Poetry enthusiasts congregated at {9} the Gallery Friday evening for the six-year anniversary of the Caffeine Corridor Series, a monthly reading that brings together a wide variety of people.
Guests were treated to a variety of poetry throughout the evening, from featured, published poets Josh Rathkamp and Sarah Grieve to readings from the open-mic participants.
“(Rathkamp and Grieve) are excellent examples of widely-published somewhat ‘academic’ poets,” said Shawnte Orion, one of the local poets who helps run the event. “They’re great writers, who are still compelling and enthusiastic.”
Six years ago, Orion and fellow poet Jack Evans teamed up to bring the series to downtown Phoenix. They first gathered in local coffee shops, leading to the name “Caffeine Corridor.”
But for the past two years, they have called {9} the Gallery their home, an ideal venue because of its accessible parking lot, acoustics and incorporated coffee shop.
“This is the most fantastic venue we’ve had,” Orion said. “It’s a great space and they like having us here as much as we like being here.”
For Evans, working with Orion to plan each event is a great experience, and they have exceeded their expectations.
“We get along really well,” Evans said. “We put our heads together and prepping the show with Shawnte is fun and we are happy with what we are doing. It’s much more than we imagined.”
Evans and Orion are also joined each month by their co-host, Bill Campana, who is in charge of the open-mic portion of each event.
“He kept coming month after month and finally we decided he might as well just host the open-mic,” Orion said.
For the open mic, anybody is welcome to sign up to read, and both beginners and seasoned poets make use of this opportunity each month.
“These poets are working hard,” Evans said. “The open-mic allows for poets in the community to come and express themselves.”
These events expose the downtown Phoenix community to a variety of poetry, Orion said, and provide an opportunity for new poets to practice develop their skills.
“People can hear amazing work from world-class writers,” Orion said. “I really like when you get to see newer writers get better and better after a few months.”
Chandler-based Pam Davenport traveled to {9} the Gallery to share two poems during the open-mic. It was her second time reading poetry, and the opportunity to practice and improve is what motivates her to continue the craft.
“I am learning to be a poet, and this is part of my education, to read out loud,” Davenport said. “I thought I would be too afraid to enjoy it, but (this event) makes you feel like part of a community.”
Campana opened the evening with his poem, “Autumn Phoenix 2014.” He set the stage for the open mic participants, who shared poems on a variety of topics, including love, technology and nature.
“There are amazingly talented people in the Phoenix area,” Davenport said.
The Caffeine Corridor series will continue to bring a mixture of poetry to the downtown community each second Friday at the gallery, allowing poets to have an open forum to practice and share love for verse, as well as remain a home for those who appreciate hearing it.
“It’s eclecticism,” Orion said. “Our tastes are broad and people get to see different styles. You never know what to expect.”
Contact the reporter at rbouley@asu.edu
