Dear Friends of Poetry,
The Poetry Night Reading Series is excited to feature poet, essayist, and retiring UC Davis professor Joe Wenderoth at 7 PM on Thursday, January 18th, 2024, on the first floor of the John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st Street in Davis. With the help of named and unnamed supporters, Wenderoth will be reading poems, singing songs, and weaving spells. Parental discretion is advised.
Joe Wenderoth is a writer, performer, musician, professor, and film-maker. He has published six books: four books of poetry, an epistolary novel, and a book of essays. Joe Wenderoth has been teaching for the Department of English at UC Davis since 2003. This will be his last reading in Davis.
Joe Wenderoth has mentored a generation of UC Davis poets, so he will be missed. At times during his final Poetry Night, Wenderoth will be accompanied by a live back-up band that will include an accordionist. Insofar as accordion music is unforgettable, this will be a night to remember.
Wenderoth’s work is widely anthologized, and has been published in collections and periodicals such as Best American Poetry 2007, Best American Essays 2008, Poetry 180, The Next American Essay, The Best American Prose Poems: From Poe To Present, The Body Electric, The New American Poets: A Bread Loaf Anthology, Harper’s, The Nation, The Anchor Book of New American Short Stories, and American Poetry: Next Generation.
This event will take place on the darkened first floor of the John Natsoulas Gallery (521 1st Street) at 7 PM on Thursday, January 18th, 2024. An open mic will follow the featured performers. Open mic performances will be limited to four minutes or two items, whichever is shorter. As Robert Southey says, “Be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams – the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.” The open mic list typically fills by 6:50 PM, so please arrive early if you would like to perform something during the 8 o’clock hour. Attendees who request to be added to the list after 7 PM will be invited to try again at a subsequent event.
Find the Facebook event for this startling evening of poetry, music, and stories at https://www.facebook.com/events/274585082298786
The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.
Find out more about the Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting https://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, check out his weekly podcast, including a recent interview with Joe Wenderoth, at https://poetrytechnology.buzzsprout.com/.
Upcoming Events:
February 1: Alan Williamson and Jeanne Foster
February 15: Cami Rothmuller and a special guest
Future readers will include Kim Stanley Robinson, Julia Levine, Julia Connor, Clarence Major, Bob Stanley, Mario Hill, and other favorites.
The Poetry Night Reading Series has been committed to serving the literary and arts community in the city of Davis since 2011. Happening every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at the Natsoulas Gallery, each reading contains two featured poets followed by an open mic. Poetry in Davis was voted “Best Open Mic” in The California Aggie’s “Best of Davis″ edition and has been featured in Davis Life Magazine. Readers have included UC Davis faculty Francisco X. Alarcón, John Boe, Zinzi Clemmons, Joshua Clover, Jack Forbes, Sandra Gilbert, Brad Henderson, Pamela Houston, Clarence Major, Sandra McPherson, Katie Peterson, Margaret Ronda, Joe Wenderoth, and Alan Williamson, as well as many regional and traveling poets, including Molly Peacock, Jane Hirshfield, Dana Gioia, and James Ragan.
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Instagram- @davispoetrynight
Facebook: Poetry in Davis
