas R. Moore, Ellen Sander, Jacob Fricke—will read poems, as well as Millay House writer-in-residence Melissa McKinstry. Reception to follow.
Friday—Sunday, October 18–20
THE ART OF THE CHAPBOOK
Waterfall Arts, 256 High Street, 2nd Floor + Dance Annex
This exhibition is arranged in two parts. The primary display is a large glass cabinet containing more than 40 small-press and poet-made chapbooks ranging in date from the 1960s to the present and showcasing the format’s impressive, expressive possibilities. A secondary Browsing Station at a nearby table offers visitors the opportunity to handle and read selections from Bloof and others. Open during Waterfall Arts hours from Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon.
OTHER EVENTS include group writing sessions, an open mic reading, a haiku death battle, a zine-making workshop, a crankie matinee, a poetry picnic, and MORE. Explore the full schedule at belfastpoetryfestival.com. All events are free! No registration or tickets required.