The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County is hosting an exciting series of poetry encounters with individual guest writers throughout 2011 and into 2012.
Eleven new voices, including youth poets, will highlight the series. Bruce Dethlefsen, Poet Laureate of Wisconsin is the fourth individual to be honored with that distinction. Norbert Blei is one of Door County’s best known writers, editors and publishers. “Obvious Dog” features the ‘Lip’py poems of Cathryn Cofell to the rocking music of Bruce Dethlefsen and Bill Orth. June Nirschl and Judy Roy recently published the poetry book Slightly Off Q.
They are members of the Wallace Poetry Group. Sarah and Al Stuart are talented in art, music and poetry and maintain a gallery in Fish Creek. Edward Dimaio has often read at the open mic in this series. As well as writing poetry, Henry Timm directs, writes and/or acts in many plays. Marybeth Mattson is a poet of lyrical touches and startling imagery. David Clowers is a prolific poet who acts in local productions and still finds time to be a lawyer. Francha Barnard, a retired librarian, was the winner of the 2010 Peninsula Pulse Poetry Prize. The readings by young poets have been so successful that the series will again feature a full evening of poetry by youths.
Each year UUFDC sponsors these monthly poetry readings named in honor of this famous poet. The readings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month and include a featured poet for half the program, followed by an open mic and then a few more poems from the featured reader. The series begins each year in April to commemorate National Poetry Month.
The schedule for 2011-2012 is as follows:
2011
April 13 – Norert Blei
May 11 – “Obvious Dog”
June 8 – June Nirschl
July 13 – Sarah and Al Stuart
August 10 – Judy Roy
September 14 – Edward Dimaio
*October 19 – Bruce Dethlefsen
November 9 – Henry Timm
December 14 – Marybeth Mattson
2012
January 11 – David Clowers
February 8 – Youth Readers
March 7 – Francha Barnard
* This reading is the third Wednesday of October in conjunction with a reading for the Friends of Door County Libraries at the Sturgeon Bay Library on Thursday, October 20.
The poetry community in Door County is extremely vital. The Dickinson Series features both beginning and established poets and provides a comfortable setting for the reading of new work. These evenings also attract new listeners, some of whom then become readers. The series is intended to enhance both the appreciation and the writing of poetry.
All readings are held at the UU Fellowship, 10341 Water Street (Hwy 42), on the north side of Ephraim, next to the Green Gables Shops. Brochures describing the series are available at local libraries, bookstores, and information centers. The readings are free and open to the public. All those who love poetry are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information visit www.uufdc.org.
