Aruba’s 1st Annual Poetry Festival on Sunday 27th of August, 2017 will take place in a cool location, and you should come with the kids. You are not going to believe your ears.
The Poetry Festival will be checking into downtown Oranjestad, into Flor Di Oriente, a recently remodeled and upgraded rum shop, tucked away behind the court building.
Poetry night was born 10 years ago in Cuba’s Cookin’s old location, on Wilhelminastraat, in Oranjestad. Owner Douglass Marcus supported PR diva Maria Silva, as she put together a Bohemian and creative entertainment program for his restaurant, including an open mike evening where the chic and hip attempted to add poetry to their resume.
While the first editions of Poetry Night were all about style, the resulting ten years were all about substance. The audience grew in strength and in numbers. Out of the blue, the usually conforming, and predictable regulars evolved to share a mix of rebellious and vulnerable thoughts, just like that, for the whole world to see.
Poetry, as you know, expresses feelings intensely, and is not for the faint of heart.
The intention of Poetry Night, explains Maria, was to promote creative self-expression through the art of the spoken word. The audience in turn, enjoys quality entertainment, with poets thinking differently, seeing differently, hearing differently and ultimately acting differently, reinforcing the individuality of each member of our community.
At a certain point, Poetry Night set itself free from a permanent address and became a pop up monthly gathering in unusual and unique places, a backyard, a dilapidated building, an abandoned theater. As expected, adults were then joined by kids and teens, and followers started to recognize certain Caribbean genres and certain talented performers. Papiamento as a language received a huge boost, as it was used as a literary tool, not just a street jargon.
It is important that you join Aruba’s First Annual Poetry Festival by BASHA Foundation, Sunday 27th of August, 2017, from 4pm to 1am; come and support the arts, it will make you think, feel, laugh and understand.
Location Flor de Oriente, Oranjestad. Entrance fee: Awg. 1.00. Open to the general public.
On the program: Four street poets, six stage poets, with guest performances by International Poets Alysia Harris and Denice Frohman. Vinyl records corner; Atelier 89’ exposition in the blue cunucu house; An exposition by Stichting Rancho: Candid photographs by rancho residents, “Tempo pa Klik,” inside Flor de Oriente and on the street; A pop up street art fair, Korteweg; Limbo dancers, a Brassband, Steelpans. You could play a game of Bolas Criollas, on the sidewalk or attempt to compose you own poetry on some vintage typewriters. Among musical performers, local young talents: Santo Blanco, Pearl Dumfries, Rocky Croes, and Central Pieces.
The event is hosted by poets Yakari Gabriel and Beach Lama.
Food & Beverage by Aruba Wine & Dine Catering and Flor de Oriente
Production Purple Entertainment.
