Thursday, January 18, 5-6pm
Literary Sala, Hernández Macías 75
$50

Poetic Voices: Past and Present, Poetry Café

Poetry Café Bellas Artes will launch their third season on Thursday, January 18th by featuring three poets with California ties: Athea Marcos Amir, Bill Slusser, and Carolyn Studer.

Athea Marcos Amir received a B.A. and M.A. in English and Language Arts and Literature from California State Universities at Northridge and Los Angeles, respectively. She published poetry and fiction in the literary magazines of her universities, opinion pieces and poetry in the San Francisco Chronicle, New Times of San Luis Obispo, and was paid a whopping thousand bucks for a short story in "Woman's World." Athea also wrote for Marilyn Ferguson, publisher of the Brain/Mind Bulletin and author of "The Aquarian Conspiracy" (1980); was a proofer for Denise Hearst's "Arabian Horse World Magazine"; and has edited the work of several writers in San Miguel de Allende.

Bill Slusser has written screenplays, a stage play, poetry, and he has recorded a Spoken Word CD. Hailing from Los Angeles, Bill is new to San Miguel and delighted to be here.

Carolyn Studer is a Presbyterian minister, activist, poet, and free-lance writer. She moved to San Miguel de Allende from Los Angeles in April of 2017. In addition to writing poetry, she is working on a memoir about her family’s involvement in the Civil Rights movement. She enjoys traveling in Mexico, and is grateful for the opportunity to share her travel pieces in Magazine San Miguel de Allende.

In Memoriam

Ten days before his death on January 2nd, local poet Jock Whitehouse enthusiastically accepted our invitation to present his remarkably original writings at our January Café. Also, on the 18th, we will offer a brief tribute to Jock and his gentle poetic spirit.

In the foreword to Songs to Deborah, Jock Whitehouse writes that he and his wife Deborah met in this life when she was eight and he was nineteen. A seer told them they were once the same child.

Songs to Deborah is a poetic memorial of love that Whitehouse wrote as an invocation to grieve the loss of Deborah. Some of the poems focus on the utter aloneness that comes after the death of a partner. Others remind us that this kind of love never dies.

Founded in January of 2016, Poetry Café Bellas Artes meets monthly, September through April. The all-volunteer community organization features local and visiting poets (established and emerging) sharing original work in a casual setting.