Open Mic July 7, 2017 at Dagny’s

First Friday Open Mic Story by Alex Victoria Photos by Ezekiel Espanola Like too many other Bakersfield summer days, the heat had not abated going into the afternoon, but perhaps thankfully our tiny room within Dagny’s Coffee Shop offered a chilled refuge for...

Foundation for Second Chances

Story by Portia Choi Photographs by Martin Chang and Portia Choi A new charter school in Bakersfield, Foundation For Second Chances, had poetry as part of their developing leadership component.  The school focuses on at-risk young adults to obtain a high school...

Open Mic June 2, 2017

  Story by Portia Choi Photos by Martin Chang At the June 2 open mic, Norma Camorlinga performed her poems before moving to the East Coast. She has been performing regularly at the First Friday poetry event since October 3, 2014.  She first attended open mic to...

Brendan Constantine Teaches Everyday Poetry

By Martin Chang and Portia Choi Photos by Portia Choi and Martin Chang When Brendan Constantine shopped at big box stores, he saw the same word over and over.  “I was shopping at a place like Smart and Final and they would have industrial versions of different...

Surprise Guest Poet at Open Mic May 2017

Story by Portia Choi Photographs by Ezekiel Espanola The councilman, Andrae Gonzalez, came to the open mic on May 5, 2017.  He represents the Bakersfield downtown area that includes Dagny’s Coffee where the open mics are held.  Gonzalez recited his poem, “Echo,” about...

Visions of Words: Art and Poetry

LicetRomero portiachoi shannaobrien (1) JoseLemus TLucer gregstanley (1) dianaramirez (1) gstanley Story by Portia Choi Photographs by Ezekiel Espanola It was a celebration of the arts in the sculpture garden of The Arts Council of Kern on April 21, 2017.  There was...

Writing Poems of Awe and Wonder

The taste of a grape and the fragrance of a crushed mint leaf, help writers to compose poems. On April 10, Portia Choi facilitated a workshop on “Writing Poems of Awe and Wonder” at the Art and Spirituality Center of Dignity Health, 2215 Truxtun Avenue. Choi had the...