Project shines on artistic talent

The art form of poetry is like a child. It must be created, nurtured and raised. It is a form of personal expression. While poetry has been treated strictly as a written concept, recent poets have found new methods of release and presentation through the art of dramatic reading. Different interpretations are possible through the spoken word, construing entire meaning of poems through voice inflection and utterance.

LSA junior Greg Epstein has found such a release through the performance of his own works. A little more than year ago, Epstein founded the State Street Poetry Project, and it sent a tremor through the artistic community. That tremor helped to break loose the shyness and timid nature of writers who are otherwise unknown to their readers. Poetry readings have been done for years, but poetry performances are a new invention.

ALLISON CANTER/Daily Two students rehearse for the State Street Poetry Project which takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Combing music with almost every other style of performing art, Epstein, along with Business junior Leslie Soranno and LSA sophomore Sarah Flint, has constructed one of the best literary events in the area. Competing only with the Ann Arbor poetry slam (a local annual event), State Street Poetry Project dares to be different simply by being itself - a group of performing writers who put themselves into their work.

The first State Street Poetry Project was a risky endeavor indeed. While Epstein wasn't sure if the event would be a success, he would soon realize the demand for his dream. Now, a year and a half and three Projects later, Epstein is again collaborating with a talented group of performers and writers. The season finale of the State Street Poetry Project promises to be above and beyond anything the group has taken on before.

"It's everything, absolutely not just poetry. It's every art, every culture, every generation," Epstein said.

When Epstein and his helpers set out to organize this Project, he paid little attention to diversity because he was going for quality.

What he concocted was stunning. "I didn't set out to find a diverse group of writers. What I got was more diverse than I thought possible. We have three different generations of writers performing ... everywhere from University professors to high school students, with graduate and undergraduate students in between," he said.

PREVIEW
	State Street Poetry Project Tonight at 7:30 p.m. Rackham Auditorium

Representing the elder generation will be Keith Taylor and Ruth Behar, a University professor who is known for her involvement with the Michigan Quarterly Review, as well as her interest in Cuban-American culture. "She rarely reads her poetry, so this is something special," Epstein stated.

Also on the bill is Michigan football player Dhani Jones, whose interest in performing was sparked when he attended a recent State Street Poetry Project performance. Earlier this year, Jones was featured in a student play at the Residential College.

Brenda Cardenas and Deanne Lundin, Project alums, are expected to return to present a collaborative work which Epstein describes as an "extremely ambitious piece altogether." Using video projectors and television screens, the pair are presenting a "political poetry hut."

Making up the youngest generation of performers will be high school students from the Detroit area. These young poets are part of an association called Citywide Poets Inc., and are supervised by Detroit poets Aurora Harris and Terry Blackhawk. The group travels throughout Michigan and presents interpretive readings of original works.

"We're presenting what I call 'performative writing.' Every word counts. When read aloud, it takes on an important meaning, but it's different in power," Epstein said.

"We're not just doing poetry. We're combing it with theater, multimedia, music, film and art," he stated.

ALLISON CANTER/Daily A performer of the State Street Poetry Project displays her artistic talents.

A 10-minute scene from "Time at Close Examination," a teleplay by Michael Zilberman, will be acted out by Gabe Greene and Leslie Soranno. Zilberman's work is well-known on campus, as he has won Hopwood awards and recently, student-directed productions of his plays, have been presented.

Local jazz band Poignant Plecostomus is also scheduled to perform.

In conjunction with the Asian American Film Festival, the State Street Poetry Project will showcase a short film by a student filmmaker.

"State Street Poetry Project shows are about showing that serious arts can compete with MTV. Our show is fast-paced. We can't let it drag. It's the best of the best of the best all the way through - excellent the entire time," Epstein said.

"I can't believe how many backgrounds we cover with this show. I also can't think of an art that's not being represented within these two hours. If it can't inspire one or two people, I don't know what can," he said.

There's a multitude of tastes to tempt the tastebuds at this Project, but Epstein has promised to keep it all under two hours.

"Finals week is coming up, and we don't want to keep everyone from their studies."

Tickets for State Street Poetry Project can be purchased at the Michigan Union Ticket Office for $2, or at the door one hour before opening. For more information call 763-1107.

04-16-98