Comments on: Post AWP Bliss

By: Robin Kemp

Robin Kemp — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:23:27 +0000

Esta gringa deliberately played hooky. I did my turn(s) babysitting Five Points, reupped a few subscriptions, bought a couple of books, and went to exactly two panels: Sonia Sanchez' reading and interview with Elizabeth Alexander, and the WOM-PO panel for Letters to the World. I wanted to catch more, but it was my very, very first time ever in NYC and it seemed far more important to my poet's soul to walk all over the city, to have lunch and dinner with old friends, and to avoid getting conference-head. I got a whopping case of the flu instead, but it was well worth it. There were so many people I wanted to see, but this time was just for me.

By: Rich Villar

Rich Villar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:28:05 +0000

January:
(wink)
Working on it.

By: Shann Palmer

Shann Palmer — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:44:46 +0000

As one of the (white) people attending for the first time, I also enjoyed the bookfair most of all. I got something from your table (I’m not sure what- perhaps a pen- LOL- I haven’t dared to open my stuffed bag) and really enjoyed seeing the range and scope of people, books, and publishers from all over, but particularly the presence of Latino poets and publications.(I am originally from Texas and Arizona). It was a rich group, compared with what we see here in Richmond, VA, where I now live. I hope we can attract some of these voices to Richmond in the future to read and speak. I volunteer coordinate an art gallery where this could begin, if anyone is interested.
As a first-time visitor to NYC, I love New York, though all I really saw was the 14 blocks from our hotel on 42nd to the conference. I want to come back as soon as possible, no conference, just fun.
shann palmer
art 6 Gallery
art6.org
Richmond, VA

By: January

January — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:22:28 +0000

Rigoberto, sorry I missed you at the cnference. But I did stop by the Con Tinta table–happy to see Con Tinta become a larger presence in the poetry community.
Maybe next year Cave Canem, Kundiman, and Con Tinta can do a joint reading–a celebration of voices–in Chi-town.
Take care!

By: Rich Villar

Rich Villar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:29:24 +0000

Hey Sheryl,
After getting the report from Dagoberto last night at his reading, I’m thinking the woman you heard was probably Adriana Ramirez, a poet and non-fiction writer from Texas currently in school at Pittsburgh. She’s all kinds of fly. I’m sorry I missed that. And I’m sure Javier killed it too.

By: Sheryl Luna

Sheryl Luna — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:48:15 +0000

It was great seeing you at AWP, Rigo! I attended the immigration panel with Dagoberto Gilb and Luis U. It was fantastic! I thought it was well attended too. Javier Huerta read some poems about amnesty, immigration and another woman riffed an amazing speech about growing up in South Texas, which sounds very much like the El Paso, Ciudad Juarez situation. I was very impressed with her and am frustrated I can’t remember her name. Sorry you read first at your panel!!! I missed you!!! Maybe in Denver in 2010!
Cheers,

By: Rich Villar

Rich Villar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:31:07 +0000

Bueno. Rigoberto, you do a lot to increase the visibility of Latinos on this particular stage we call AWP. We do what we can.
Elena Minor deserves commendation for bringing PALABRA to the conference. I ended up with a lot of her leftover product.
As for our headliners, I understood that various logistical issues kept folks from the Immigration panel on Saturday. That would have been cool, but I guess sometimes these things can’t be helped. All I can say on that note is: there’s always next year.
My thanks for all your help, especially to Con Tinta for allowing Acentos to share table space with you. We had a lot of fun, even if the whole thing was spread out to all-be-damned. I dig AWP, but perhaps not in NYC. Chicago, though cold, will be off the chain. Can’t wait.
Paz,
Rich.

By: Rich Yañez

Rich Yañez — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:16:46 +0000

As I recover from my AWP cruda (hangover for la non-raza), like Rigoberto and Francisco, I too feel more optimistic than not. What I would like to add to this welcomed post and thoughtful comment is that Con Tinta, Acentos, Letras Latinas, and other Chicano/Latino organizations will always survive through the hardwork of nuestra gente. But to THRIVE, we do need the support and assistance of AWP (All Willing People). So my Shout Out goes to the editors at the University of Arizona Press, our friends in Kundiman, Poets & Writers, and yes to all those young people/educators who we met in hallways, after panels, over drinks.
Mas Y Mas!!

By: Francisco Aragón

Francisco Aragón — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:03:49 +0000

I would like to congratulate CON TINTA on a wonderful gathering in El Barrio on Thursday evening, which, in addition to honoring Tato Laviera and Sandra Maria Esteves, showcased a few voices from PALABRA, a newish journal out of Los Angeles edited by poet, writer and editor elena minor.
And congratulations to Rich Villar and ACENTOS for what I would venture to say was an historic and moving reading on Friday night featuring over 25 Latino and Latina poets, many of whom I had to the pleasure of hearing read for the very first time, including, in no particular order:
Carmen Jiménez Smith
Raina J. León
Xochquetzal Candelaria
Rodriigo Toscano
Edwin Torres
Willie Perdomo
José B. González
to name a few.
There has been a lot of discussion about AWP here. The one thing I might add is that there is no such thing as “one” AWP experience—there are many. And for me, as I’ve said elsewhere, the panels and readings are sort of beside the point, as Rigoberto suggests. While it is true that the organization has work to do on being more diverse (where Latino/as are concerned), the conference, since I began attending in New Orleans, has become a place to catch up with other Latino/a poets and writers I only get a chance to see once a year or so, in addition to many other people of course, including, for example, Jon Tribble at the Crab Orchard Review and Catherine Mayo of TAMEME. So yes, it’s most valuable characteristic, in my view, is affording one the chance to feel a part of a larger community.