The 9th Annual Berkeley Poetry Festival will take place this Saturday, May 21st, 2011, from 1-4:30 p.m. at Berkeley City College. The event will be hosted by Marc Kockinos and will honor Adam David Miller of Berkeley for his contributions to the Bay Area poetry community and for his lifetime achievement as a writer.
Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who co-founded the festival with Louis Cuneo, will present the 5th Lifetime Achievement Award for Poetry to Miller. Past award winners have been Joyce Jenkins, Maggie Meyer, Julia Vinograd and Jack Foley.
“To be regarded thus by my peers who have been in the best position to observe my life and work gives me humility and satisfaction since their judgment is the highest show of appreciation,” said Miller regarding his nomination. Miller is the author of several books of poetry and a bestselling memoir, Ticket To Exile, published by Heyday Books. He is working on a sequel to Ticket to Exile, entitled Fall Rising.
Louis Cuneo--writer, publisher, photographer and poetry impresario--co-founder and director of the Berkeley Poetry Festival, has created an event that “supports and encourages poetry in the community.” This year he partnered with Miliva Street Poets & Artists, a group sponsored by Berkeley City College and coordinated by poetry instructor Sharon Coleman. The festival, formerly held on Telegraph Avenue, is moving indoors to the City College venue in downtown Berkeley. This year it will be hosted by Marc Kockinos. The day’s events will commence with an invocation by Wes “Scoop” Nisker.
On the roster of featured readers, well-known names mingle with poets frequently heard at local readings. They include Steve Arntson, Pamela Brenman, Sharon Coleman, Jannie Dresser, Jack and Adelle Foley, Shaun Freeland, Jack Hirschman, Dave Holt, Linda King, Dale Jensen, Marc Kockinos, Richard Loranger, Claudia Castro Luna, Jeanne Lupton, Tomas Moniz, Inna Nopuente, Sammuel M. Ribitch, Mel C. Thompson, Julia Vinograd and Judy Wells. A few slots for open-mic readers will be given out at 12:30 on a first-come/first-served basis.
In addition to the marathon of readings, there will be displays of poetry publications, a poets' exchange table, and an art show featuring contributors to the Milvia Street Arts & Literary Journal.
Berkeley City College is located at 2050 Center Street (a block west of the Central Berkeley BART Station). The Berkeley Poetry Festival is sponsored by Mother’s Hen, City of Berkeley, Minuteman Press and Lean Frog Graphics. For more information, contact lcuneo@mindspring.com or visit the Mother’s Hen website: www.mothershen.com.
Readers are scheduled as follows:
1:03-1:13 Mel C. Thompson
1:14-1:19 Linda King
1:30-1:25 Dave Holt
1:26-1:32 Jeanne Lupton
1:35-1:53 Open Mic Poets
2:23-2:29 Jannie M. Dresser
2:32-2:39 Judy Wells
2:40-2:46 Richard Loranger
2:47-2:54 Steve Arntson
2:58-3:05 Sharon Coleman
3:06-3:13 Sammuel M. Ribitch
3:14-3:19 Dale Jensen
3:20-3:35 Jack Hirschman
3:36-3:51 Jack and Adelle Foley
3:52-3:59 Julia Vinograd
4:00-4:25 Honoring of Adam David Miller
4:30 Louis Cuneo closes the Berkeley Poetry Festival
Woman in wheel chair
With toy dog on leash--
Both moving forward . . .
- Louis Cuneo
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