WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.620 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.620 --> 00:00:04.080 align:middle line:84% Emily Dickinson and Charles Alexander concert, 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:06.060 align:middle line:90% I guess I am. 00:00:06.060 --> 00:00:07.920 align:middle line:84% We keep referring to the t-shirts 00:00:07.920 --> 00:00:09.850 align:middle line:84% we made tonight as our concert t-shirt. 00:00:09.850 --> 00:00:11.760 align:middle line:84% So check out our concert t-shirts 00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:14.850 align:middle line:90% at the merch table here. 00:00:14.850 --> 00:00:15.870 align:middle line:90% I'm Lisa Bowden. 00:00:15.870 --> 00:00:17.580 align:middle line:90% I'm the publisher of Kore Press. 00:00:17.580 --> 00:00:19.260 align:middle line:84% And I want to welcome everybody here 00:00:19.260 --> 00:00:23.280 align:middle line:84% to the amazing, fabulous Poetry Center. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:28.950 align:middle line:84% The Poetry Center is our library partner in this extravaganza. 00:00:28.950 --> 00:00:32.520 align:middle line:84% And we have a high school partner in Tucson, High Magnet 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:34.350 align:middle line:90% School. 00:00:34.350 --> 00:00:36.330 align:middle line:84% If you want any additional information 00:00:36.330 --> 00:00:38.220 align:middle line:84% about the fabulous Poetry Center. 00:00:38.220 --> 00:00:42.000 align:middle line:84% You can see Jesse or Gayle, perhaps over here at the table. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:45.150 align:middle line:90% And yay for us. 00:00:45.150 --> 00:00:47.610 align:middle line:84% This is a really thrilling event. 00:00:47.610 --> 00:00:50.460 align:middle line:84% The first of maybe 25 and counting. 00:00:50.460 --> 00:00:52.800 align:middle line:84% That momentum just keeps building. 00:00:52.800 --> 00:00:57.090 align:middle line:90% So put your seatbelts on. 00:00:57.090 --> 00:01:01.500 align:middle line:84% I want to acknowledge Dean Mary Wildner-Basset, who 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.890 align:middle line:84% helped us launch our event about 20 minutes ago with a ribbon 00:01:04.890 --> 00:01:06.330 align:middle line:90% cutting ceremony. 00:01:06.330 --> 00:01:09.960 align:middle line:84% We appreciate our partnership with the College of Humanities. 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:12.660 align:middle line:84% I also want to recognize [? Shawn ?] [? Gusler, ?] who 00:01:12.660 --> 00:01:15.090 align:middle line:84% is a member of Gabby Giffords staff, 00:01:15.090 --> 00:01:18.400 align:middle line:84% who's here with us this evening representing Gabby's office. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:21.000 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much for coming, [? Shawn. ?] 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.010 align:middle line:90% So this is the Big Read. 00:01:23.010 --> 00:01:26.820 align:middle line:84% This is our kickoff event for the Big Read. 00:01:26.820 --> 00:01:29.430 align:middle line:84% It's the first time the Big Read has been held in Tucson. 00:01:29.430 --> 00:01:34.110 align:middle line:84% It's a reading initiative funded by the NEA. 00:01:34.110 --> 00:01:38.010 align:middle line:84% And they did a study in 2004 across the nation 00:01:38.010 --> 00:01:41.760 align:middle line:84% and found that reading for pleasure, reading literature, 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:45.310 align:middle line:84% literary reading, poetry reading was in sharp decline, 00:01:45.310 --> 00:01:48.540 align:middle line:84% especially among teens and at risk readers. 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:52.680 align:middle line:84% I guess that's the same thing, but also-- 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:56.100 align:middle line:84% So part of what they're doing-- what we're doing here together 00:01:56.100 --> 00:02:00.940 align:middle line:84% is inspiring people to read and have a lot of fun doing it. 00:02:00.940 --> 00:02:05.310 align:middle line:84% So that's not just newspapers and the internet. 00:02:05.310 --> 00:02:10.620 align:middle line:84% So since 2007, they've issued 950 grants. 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:14.310 align:middle line:84% Their first year, they did a pilot in 10 cities 00:02:14.310 --> 00:02:15.610 align:middle line:90% across the nation. 00:02:15.610 --> 00:02:18.570 align:middle line:84% This is the first time it's been in Tucson, as I've said. 00:02:18.570 --> 00:02:23.018 align:middle line:84% So we're just thrilled to be kind of the cheerleaders here. 00:02:23.018 --> 00:02:24.435 align:middle line:84% So thank you very much for coming. 00:02:24.435 --> 00:02:27.250 align:middle line:90% 00:02:27.250 --> 00:02:31.320 align:middle line:84% So this program runs starting today through December 10. 00:02:31.320 --> 00:02:34.500 align:middle line:84% December 10 is Emily Dickinson's birthday. 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:36.630 align:middle line:84% We'll be concluding with a public birthday party 00:02:36.630 --> 00:02:39.120 align:middle line:84% downtown on that second Saturday, 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:40.230 align:middle line:90% maybe in the Fox Theater. 00:02:40.230 --> 00:02:42.105 align:middle line:84% We don't know exactly where we'll be downtown 00:02:42.105 --> 00:02:43.950 align:middle line:90% but we'll be downtown. 00:02:43.950 --> 00:02:46.410 align:middle line:84% We have lots of free things to give you, 00:02:46.410 --> 00:02:48.390 align:middle line:84% especially if you're an educator. 00:02:48.390 --> 00:02:51.330 align:middle line:84% We're partnering with probably five or six high schools 00:02:51.330 --> 00:02:53.100 align:middle line:84% that we know of so far, including 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:57.060 align:middle line:84% Marana and Sells Middle School and Sells Community College. 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:00.270 align:middle line:84% Sherwin Bitsui will be a poet in residence going out there 00:03:00.270 --> 00:03:02.490 align:middle line:90% and working with those kids. 00:03:02.490 --> 00:03:06.900 align:middle line:84% Tucson High, City High, Catalina Foothills High School, 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:09.120 align:middle line:90% University High. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:11.020 align:middle line:90% And the list is sort of growing. 00:03:11.020 --> 00:03:12.930 align:middle line:84% So for you educators out there, please 00:03:12.930 --> 00:03:14.260 align:middle line:90% visit our table in the back. 00:03:14.260 --> 00:03:16.410 align:middle line:84% We have readers, guys, free for you. 00:03:16.410 --> 00:03:19.240 align:middle line:84% We have audio CDs here for you that are for free. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:19.740 align:middle line:90% Those. 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:23.910 align:middle line:84% Are for anybody please help yourself and spread the word. 00:03:23.910 --> 00:03:26.890 align:middle line:84% We also have teachers guides as well. 00:03:26.890 --> 00:03:30.990 align:middle line:84% The Big Read aims to address the crisis 00:03:30.990 --> 00:03:33.990 align:middle line:84% that I mentioned earlier about the reading 00:03:33.990 --> 00:03:36.120 align:middle line:90% for pleasure and great decline. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.490 align:middle line:84% And it addresses it squarely and effectively. 00:03:38.490 --> 00:03:41.670 align:middle line:84% It provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss 00:03:41.670 --> 00:03:46.200 align:middle line:84% a single book, or in this case a body of a particular poet's 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:49.410 align:middle line:90% work within their communities. 00:03:49.410 --> 00:03:53.350 align:middle line:84% The initiative was developed to answer that big need. 00:03:53.350 --> 00:03:55.830 align:middle line:84% The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment 00:03:55.830 --> 00:03:59.490 align:middle line:84% for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. 00:03:59.490 --> 00:04:02.820 align:middle line:84% Kore Press is one of 76 organizations 00:04:02.820 --> 00:04:05.910 align:middle line:84% nationwide this year to host a Big Read. 00:04:05.910 --> 00:04:08.100 align:middle line:84% The National project, which as I said, 00:04:08.100 --> 00:04:10.380 align:middle line:84% seeks to revitalize the role of literature 00:04:10.380 --> 00:04:13.770 align:middle line:84% and instill a lifelong love of reading in American culture 00:04:13.770 --> 00:04:17.010 align:middle line:90% began in 2006. 00:04:17.010 --> 00:04:20.100 align:middle line:84% This evening's event is sponsored in part 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:23.220 align:middle line:90% by Poets & Writers magazine. 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:26.490 align:middle line:84% And we just are deeply grateful for our partnership with the UA 00:04:26.490 --> 00:04:27.420 align:middle line:90% Poetry Center. 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:29.610 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much, Cybele, for putting up 00:04:29.610 --> 00:04:32.640 align:middle line:84% with my hundreds of emails the last few weeks 00:04:32.640 --> 00:04:34.590 align:middle line:90% or months actually. 00:04:34.590 --> 00:04:38.040 align:middle line:84% So we've developed, as I said, about 25 events 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:40.710 align:middle line:84% over the next 10 weeks using the poetry and letters 00:04:40.710 --> 00:04:45.300 align:middle line:84% of the amazing visionary 19th century poet Emily Dickinson. 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:49.170 align:middle line:84% And we do this to galvanize our community in positive ways 00:04:49.170 --> 00:04:51.360 align:middle line:84% with reading, with book discussions, 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:58.530 align:middle line:84% with curriculum in high school, with writing workshops in Sells 00:04:58.530 --> 00:05:04.830 align:middle line:84% and Marana, with Slamming Emily workshops at four 00:05:04.830 --> 00:05:08.400 align:middle line:84% public libraries with a 21st century translation 00:05:08.400 --> 00:05:12.750 align:middle line:84% workshop at Casa Libre, where over the course of four hours 00:05:12.750 --> 00:05:16.530 align:middle line:84% people will be translating Dickinson into text language 00:05:16.530 --> 00:05:22.560 align:middle line:84% and all kinds of fun things, and the language of punctuation, 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.320 align:middle line:84% with high school readings, with theatrical performances 00:05:25.320 --> 00:05:26.850 align:middle line:90% of youths writing. 00:05:26.850 --> 00:05:31.080 align:middle line:84% TXT Emily is a project of the Big Read Tucson exhibition. 00:05:31.080 --> 00:05:36.480 align:middle line:84% Baking because Dickinson was a baker and loved that. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.710 align:middle line:90% We have free books. 00:05:37.710 --> 00:05:39.090 align:middle line:90% We have community performances. 00:05:39.090 --> 00:05:40.410 align:middle line:90% Dances are being made. 00:05:40.410 --> 00:05:42.240 align:middle line:90% Music as being composed. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.450 align:middle line:84% There will be soon poems on Sun Tran buses. 00:05:45.450 --> 00:05:50.220 align:middle line:84% And we're also recording the voices of as many Tucsonans who 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:54.180 align:middle line:84% want to come and read Dickinson out loud your poem of choice, 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:57.690 align:middle line:90% or a letter, or fragment. 00:05:57.690 --> 00:05:59.850 align:middle line:84% That sort of reading project is happening out 00:05:59.850 --> 00:06:02.520 align:middle line:90% loud at Hotel Congress stage. 00:06:02.520 --> 00:06:03.210 align:middle line:90% Stay tuned. 00:06:03.210 --> 00:06:06.397 align:middle line:90% Please visit our website. 00:06:06.397 --> 00:06:07.230 align:middle line:90% What else can I say? 00:06:07.230 --> 00:06:08.230 align:middle line:90% I think that's enough. 00:06:08.230 --> 00:06:08.730 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:06:08.730 --> 00:06:11.860 align:middle line:84% I invite each of you to become a big reader. 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:14.250 align:middle line:84% The next three months read out loud to each other. 00:06:14.250 --> 00:06:15.900 align:middle line:90% Read out loud to yourself. 00:06:15.900 --> 00:06:17.820 align:middle line:84% Read in the shower if you want to. 00:06:17.820 --> 00:06:21.210 align:middle line:84% Come to events, let us record your voices. 00:06:21.210 --> 00:06:24.000 align:middle line:84% Please sign up for our mailing list. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.540 align:middle line:84% So I'm thrilled to introduce Charles Alexander, who's 00:06:27.540 --> 00:06:31.950 align:middle line:90% a teacher and mentor of mine. 00:06:31.950 --> 00:06:36.390 align:middle line:84% And he's an independent scholar and just amazing poet 00:06:36.390 --> 00:06:39.540 align:middle line:84% and force in the community, who's also 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:41.730 align:middle line:90% a great lover of Dickinson. 00:06:41.730 --> 00:06:44.880 align:middle line:84% Charles Alexander is the founder and director of Chax press 00:06:44.880 --> 00:06:47.490 align:middle line:84% in Tucson, where he has lived all but three 00:06:47.490 --> 00:06:49.500 align:middle line:90% of the past 27 years. 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:52.680 align:middle line:84% His books include "Hopeful Buildings", 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:57.120 align:middle line:84% "Arc of Light/Dark Matter", "Near or Random Acts", 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.910 align:middle line:84% and "Certain Slants", which includes 00:06:59.910 --> 00:07:03.870 align:middle line:84% 30 sections of an ongoing work called "Pushing Water." 00:07:03.870 --> 00:07:06.990 align:middle line:84% He is recipient of the Distinguished Arizona Arts 00:07:06.990 --> 00:07:09.600 align:middle line:84% Award and is a former director of Minnesota Center 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.210 align:middle line:84% for the Book Arts, of Black Mesa Press, 00:07:12.210 --> 00:07:15.930 align:middle line:84% and of the Tucson Poetry Festival. 00:07:15.930 --> 00:07:18.420 align:middle line:84% In the summer of 2007, he was a participant 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:23.340 align:middle line:84% in the Tamaas poetry translation seminar in Paris, France. 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:24.810 align:middle line:84% He is currently at work on a book 00:07:24.810 --> 00:07:27.690 align:middle line:84% about the pleasures of poetry, which is largely 00:07:27.690 --> 00:07:29.700 align:middle line:90% why we are here tonight. 00:07:29.700 --> 00:07:32.280 align:middle line:84% Alexander has taught courses on Emily Dickinson 00:07:32.280 --> 00:07:35.410 align:middle line:84% for the U of A Poetry Center, the Learning Curve, 00:07:35.410 --> 00:07:37.800 align:middle line:84% and for the University of Wisconsin-Extension. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:39.630 align:middle line:90% And I'm sure the list goes on. 00:07:39.630 --> 00:07:42.000 align:middle line:84% Please help me welcome Charles Alexander. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:44.450 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:07:44.450 --> 00:07:54.000 align:middle line:90%