Lawn Chair Poetry Festival Held in Gulfport
Lawn Chair Poetry Festival Held in Gulfport Gulfport's City of Imagination art program hasbranched out to include the written word, with readings by poets such as Steven Reigns at an informal Lawn Chair Poetry Festival.
Story Stephen Ross. Photos by Thaddeus Root
Gulfport's City of Imagination Program Director is at it again with his re-introduction of a Lawn Chair Poetry Festival called Poetry in the Park. On Sunday, April 18, approximately 20 people - some from Gulfport, others from all over, including Tampa - gathered in Clymer Park's octagon-shaped gazebo area to share poems. Frank Hibrandt has taken an activist's role in making sure art isn't just for the elite. He's fond of saying, "Instead of you going to the art, it comes to you." That's why he's been persistently pushing the envelope with bold and aggressive programs such as Total Risk, with five Gulfport art venues at one time, and also brought in such talents as artist Steven Reigns, who hopes to conduct a city-wide art project involving written witticisms on Gulfport's benches. Although from Tampa, Reigns has again collaborated with Hibrandt and is back on the art scene again, this time, with his poetry. He has published a book of poems and collected writings entitled, Your Dead Body is My Welcome Mat.
On this Sunday afternoon, Reigns read from a new collection he calls Inheritance, with individual poem titles including Biting, Dark on the Bus, and One of These Days, Alice. Apparently fascinating to all who attended, for no one dared move but instead sat mesmerized listening to numerous biting, sarcastic, often woeful, but always insightful poems by this young artist. Also helping the city re-establish itself as an art community, Gulfport resident Tina Marie shared readings from her book, Phases of My Life and You. Next was Bill Martin, from St. Petersburg, a selfdescribed "darkpoet," which he defined as being "very aggressive, in a dream mode, sort of an underworld poet" who writes about "bikers, drugs, sex, rock n' roll, not suitable for most middle class people."
The poets were reading as much for themselves as for the audience. You could see nearly imperceptible little sly smiles of recognition as each poet acknowledged to himself or herself, with perhaps a chuckle or a skipped beat, an intimate part that referred to some autobiographical memory. All of the poetry presentations combined lasted about an hour, and it was as much a social gathering as anything else. These gatherings often bring in some award-winning local poets, too. Those who like to write seem to enjoy meeting there, and next month's meeting was already being talked about. Hibrandt confessed that poetry "is not really my thing," but admitted, "I found I like it." Actually, Frank professed interest in getting the Clymer Park gazebo area opened up to "cross-pollination, all sorts of performances." Admittedly, the sunshade and acoustics are excellent, and there's a cool Gulfport breeze many days. Spectators just need to bring a lawn chair.