Buckham Gallery holding poetry reading Feb. 20

Professor Jan Worth-Nelson's UM-Flint students will hold a poetry reading at Buckham Gallery, 134 1/2 W. Second St., from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 20. Eleven students will take part in the event called Constructive Witticisms.  It will have the theme of "figures of speech."  There will be a $1 cover charge, with refreshments provided.  The event is sponsored by the UM-Flint English Department.

Worth-Nelson began planning the event at the beginning of winter semester.  With encouragement from Buckham Gallery Manager Jen Sikora and Flint artist Todd Onweller, Worth-Nelson decided to get students involved and out of the classroom.

"It's a great idea," Worth-Nelson said.  "I'd like to get all of the classes out of the classroom."

Sikora said the event will be an opportunity for people to talk about art.

"It's a chance to get yourself involved in art, whether it's written or visual," she said.  "There's really not enough poetry downtown."

Sikora said the gallery has always been open for performance art and hopes the gallery will embrace all art forms.

Sikora encourages open interaction from the community.  "We're not  charging a lot because we just want people to come in," she said.

Performers will be both undergraduate and graduate students, some with years of experience in creative writing and performing.

Amanda Merrill, a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University, said she has been writing for years.  She wrote for Saginaw Valley's magazine,  Cardinal Sins, and has performed her poetry on stage. However, she says, she still gets nervous.

"It's still nerve racking every time," Merrill said.

While some have grown used to the anxiety, others have different motivations behind their performance.  Jade Bell said she performs to think outside the box.  "I perform because I hate it," she said.

But for Marisa Lange, her performance is motivated by her professor.

"None of this would be possible if not for Jan," Lange said.  "She's the only reason I'm here."

Supporting the arts and bringing "raw poetry" to Flint is the students' goal.

Worth-Nelson said, "It's like a farmer's market of poetry."