Elizabeth Austen to lead second Poetry Roadshow

Her road trip could be a warm-up act for Washington state's first official Poet Laureate.

That's the hope for Seattle poet Elizabeth Austen, chosen October 9th to lead Poetry Roadshow 2006, a program developed by a partnership of arts organizations that seek to bring the power of poetry to under-served communities in Washington state.

"This wasn't easy, it's the first year we've invited people to apply for the post and we had excellent candidates," said Ed Stover, who served on a selection panel representing the Washington State Arts Commission and two non-profits, the Washington Poets Association and Humanities Washington.

This is the second year for the Roadshow. The 2005 Poetry Roadshow was led by poet Jim Bertolino, who presented workshops and readings in Wenatchee, Walla Walla, Centralia and Port Angeles.

Karen Bonaudi, another panel member, indicated each year has enhanced the program's system and positive reception statewide. "Jim did a wonderful job introducing the Roadshow, which resulted in the wealth of applications this year," she said.

Austen, who produces literary programming for public radio affiliate KUOW-FM in Seattle, has been active in the state's poetry community for years. Widely published and a sought-after performer, she has taught at colleges and K-12 schools in addition to presenting many readings and guest lectures.

"What I hope to share with audiences is poetry's capacity to provoke the imagination, to awaken our sense of empathy and reveal something of the mystery and beauty of our daily lives," said Austen.

"I believe everyone has the capacity to appreciate and enjoy poetry ­ it's often just a matter of exposure. And because I'm as much a performer and teacher as I am a writer, it's important to me to share poetry in a way that's vivid, immediate and relevant to daily life."

As this year's Poetry Roadshow poet, Austen will make four presentations, offering lectures, workshops and readings at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, at Grays Harbor Community College in Aberdeen, at Lower Columbia College in Longview, and at the Tri-Cities campus of Washington State University in Richland.

Specific dates will be announced.

But the hopes are high that the Roadshow and its mission of bringing poetic energy beyond major cities will get the attention of the 2007 State Legislature. That's because the Arts Commmission, with the support of the the WPA and Humanities Washington, supports legislation to create an official state Poet Laureate.

"Washington is one of just 10 states that don't have Poet Laureate positions, and there's been a U.S. Poet Laureate since 1937," said Stover, adding that the current U.S. Poet Laureate is Donald Hall.

The mission of a state Poet Laureate would be to develop programs to make poetry - what Arts Commission Executive Director Kris Tucker calls "the people's art" - more accessible throughout the state, increasing poetic interaction, language arts and literacy. The Poetry Roadshow is a pilot project to field-test and fine-tune that process.

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