Sierra Poetry Festival is a project of Nevada County Arts Council. We will host our 8th Annual SIERRA POETRY FESTIVAL on April 13, 2024 at The Center for the Arts, in Grass Valley, CA, attended by some of our most exciting local, national and international poets and performers, and preceded by a month-long POP-UP POETRY FESTIVAL, taking place in venues across Nevada County and beyond.

Sierra Poetry Festival is a live international festival marking National Poetry Month from the rolling foothills of California’s Gold Country to the rugged High Sierra, bringing a rich literary community together to celebrate the spoken word and reach out to new audiences in fresh ways. Through Sierra Poetry Festival we also celebrate California Arts, Culture & Creativity Month and we draw attention to our two coveted California Cultural Districts.

Schedule:

9:00-9:15: Welcome
On Homeland Return with Shelly Covert, Executive Director, Nevada City Rancheria, and ?Eliza Tudor, Executive Director, Nevada County Arts Council

9:20-10:00: Keynote

Jane Hirshfield-  Saying Yes to the Difficult

10:00-10:45: Morning Readiings

Molly Fisk

Jason Bayani

Georgina Marie Guardado

10:45-10:55: Break
On the way to workshops….

10:55-11:55: Morning Workshops
Jane Hirshfield - Storm and Sanctuary Q&A

Charlotte Scott -  “Had I the motive and the cue for action”: Exploring the Poetics of Selfhood in Hamlet

Jason Bayani -  From Page to Body: How to Read Your Work for Audiences

11:55-12:45 Lunch
Featuring Chelo’s Street Tacos

12:45-1:10: Community Voices
Celebrating our Open Mic Winners, presented by Michael Clarity

Poetry Out Loud student finalists perform

1:10-2:00: In Conversation
Poetry for Storm and Sanctuary -  Poets Pádraig Ó Tuama and Sam Willetts on where we find sanctuary as writers and readers of poetry. In a world filled with wrath and clamor, pain and prejudice, what paths of deep reflection can deliver refuge and repose, courage and release, and where do we find in poetry the potential for change. Moderated by Sands Hall.

2:00-2:10: Break

2:10-3:05: Afternoon Readings

Farnaz Fatemi

Maxima Kahn

The Poetry Crashers

3:05-3:40:  Performance in Poetry, Poetry in Performance
California Poets In The Schools featured student poets

Poetry in Song: A musical setting of “A Funeral in My Brain” ?Text by Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey?. Music composed by Mark Vance, Beth Kelley Gillogly, soprano, and Lynn Schugren, piano

3:40-3:50: Break

on the way to workshops….

3:50-4:50: Afternoon Workshops

Farnaz Fatemi -  Freedom Inside Form(s)

CharRon Smith -  Hip-Hop Has Poetry!

Georgina Marie Guardado - Writing the Private Poem

4:00: Doors open for Ross Gay in Conversation

4:50-5:30: Happy Hour - & Book Signings!

5:30: Nevada County Reads Presents

Ross Gay in conversation with Tricia Caspers-Ross on his book, A Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude.

Sierra Poetry Fringe Festival

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

5:00-7:00pm: A Celebration of Gratitude-Poetry Reading with June Saraceno and Karen Terrey
In collaboration with Nevada County Reads, this event will feature a poetry reading by June Saraceno and Karen Terrey. The poets will share poems on the theme of Gratitude, from their own collections of poetry and from Nevada County Reads author Ross Gay.  They will also offer a short writing workshop with prompts for all levels of experience. There will be time for socializing with the poets, and a Q&A during the reading. The library will provide light refreshments for all who attend. The event is completely free and everyone from our community is encouraged to attend!

Free copies of this year's book are available at all Nevada County Library Branches.

Location: Truckee Library, Truckee, CA

6:00-7:30pm: Five Nevada County Women Poets, 8th Edition
In this their eighth annual Sierra Poetry Festival pop-up event, five Nevada County Women read their poems.
Kirsten Casey
Judy Crowe
Beth Ford
Ingrid Keriotis
Judie Rae

Location: The Miners Foundry and Cultural Center, Nevada City, CA

Friday, April 5, 2024

7:00pm: Poetry Reading with Patricia Caspers and Rooja Mohassessy
Join two local poets for a night of poetry and intrigue.
Open mic to follow.

Location: Madelyn Helling Library, Nevada City, CA

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Workshop 1-3pm
Performance 5-7pm

Dancing on the Edge of Faith and Shadow
This pop up is “a two-parter,” says poet and presenter Michaelyn Logue. Join Psi Process, an avant-garde sound project from Santa Cruz, for a generative writing workshop following a theme of Faith and Shadow. Attendees will be guided through somatic exercises, followed by creative visioning. Working with prompts, participants will be invited to the mic to read their creation, as “the band” creates an ambient soundscape in response.

Dancing on the Edge of Faith and Shadow includes an improvised  performance with Embodiment Collective. Invited poets from the generative part of the session, along with others including Bishop Randall, Chris Olander, Sands Hall, Michaelyn Logue and Kirk Lumpkin, will read their work as Psi Process creates a soundscape and our aerial dancers explore their own interpretation of Faith and Shadow.

Location: Aerialution - Aerial and Movement Studio, Grass Valley, CA

Thursday, April 11, 2024

5:00-7:00pm: Open Mic Poetry Slam Lottery! MC’d by Michael Clarity
Hosted by Michael Clarity, readings begin at 5:45pm sharp. Arrive in time to put your name in the lottery tumbler. Starting at 5:45, we’ll draw the names of 20 poets one by one. Your original poem should not exceed three minutes; please time yourself beforehand.

Compete for the opportunity to read your poem on the Main Stage as part of Sierra Poetry Festival. Three finalists will be selected by our judges, Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey, Poet Laureate emeritus Chris Olander, and local poet winner of the 22nd Annual Elixir Poetry Award Rooja Mohassessy. Looking forward to this flash round of poetic voices!

Location: The Iron Door at The Holbrooke, Grass Valley, CA

Friday, April 12, 2024

5:00-7:00pm: Sierra Poetry Festival - Media Lounge
Join us in welcoming our visiting poets and presenters, and celebrating our founding festival benefactors.

Each one will be interviewed, wine will flow thanks to our no-host bar, and the public is welcome as our media lounge is broadcast live!

Location: Nevada City Winery, Nevada City, CA

Thursday, April 18, 2024

5:00-6:00pm: National Poetry Month - Poetry Happy Hour at Communal Cafe

Join Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey for a celebration of all things poetry.
Prompts and prizes, all are invited!

Location: Communal Cafe, Nevada City, CA

Friday, April 19, 2024

5:00 - 7:00pm: The Watching Sky
“Stirring landscapes and a searching heart inform The Watching Sky, the vibrant and compassionate full-length debut from award-winning poet Judy Brackett Crowe. Both a probing exploration of the natural world by various, mostly anonymous, speakers, focusing on intimate encounters and interactions, and a questioning and celebration of identity, Crowe's astute sense of place grounds her work in fields and mountains, soft light and small roads, stories and sounds. With wonder and hope, The Watching Sky proves that there is always another chance, and plenty of stars to follow.”

Join poet and author Judy Crowe as she reads from her new book from Cornerstone Press.  Artist talk, book signing, and light refreshments to follow.

Location: Artists Studio in the Foothills (ASiF), Grass Valley, CA

5:00 - 7:00 pm: Envisioning Poetry: Poets and Visual Artists Collaborate
Opening Reception and Poetry Reading
Poets: Rachael Courier and Graham McGrew
Artists: Meredith Manning, Maile Claire and Mark Wilcox

Location: Nevada City Winery Gallery, Nevada City, CA

Saturday, April 20, 2024

9:00-10:30am: Poetry at Nevada City Farmers Market
A celebration of Poetry on the theme of Earth Day!

Location: Robinson Plaza on Union Street

Doors at 6:00 pm | Reading at 6:30 pm

Tracks Along the Left Coast
This year, we sought to extend our focus from those who have written from, or passed through, the Ridge, to other watersheds and their associated poets. Our theme, ‘Tracks Along the Left Coast’—is a nod to Schelling’s "Post Coyote at Orono", a nod to Jaime de Angulo himself, and a nod to all those who continue making tracks. What have song, story, and language been on this westerly chunk of the continent? What funny forms might they take today, and what might they look and sound like in days to come? How does land make culture?

Our current line-up is: Andrew Schelling, Jacquie Bellon, Jim Dodge, Jerry Martien, and Mariee Siou.
Tickets: $20 presale | $25 at the door

Location: North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center, Nevada City, CA

Sunday, April 21, 2024

5:00 - 6:00pm: Chocolate and Poetry: An Hour of Delight
As part of our local Earth Day celebration, poets Alicia Vandevorst, Maxima Kahn, Iven Lourie, and Gene Berson will recite for you as you sip or savor cacao.
You may want to arrive a little early if you plan to order a drink.

Location: Choquiero Cacao Café, Nevada City, CA

11:00am-5:00pm: The Poetry Crashers 3rd Annual Earth Fest Celebration
Upstate California Creative Corps grantees The Poetry Crashers will bring their magic to the Nevada City Earth Day Festival. Their interactive booth at the Earth Day festival celebrates their project Postcards from Earth. This alien invitation station encourages the humans of Nevada County to write postcards on the theme of our shared interest, Planet Earth! The Poetry Crashers will intersperse their galactic musings throughout the day with postcard readings and a selection of poems.

Location: Downtown Nevada City

Wednesday, April 27, 2024

5:00pm  - 7:00pm: Wild Writing Wednesday
We’ll meet at Nevada City Picture Framing and Restoration. Proprietor Melissa Goldman is opening up her beautiful space for Wild Writers to enjoy “prompts for poetry and prose.” Led by Sands Hall.  This is an inclusive and dynamic group of writers; no experience necessary. Wine and Sparkling water available. Donations welcome but not required.

Location: Nevada City Picture Framing and Restoration, Nevada City, CA

1:00pm: Poetry in Parks: Students and Poets Read
In cooperation with the California State Parks Department, and California Poets in the Schools, Kirsten Casey, Poet Laureate of Nevada County, will be hosting an outdoor poetry reading with local adult and high school poets.  Special guest, California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, will attend to speak, and listen to poems about the Empire Mine and his “My California” prompt, which was part of the curriculum in Kirsten Casey’s two high school residencies.

Musical guest, to play before the reading, is Davia. Picnics are allowed, so bring a blanket and some snacks. Should there be inclement weather the reading will take place in the Clubhouse.

Park Entry Fee: $5  (Children under five free.)

Location: The Empire Mine State Park, Grass Valley, CA

Saturday, May 4, 2024

10:00am - 12:00pm: Wildflower Poetry Walk and Workshop
Join poets Kirsten Casey and Ingrid Keriotis, in cooperation with the Bear Yuba Land Trust, for a family wildflower walk and poetry writing workshop, located at the Wildflower Ridge Preserve (park at Twin Cities Church.) Tickets available March 20th, one adult group of 25 participants, and one youth group of 25 participants. (Children must be able to read and write.)

Location: Wildflower Ridge Preserve, Grass Valley, CA

Date: April 3 - May 4, 2024

Location: Various Towns in CA

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