Does the
thought of poetry get you excited? If the answer is yes, what comes to mind? Abstract
imagery? Explosive protest? Tongue in
cheek observation? Poetry can lay claim to all of those things and more. It’s
one of the oldest known forms of entertainment, far older than more contemporary art
forms like rock n roll, movies and selfies. While it generally flies under the
radar, especially in comparison to those other, more high profile forms of
expression it is no less important, especially to anyone who ever picked up a
book by Charles Bukowski, Allen Ginsberg or Maya Angelou. Now if the thought of
poetry doesn’t get you excited, perhaps it’s time for you to check out a “slam”.
Since the
mid-80s a different kind of poetry has been entertaining people worldwide. It’s
called poetry slam. What is it? It’s best to see and experience a slam so you
can decide that for yourself but if you need a starting point here you go: slam
is poetry on crack. It’s a simple recipe: Take performance poetry, which is
already exciting, and then make it competitive. A poetry competition? How
absurd! But it’s so much fun! Poetry slam is also interactive. Five random
people from the crowd volunteer and are made judges. After the host serves
up a sacrificial poet (someone who is not competing in the slam) to help the
judges calibrate their scoring, the slam begins. From that point the hopeful poets
perform their pieces within the confines of a time limit- going over time
results in a score deduction. Poets are then scored by each judge on a scale of 0-10, with the
number reflective of how the judge felt about both their content and
performance. After a few intense rounds a winner emerges. Got all of that? If
you look at it big picture the whole event is very tongue in cheek. Think about
it, poetry with a time limit, scoring and a winner declared? This is ART, there
are no winners! People who don’t get it (stubborn traditionalists) feel it
undermines the integrity of the art form while those who do get it, love it.
They know it’s all ridiculous fun.
But as silly
as the premise of turning poetry into sport may seem, don’t let that fool you
into thinking there isn’t something inspiring at work. These poets have plenty
to say! As many are now finding out through social media, many moving and
relevant works are being shared heavily on YouTube, Facebook or through websites
like Upworthy, the Huffington Post and others. These online avenues have
brought slam and performance poetry right to the leading edge of the
underground and have made poetry more of a viable form of expression, especially to the
young, who most appreciate the raw energy and in your face honesty that slam demands.
Before the recent
social media growth of slam there had been previous attempts to bring the style
to the mainstream, think the 6 seasons of Russell Simmons’ Def Poets on HBO, or
the popular independent film “Slam”, which introduced many of us to the
multi-talented poet Saul Williams. While these and other attempts surely
expanded and raised the level of exposure slam has achieved, it still
sits in a place that fits just right. Slam is underground enough to be cool, but
popular enough to grow. While it seems to be reaching a new high nationally, the
evolving art has had many ebbs and flows during it’s now 30 year run and slam
poetry in Buffalo is no different, especially in recent years.
About 2 years
ago local slam poetry received a rebirth when local poet Brandon Williamson founded the
Pure Ink Poetry Slam, a monthly poetry slam which took place at Merge
Restaurant. It was the first time a regular slam poetry event was held in
Buffalo since the late Gabrielle Bouliane moved to Austin, Texas in 2008
and took the very popular monthly Nickel City Slam with her. That event, with
the help of the Just Buffalo Literary Center enjoyed a healthy 3 year run
during First Fridays in Clifton Hall at the Albright Knox Art Gallery. Ms.
Bouliane took the first Buffalo representatives to the annual National Team Poetry
Slam competition. With her help and the development of many talented poets,
slam was gaining popularly in Buffalo but when she left, in a lot of ways it
was if she took most of the scene with her. With its’ biggest local champion
gone, local slam poetry became difficult to find. If you looked hard you might
find it in at an obscure coffeehouse open mic or through word of mouth… if you
knew the right people.
Then in January 2012 Mr. Williamson changed that. With the help of
Merge Restaurant he began hosting the Pure Ink Poetry Slam, an event that
reintroduced it to area audiences. From the first night, many of the poets who
performed during the Nickel City Slam days returned and since then a slow but
steady growth of slam around this region has occurred. This has resulted in many dynamic new
performers joining in, providing depth and making the Buffalo scene as vibrant
and energetic as those Nickel City days, perhaps more so. How much has the Buffalo
slam scene grown the past 2 years?
In late October of 2013, Pure Ink sent a team representing Buffalo
to the first annual Empire State Team Poetry Slam held in Rochester, NY. In
that competition Pure Ink defeated teams from Rochester, Syracuse, Suffern
and another very talented team from Buffalo to claim the title. Earlier this
month Pure Ink Poetry represented Buffalo again in the annual QEW Regional Poetry Slam. Teams from
Toronto, Burlington, St. Catharines, Mississauga and Rochester NY took part and once again Pure Ink Poetry did Buffalo proud becoming the first
American team to ever win the QEW.
What’s next
for the reigning Empire State and QEW slam champions? What’s next for Buffalo’s
slam scene? As the Pure Ink Poetry Slam begins its’ 3rd year of
existence it’s poised to be bigger than ever. So big that starting this Sunday,
it moves to a new home with a new day and time. You can be part of the growth! If you think
you’ve got what it takes to compete for the monthly Pure Ink slam title, make
sure to bring at least 2 original pieces that do not run longer than 3 minutes
and don’t forget to bring the energy. That goes for anyone who wants to attend.
You have to be prepared to cheer on the poets, playfully boo the judges and get beyond excited because with slam, energy is everything. Now who
would have thought poetry could be so much fun? See for yourself at the next
Pure Ink Poetry Slam!
Pure Ink
Poetry Slam
Sunday January 26th and every 4th
Sunday of the month At The Gypsy Parlor
376 Grant St. Buffalo
6pm, $5 at the door
All Ages- although the language and subject matter may not be suitable for children.
https://www.facebook.com/events/606233299462857/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
