Poet Patricia Smith in Minneapolis
Monday 7 April 2008, 7 PM
Plymouth Congregational Church
1900 Nicollet Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Telephone: 612-871-7400
-FREE-
From MNARTISTS.ORG:
From Lollapalooza to Carnegie Hall, the film Slamnation to HBO series Def Poetry Jam, Patricia Smith has taken the stage as the nation’s premier performance poet. On Monday, April 7 at 7 p.m., Smith will read from her newest poetry collection, the National Poetry Prize-winning Teahouse of the Almighty (Coffee House Press), in the Literary Witnesses series at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave. (at Franklin). The event is free, with plenty of free parking available.
Smith’s first book of poetry in over a decade, “Teahouse of the Almighty” has won wide critical acclaim. Entertainment Weekly wrote, “Dazzling... Smith approaches the themes of love, family and violence through accessible, graceful language and often praises her subjects with a simple ‘hallelujah.’” In a starred review, Publisher’s Weekly noted, “Smith appears to be that rarest of creatures, a charismatic slam and performance poet whose artistry truly survives the printed page.” Poet Stephen Dobyns assures readers “she will knock your socks off,” while National Poetry Series judge Edward Sanders confides, “I was weeping for the beauty of poetry when I reached the end of the final poem.” Teahouse of the Almighty is also the recipient of the first national Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize.
A four time winner of the National Poetry Slam, Smith is the author of three previous poetry collections, plus the children’s book Janna and the Kings, and co-author of Africans in America: America’s Journey through Slavery. She teaches poetry workshops throughout the country and lives in Tarrytown, New York.