Other Events

Tuesday, April 3

Discussion of Sara Miles' Memoir, Take This Bread: a Radical Conversation

In partnership with EWU’s literary festival, Get Lit!, Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church (HPPC) invites you to join us Tuesday, April 3rd, at 7:00 p.m., for a discussion of Sara Miles’ memoir, Take This Bread: a Radical Conversion. Dr. Pamela Corpron Parker, Professor of English at Whitworth University, will be facilitating the evening’s discussion. HPPC is located at 4102 South Crestline Street in Spokane, WA. For more information, contact the church office at (509) 448-2909 or visit us online at http://www.hamblenpres.org.

Monday, April 9

HooPalousa at Get Lit!

Univeristy of Idaho Photographic Services

The inaugural HooPalousa game was held in November 2011, at the University of Idaho, featuring writers, Native American legends and local hoops stars. Get Lit! Programs is proud to host a rematch on Monday, April 9, to kick off the 2012 Get Lit! Festival.

What began as a friendly challenge from University of Idaho creative writing professor and author Kim Barnes to three visiting writers from Spokane—a little pickup skirmish between them and players from the English Department—turned into a full-court game between the Spokane Dirty Realists and the Moscow SuperSonnets. When author Sherman Alexie joined in, the match became a fundraising event in support of the American Indian Graduate Fellowship in Creative Writing at the University of Idaho— the first of its kind in the nation. HooPalousa 2011 drew nearly 500 fans and continues to garner national media attention.

On Monday, April 9th, in conjunction with the 2012 Get Lit! Festival, the fun will continue. HooPalousa veterans Sherman Alexie, Jess Walter, and Shann Ray, and coach Sam Ligon will join other writers, regional Native American legends, and former Gonzaga basketball stars, including David Pendergraft and Heather Bowman, for round two of Bards on the Hardwood.

For more information and to learn how you can add your support, please visit: http://www.uidaho.edu/class/english/hoopalousa/historyofhoopalousa

Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Whitworth University
Cost: FREE. Donations will be accepted to benefit the American Indian Graduate Fellowship in Creative Writing at the University of Idaho.

Tuesday, April 10

Miss Representation Screening

This thought-provoking documentary asks entertainers, professors, teenagers, politicians and activists such as Gloria Steinem, Hillary Clinton and Condoleeza Rice about the way the media saturates the perception that a woman's power is held in her youth, beauty and sexuality. The film explores what we can do to change the subtle yet powerful messages women get every day from the media. It will be shown at the Magic Lantern Theatre on Tuesday April 10, at 7 p.m. Following the screening there will be a Q&A with EWU Professor and Director of the Women's & Gender Studies department, Sally Winkle.

Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Magic Lantern Theatre
Cost: $4

Wednesday, April 11

Get Lit! in Sandpoint

Join Get Lit! at the Sandpoint Library on Wednesday April 11, 2012 for a series of free fiction, non-fiction and poetry writing workshops presented by Shann Ray, Jonathan Johnson and Russell Thorburn. Writers interested in attending will have the opportunity to nurture their skills with the guidance of award-winning authors and poets. Additionally, a reading and Open Mic workshop will be held at 7 p.m. and is open to students, faculty and the public.

To register or for additional information, please contact Lost Horse Press at 208.255.4410 or losthorsepress@mindspring.com.

Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Venue: Sandpoint Library, Sandpoint, Idaho
Cost: FREE. Presented by the Lost Horse Press and the East Bonner County Library.

Keith Boykin

I speak because it matters not which group is most oppressed, or which was first oppressed, or whether they are identically oppressed. What matters is that no group of people should be oppressed... I speak because the personal is political every time we are not ashamed to go beyond our boundaries to express our love, to come out, to volunteer, to make a donation, to write a letter, to forward an email, to register to vote, or simply to speak... I speak to offer a choice: a choice between fear and love. I speak because fear is negativity, scarcity, and falsity. I speak because love is positivity, abundance, and truth. I speak because fear is unnatural and learned. I speak because love is natural and innate.

These words come from Keith Boykin's landmark speech delivered to 200,000 people at the Millennium March on Washington. Since becoming an activist at Harvard, where he studied law alongside Barack Obama, Boykin has worked to give a voice to the thousands of LGBT Americans silenced by fear and oppression. After serving as President Clinton's special assistant and liaison to the LGBT community, he published his first book, One More River to Cross (1996), an examination of the intersection between racial and sexual identity. His third book, Beyond the Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black America (2005) offered critical insight into internalized homophobia in the black community and became a New York Times bestseller. He has since appeared on numerous national media programs, including Anderson Cooper 360, The O'Reilly Factor, and The Tyra Banks Show.

Boykin's fourth book, For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Still Not Enough, will be a collection of work by published authors, public figures, and anyone who has faced adversity.

Special thanks to our sponsors for this event:

The Pride Foundation
EWU Pride Center

Hagan Center for the Humanities
President's Speaker Series at SCC

Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: The Lair Auditorium @ Spokane Community College
Cost: Free

Thursday, April 12

Poetry Slams

A poetry slam is an outlet for poets to express their voices—literally and literarily—by performing their work in the form of a competition, scored by an audience of judges. It’s a dynamic event where creative thinkers explore their words on the page and out loud, not to mention have a blast with the audience and with each other.

The Get Lit! poetry slams turn the stage over to four groups of young people: youth, ages 5-12; middle school, ages 13-15; teens ages 15-18; and college students of any age. Participants are welcome to compete alone or in teams at these energetic and artistic contests. Participants who fit into more than one age category can choose to compete in the age group they feel most comfortable.

Here's the cherry on top: The first-place winners of the slams will have the chance to perform at headlining events later in the week. The winners of the Youth and Middle School Poetry Slams will perform at Auntie's Bookstore on April 14. The winners of the Teen Poetry Slam and College Poetry Slam will open for Ted Kooser on Sunday, April 15.

The poetry slams are hosted by EWU's Writers in the Community, a program which allows graduate students to volunteer at area schools, correctional facilities, shelters and other community organizations as creative writing teachers.

All slams will be held at the Kress Gallery, located on the 3rd floor of River Park Square. Registration begins 30 minutes before each slam. We are excited for you to share your unique style and perspective with the community!

For all the details on the Get Lit! Poetry slams, including times, venues & registration, click here.

Discussion with Keith Boykin

Meet and greet following the discussion.

Time: 9:30 a.m.
Venue: The Hagan Center for the Humanities @ Spokane Community College
Cost: Free

Friday, April 13

Poetry Salon

Come bask in the glow of creative ideas at this dynamic, informal poetry salon, an event which has its roots in the early 20^th century Paris. EWU Professor and poet Jonathan Johnson hosts the reading and discussion between these five poets about their craft and their writing life. We invite you into their conversation.

Elizabeth Austen is a Seattle-based poet, performer and teacher who believes that “something magical is possible in a performance that doesn’t happen anywhere else—an exchange between performer and audience that is fluid and a little bit dangerous.” She’ll be reading from Every Dress a Decision.

Thomas Brush’s forthcoming collection Last Night, winner of the 2011 Blue Lynx Prize, includes poetry from the last 20 years about his childhood, his current reflections on the world, and the places he delights in and lives in.

Kathleen Flenniken proves that a poet can start writing in her 30s and definitely be good enough. She was recently named the Washington State Poet Laureate, and her second collection of poetry, Plume, was selected for the Pacific Northwest Poetry Series. She'll also share from Famous, winner of the 2005 Prairie Schooner Prize and finalist for the Washington State Book award.

Molly Tenenbaum is interested in the combination of poetry, old-time music and black tea. She is the author of three poetry collections, most recently The Cupboard Artist.

Kathryn Smith is an EWU MFA alum, a copy editor for the Spokesman-Review, a master gardener in training and a community volunteer. She tries (to quote Mary Oliver) to "keep my mind on what matters, / which is my work, / which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished."

Russell Thorburn was first inspired to write poetry in the fifth grade when he performed an original, humorous poem about raking leaves. He now enjoys a successful career as a poet, teacher and radio hour writer.

Time: 9 p.m.
Venue: Rocket Bakery, 1325 West 1st Avenue, Spokane

Saturday, April 14th

Reception for Authors K.L. Cook and Thomas Brush

Join two local literary presses, Willow Springs Editions and Lynx House Press, in welcoming their prize-winning authors to Spokane. K.L. Cook's third book of fiction, Love Songs for the Quarantined, winner of Willow Springs Editions' 2010 Spokane Prize for Short Fiction, takes off into a world of surprising stories that are dark, mysterious, funny, down to earth, and all about love—but not in the ways you might expect. Tom Brush’s poetry collection Last Night, is the winner of the 2011 Blue Lynx Prize and includes poetry from the last twenty years about his childhood, his current reflections on the world, and the places he delights in and lives in. This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Time: 5 p.m.
Venue: Brooklyn Deli
Cost: Free

Sunday, April 15

Spokane Songwriter's Concert

Get Lit! is excited to be collaborating with The Spokane Songwriters for the event Songwriters in the Round - Poetry in Song. Come celebrate poetry in music April 15th, from 2-5 p.m. at Holy Names Music Center Recital Hall. The concert will include local musicians Dave McRae, Steve Schennum, Cheryl Branz, Bill Tierney, Laddie Ray Melvin, Kevin Brown, Bill Kostelec and Kathy Kostelec. A $10 donation would be appreciated. Free refreshments will be available.

Time: 2 p.m.
Venue: Holy Names Music Center Recital Hall
Ticket Price: Suggested $10 donation/free to students

« Back