by Lucy Findley Spring 2019 Regis University Intern Poetry events are rarely accompanied by punk music—but maybe they should be. A few weeks ago, I attended Punch Drunk Press’ “Punchapalooza,” a celebration of the magazine’s two years of success. Immediately as I walked in, I could sense what a close-knit and passionate group of people the Punch Drunk Press brings in. It wasn’t just their dark, punk attire that illustrated their likeness, it was their compassion for one another and the support they graciously handed out to everyone who presented a piece at the reading—and, of course, the live musicians who amplified the mood. This event was unique in many ways, one of my favorite parts was the “Punketry” portion of the evening: a combination of improv slam poetry and punk. It was fun, exciting, and like many other ways to describe the night, heartfelt. Not a single line of poetry went by without a “yes!” from the crowd. “Punch Drunk Press’ mission is to provide a platform for established and upcoming writers, poets and artists to help them to share their passion with the world around them, whether that be a local in-person community or a global online community.” Estefania Munoz was one of the first readers of the night and she made her mark within the ten short minutes she brought her poems to life on stage. The appraisal for her words was undeniably genuine and warranted. Before hearing Munoz’s poems, I felt very out of place. I walked in alone, sat down in the corner booth and had never felt so underdressed (or overdressed? Honestly, I’m not really sure which one). But as soon as she started reading, I realized I’m not as different from the rest of the audience as I thought I was. Every one of the poems Munoz read hit me in special place, and I left that night thinking about specific lines that I’m certain won’t be leaving my memory anytime soon. This event was not what I expected, but I really do believe it may have been what I needed. I urge you all to not distance yourselves from people who you think are different than you just because of the way they present themselves. There’s much to be experienced, even learned when we get out of our comfort zones. Punketry reminded me to have a little fun with that process, too. "Punch Drunk Press runs the monthly series Punketry at the Mutiny Information Cafe in Denver, Colorado. On the second Tuesday of each month, four featured poets read poems accompanied by Black Market Translation, an improvised punk band.”
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Jesica Carson Davis & Nawal Nader-French When the editors met at The Dikeou Pop-up gallery on Colfax we didn’t know what to anticipate. We've heard great things from writers like Steven Dunn, who recommended it as his favorite Denver art and literary space in our interview with him. Still, we wondered if it would be the right spot for the journal launch. Upon visiting, the Dikeou Pop-up gallery felt like the perfect spot to celebrate launching the first print issue of Inverted Syntax because like us, it’s scrappy but extensible. “Located in the former Jerry’s Record Exchange storefront, Dikeou Pop-Up: Colfax is an extension of the Dikeou Collection and offers an alternative art experience in the heart of Denver. Work by artists Lizzi Bougatsos, Sarah Staton Supastore Supastars, Rainer Ganahl, Anicka Yi, and Devon Dikeou is on view at this location. The Dikeou Collection’s vinyl, laserdisc, and CEDs are archived here. Please see the Events section of the site to find information on upcoming programs at Dikeou Pop-Up: Colfax.” It takes a few minutes to get settled into the space but once you do, it quickly becomes that perfectly sized event hall you wish you had had access to in the 90s. The space feels very liminal: a hybrid place for showcasing art, but also a celebration of words and full of music: party attendees are encouraged to pull one of the thousands of records that remain from the gallery’s former life as a record store and play them during the party! When we say we’ve got an exciting line-up of readers, we’re not kidding: poets, novelists, essayists, and uncategorizable writers (see the list below). These extraordinary humans are gathering to read to us, to wash us with words, to cleanse us, wake and restore us to the art form we are meant to be. You’ll be entertained, engaged, and you will leave feeling inspired. Arrive at 6 for appetizers, drinks, and lively conversation; the readings begin at 6:45 with another break in between — we want everyone to meet and mingle, to build community. The event is free and open to all. Come party with us! Event Details Featuring readings by : ANDREA REXILIUS | ERIC BAUS | KATHY FISH | JEANINE PFEIFFER | JESICA CARSON DAVIS And the one and only Levi Andrew Noe will emcee! Come soak up Music, Drinks, Appetizers, and All the Words Dikeou Pop-Up: Colfax 6:00- 8:30pm It’s FREE, FREE, FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC. About the Readers:
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