06/24: New Poet Laureate Letterpress Posters

NEW TACOMA POET LAUREATE ROBACKER GIVES PREMIERE READING JUNE 24

The Tacoma Public Library welcomes poet Tammy Robacker for a premiere reading to celebrate being named 2010 Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate on Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at the downtown Main Library. This event is free and open to the public--cosponsored by Urban Grace Church.

At the June 24 premiere reading, special guests will also be joining Robacker to celebrate poetry, Urban Grace's poet laureate program, and her introduction to the local community. Both former Soul of the City Poet Laureates Antonio Edwards and William Kupinse will be reading their work in honor of the event. Also, three of this year's 2010 Poet Laureate contest candidates, Brittany Short, Deborah Renee Crespo , and Pamela McCauley, will share poetry they submitted for application to the competition. Robacker has also invited Puyallup High School senior, Madison Hamel, to open her premiere with a special poem recital. Hamel was the winning 2010 Poetry Out Loud competition finalist in Pierce County this year.

Also taking place that evening, letterpress artist, Jessica Spring (http://www.springtidepress.com) and poet, Tammy Robacker (www.tammyrobacker.com) will be rolling out Tacoma's first Poet Laureate Commemorative Broadside series. Both artists partnered this spring to create the first ever letterpress poetry poster celebrating the Soul of the City Poet Laureate program in Tacoma. Robacker is hoping a tradition has been started to honor the poets and the growing legacy of the poet laureate program by having an annual letterpress broadside created for each new poet who wins the contest. The broadside posters of Robacker's poetry are coupled with Spring's acclaimed letterpress artwork. The posters are limited edition and collectible. They will be signed and sold at the event. Proceeds from the sale of the broadsides will go to support the Urban Grace Poet Laureate program and the artists who created them.