Casa Azul Reading Series
(Hosted by Patrice Melnick)

In Clear Voices: Lana Maht Wiggins & Clare L. Martin

Thursday, April 9, 2009

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Casa Azul Gifts

 232 ML King Dr

Grand Coteau, LA

Host: Patrice Melnick

Phone: 3376621032

Email: casa.azul.gc@gmail.com

Thursday, April 9, 2009. 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., poets Lana Maht Wiggins and Clare L. Martin will read original works of poetry, followed by Open Mic.

Lana Maht Wiggins is the author of Notes from Refuge (Plain View Press), poetic narratives of her life in New Orleans and her personal refugee experience immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Notes from Refuge was a finalist in the 2006 Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Contest. Lana also received the Judge Felix Voorhies Award for Creative Writing and a Jon Z. Bennet Award in The Deep South Writer’s Conference Poetry Contest in 1996. She has been published in The Southwestern Review, Deep South Writer’s Chapbook, Dance to Death, Words-Myth, Moondance, Knock and The Smoking Poet.

Clare L. Martin is a poet-mother-wife. Her creative writing has appeared in Inch, Eclectica Magazine, Wheelhouse Magazine and The Blue Fifth Review and in other literary magazines. Her poem “4-Way Stop at Dusk” appears in the anthology Best of Farmhouse Magazine Vol. 1.  She is also the playwright of “Waterlines” produced in April and November of 2006, and in May 2007, as part of the project “Sustained Winds,” a collaboration with the theater company Acting Up (in Acadiana) and 40 Louisiana artists responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In 2007, “Sustained Winds” was performed in New York City as part of FringeNYC. Sustained Winds was again performed at Festival International de Louisiane April 25, 2008.

Recently Clare served as a poet-presenter of a poetry workshop and facilitator of a storytelling session for the first annual Festival of Words, in the communities of Sunset and Grand Coteau, LA; and served as Lead Writer for Play. Music. Heal.: a multi-disciplined collaborative theatre work-in-development by the company Acting Up (in Acadiana.) The project brings together actors, musicians and writers in creating a contemporary story revolving around the potential for music to heal.

The performances will be followed by an Open Mic of poetry and music in which everyone is invited to participate.  This free event takes place from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Grand Coteau at Casa Azul, 232 ML King Dr. Free Black Beans and Rice.