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Housatonic Museum of Art Presents: In His Words

The Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA) presents In
His Words
, an all-male poetry showcase, free and open to the public on December
5th, 2013 from 6:30 – 10:00pm, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, CT. In
His Words
, inspired by the all-female poetry showcase, The Women
Gather, 
is an opportunity to highlight men who use poetry as a medium
to express their views on love, relationships, fatherhood, society, body image,
self-esteem, and many other topics. This group of highly respected poets
includes Buddha LuvJonz, Phenix, Frederick Douglass and Jamaal St John, artists
who have performed and been celebrated on the poetry scene for numerous years.  In
His Words
 takes away the assumptions about beliefs and provides truth
as learned from the experiences of these men.  This event will
inspire discussions about manhood and broaden our perspective on the male
experience today. There will be time to network with each artist at the end of
our program. Bring love, light and an open mind to this experience.  ContactShanna
Melton, HMA Ambassador of Poetry, shatamel@gmail.com and www.PoeticSoulArts.net for information on the poetry showcase and Lydia
Viscardi, lviscardi@hcc.commnet,edu for information about HMA. www.HousatonicMuseum.org



 



Jamaal St John, a poet/spoken word artist who
has spent fifteen years honing his lyrical style of old school hip-hop rhyme
schemes and cunning wordplay, accentuated with relevant social, political,
cultural and economic topics, performing on various stages and colleges
throughout The United States and Canada. Highlights of his illustrious career
include a five time Nuyorican Poets Café Grand Slam Finalist,
the Nuyorican Slam King in 2000 and Grand Slam Champion in 2008,
Captain of the Poetic Battles Slam Team at the World Famous Apollo Theatre in
Harlem, NY, New Jersey Grand Slam Finalist in Montclair, New Jersey, six time
winner of The Toronto International Poetry Slam, and two time winner of The
Yale Peabody Slam and The James Marshall Slam.  St John taped for
Russell Simmons’ Def Jam Poets.  He is the author of a chapbook of
poetry entitled “The Horror & The Hype” and has three spoken word albums to
his credit: “Enterlightenment,”  “Won't Catch Me Runnin',” and
“Southpaw Stance.”  He is currently working on a book of quotations,
a new chapbook of poems, and a brand new spoken word album.

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Frederick-Douglass
Knowles II
 is a Poet,
Professor, and Activist involved in community education, AIDS activism and the
performing arts. He has competed on the 2001 and 2005 National Poetry Slam
Teams and served as the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Connecticut Slam Team coach.
His works have been featured in Poems on the Road to Peace: A Collective
Tribute to Dr. King Volume 2. Peabody Museum of Natural History by Yale
University Press, The East Haddam Stage Company of Connecticut, The 13th Annual
Acacia Group Conference at California State University, Folio –a Southern
Connecticut State University literary magazine, Lefoko –a Botswana,
Southern Africa Hip-Hop magazine, Fingernails Across the Chalkboard: Poetry and
Prose on HIV/AIDS from the Black Diaspora by Third World Press and his first
collection of poetry, "Black Rose City," by Author House. Frederick-Douglass
is currently an Assistant Professor of English at Three Rivers Community
College in Black Rose City, where he teaches Composition and Literature. 

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Phenix, also known as Jason Hall is a theater major
at Housatonic Community College. He has appeared in many productions
at HCC such as; “Spunk,” “Freak,” “Grandmas Alley,” and Rebirth's
production “Timeline.”  Phenix is the author of Rebirth Arts
Collective’s play, “Letters from the Sky.”  He is a spoken word
artist, performing at various venues throughout the tri-state area and has
recorded a spoken word album entitled “Yahweh’s Paintbrush” released
through Xoul Musik Productions.  Jason is also a radio
show host and creator of Wpmr online radio show “XoulPower.”



 



Buddha LuvJonz, also known as Adrian Sayaphet is
an Asian-American/ Laotian poet, DJ, and actor born and raised in Bridgeport,
CT. He exudes an abundance of great energy through self-expression. Poetry
gives him the ability to share his cultural and life experiences of being Asian
in America; a dose of yellow soul to help diversify closed-minds. His art
defines who he is - an individual searching to make a difference through
words, music, and life. www.luvjonz.com  



 

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