The Artist's Life

Literary Soulmates: Poet Patricia Smith & Novelist Bruce DeSilva + Open Mic - Thursday, Aug. 4

The Inspired Word Presents Soulmates: The Dynamic Literary Marriage of Poet Patricia Smith and Crime Novelist Bruce DeSilva.+ a 15-slot open mic open to all types of artists.

Patricia and Bruce will first read their work, then share how they help each other with the creative process.

A rare chance to get into the heads of two great writers!

Hosted by the legendary Nathan P.

*****

BIOS:

Patricia Smith is the author of five books of poetry, including "Blood Dazzler," a 2008 National Book Award finalist, and "Teahouse of the Almighty," a National Poetry Series selection. In addition to appearing in The Best American Poetry 2011 and The Best American Essays 2011, her work has been published in The Paris Review, Poetry, TriQuarterly and many other anthologies and journals. She is a four-time champion of the National Poetry Slam, the most successful poet in the competition's history. Patricia is the editor of the anthology "Staten Island Noir" and teaches at CUNY/College of Staten Island and in the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine.



Bruce DeSilva is the author of “Rogue Island,” winner of the Mystery Writers of America’s coveted Edgar Award for best first novel of 2010. The book has also been nominated for the Anthony and Barry awards and was a Publishers Weekly “first fiction” selection as one of the year’s top debut novels. “Cliff Walk,” the second book in the series, will be published early in 2012, and DeSilva is currently writing the third. DeSilva worked as an investigative reporter, editor, and writing coach at The Providence Journal, The Hartford Courant, and, most recently, The Associated Press, before retiring from journalism two years ago to write fiction. Stories he edited have won virtually every major journalism prize including The Polk (twice), The Livingston (twice) and The Pulitzer. His book reviews have appeared in The New York Times book review section, and he continues to review fiction regularly for the AP.




*****

When: Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011

Where: One and One Bar & Restaurant (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue)
Manhattan, NYC
Phone: (917) 703-1512

Doors open for open mic sign-up @ 6:30pm

Show starts @ 7:30

Cover Charge: $10

NO AGE LIMIT.

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Amanda Mathews & Her Amazing Artwork

Amanda Mathews:

I am lucky enough to have a lot of amazing family & friends who have taken the time to cultivate my interests in art, literature, writing, dance and music over the years. Who have taught me to believe that freedom of expression is everyone’s right, that no elitists can downplay that expression or should be allowed to take it away. I believe that what makes great art is not the technique, the light and shadow or the ability to make a painting look like a photo; it’s the emotion behind the art. If it’s present and palpable, then you’ve created something beautiful.

My own work is influenced by some well known artists like Fernand Leger’s bright colors & rounded shapes, Pablo Picasso’s pure expression of a single moment, Henri Rousseau’s dream like beauty, Faith Ringgold’s folkloric facts, and Jacob Lawrence’s ability to tell a whole story in a single piece.

My work is also inspired & influenced by the group of artists and friends I surround myself with daily. I believe it’s important to cultivate a group of people who will not only support your efforts to grow and learn as an artist & writer, but also to have a free exchange of art and ideas to inspire one another with. So the reaching depth of Nick Rosal, the color and life in Phoenix Smith, the ingeniousness of Shae Sveniker, the curvaceous sexiness of Tony Melendez’s pieces. In regards to writing, the pained beauty of John Survivor Blake, the strength & sexiness of Mahogany Browne, the passion of Christopher Shawn Barker, the boy next door genius of Dain Michael Down, the sharp yet soft words of Molly Kat, and joy and intelligence of Leesah Velasquez (Sick Prose).

I paint watercolor on paper, draw, sculpt and write poetry. My creation process just involves making the time to listen to myself, to write and paint the emotion inside of me. Sometimes I am inspired by the amazing poets at the Nuyorican, sometimes it’s just a phrase or thought passed by on a bus stop advertisement. I believe the important part is just to be open to anything creative, to let it happen, to not be afraid of imperfection, and to consider artistic failures part of the process toward growth. I embrace them; use them as a stepping stone towards better work. You do not need to be Renoir the first day; you only need to be you - working towards being an even greater version of you, and the rest will come.

Amanda's work can be found along the sidebar of this blog and you can join Amanda's Facebook fan page here.