Chicagoland Summer Festivals - Poetry Video Festival
This three day program, split between two venues is centered around the truly obscure and intriguingly expressive form of poetry video.
Thursday June 11, The Guild Complex, 1534 W. Division, 7:30pm
For those unfamiliar with this form of poetry, don't be shy, only prepared for a raucous, mind-bending introduction into the dramatic rhetorical onslaught that is the slam. The national competition is judged by celebrities and audience members. Then, members of the Chicago National Team, including Marc Smith who hosts the weekly slam at the Green Mill, will debate with members from the New York Slam Team in a no-holds-barred-brawl where it is possible that bodies will fly at the rate of words. The Guild Complex will slam at 7:30 on June 11, $7, $5 students and members.
Friday June 12, The Museum of Contemporary Art Theatre, 220 E. Chicago, 8pm
Friday's National Video Screening, collaborating for the first time with San Francisco's 21-year-old Cin(E)-Poetry Fest, promises stunning clips and short-runs of new and archived material. This event is styled for both the gung-ho video-poet and the curious alike. Admission is $12, $9 for members
Saturday June 13, The Museum of Contemporary Art Theatre, 4pm
Yo! Vid, a concept that originated at this festival, features screenings of videos produced by teenagers nationwide, including Chicagoans involved in the Street-Level Youth Media and Video Machete programs. While the final videos are being selected, teens from Neon Street will perform live poetry and music. Admission is $7, $5 for members.
Saturday June 13, The Museum of Contemporary Art Theatre, 8pm
This year's festival closes with the Midwest premiere screening of SlamNation directed by Emmy award-winner Paul Devlin. For Slam virgins, this epic documentary chronicles the Olympics of verse - the National Poetry Slam. Later, there will be a sneak preview screening of SLAM, the 1998 Grand Jury Award winner at the Sundance Film Festival due out for general release in the fall. A discussion will follow. Admission is $7, $5 for members
Art can be expressed in many ways and through various media. Experience it all for yourself this weekend at one or all of the events at the Seventh National Poetry Video Festival. For tickets or information call the MCA at 312-397-4010 or The Guild Complex at 773-296-1268.
