Galveston native and Houston resident, Lupe Mendez, the 2022 Texas State Poet Laureate, will kick off a year-long project that celebrates the Lone Star State.
Mendez’s project, the Texas Poetry Roadshow, intends to capture as much as it can; to highlight the ups and downs in all things Texan. This “roadshow” will serve as a celebration and also a respite from how changed lives have become during the pandemic. Mendez says, “Many Texans have lost so much: loved ones, jobs, direction, homes, access to books and a way of life - and this project will be a way to speak on it.” Thematically, this project will look to answer: “Who or what has been silenced? What needs to be uplifted?”
The Texas Poetry Roadshow is a 3-part project: writing workshops, virtual poetry readings, and an audio anthology.
VIRTUAL READINGS
Eighteen poets have confirmed their commitment to the Texas Poetry Roadshow. Each poet will be mixed and matched up with the Texas Poet Laureate to read in a 1.5-hour virtual show. These poets hail from metropolitan areas big and small. Each poetry showcase is designed to present three different voices (along with the Texas Poet Laureate) presenting works in a once-in-a-lifetime setting. These readings serve as a celebration of all things joyous – something everyone could use more of.
San Antonio – Chibbi Orduña, Andrea Vocab Sanderson, Laurie Ann Guerrero
Rio Grande Valley – Emmy Pérez, Edward Vidaurre, Rodney Gomez
Dallas/Ft. Worth – Faylita Hicks, Joaquin Zihuatanejo
El Paso – Andrea Cote Botero, Aldo Amparán, Gris Muñoz;
Houston – Emanuelee Bean, Dulcie Veluthukaran, Ebony Stewart Ayokunle Falomo Muhammad Fachrul Yunus, Jasminne Mendez, Natasha Carrizosa,
WRITING WORKSHOPS
6 cities have been selected for writing workshops: Galveston, Georgetown, Laredo, Amarillo, El Paso, and San Angelo are the smaller communities that reflect some of the best characteristics of Texas. The workshops for novice or expert writers, will serve to provide creative backdrops to uplift the voice of every kind of Texan.
AUDIO ANTHOLOGY
This portion of the project, beginning in October, 2022, will provide the public a chance to submit their work for inclusion in an audio anthology and will live online. Having already had the chance to hear from master poets, then the opportunity to think, talk and write, this last part will allow Texans to submit their own works. Special attention will be dedicated to educators, students, and front line workers, all of whom have been front and center in of an ever-changing environment that is both wild and unprecedented.
LOGISTICS
Below are the dates, times and places thus far confirmed for all workshops and readings. All virtual readings are from 7-8:30p, CST. Workshops will occur from 2-4:30p, local time. All elements will be free and open to the public and held in local community spaces or local libraries.
May 7th, 2022 – Writing Workshop in Galveston, TX, at Rosenburg Library
June 22nd , 2022 – Reading with Chibbi Orduña, Emmy Perez, Ayokunle Falomo
July 9th, 2022 – Writing Workshop in Georgetown, TX at TBA
August 24th, 2022 – Reading with Andrea Sanderson, Edward Vidaurre, Dulcie Vuluthekaran
September 10th, 2022 – Writing Workshop in Laredo, TX at TBA
October 1st, 2022 – Open Submissions on Submittable for “Audio Anthology”
October 26th, 2022 – Reading with Natasha Carrizosa, Aldo Amparán, Muhammad Khaerisman
November 12th, 2022 – Writing Workshop in El Paso, TX at TBA
December 7th, 2022 – Reading with Laurie Ann Guerrero, Rodney Gomez, Ebony Stewart
January 21st, 2023 – Writing Workshop in San Angelo, TX at TBA
February 22nd, 2023 – Reading with Faylita Hicks, Jasminne Mendez, Andrea Cote-Botero
March 25th, 2023 – Writing Workshop in Amarillo, TX at TBA
April 26th, 2023 – Reading with Emmanuel Bean, Joaquin Zihuatanejo, Gris Muñoz
May 1st, 2023 – Submissions close for Audio Anthology
May 5th, 2023 – Culminating Event at TBA
