World-renowned performance artist Saul Williams will perform at Lawn Gnome Publishing in November for a limited audience and the emerging spirit of the downtown Phoenix poetry scene.
Williams is an internationally acclaimed performer specializing in poetry, music, theater and film. His list of accomplishments is as long and varied as his talent: he has written several books, recorded five original albums, starred in the documentary “Slam Nation” and the independent film “Slam,” and won the Nuyorican Grand Slam Championship.
Williams recently performed at Phoenix’s Crescent Ballroom and returned to Stateside Presents, requesting another opportunity to perform in Phoenix — this time at a smaller, more intimate venue. Lawn Gnome was immediately suggested.
Aaron Johnson, founder of Lawn Gnome, points to Williams’ origins as a “backyard performer” when discussing his desire to perform in a small, local setting.
“Williams’ music talks a lot about supporting people and giving back to his roots. This is a way for him to do that,” Johnson said.
Stinkweeds employee Dario Miranda is considering attending the event and said he is curious to see how such a small and unconventional venue will feature a big-name artist like Williams.
“Well that’s Saul,” Miranda said. “(Lawn Gnome) is kind of perfect for him.”
According to Johnson, Williams is a rare artist, dexterous when performing in front of smaller audiences. His work establishes intimacy between audience, poet and language because “he has no fear of being close to his fans,” Johnson said. This closeness is accompanied by a limited 250 seats, about half of which have been sold, Johnson said.
Johnson first met Williams in 2007 at the 4/20 Spoken Word Showcase at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff. The event was presented by the Flagstaff-based nonprofit organization NORAZ Poets, of which Johnson was a member and Assistant Executive Director from 2005 to 2007. Since his involvement with NORAZ, Johnson has competed in five National Poetry Slams and has performed several highest scoring poems at these competitions.
Johnson has also collaborated with Phoenix’s artist collective Firehouse Gallery on sketch-comedy project First Friday Night Live. Kristy Theilen, a fellow artist and previous member of the Firehouse collective, emphasizes Johnson’s influence on the downtown poetry and performance art movement.
“I didn’t even know what slam poetry was until I met Aaron,” she said.
Williams’ appearance at Lawn Gnome is already invigorating the events calendar at the venue and the poetry scene in the community. Since Williams agreed to perform at Lawn Gnome, the venue has booked 10 other nationally recognized performers and will be printing a limited edition chapbook by poet Michael C. Ford. “It’s a movement and we’re at the top of it with small publishing and performance art,” Johnson said.
“Lawn Gnome and the events surrounding Lawn Gnome have heightened the energy around poetry,” Theilen said.
Miranda agrees that events like these could generate the kind of culturally conscious, locally oriented businesses Phoenix is looking to attract.
“We want the creative minds here, the people who enjoy art,” he said.
Williams’ performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Lawn Gnome, located at Roosevelt and 5th streets. Tickets are $15 and available for purchase at Lawn Gnome, Stinkweeds Record Exchange, ticketfly.com, and statesidepresents.com. If tickets sell out quickly, there is a possibility of a second performance by Williams later during the week of Nov. 4.
Contact the reporter at emregan1@asu.edu
