WHAT TO EXPECT AT THIS GALLERY FOR CREATIVES
OPEN MIC POETRY BEATNIK STYLE OCTOBER 7TH
Pacesetter Gallery and Mississippi Poetry Society are co-hosting Open Mic Beatnik Poetry Night on Thursday, September 7th from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. This month’s special beatnik theme is bringing together local artists, musicians, and poets for poetry on the fly set to music and original singer/songwriter performances in addition to the standard readings of personal work by Mississippi poets.
The September monthly theme was inspired by an artwork in the gallery by Cindy Aune that includes the beat novelist, poet and leader Jack Kerouac’s quote, “Blessed are the Weird People the Poets and Misfits, the Artists, the Writers, the Music Makers, the Dreamers and the Outsiders, for they force us to see the world Differently.”
The Beat Generation of the 1950’s and 1960’s included serious writers and artists who wrote poems largely free verse, often surrealistic and influenced by jazz. Literature explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-WWII era. Beatniks subscribed to an anti-materialistic lifestyle and iconic beatnik fashion included straight-leg pants, berets, and black turtleneck sweaters.
This monthly collaborative poetry night began in 2021, when gallery owner Keri Davis reached out to Linda Owen, currently the 2023 Poet of the Year for the Mississippi Poetry Society, who was excited to help coordinate the Mississippi Poetry Society and Pacesetter Gallery event.
FIND YOUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY HERE.
A wide range of ages and experience attend the event, from high school emerging poets to professional published poets. Attendees are invited to come and listen or read a piece of their own work or even a favorite famous poem. There is always a break in between sets for discussion and to enjoy refreshments, with many lingering after the event to enjoy the energy of the evening and connect with other creatives.
“This is Pacesetter Gallery’s longest running monthly event and includes a wide array of perspectives from Mississippians. The atmosphere is very inclusive, everyone is very curious to see what others find important to write about and these honest individual perspectives connect us. It is a great chance to just be yourself and celebrate creativity.
RECHARGE THROUGH CREATIVE CONNECTIONS.
“Often as artists we hole up, the creation process can be very solitary. I started this event because as an artist, musician and poet myself I craved the community connection and I knew other creatives did as well. We have poets writing about pieces of art from the gallery, artists painting based on poems they heard during the event and musicians dropping in to play their originals. These are collaborations and moments that will never come again, and I am just thankful to be present.”
JOIN US FOR
PACESETTER OPEN MIC POETRY NIGHT
ALWAYS THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
ABOUT PACESETTER GALLERY: Pacesetter Gallery is a fine arts gallery specializing in Mississippi art and features a wide array of painting, pottery, jewelry, and other artistic media including unique gifts - with new art weekly. The gallery hosts exhibits, open mic poetry nights, music and theatre events and provides space for non-profits to meet to grow cultural arts in Central MS. The gallery is open M-W from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and TH-SAT from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and is located at 310 Ridge Way, Flowood, MS 39232 in the Lakeland Commons shopping center between Kohls and Hollywood Feed off Hwy 25 (in the Dogwood area).