Akron Soul Train opens the 2020 season with their first artist-in-residence, poet Damien McClendon
Damien McClendon was awarded an Akron Soul Train residency and begins the 2020 season writing and revising poems that examine racism, poverty, masculinity and fatherhood. He states, “My work seeks to create confrontations with power. Using narrative, creativity and compelling performance to call out systems of oppression, to reach back and remember the lessons of my ancestors, and to answer the questions I struggle with as a poor, Black father. My work explores the penalty and privilege in being a Black male and the transformation of my ideas of masculinity and Blackness.”
As part of an Akron Soul Train residency, artists are asked to develop a community engagement component. AST teamed up with the creatives at Vibe Collective for a professional development writing workshop offered by Damien with prompts such as: childhood, parenthood, family or chosen family. Workshop participants as well as the public are invited to share their pieces at Open Mic. The public will share first, then our feature poet, Damien, will begin at 8pm.
Free Admission
2020/02/22 - 2020/02/22
Additional time info:
Open Mic begins with the public sharing prose and poetry. Damien is set to begin around 8pm.
Akron Soul Train
191 King James Way (S. Main St.), Akron, OH 44308