Lorine Niedecker Poetry Festival

press release: The Friends of Lorine Niedecker are hosting the eighth annual Lorine Niedecker Wisconsin Poetry Festival on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15. The Poetry Festival celebrates Wisconsin poetry from all over the state, and the legacy of Fort Atkinson’s own renowned poet Lorine Niedecker. All events are free and open to the public.

New this year, the Saturday program will be held overlooking the Rock River at the historic Fort Atkinson Club. “The Poetry Festival is a great event to have at the beautifully restored and renovated Fort Atkinson community center/special events venue. The festival combines art, culture, history and community with a special sense of place. It is what we are all about.” says director Renae Mitchell.

Friday night will begin with gathering for early dinner, 5 pm at the Café Carpe followed by an Open Mic poetry reading with Moderator Nick Demske. Nick is curator of the eclectic BONK! performance series in Racine. “Nick brings great energy and enthusiasm. He is a friend to poets all across the state, and a highly original poet himself” according to librarian Amy Lutzke of the Dwight Foster Public Library.

Saturday morning there will be poetry written at the Fort Atkinson Farmer’s Market. Back by popular demand. Paul Wiegel, from Berlin, founder of the Fox River Poetry Company, will chat with you and then write you a personal poem. “What a great experience, to have a poem written for you, or for a loved one” says Ann Engelman.

The ever popular Poetry Café, located in the Club Room at the Fort Atkinson Club will provide a casual meeting place for poets, writers, publishers, and poetry appreciators. The Poetry Café Store will be full of books, broadsides, posters, chapbooks and special cards printed for the Festival.

Award-winning experimental poet and translator Norma Cole, who has lived in Canada and France, and now resides in San Francisco, will be presenting “Lorine Niedecker: Beyond English, Beyond Home” “Highlighting Lorine Niedecker’s international appeal is so exciting, and I’m gratified, thrilled to be involved!” writes Norma.

David Wilk, who first published a collection of essays about Lorine Niedecker’s work in 1975 and who has been involved in publishing and promoting original poetry ever since then, says “I have been reading Lorine Niedecker’s work for more than 40 years – I never, ever get tired of reading the poems, and Lorine’s letters were poems in so many respects.”

Attendees will have a chance to read and discuss a Niedecker poem in detail. “Reading a poem aloud together, learning about the context, and sharing our impressions and responses – that’s what we enjoy in the Solitary Plover’s Group” says leader Margaret Schroeder.

Saturday afternoon, the Wisconsin Poetry Festival Open Reading will be moderated by Angie Vasquez, Madison-based poet, writer, activist and publisher. “I have been to many readings all over the state – this is the best one I have ever attended” says poet Tom Montag. All are welcome to read a poem of their own, or a favorite poem by another writer.

Four award-winning Wisconsin poets: John Walser, Kathryn Gahl, Brenda Cardenas and Patrick Moran will host Round Table sessions including sharing poems and leading discussion about their work and poetic process.

To conclude the program, Madison Poet Laureate Oscar Mireles will speak about “Poetry through Latino eyes” Mireles has created anthologies of Latino poets in Wisconsin and is dedicated to raising the profile of poets of color.

Dot Kent noted, “This festival is building a poetry tradition and the Fort Atkinson Club, along the banks of the Rock River, is the perfect place to host this event. The annual Festival is becoming a fall destination for writers and poets, and this year’s event promises to be our most diverse yet.”

For a complete schedule, event descriptions and list of presenters and their biographies visit www.lorineniedecker.org or Google Wisconsin Poetry Festival, or contact Dot Kent 262-495-8867 or Amy Lutzke 920-563-7790.

The Festival is sponsored by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker and includes partnerships with the Hoard Museum, Dwight Foster Public Library, Café Carpe, Woodland Pattern Book Store, Milwaukee, and the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market.