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Show ThuruUy, May 8,1997 Academic and by r a A Ion-Academ- o S n , a n d in Harmony Co-Exi- st Poetry ic an unusuaty Averse might End it surprising, but Salt Lake Gty boasts scene. Whether you prefer a traditional reading or a coffee shop People Salt Lake City has poetry for you usually for free. The poetry world often makes a distinction between academic and generating an intellectual poetry. Sometimes lines are drawn between the two camps, non-acrift In Salt. Lake City, however, an opposite situation exists: academic and . ..Ifur-i.! rich and Stimulating. i w aemic poetry woxkI. rogeuicr tu uumc um unuiai enwrnnmcnl' non-academ- ic a- 4- - ' ' in 1 - w..". l ' vr" x r 15 Courtesy of The Salt Lake Tribune Academic Poetiylhe Reading Katherine Coles, a Salt Lake-bor- n poet, attributes Lake's Salt the enormous success oi poetic environof ment to the groups muni in the poetry circuit, both academic and The actual poetry reading doesn't start for at least 15 minutes, following a short introduction of the poet. It's simple, enjoyable and free of charge, Many academics seem hesitant about accepting poetic venues. Not Coles. The more receive for reading, ,but most of them are still happy to do it." The readings last anywhere from 45 to 90 min- utes. At some locations, wine and cheese are served beforehand, while attendees exchange pleasantries, non-academ- ic poetry the better," she says, "roetry slams and other types of performance poetry can be traced back to Beat poetry, campfires and even ancient Greece. on cross-fertilizati- staying in groups, everyoheworkstbgetheT, and h art no " N wirf! V the result is a rich and active literature scene," Coles says. These other forms of poetry bring energy to the scene, and are able to reach people who might not otherwise come X . to poetry." Many find it surprising that Utah, abounds in poetry, oozing in one form or another from every nook and cranny in the valley. To be successful, the scene needs a large enough population and a supportive press," Cole says. "Utah has both. And in addition, we have the cooperation of the entire poetry population. The scene is hopping, as they say." Hopping indeed. During the academic The Anne Newman Sutton Weeks Poetry Series at Westminster operates on -- year, poetry events pop up around almost every corner. Fans just need to know where to look. The poetic urge may be satisfied by choosing from one of the many options: the Art Barn (where the readings are put on by the f . . t t . t I t , t . : t ( t f ' ', , i i ( . i t s ?' . J I . I ' t . ' - 4 ' J J 1 ( J - i ' K ' . ' f I Lee (Utah's first Poet Laureate), Kenneth Brewer, Don Revell and Mark Doty, among others. "We have an incredible cast of local poets," Coles says. "One that needs particular mention however, is Hector Ahumada, an important poet in the valley because he has been the link between the local English- - and g cultures. Quit complaining that there is nothing to do in Salt Lake. The poetry reading circuit alone offers cultural art at an tf k ' t ' ' 1 ' ' 1 " ' I t t irf n v . a , ' t tn . Bill Mitchell H 4. - amazing price a 1 . ' poets Jaqueline Osherow, David Spanish-speakin- '' - .....-' ' ' ' ''' John Ashbery, Robert Pinsky, former U.S. Poet Laureate Mark Strand and current U.S. Poet Laureate, Robert Haas. It's not uncommon to see someone read in Salt Lake that you've studied in a poetry class. Also frequenting the scene are local IjC v 4 amount of money they usually I Coles says. Just look at some of the names brought to Salt Lake by Coles: m Church, the City Art series, and many bookstores, coffee shops and bars. Salt Lake's free publications'(like the Private Eye Weekly) provide listings that point fans in the right direction. Poetry opportunities aren't limited to the Salt Lake Valley, either. The scene is alive and kicking all over Utah. "Often when I get poets to come, I'll ask them if they're willing 'to read in a smaller area in addition to Salt Lake," says Coles, who heads poetry readings at Westminster, where she's also a faculty member. "Logan, Cedar City and Price are some of the more frequent Jt6ps. I'm not able to give them the J' Tn ill 1 University of Utah), Westminster College, Mount Tabor Presbyterian ' same the interest earned from two large donations. The program thrive not only on frequency and consistency, but also on . t quality. "It is nice for us to have the money, it affords us some latitude in what we do," I . V, ) I i nothing. Katherine Coles will be reading on May 6 at 3:30 pm in Language and Communication Building, room 38 $0. |