A! Magazine for the Arts Archive

Rufus Skeens is enchanted by poetry

Rufus Skeens doesn't simply choose to write a poem. It is more like the poem chooses him.

In This Issue

• ETSU's Parker interviewed in "Backstage' magazine This week, hundreds of actors in New York City and beyond are getting monologue advice from Herb Parker, a faculty member at East Tennessee State University.
• Jane Hicks' poetry provides context for life One of Jane Hicks' poems begins with a quote from one of her favorite poets, Seamus Heaney, and calls attention to the vitality and influence of poetry.
• Poetry opens possibilities for Sam Rasnake Poetry opens life's possibilities to Sam Rasnake, and he's been writing poetry since graduating from high school.
• Eveyln Bales' poetry draws readers into her world Poetry fills Evelyn Bales' soul, as she says, "with the sheer joy of accomplishing something and by connecting me to my past, by preserving memories and stories of family, by finding a new way to present an idea or story.
• AAME announces winners of Arts Achievement Award The Arts Alliance Mountain Empire has chosen its 2016 Arts Achievement Award winners.
• Arts for Youth Spotlight When Laken Brooks was 6 or 7, she vaguely remembers writing a poem about clouds on a napkin while sitting outside an ice cream parlor.
• SWCC Festival celebrates Shakespeare The spring of 2016 marks an international commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare.
• Book Review: Lee Smith's "Dimestore" Lee Smith's memoir, "Dimestore: A Writer's Life," published this month by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, is a collection of 14 essays which impressionistically connect the dots of her childhood in Grundy, Virginia, education, personal life and life as a

A! Extra

• Winners Announced: Jonesborough Open Juried Art Show 2016 The Jonesborough Open Juried Art Show 2016 consists of paintings, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, basketry, photography, sculpture and mixed media giving the show a well-rounded exhibit of artwork.
• It's Fan Central April 30 at E&H College: Blue Highway says thanks "Without the fans, I'd either be dead or still driving a coal truck." - Wayne Taylor, co-founder of Blue Highway, who lives in Bristol, Virginia
• Community Arts projects thrive with Creative Placemaking Grants Creative Placemaking is an opportunity to animate public and private spaces and rejuvenate structures and streetscapes through the arts.
• Tennessee Craft invites organizations to submit events for the 2016 Tennessee Craft Week For the second year, Tennessee Craft (formerly TACA) is leading a statewide effort to spotlight and celebrate craft and craft artists across the state during Tennessee Craft Week (Oct. 7-16).
• It's Fan Central April 30 at E&H College: Blue Highway says thanks Blue Highway is paying tribute to fans April 30 with two shows and much more at Emory & Henry College.
• Bringing Blind Afred Reed out of the shadows Like Lazarus risen, even the grave could not hold Blind Alfred Reed down.
• Ralph Peer exhibit goes up at Birthplace of Country Music Museum BRISTOL, Va. — Step inside the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
• Crooked Road sets stage for 2nd Mountains of Music Homecoming Last year, 64 communities in Southwest Virginia participated in The Crooked Road's first Mountains of Music Homecoming with more than 30 Crooked Road concerts and hundreds of cultural experiences.
• Dolly Parton to write foreword for Benjamin Walls' New Book At a media event at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort, Tri-Cities artist Benjamin Walls announced the release of his new book entitled "Beyond," which includes a foreword written by entertainment icon Dolly Parton.
• 2016 Women Painters of the Southeast Juried Members' Exhibition Beginning April 8, the Women Painters of the Southeast presents its fifth annual Juried Members' Exhibition and Art sale at The Arts Depot in Abingdon, Virginia.
• TAC offering grant advisory panels The Tennessee Arts Council announces that as part of the annual grant review process, it hosts advisory panels so citizens from across Tennessee can provide expert guidance in evaluating grant applications.