28 Jun Talking Gourds: Knoxville Poet Laureate Black Atticus Featured at Bardic Trails, 7/1!
Talking Gourds “Stories & Poems” Bardic Trails series happens the first Tuesday of each month. Featured guests give a 15-20 minute presentation each, followed by a short Q & A period after the presentation. Then there’s a passing of the gourd, when community members are encouraged to share stories or poems.
Bardic Trails is a project of the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program, in collaboration with Telluride’s Wilkinson Public Library. “Stories & Poems Norwood” is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer & Cantor poetry contests.
For more information, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at art@tellurideinstitute.org. To visit the Talking Gourds website go to: www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
Go here for more about Talking Gourds.
Joseph “Black Atticus” Woods is a celebrated figure in Southern hip-hop and spoken word. Renowned for his rhythmic storytelling and lyrical depth, Woods draws inspiration from his Gullah Geechee heritage to craft narratives that reflect the complexities of life, identity and community.
The Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds is delighted to welcome Woods as the featured guest for the first Tuesday Bardic Trails zoom reading on July 1 at 7 p.m.
“Thanks to our friend Zoey Benally for recommending Black Atticus,” said Art Goodtimes, Talking Gourds director.
As Knoxville Poet Laureate, Woods aims to foster healing and unity through the power of words, believing that art should serve as a bridge between mind and spirit. His work continues to inspire and uplift, marking him as a pivotal voice in Knoxville’s artistic community.
In addition to creating music, Woods is deeply committed to cultural preservation and education.
In 2022, Woods participated in the University of Tennessee’s “Boundless: Artists in the Archives” program, where he explored the Dr. C.S. Boyd Photograph Collection. The experience culminated in the creation of Woods’ original piece “Seed 2 Sun,” which delves into the rich history of African Americans in early 20th-century Knoxville.
For those who like prompts, July’s will be “Wind.” Virtual attendees are encouraged to bring a story or poem to share each month after the featured reader, their own work or someone else’s.
Next month’s featured poet will be Colorado Poet Laureate Emeritus David Mason and his wife, photographer/poet Christine Mason.
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